Bass Fishing Tips 101
If you are new to bass fishing, you probably could use some basic Bass fishing tips to get started with. The tackle and fishing methods used will vary depending on the type of Bass fishing that you are engaging in at the time. What works well for a Striped Bass, may not work so well for a Black Bass for instance. But whatever bass species you are looking for be it Black Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Striped Bass, Hybrid Bass, or even Peacock Bass if you happen to get to a lake that holds them, there are some basic tackle and fishing methods used that will get you started down the right path.
Bass Fishing Tips 101 -Rod & Reel Combination
For someone who is just beginning to Bass fish, I would recommend that their first rod be a 6 1/2 ft rod with medium heavy action and a fast tip. The reel can be either a baitcasting or a spincasting reel. This is really a matter of preference, but make sure that it has a 5:1 or 6:1 gear ratio String your reel with a 10 lb monofilament line.
Manufacturers often sell rod & reel combos that are matched perfectly. These combos are usually priced better than if you were to buy the rod and reel separately. You might give one of these a try.
Artificial Lure & Live Bait Choices
Largemouth Bass will eat about anything it can get in it’s mouth. Examples of live bait that Bass will devour include worms, frogs, crayfish, minnows, shad, grasshoppers, crickets, small snakes, and lizards.
If you want to buy artificial lures, the most popular is the artificial worm. You can fish it Texas rigged, Carolina rigged, or with a Floating rig.
After that, crankbaits are very popular. A crankbait is easy to cast, and you can either go with a steady retrieve, or a jerk and drop.
Another popular artificial lure is the jig. Jigs come in all kinds of colors, sizes, and weights. Experiment with different colors to see what works best for your area, but chartreuse jigs are a good place to start. You can also put a pork rind on the hook to enhance your offering. You will often hear this referred to as a jig and pig combination.
Bass Fishing Tips 101 – Bass Love Structure
When fishing for Bass, remember to fish the structure. Examples of structure could include a weedline, fallen tree, an underwater ledge or drop off, an underwater hump, or a submerged tree. Bass like the protection that the structure provides them from predators, and the ability to ambush their prey.
There are many different Bass fishing tips and techniques to learn, but keep the points mentioned here in mind and you should be able to start to master the art of catching bass.
Winter Bass fishing can be a very challenging proposition. Not only do you have to deal with the elements, but you also have to deal with different fishing patterns. For maximum success review these Winter Bass fishing tips.
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I stopped into a restaurant to eat the other day, and picked up a copy of the Lonestar Outdoor News. If you happen to live in Texas, look for it on the free news stands. Great little paper.
There was an interesting article about the use of soda water such as Coca Cola and Sprite to stop the bleeding of a badly hooked Bass. Sounded a little far fetched to me, so I read further.
Turns out that the angler who was revealing this trick was Jonathon VanDam, the nephew of top tour pro Kevin VanDam. If anyone named VanDam is talking Bass fishing, then I’m listening.
Basically what he does is pour a few drops of Coca Cola into the mouth of the bass, and it somehow helps the blood clot. There doesn’t seem to be real scientific reason that this works, but it is another trick to have up your sleeve.
Evidently, if you are in the Bassmaster Elite Series, and you end up with a dead fish in your livewell, then you lose points. Whether you are practicing catch-and-release, or fishing a tournament, there is good reason for take every precaution to ensure that the bass that you catch remains in good condiiton.
If you would like to view the article in its entirety, you can view it here:
http://lsonews.com/fishing-news/1551-bill-miller
Take care of those bass that you release, and you can catch them again when they get bigger.
Originally posted 2011-04-13 20:08:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
You could spend hours upon hours learning about all of the different methods of how to catch Bass. But before you delve into all of the different techniques there are to catch them, perhaps the best place to start is to understand the fish that you are trying to catch. The following Largemouth Bass info will give you a basic understanding of how the fish functions, which will make you a better fisherman.
Basic Largemouth Bass Info
Largemouth Bass belong to the Micropterus group of the Sunfish family. This group of fish includes the Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted, Redey, Suuwannee, and Guadalupe Bass. Collectively these fish are called Black Bass.
The largemouth is named this because of the huge mouth that it possesses. These fish are found in almost every state in the United States. They are the most popular and most widespread of all the bass species.
