| Whether you're a beginner or an old-timer a | | | | 8-pound-test (breaking strength). |
| worm-dunker, plug-tosser or a dry-fly puritan | | | | Shortly after daybreak, as the sun begins to |
| you'll want to know many things to get the most | | | | warm the shallows, the Largemouth Bass stops |
| out of your fishing. Here in plain fish-talk is the | | | | feeding and moves to deeper water, not |
| low-down about Largemouth Black Bass so you | | | | returning until late evening when he works his |
| can't miss. | | | | way shoreward again for his nightly hunt for food. |
| Largemouth Black Bass | | | | Bass fishing during the day, when the sun is high |
| This big fresh-water tacklebuster is a favorite of | | | | and the Bass are deep, usually mystifies anglers. |
| anglers because of his savagery when he attacks | | | | They don't know how to find Bass in deep water! |
| a lure, and because of his head-shaking, leaping | | | | And even when they find them, they can't get |
| battle when hooked. Due to transplanting, he now | | | | them to strike! |
| can be found in ponds, lakes and rivers | | | | "The Bass aren't feeding," is the old excuse. |
| throughout the United States, and even in | | | | Maybe so, but if the only Bass caught were those |
| Canada, Mexico, Germany, Spain, France and | | | | that were feeding, there would be many more |
| Africa. His general color is greenish-bronze on the | | | | empty stringers. Catching a feeding Bass at dawn |
| back, a lighter green on the sides, and | | | | or dusk is comparatively easy; catching a |
| yellow-white on the belly. | | | | non-feeding Bass at midday can be almost as |
| The easiest time to catch him is at daybreak and | | | | easy - if you remember (1) he's the biggest bully |
| dusk; the best place is close to shore, especially | | | | in the lake, and (2) it's easy to get him to prove |
| near lily pads, underwater rocky lairs and large | | | | it! |
| surface snags such as fallen trees. | | | | To find Bass in deep water, first find a |
| He enters this shallow water during the night to | | | | submerged weed bed. The Bass will be hiding in it. |
| hunt for minnows and fry (young fish), | | | | To find the weed bed, drag a treble-hook on a |
| night-crawlers that may have slipped off the | | | | line-and-sinker from the rear of your boat until it |
| bank, frogs, lizards, field mice and, in fact, any | | | | snags fresh weeds. Then back off to within |
| living thing that can fit into his cavernous mouth, | | | | casting distance, anchor your boat, and cast to |
| which is large enough to hold another fish | | | | the weed bed with a deep-swimming lure. |
| two-thirds his own size. Bass have been known to | | | | Maybe the first few times he'll let the "cripple" |
| gobble baby ducks, and even to try to swallow | | | | swim by. Keep casting to the same spot, |
| one of the parents! | | | | retrieving the plug in sharp jerks to simulate injury |
| Under these conditions, any of the above natural | | | | even more authentically. Every time he sees this |
| foods can be used to catch him. But none of | | | | teaser stagger past his nose, he'll fin a little faster. |
| them is necessary. When Bass are feeding at | | | | Eventually, the bully in him takes over. He comes |
| sunup and sundown, they'll grab almost anything. | | | | in a rush - and you've a fight on your hands. |
| So, use artificial lures. The lures that "swim" on | | | | Remember, when there doesn't seem to be a |
| the surface or just below it are the best since | | | | sign of a Bass anywhere, go to deep water over |
| they aren't likely to get "hung up," or snagged, on | | | | a weed bed with a red-and-white plug or a |
| bottom grass or rocks. | | | | red-and-silver spoon. Add a sinker to the line |
| Besides, the strike of a Bass at a surface lure is | | | | ahead of it to sink it deeper, if necessary. Give it |
| spectacular, a thrill you'll long remember. You don't | | | | lots of "wounded" action, and cast at least a |
| need a leader to connect your line to the lure. Tie | | | | dozen times to the same spot before shifting to |
| the line to it directly or attach it with a small | | | | a new one a few yards to the right or left. If you |
| snap-swivel. Use bait-casting or medium-weight | | | | don't get a Largemouth then, it will be because |
| spinning tackle and nylon line of at least | | | | there aren't any left in the lake! |