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