| As you spend more and more hours and days on | | | | bass are within the 20-foot zone |
| bass fishing, you will acquire lots of knowledge | | | | Tips and Guides |
| about the right lure and technique for the proper | | | | - Position yourself only as far away as water |
| way to do this sport. The best advice most | | | | clarity dictates; stay close enough for consistent |
| experienced and seasoned bass fishermen, is to | | | | accuracy. |
| examine the fishing conditions, ask for tips from | | | | - Try to make the lure land on the water with as |
| anglers familiar with the waters you are fishing in, | | | | little noise as possible. Cast past the target when |
| and finally, try many different lures and | | | | possible. |
| bass-fishing techniques until you discover what | | | | - In windy weather, put tension on the line just |
| works most effectively to the situation, and | | | | before the lure touches down. This will straighten |
| which one you are most comfortable with. | | | | out the line and prevent it from blowing across |
| Here are some Guides to Bass Fishing to become | | | | obstructions. |
| a better Bass angler. | | | | - Learn casting techniques that permit a low |
| The Technique: | | | | trajectory, such as flipping, pitching, sidearm |
| The bait must fall to the preferred depth, then | | | | casting and underhand casting. |
| you have to shake the rod tip. By this, you'll be | | | | - Use a quality rod and reel matched to the |
| getting the fishes attention. Do this for at least 30 | | | | weight of the lure. Rods with a stiff blank but |
| seconds, then shaking again for about 2 or 3 | | | | relatively fast (limber) tip are easier to cast than |
| seconds intervals, stop and pull slowly about six | | | | extremely stiff or uniformly limber rods. |
| inches. Then dropping again, slowly back and down | | | | - Cast with the wrist, not the arm and shoulder. |
| and repeating the process. The first thing to | | | | - Lower the lure a few inches below the rod tip |
| remember if they're not biting is to slow down. | | | | before casting; this gives extra momentum for |
| Tips: | | | | the cast. |
| - During Springtime, fish uphill (position the boat in | | | | - Be sure to "load" the rod tip, causing it to bend |
| shallow water and cast to deep water) and use a | | | | backward, on the back-cast, then whip the rod |
| 1/8 ounce weight. | | | | forward smoothly. |
| - Fish downhill in Fall. | | | | - Fill the spool of any type reel to within 1/8 inch |
| - Try to use a Texas rigged worm to prevent | | | | of the lip of the spool. DO NOT OVERFILL! |
| hang-ups. | | | | The Flip-Cast; use your wrist, NOT your arm. |
| - Fish out the worm and keep suspended 90% of | | | | - Concentrate on the spot you want to hit, not |
| the time. | | | | on what you want to miss. |
| - Always try to sharpen the hooks to make sure | | | | - Use plenty of scent when trying to penetrate |
| you have maximized your hookup percentage. | | | | thick cover - it acts as a lubricant. |
| - When doodling, it is critical to keep your | | | | - Stick to basic jig colors (black/blue, brown |
| presentation natural by downsizing your hooks to | | | | brown, black/chartreuse). |
| 1/0 or lower, and paying delicate, attention to | | | | - Use a plastic worm with a glass bead between |
| how straight your bait is in order to maintain a | | | | the worm and the weight for inactive fish. |
| natural presentation. | | | | - If you think it's a strike, reel down until your rod |
| - Crystal clear waters can be tough. The secret | | | | is in a hookset position before you check. |
| to fishing weenie worms is to keep slack on your | | | | - A strike is anything different (something you |
| line and "shake" the bait instead of dragging. The | | | | wouldn't feel in a bathtub!). |
| shaking of the rod and your light line gives your | | | | - Tighten your drag all the way down for better |
| worm, grub or reaper an amazing action. | | | | hooksets. |
| When to Go: | | | | - Use 17 to 25 pound test line for bait casting |
| When the bass quit hitting during the daytime and | | | | gear, 10 to 14 pound test on spinning (for flipping |
| when it becomes uncomfortably hot on the lake | | | | finesse baits). |
| are good signals that it's time to start night fishing. | | | | In order to establish a pattern it is essential you |
| Night fishing is usually practiced when the water is | | | | understand how a bass lives in its environment. |
| in the mid-60s or warmer. | | | | Knowing where the bass can be found at any |
| Places to Fish: | | | | given time or place is something you must |
| Where to fish at night is a question commonly | | | | develop. Always go fishing with a plan in mind. |
| asked by bass fishermen. Bass don't move great | | | | Remember that every fish you catch can reveal |
| distances in most situations. Smallmouth bass, | | | | clues on how to catch another. After establishing |
| especially, are proven stay-at-homes. As the | | | | a pattern, realize that when the action slows |
| summer wears on, the bass tend to move | | | | down in the area you were fishing, you can then |
| deeper and won't come up shallow, even at night | | | | search for more areas that would fill the same |
| in many lakes. Night fishing is productive when the | | | | criteria. |