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Bass Fishing
Tips
by: Frank Faldo
3 Lures You Must Have
Do you know what the top 3 lures for catching Bass are? Though
there aren’t any specific statistics, a survey was conducted amongst
the pro bass fishermen and it was found that plastic worms won by a
large margin. Second and third place were the spinnerbait and then
the crank bait.
Did you know that the Evening Secret (specialsecret/4_Fly_Fishing_Tips.php)
is THE most effective technique for swarming fish to your fishing
spot? We use it all the time with EXCELLENT and CONSISTANT results.
Picking one of these 3 is not enough, however. You must take into
account the lake you are fishing on before you select your lure.
Especially you must consider if it is better to cover a smaller
segment of water thoroughly or skim across a larger expanse as
quickly as possible to find fish. Using a worm is slower, but
extremely effective and is very seductive to Bass. They do best when
the fish are schooled over a particular structure.
Spinnerbait can be moved more quickly across the surface and can
be bounced on the bottom, sent against a tree limb and moved in many
different ways in order to stimulate strikes. It is a great probing
lure for the shoreline because of its tangle-free construction.
Crankbaits cover a lot of water in a hurry. Using them, you can
check out a spot without wasting too much time. You can use them for
locating fish that may be scattered.
The bottom line is, whatever lure you select for the particular
lake that you are fishing on, you need to make it as easy for the
Bass to get at it as possible. Drop that lure right in front of
them. Scientists have proven that Bass calculate the amount of
energy it will take them to go after the prey vs. the return.
Learn to fish all 3 of these lures effectively, and you will
catch more than your share of big game Bass!
When to fish for bass
Dawn and dusk are definitely when the biggest bass can be brought
in. First, remember that bass love ambush spots offering lots of
cover from the baitfish. They like to hid, and pounce on their prey.
These bait fish are most active in the early morning or evening.
When they feed, bass follow because the baitfish are less aware of
threats when they feed. Go out fishing during these times for the
best success – additionally you will have the water to yourself as
most anglers don’t fish during these times.
The first excellent lure to use is a plug that looks like a mouse
– very productive. Also use a big spent-wing moth made out of deer
hair. Body and wings should be about the size of your forefinger.
The idea is to twitch it along as if it is injured and trying to get
in the air. Other surface plugs that chug, waddle, or have spinners
are usually productive as well as buzzing lures that squeak. The
most effective is a slim-minnow lure (a floating diving type). It
resembles an elongated minnow at rest on the surface, and the lure
will dive quickly when twitched, and then pop back up as if injured.
When retrieving an underwater lure in poor light, keep it coming
at a steady pace once it is set in motion. This will make it easier
for bass to locate and grab it.
The last thing is, don’t bother going out in the dawn/dusk when
water is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature wipes out
certain aquatics and terrestrials, which nullifies the food chain
feeding.
Water Quality Considerations
You need to fish bass differently in different kinds of water
quality. Follow the general guidelines below to get better results.
Muddy Water: In low-visibility water, a bass finds food using its
sonar senses. You must use lures with the best vibration and noise.
You can tell if a lure has a high vibration by feeling the shaking
of your rod as you bring in the lure. Use your heaviest vibrators
and keep them coming at a steady pace so that bass can detect it.
Clear Water: Bass are overly cautious in clear water with high
visibility. Their survival instincts kick in, and they are wary of
anything out of the ordinary. Use lighter lines that are less
visible. Also, use longer casts and lures that resemble bass food in
the area. Spinners usually work in clear water, but if they are not
working try a black spinner blade to reduce the flash.
Normal Water: This water has normal algae and plankton that
filters out sunlight. It is ideal for all types of lures, as the
bass are not timid. Use the shotgun approach here and set up 3
outfits, one using a surface lure, one using a deep diver, and the
last using a plastic worm. Do about 10 casts with each, and then
switch them up to different variations. This is a great way to find
out what is working.
Fishing a Plastic Worm
Here are some techniques that you should consider for fishing
plastic worms for bass in different situations:
Turbid water - bass are sight and sound feeders, and it is
important to add turbulence to the plastic worm. Add a No. 3
Hildebrandt gold spinner just ahead of the hook. This sets up a
flashing, hissing, throbbing attraction that bass can hear at
considerable distances.
