Catching Bass In A Rough Environment

Ever been to a lake where the water is toowater. Try fishing jigs, worms and deep diving
clear?crankbaits. Use big blades on a spinnerbait and use
A new lake you never fished before?your fish finder and make a note at what depth
No cover that you can see?the bass are located.The water is to muddy.My
The water is too high?favorite lake gets muddy quite easily and fishing
Too muddy?gets tough
The water is too low or lowering?during this time. Let me give you one thing not
The wind is blowing to hard?Yes, I think we allto do, don't use
have at some time or another.the new Vanish fishing line in muddy water, it
One thing is for sure when these conditions applymatches the water
to the lakeand you can't see the line at all. Ok, now for
you're fishing it's tough to catch bass. So, let'swhat you should
minimize thedo....use lures that rattle and vibrate. Fish a slow
effects these conditions have on your nextretrieve. Try using scent. Fish ledges, stumps,
fishing trip.The water is to clear.I'm talking abouttrees and flip or jig. Fish sunny times of the day. I
where you can see your lure even at 4-6 footlike to fish from noon to 3 pm in muddy water
deep or more. The good news is the bass canwhen the sun is high. Try and find a place where
see your lure and will chase it more often than inthe water is a little clearer than the rest.The
murky water. The bad news is they can see youwater is to low.Ever been to a lake that has
too.There are things that you can do to help thedropped several feet? I went to Lake Berryessa
cause. One is wearin California and the lake had dropped more than I
white, blue or grey this will help you blend in withever seen it and the fishing was awful.I had to
the sky. Try smaller lures with a fast retrieve.find out where the bass were located if I was
Fish on cloudy days and low light periods. Trygoing to catch anything that day. One thing I
night fishing. Make longer casts and use lowerknew for sure it is highly unlikely that the bass
pound line where the diameter isn't as visible.Awould be in shallow water. So, I looked for deeper
new lake you never fished before.Here's a wordwater where there might be timber, deep points
you should remember, ready............ask?and channels. I also knew the bass would probably
Ask the local tackle shop, lake marinas, ask anybe suspended hugging the cover. My next step
fishermen you see, ask the game warden orwas to downsize and to fish slowly. That seemed
ranger. What do you ask them?to work best.The wind is blowing to hard.This is
Best areas to fish? Do they catch many bassfun fishing, you cast your lure and the boat is
this time of year?past you
The depth they're catching bass?Get a map ofbefore you take any line up on the reel. What a
the lake and mark the spots that should hold fish.pain!
Look for any cover than you can see like points,Look for coves and any place there is less wind,
drop offs, trees, stumps, grass or any type ofthat is just
cover that is visible. Try trolling to cover areasnormal. I fish against the wind and let my trolling
faster.No cover that you can see.Ever been to amotor do some work. Most that I see fish with
lake that looks more like a desert than a lake. Ithe wind and let the wind blow them and their
mean there aren't any visible cover anywhere.boat a 100 mile per hour down the lake. I like to
No trees, no stumps, no docks, no grass, no lilyfish spinnerbaits when the wind is blowing hard,
pads.......so what do you do?Well, my first thing Ifor one thing it is easier to detect a strike. I fish it
do is turn on my fish finder and look formore like a worm though then the usual method
underwater structure like flats, drop-offs, points,of a spinnerbait. I let it drop and use the tip of
timber, steep banks, and stumps. See if you canmy rod to move it then let it fall again. I work it
see any points above the water too. Many timesjust fast enough to keep it from dragging the
what you see above the water is also below thebottom. I also use this method during a cold front.
water to some degree. Look for sandy shoresI like to fish jigs and tubes at this time too.Try
and hard bottoms.The water is to high.Thisthese methods and tips in rough conditions and I
condition usually occurs in the spring here in Ohio,think you'll find they work.Charles E. White has
but offished 50 years for bass from California to Florida.
course, it can occur any time there is heavy rainIn his lifetime, it is estimated that he has caught
and some lakeover 6,000 bass. His biggest bass is a 12 pound
flooding. First thing to realize is the bass are going14 ounce that hangs on his wall in his office. His
to betips and techniques have helped many people who
suspended. They have a lot more room to roamhave never fished for bass before become
and a lot more newsuccessful anglers.
structure to hide around. They won't beHe also has fished with the Pros in Florida.Charles
concentrated in one place but scattered doing anis the author of "Bass Fishing-From Cast To
exploration of the new territory they haveCatch" which you can find at his website here:
found.Here is what you want to do is thisbassfishingweekly.
condition. Cover lots of