| The basics of bass fishing are simple - and | | | | |
| all experienced fishermen will tell you that. | | | | *The lure has to land on the water as |
| Start from examining the fishing conditions, | | | | silently as possible. Target the area past |
| don't be shy to ask for advice from those | | | | the target in only it is possible. |
| anglers that know the waters you want to fish | | | | |
| in and begin a painful trial and error | | | | *During the windy weather, remember to put |
| process of finding the best lures and | | | | tension on the line a moment before the lure |
| bass-fishing techniques that would be | | | | touches down. It prevent the line from |
| best-fitted to the situation and waters. | | | | blowing across obstructions. |
| | | | |
| Tips about Bass Fishing: | | | | *As soon as possible learn a casting |
| | | | technique that permits a low trajectory. It |
| 1. The Technique: remember that the bait has | | | | does not matter which one you choose first - |
| to fall to the preferred depth, before you | | | | all of them will come in time - but you have |
| shake the rod tip. When you shake it, you'll | | | | to start studying one of them as soon as you |
| be getting the attention of the fishes. Start | | | | can. |
| from doing that around 30 seconds, then shake | | | | |
| it again in about 2 or 3 seconds intervals. | | | | *A quality rod and reel matched to the weight |
| Then stop and pull slowly - no more than six | | | | of the lure are absolute must! Remember also |
| inches. Then back and down and repeating the | | | | that rods with a stiff blank but relatively |
| process - slowly! The first thing you have to | | | | limber tip are much easier to use by novices. |
| learn is that they're not biting if you do | | | | |
| everything too fast. | | | | *Do not cast with the arm and shoulder, use |
| | | | only the wrist. |
| *In the Spring, anchor your boat in shallow | | | | |
| waters and cast to deep water. Use a 1/8 | | | | *Before casting, lower the lure a few inches |
| ounce weight - it should be enough. | | | | below the tip to get an extra momentum. |
| | | | |
| *In Autumn, do the opposite (anchor in deep | | | | *Be sure to "load" the tip in order to make |
| waters and cast to shallows. | | | | it bend backward. |
| | | | |
| *In order to prevent prevent hang-ups, use a | | | | How to cast: the Flip-Cast |
| Texas rigged worm. | | | | |
| | | | *Keep your eyes on target, not on places |
| *Fish out the worm and keep suspended 90% of | | | | you'd like to miss. |
| the time. | | | | |
| | | | *Plenty of scent acts as a lubricant when |
| *The only way to maximize your hookup rate is | | | | trying to penetrate thick cover. |
| to sharpen the hooks. Otherwise the fishes | | | | |
| will often break free. | | | | *A plastic worm with a glass bead placed |
| | | | between it and the weight works best for |
| *While doodling, make sure that your | | | | inactive fish. |
| presentation is natural - downsize your hooks | | | | |
| to 1/0 or lower. Pay attention to how | | | | *Before you check a strike, reel down until |
| straight your bait is or you will spoil | | | | reaching a hookset position. |
| everything! | | | | |
| | | | *A strike is not something very delicate. |
| *Crystal clean clear waters is a tough thing | | | | |
| to do. Keep slack on your line and "shake" | | | | *Tighten your drag all the way down for |
| the bait - not drag it. | | | | better hooksets. |
| | | | |
| *When the bass quit hitting during the | | | | *17 to 25 pound test line for bait casting |
| daytime or it's just too hot on the water, | | | | gear is the minimum. 10 to 14 pound test is |
| it's time to think about starting night | | | | good only on spinning. |
| fishing. But don't try it when it's cold - | | | | |
| you'll freeze! | | | | If you want to find a pattern, you simply |
| | | | have to understand the way a bass lives. The |
| *At night bass don't usually move far, | | | | knowledge of where the bass is at any given |
| especially Smallmouth. When the summer comes | | | | time is something you can only develop. |
| to an end, the bass move deeper and won't | | | | |
| come up to shallows anymore even at night. | | | | And the last tip: that every single fish you |
| Remember also that night fishing is | | | | catch will give you clues on how to catch |
| productive only if the bass comeswithin the | | | | another. When you caught a fish in some area, |
| 20-foot radius from your fishing zone. | | | | it is very probable that you'll catch |
| | | | something in the same (or similar) area |
| * Stay as close as you can to remain unseen. | | | | later. |
| If you're too far, the accuracy will suffer. | | | | |