Hot Bass Fishing Tips

For years businesses have ridden on the vast interest Bass fishing has generated. Many people are hooked, pardon the pun, on this hobby and have elevated it to a sport and a passion. Resorts, sports gears and lines have been built and many more aspects have benefited from these interest.

Today, there are more and more people trying to learn and find out what the buzz is all about. Bass fishing is more than just catching a fish. It's now about getting those prized big bass and having the opportunity to show it off. For beginners there is lots more to bass fishing that meets the eye.

First, get to know the lures you must learn to enjoy bass fishing.
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And do you know what the top 3 lures for catching Bass are? Although there was no particular gauge that was presented by the researchers, a survey was performed among the pro bass fishermen and it was found that plastic worms was the most patronized and ranking on the second and third place were the spinner bait and then the crank bait.

However, picking one of these 3 is not enough. Other factors still need to be considered. Primarily, you must consider if it is better to cover a smaller segment of water thoroughly or skim across a larger area as quickly as possible to find fish. Using a worm is slower, but absolutely effective and is very seductive to bass. They do best when the fish are schooled over a particular structure.

The problem that usually arises with fishing with 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.

To help you to overcome this predicament you are advised to use a variable buoyancy worm using lead strip sinkers. Here are some of its 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.
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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 too fast, take some off, etc. Make sure to use no heavier than 8-pound mono line - preferably 6 pound.

On the other hand, a Spinner bait 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.

Lastly, Crank baits 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 most important thing is, no matter what lure you select for the particular lake that you are fishing on, you need to make it as easy as possible for the bass to get at it. Scientists have proven that bass calculate the amount of energy it will take them to go after the prey. Drop that lure right in front of them.

Discover and learn to use one of those lures that you preferred to use for you to really find enjoyment in bass fishing!

Aside from considering the lures, it is also important to determine the accurate time for going bass fishing.

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 hide, 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 is less aware of threats when they feed. Go out fishing during these times for the best success.

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.

Lures and proper time of going out bass fishing are the first factors that must be taken into account because other aspects, such as water quality considerations and weather conditions, are also necessary for you to win the game on bass fishing!

Finding The Best Bass Fishing Spots

What is it about bass fishing that makes it such a popular activity? People get so hooked on bass fishing that they fanatically follow every report and trend that they hear about.

“Where are the bass?” How many of the anglers (tournament and recreational) go to a body of water they've never fished before, drop the boat in the water, then, ask this question of themselves? Locating the best bass habitats is one of the most important skills in bass fishing that an angler should learn.

Keep reading to getthe information on how to locate the best areas for bass fishing.
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Locating bass and understanding the water would be the number one question among bass anglers today. The next most asked question is which baits they should use to catch a "big" bass.

Now when you think about it, there are really only two (2) main topics that go hand-in-hand when it comes to bass fishing. If you understood more about these two, you would definitely become a much better angler, and they are:

1. Knowing how to locate bass.

2. Knowing how to catch bass using all the different techniques, presentations, and baits.

Learning how to locate bass can be somewhat of a challenge to most anglers because there are so many different factors that need to be considered:

1. Knowing how to read a map - this is the fundamental skill that you'll want to learn because through a map it is easier for you to determine the appropriate location good for bass fishing.

2. Knowing the most practical places to look for active bass just after cold fronts and during early spring and late fall periods - weather condition must be considered as well.

3. Understanding water depth is an important element because the depth or the shallowness of the water will influence the type of bait you use and how you present it.
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Other factors are water clarity, water temperatures, seasonal patterns, locating structure areas, and finding vegetation areas.

And there is more! Being a consistent bass angler is about so much more than just getting in your boat, hitting the water, and casting your baits. That's why bass tournaments are so competitive and exciting, because the more you learn about locating bass the quicker you can start catching them right? And hey, isn't that half the battle?

Let's start by looking at a lake map. There are two general types of lake maps that most anglers will use which are referred to as the “Hot Spot” and “Topographical” maps. The differences between the two is that a “Topo” map shows more detail, and the “Hot Spots” map shows more fishing spots (well, at least they’re supposed to).

The secret (or key) in learning how to use a lake map would be to sector the map. What I mean by this is that I will take the map and study it for a moment (looking for areas where the fish would most likely be.) Next, I will (using a highlighter) divide the map in sections based on how much time I have to pre-fish for a tournament or how many days I have to just fish the body of water for fun.

The size of the sections will vary depending on contours, structure, and how many places I may want to check out during the course of the day based on what the map shows me. I am certainly not one to just cast bait into the water and work it for five minutes and leave; I will try an assortment of baits if I see signs of fish in any given area to try to establish a working pattern.

Here are some key elements that you can usually look for when it comes to locating bass on any given body of water:

1. Vegetation areas

2. Irregular contours

3. Shallow water close to deep water areas

4. Points and point drops

5. Various types of structure

Basic But Fantastic Bass Fishing Tips

As you spend more and more hours and days on the water bass fishing, you will acquire lots of knowledge about the best techniques for this sport. The best advice most experienced and seasoned bass fishermen offer is to examine the fishing conditions, ask for tips from anglers familiar with the waters you are fishing in, and finally, try many different lures and techniques until you discover what works most effectively in the situation.