Clear water – Cut down the size of the worm, line, and sinker so
that bass will have a harder time seeing the lure.
Big vibe worms – Use a worm with a curly tail design that gives
off extremely strong vibrations. Try these worms when your straight
worms fail to score.
Skipping – This is the only method to get under overhanging
branches. You need a spin casting or spinning rig because a level
wind reel just doesn’t ski8p well. Make a flat hard cast onto the
water’s surface so that it will make a low skip. This will reach
bass hangouts impossible to attain in any other way.
Ripping – This will surprise reluctant bass to strike a worm. Let
the worm settle to the bottom and lie there for about 20 seconds.
Reel slack out of the line and pick up the worm with a long, sharp
upsweep of the rod tip. Let it settle to the bottom under tension as
you slowly lower the rod tip. Repeat for three or four rips. Strikes
will come.
Drift trolling – move to the head of a deep hole and let the wind
carry you quietly across the lake while your worm crawls across
bottom cover. Raise and lower the worm as it contacts bottom.
Pickups usually happen as the worm is being pulled off the cover.
Flyrodding – Fill a single action flyreel with backing and about
50 yards of 10-pound monofilament. Rig a six-inch worm weedless and
add a small split-shot ahead of the hook so it will sink slowly.
Either flip or flat-cast the worm into every pocket you see and feed
it line as it slowly settles to bottom. Keep the flyrod tip low so
that you can make a long, sweeping strike when you feel a bass
inhale the worm. This is practical in ponds, lakes or streams.
Worm rig
One of the biggest problems with fishing a worm is the inability
to sense strikes. Usually the inability to sense them is due to a
sinker that is too heavy and a line that is too thick.
Use a variable buoyancy worm using lead strip sinkers. Here are
some advantages:
- No moving lead on the line to dampen the feel of a gentle
pickup
- You can apply the precise amount of lead to deliver the worm
action needed
- It makes it easier for a bass to inhale the worm
- It aids in hook setting
- It’s easier to shake loose from snags
- You can cause the worm to hang virtually suspended over the
bottom when fishing shallow water.
To tell how much lead strip is needed, wrap one strip around the
hook and bury the barb in the worm. Ease it into the water and watch
it sink, it should barely settle toward the bottom. If it sinks to
fast, take some off, etc. A slow decent is the ticket here.
Make sure to use no heavier than 8-pound mono line – preferably 6
pound.
Weather Matters
In the early spring and fall bass will smash top water lures such
as floating propeller types and poppers. They are also likely to
take surface lures when found in shallow water, such as along
shorelines near overhanging trees.
As the temperature rises and the bass are in the cooler, deeper
holes, change your technique. You need something to dredge the
bottom. The plastic worm is ideal for this, even the most sluggish
bass will respond when you drag one slowly past its nose.
Crank baits
When fishing a tidal river for bass, cast crank baits near the
mouths of tiny feeder streams on the falling tide.
Bass hang out where the water depth drops
off, waiting for crayfish, crabs and minnows to be washed out.
Bait
One of the best baits for small mouth bass in rivers is the
hellgrammite, the larva of the Dobson fly. Gather these from beneath
rocks in shallow riffles with a mesh net or seine. Fish them on No.
4 or 6 fine-wire hooks, drifting them naturally through pools and
runs below rapids.
A Trick Most Bass Fishermen Don’t Know
First and foremost, most bass fishermen are not aware of The
Evening Secret which is a special device that will bring feeding
fish swarming to your location on the water. It works like a charm.
Cast a worm over a limber branch and reel it back so that its
tail just touches the water. Then jiggle the rod tip, making the
worm squirm and wriggle just above the surface. Bass will often leap
right out of the water to snatch it.
Night Fishing
Many anglers have the idea that bass do not see well at night and
won’t strike. Although it is true that bass cannot see well at
night, but they have an amazing ability to pick up disturbances on
the water and hone in on unsuspecting bait. Given this, lures that
vibrate will cause the most underwater disturbance and are most
effective. You can also drill a small hole in balsa or plastic lures
to place small BB’s in them to make some noise.
About The Author
Copyright 2005 EveningSecretFishing.com FishingLong-Time Fisherman
and President of EveningSecretFishing ( specialsecret/Bass_Tips.php)