There are 2 basic subspecies of the largemouth bass. They are the northern largemouth, and the Florida largemouth. The Florida largemouth have been stocked in several southern states, and typically have a faster growth rate than their northern cousin. A typical Florida strain of bass will grow to about 10 pounds in about 8 years, while the northern largemouth would only be about 5 pounds at 8 years of age.
Largemouths live about 10 years on average, but have been known to reach 16 years of age.
Largemouth Bass Info on the Senses – Vision
Bass rely on vision to both find food, and escape their predators. Their eyes are situated on the upper sides of their head. They can see pretty well in all directions, except backwards and straight down.
Water clarity determines how far the bass can see. In laboratory tests, red has been determined to be the color that bass see the best. But that doesn’t mean you should use a red lure every time you hit the water.
Red is the first color to dissipate, usually at a depth of around 10 ft. A general rule of thumb to apply in regards to colors of lures is to use bright or fluorescent lures is stained or murky water, and darker or muted colors in clear water. You will have to experiment with the lure colors on your favorite fishing hole to find what works best there.
Largemouth Bass Info on the Senses – Lateral Line
Bass have a distinctive lateral line. The lateral line is part of a network of nerve endings that detect the slightest of vibrations and sends them to the receptors in their inner ear. The lateral line kind of acts like an eardrum in humans.
The lateral line can help the bass determine if what they are sensing is predator or prey, and about where it is located. If the bass determines that it is prey, it will move in for a closer look, and rely on its vision to make a strike.
Largemouth Bass Info on the Senses – Hearing
Although all fish lack external ears, they do have inner ears. Their inner ears consist of tiny bones, that can pick up very slight sounds, such as bait stirring, or a crayfish moving among the pebbles. This is why many lures have rattles in them, or make noise.
Largemouth Bass Info on the Senses – Smell
The Largemouth Bass does not have a very good sense of smell. However, many bass fishermen swear that a scented lure helps them catch fish, primarily because they believe the fish will hold onto the bait a bit longer, giving them a chance to set the hook. But don’t rely on a bass to find your lure simply because of the smell.
Largemouth Bass Info on the Senses – Taste
Taste does not seem to matter to Largemouth Bass. They will eat about anything including minnows, crayfish, frogs, worms, snakes, lizards, flies, grasshoppers, and more. However, there are some fishermen who believe that salted worms or other flavored bait helps them catch fish.
By understanding the nature of the largemouth, and how it operates, you can become a better fisherman. The next time you learn a new bass fishing technique, remember your Largemouth Bass info, and use accordingly. Best of luck on your next fishing trip.
Originally posted 2011-03-27 20:17:20. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Caught any big one's lately? Why not show off your catch on our Bragging Board? To be considered to have your picture posted on our Bragging Board, submit your photos to admin@bassfishingtips4u.com.
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The floating artificial worm rig produces violent top-water bites. You will often see the Bass jump out of the water when fishing the floating rig. Give it a try next time you hit the water.
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Choosing the best fishing line depends greatly upon the type of fishing that you are planning on doing. Different lines work well for different applications. That is why it is a good idea to have a couple of extra rods handy with different set-ups should the need arise. Below we will examine the different kinds of line on the market and delve into the best uses for each.
Nylon Monofilament Fishing Line
Probably the most popular line sold today is the nylon monofilament, commonly referred to as mono. Monofilament line has a high degree of stretch and moderate abrasion resistance built in. Mono has a high degree of memory, which can result in severe backlashes on an open faced reel. Monofilament is used for a variety of fishing methods. It is really good to have when you are fishing with a heavy action rod and you are trying to set the hook hard. If the line has no stretch, it is easier to rip the bait out of the mouth of the bass with a heavy action rod. Mono is regarded as a general purpose line by many. If you have only one rod to fish with, this would be a good choice of line to use.
Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
If you are fishing with jigs in deep water, then the best fishing line you can use is fluorocarbon line. Fluorocarbon virtually disappears underwater due to it's light refractive index that is almost identical to the index of water. Another big plus for fluorocarbon line is that it sinks, unlike monofilament or braided line. Fluorocarbon line also has good abrasion resistance and low stretch built in. The low stretch is particularly handy when you have a lot of line out and you are trying to set the hook.
