The Practical Bass Fishing Tips for a Successful Fishing Experience
Many men have found bass fishing to be quite a relaxing experience. Although the bass has been known to be quite a fighter and a
battler, the sheer excitement of waiting and finally catching it releases certain chemicals into the body that provide a euphoric feeling making the experience all worthwhile and satisfying.
Many men and women have come back from a bass fishing expedition feeling light and perky even though they have been outdoors the whole time. The strenuous activity seems to recharge their bodies.
The popularity bass fishing has garnered over the years has grown to an all time high with more and more people discovering its joys. Some though are reluctant to start because they have not got a single idea on what to do. Here are some tips to get you started and secrets to act like an experienced professional bass fisherman.
Baits
There are many types of baits used to catch bass, some work much better than others. Basically there’s live baits and artificial baits.
Live Baits
Artificial baits have been known to catch quite a few bass but many believe live bait works best.
Bass respond well to many forms of live bait but often action can be faster than with lures. Mostly used are Minnows, Shad, Shiners and Night Crawlers. You can also use cutup bait fish, such as a Sardines, Anchovies and even Crawdads work very well.
Artificial baits
Lures are artificial baits used to attract and entice fish to bite to eat or bite to move it away from its nest. Artificial baits are made of just about anything possible from plastics, metals, wood and even feathers. They are made to look and or move like anything the fish would consider eating.
Soft Plastics
There are a wide variety of Soft Plastics baits used for catching bass. The choices are endless from different types of creatures like Worms, Lizards, Frogs, Swim Baits, Tube Baits etc. to different types of plastics. Many are made to float, some are made with salt and some are made to hold different types of scents.
Hard Plastics
Hard Plastics are used to make thousands of types of Crankbaits from Jerk baits to Rat-L-Traps
(Lip-Less Baits) from floating to diving and even suspending baits.
Wire Baits
Spinner Baits, Buzz Baits and Alabama-Rigs are very popular for catching bass. Spinner baits are one of the most versatile lures used to catch bass. They can be used many ways and in many different conditions. Spinner Baits or Blades as some are known to call them, can be fished fast or slow, deep or shallow.
Jigs and Others
Many fisherman love to fish with Jigs. The Jig is a bait that consistently catches quality bass. And many fisherman love to fish with Spoons. Spoons have been around for more than 50 years. The kitchen spoon was used during the depression as a simple replacement lure.
Location
Knowing where to locate bass can be a challenge to most anglers because of so many different factors that need to be determined.
Water clarity, water temperatures, seasonal patterns, water depth, reading a map and weather. Also water levels are very important, are they raising, lowering or staying stable?
Areas holding bass are key areas to fish. The more time you’re in the zone, the more chances you have to catch fish. People say that 90% of the fish are in 10% of the water. Areas that usually have bass are areas of vegetation, shallow water close to deep water, points, secondary points, backs of coves, ledges, drop offs, and islands. Also different types of structures like rocks, sand, boulders, ramps and docks.
If you catch a fish. DON’T LEAVE THAT SPOT! Stay there and fish more after you have removed the hook. Fish will follow the fish on your line and try to steal the bait. Especially if it is white bass you can sometimes catch two at a time with crappie and perch if you have a double rig.
Worms usually work well during light to heavy over cast skies and spinners usually work better when there is a breeze or in windy conditions that make a ripple on the water surface. When you set the hook, try to keep your line tight and maybe even give it another hook set. When they jump it is real hard to keep your line tight. If the fish is deep and coming up fast, swing your rod tip to one side or the other to pull it to the side rather than pulling it to straight up to the surface. After the hook set always try to maintain the same resistance between you and the fish. Too much pull and you’ll break the line, not enough pull and you’ll lose your fish because they can spit the bait out if there is not enough pressure to keep the hook in its mouth.
Make sure you aren’t using dull hooks. Also, smaller hooks can penetrate easier, making them harder to throw. In most instances, though, nothing beats an aggressive hook set, and then keeping steady pressure on the fish, especially when they go airborne.