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Article #261: Bass Fishing Guides

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






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