Here are some Guides to Bass Fishing to become a better Bass Fisher.

Technique:

The bait must fall to the preferred depth, then you have to shake the rod tip. By this, you'll be getting the fishes attention. Do this for at least 30 seconds, then shaking again for about 2 or 3 seconds intervals, stop and pull slowly about six inches. Then dropping again, slowly back and down and repeating the process. The first thing to remember if they're not biting is to slow down.
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Tips:

• During Springtime, fish uphill (position the boat in shallow water and cast to deep water) and use a 1/8 ounce weight.

• Fish downhill in Fall.

• Try to use a Texas rigged worm to prevent hang-ups.

• Fish out the worm and keep suspended 90% of the time.

• Always try to sharpen the hooks to make sure you have maximized your hookup percentage.

• When doodling, it is critical to keep your presentation natural by downsizing your hooks to 1/0 or lower, and paying delicate, attention to how straight your bait is in order to maintain a natural presentation.

• Crystal clear waters can be tough. The secret to fishing weenie worms is to keep slack on your line and "shake" the bait instead of dragging. The shaking of the rod and your light line gives your worm, grub or reaper an amazing action.
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When to Go:

When the bass quit hitting during the daytime and when it becomes uncomfortably hot on the lake are good signals that it's time to start night fishing. Night fishing is usually practiced when the water is in the mid-60s or warmer.

Places to Fish:

Where to fish at night is a question commonly asked by bass fishermen. Bass don't move great distances in most situations. Smallmouth bass, especially, are proven stay-at-homes. As the summer wears on, the bass tend to move deeper and won't come up shallow, even at night in many lakes. Night fishing is productive when the bass are within the 20-foot zone

Tips and Guides

• Position yourself only as far away as water clarity dictates; stay close enough for consistent accuracy.

• Try to make the lure land on the water with as little noise as possible. Cast past the target when possible.

Fishing for Smallmouth Bass in Canada

Canadian waters are filled with Smallmouth bass. This fish is oftentimes referred to as the brown bass, smallie, browny, or bronzeback. They are a slender fish, usually streamlined in shape. They are also a popular game fish species, as they jump around so much.

Smallmouth bass feeds on fellow fish, crustaceans, and terrestrial insects. When fishing for smallmouth bass in Canada, here are some tips to follow:

1. Go to rock shoals. That is where they will most likely be.
Rock shoals are the obvious spots for smallmouth bass. But they can also be found deep in the water where they can find plenty of food for themselves. Look for spots where the crustaceans are abundant. There are going to be lots of them there too.
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2. When fishing during early fall or late summer, use a colored lure.
Tub Jig is the best lure of choice. During the said seasons, smallmouth bass tend to go into deeper waters. They are estimated to be within the thirty to forty-foot range. Make sure that your bait reaches that depth.

3. Use live baits when other lures don't work.
Use real, living worms if and when lures won't do it for you. Make sure that the worm dangles off the hook nicely. Use a light line to go with it. A four or six pound test is good enough. Don't use any weight either.

4. Smallmouth bass go in groups.
Additionally, all the smallmouth bass belonging to a certain group are usually sized the same. Don't expect to see bigger smallmouth in a school of smaller ones. If the size of the smallmouth you saw isn't the size you want to catch, change your location instead.
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5. Fish for smallmouth bass between mid-June to fall.
This is the best time to catch smallmouth bass. During mid June, smallmouths can be found on the river's bed. During fall, they can be found ten to fifteen feet deep into the water. Remember these important details so you will be able to catch a good number of smallmouth bass every time you fish.

6. Fishing for Smallmouth bass is different from largemouth bass.
Don't assume for a second that the way to catch smallmouth bass is the same with largemouth bass. Different approach and techniques are necessary. If you are an expert angler of largemouth bass, you might need to learn something new with smallmouth bass.

Winner Techniques for Bass Fishing

The bass by far is one of the most popular fish in America. It is a predator and will eat almost anything it can get its mouth around. They feed on other fish, crustaceans, worms, and other aquatic life. Most small fish are a bass' prey. This makes them tough, challenging and a lot of fun to catch. Bass can be found in most ponds, lakes and streams in North America. There are many species of bass with the largemouth bass being the most prolific and sought after.

Walk into a tackle store and look at the selection of lures available. The majority are bass lures. Most of the TV fishing shows are dedicated to bass fishing. Most fishing tournaments are for bass - largemouth bass. I will give you some of my time tested tips to catch this sought after fish.
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Let's start with springtime bass fishing. One of my most successful lures is the jig and pig. I use a weedless crawfish colored jig with living rubber skirts. I will then add a crawdad colored number 11 pork rind. This combo has brought in many a bass in the spring. I position the boat 20 -30 feet off shore and cast into the shore working the lure slowly in. When I feel a "tap-tap" I set the hook. I took my largest bass on this lure. Most of the bass are on beds or in shallow water and this little lure looks like large crawdad when worked along the bottom.