Superlines aka Copolymer Fishing Line
One of the greatest advances in the fishing industry is the introduction of copolymer fishing line. Made from Spectra or Dyneema braided fibers, the superlines offer low diameter fishing lines that are stronger than nylon monofilament and fluorocarbon lines of a larger diameter.
These lines are great for fishing around heavy cover. They offer minimal stretch, and high abrasion resistance. If you are trolling for Bass, you will love the fact that the smaller diameter fishing line will allow your lure to dive deeper.
One thing to be aware of though is that the low stretch that superlines possess, may cause you to rip the hook out of the mouth of the Bass if you set the hook too hard. Some bass fishermen will tie on a monofilament leader in order to prevent ripping the hook out of the mouth of the bass, yet still have the abrasion resistance for fishing heavy cover.
Save Money By Using Your Best Fishing Line Last
Good fishing line can be expensive. Especially if you are trying to string up 6 or 8 rods with fresh line. One way you can cut your cost is to string the first half of your reel with a low cost monofilament line that you find on sale somewhere. Then tie a knot joining the cheap fishing line and the good fishing line. You need about 100 yards or so of the good fishing line. If you happen to break off that much during a trip or two, simply restring back to the spot where the 2 lines were joined. But at least once a year, your should restring the whole reel.
So as you can see, the best fishing line for you really boils down to what kind of fishing you are going to be doing. Invest in good quality fishing line, so that you do not lose that bass of a lifetime that you were fortunate enough to hook.
Originally posted 2011-03-30 22:11:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
The Carolina-Rigged worm is probably the most popular method of rigging an artificial worm for bass fishing there is. Fished properly, the Carolina rig will certainly put more Bass in the boat. Follow along as we discuss how to tie on the rig, and how to fish with it.
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Well its almost that time of the year again. The annual spring white bass fishing run. If you can catch them right, you can limit out in no time. But how do you find them, and what bait do you use? Here are a few early Spring White Bass fishing tips to help you find success.
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Probably the most popular bait for bass is the artificial worm. And one of the most popular methods of rigging an artificial worm is the Texas Rig. In this post we will discuss how to tie the Texas Rig, and how to bass fish with a Texas-Rigged worm.
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Many trophy fisherman swear by Bass fishing with crayfish. Crayfish work well for both largemouth and smallmouth Bass alike. Sometimes you can find them in a local bait shop, but most times you will have to go out and catch them yourself.
Catching Crayfish
Catching crayfish, or crawfish or crawdads as some folks call them, is a pretty easy task. Most times if you can find a ditch holding a little bit of water, you will find them. You can also turn over rocks in a small creek and find them. And there are also crayfish traps that you can purchase that will even make it easier. A 3-4″ crawdad is the perfect size that you are looking for.
Once you catch the crayfish, just put them in a bucket with a little vegetation to hide under. Some folks prefer a styrofoam bucket to put them in. Either way, just make sure to keep them cool. Do not leave them exposed in the direct sunlight, or they will die.
Bass Fishing with Crayfish
To fish with a crayfish, many anglers like to remove the pincers by squeezing the claw with a pair of pliers until it detaches. This will not injure the crawfish, and will make it look more appetizing and less challenging to the Bass.
Hook a #4 or #6 hook through the hard raised portion on the head between the eyes. Fish the bait slow across the bottom. Remember, it is a crawdad, and they tend to move slow. So keep it natural looking. Don’t be bouncing it off the bottom as if it were a jig.
Give Bass the Crawfish they Want
If you are fishing in a large body of water, the crawfish may be different colors from one side of the lake to the other depending on water temperatures and other environmental factors. Try to catch some crayfish from the side of the lake that you are fishing on.
Sometimes if you are lucky you can catch a few softshell crayfish. These are crawfish that have recently molted and their backs have not become a hard shell yet. Bass love them.
Should you decide to opt for fishing with an artificial crawdad, it is important to match the color to the existing crawdads found in the waters that you are fishing. If the crayfish happen to have a bit of color on their pinchers, for optimum results, you can paint the tips of your artificial lure to match.
Rule of thumb to remember is that the clearer the water, the more you must match your artificial bait to the actual live bait found in those waters.
Bass fishing with crayfish can help you catch the Bass of a lifetime. Go out and give it a try the next time you hit the water.
Originally posted 2011-03-01 22:36:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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