Later in the spring or early summer I like to use spinner baits. I go with a chartreuse colored spinner with a living rubber skirt (looks like a bunch of colored rubber bands). I will skirt this lure around trees, weeds, lily pads, down drop offs, on the surface or most any other area. I use single bladed models and have found them the easiest to use. Bass hit this lure with a vengeance. Most hit with all their power. Very rarely do I just get a tap.

Late summer and fall I will use crank baits. When the temperature is hot the bass are really active and the bass can also be deeper. The crank bait will dive down to where they are hiding. The action will get them excited and they will strike the lure when it gets within range. I like natural colors in my crank baits. Sunfish colors are my favorite.
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When I am out to get a lot of fish only one rig will do it for me. This rig has put more bass in the boat for me over any other. The sliding rig baited with a large night crawler. It has caught me many bass (and other species as well) and I can always come home with one using this rig. A small number 6 or 8 aberdeen style hook, light test line, o-ring and a sliding sinker is all that is needed. Slip your line through the sinker and tie it to the o-ring. Tie 16" of leader line (6- 8 pound test) to the o-ring and then to your hook. You are now ready to fish. Hook a night crawler to the rig once through the nose. This presents the worm as naturally as possible. Keep scents off your hands and discard chewed, dead or damaged worms. You want the best that you can get.

This rig fishes the bottom. Pick areas just like you would for lures. Use common sense when it comes to avoiding snags or other underwater hang-ups. You can even cast troll this rig slowly if you are using a walking style sliding sinker. I will cast out and let my boat drift slowly moving the bait across the bottom. This will cover more area and give you a greater chance. Hold the rod in your hand and set the hook when you feel a tap. A bass can take in the bait in one gulp. Remember to throw away worms that have been bitten by a sunfish. Big bass usually won't hit them in this condition.

Bass Fishing Variables

Bass fishing is one of the most common types of fishing. Many bass fish are found in bayou water and salt water. They also move through lakes, ponds, reservoirs and streams. If you know the basics regarding conditions and places where bass are likely to be, you will have more success when you fish for them.

Many variables change the location of bass, such as water conditions, water levels, weather, and light and food availability. There are three main elements that must be present in a body of water in order for bass to survive: Food, oxygen, and cover.

A bass’ favorite meal is crawfish, which they prefer over shad. Basically, crawfish are usually more plentiful and they are easy for the Bass to catch. However, a bass will typically eat anything from rats, mice, ducklings, frogs, snakes, salamanders, worms, lizards, grubs, baitfish, insects, and leeches. Their ability to feast on one thing above another is why many people find such enjoyment from fishing bass.

Oxygen is another key component in finding bass fish. The basic rule of thumb is that the cooler the water, the more oxygen content. Therefore, if you are fishing in the spring, summer or early fall, you will find that the larger bass will drop down lower to find the cooler and more oxygen-filled water. They will also swim to find areas that are more concentrated in vegetation in order to find a better oxygen source. Trees, stumps, wind-blown banks, and power plants are all good sources of oxygen that will attract bass fish.
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A bass relies on cover for a means of protection and way of ambush. Cover is part of a bass’ survival. The bass is known as a lazy fish, so they will hide and wait for their prey to come to them. The other reason for cover is that bass fish do not have eyelids and the cover is a way to prevent blindness. Some common cover areas to find bass in are around fabricated wood structures such as fencerows, docks, and pilings. They have been known to hide under floating pieces of wood or decaying wood. Weeds are the second best place to hunt for bass. Finally, rocks are the third place that bass will find cover. Rocks are not as reliable as weeds or wood, but sometimes a bass will find decaying pieces of food to feast on within some rocks. Remember that rocks do not produce oxygen, so the source is not as consistent.

When it comes to fishing, everyone has a different opinion. You will often find that these opinions range in location and source. However, there are some lures and baits that are recommended for bass fishing that may be useful if you haven’t tried them. Tequila colored 7-inch worms with added scent are recommended, as well as Rebel Wee-Rs. Hellgrammites are thought to be the best live bait, and many will say that you don’t need big lures to attract big bass. Everyone will tell you to tie up to an embankment, or find a dock to get close to, but it is really an art that could take years to perfect.

Bass are notorious for slow moving and lack of distance in their movements. Logically, you could sit 30 feet from the biggest bass of your life, and he is not going to swim to your bait out of pure laziness. Finding the exact spot is difficult and a lot of fishing has to do with luck. The only part that you can control is finding the most likely places that a bass may be and exercise some patience. Weather is important to bass as well. If it is a cloudy day, you might have more luck than on a hot summer day. However, overcast is probably ideal for water temperatures, but then you have to decide what you are willing to sit through in order to catch a fish. The bottom line with bass fishing is you can only do your best with the knowledge at hand.