Eight Clues to Finding Big Bass
Posted on December 29, 2007
Landing big bass is 5 percent luck and 95 percent knowledge. There is a lot to learn about bass fishing, including knowing how to locate and tackle the prime bass fishing areas.
Many pro and recreational anglers expect to hook a bass as soon as they drop their lines into a new body of water. They wonder why the bass aren’t striking, even though they haven’t taken the time to familiarize themselves with the water, above and below the surface.
There’s no luck involved in locating the best bass fishing spots. It really is a science, and you’ll need to do some homework. Understand the water, the climate and the season.
There are several important factors to keep in mind while searching for those sweet spots swimming with hungry bass:
1. Seasonal patterns will naturally affect the success of your fishing expedition. Know where bass travel after spawning, and how they naturally migrate throughout the season. Government resource ministries reflect the natural spawning patterns when they set bass seasons, and every responsible angler will respect their seasonal limits.
2. Keep the season in mind. The success of your bass fishing will depend on weather conditions. Bass are most active in early spring, late fall and just after a cold front. Knowing when to fish is as important as knowing where to fish.
3. Determine the water depth. Different types of bass can be found in variable water depths. Lakebed materials, natural cover and nearby weed beds are other factors to consider. Bass can be found in shallow water, provided there are sufficient natural covers in place. If you’re fishing on a hot, sunny day, however, try to avoid fishing shallow areas. Your choice of bait is also dependant on the depth of the water.
4. Water clarity means a lot to fish. Everyone prefers clear water — particularly the fish that need to live and breathe in it. Avoid murky and swampy areas.
5. Know the water temperature. If the water is too cold (below 50 degrees Fahrenheit) the natural food chain will be affected. On the other hand, if it’s too warm, the fish just won’t bite.
6. Locate structure areas. Bass love to hide out among the sunken branches of fallen trees, amid rock beds and even under boat docks and underwater foundations. Fine structures hidden beneath the surface of the water, and you’ll find bass.
7. Look for vegetation. Bass are predators, and will naturally stay close to their prey. Weed beds are filled with frogs, insects and other bass treats. Use live bait or choose a lure made for weed beds, such as plugs or small floating minnows. Anchor your boat near the edge of the weed bed and cast alongside the weeds. As the name suggests, the right tackle will “lure” a fish out of hiding.
8. Map out your territory. The ability to read a map is fundamentally important to your bass fishing success. Depending on where you fish, you may find prime fishing spots marked on maps available at local tackle shops. If you can’t find the lake on a map, you’ll never land the bass. Most serious anglers rely on two main types of lake maps, including hot spot and topographical maps. A topographical map shows the lake in more detail and includes rocks, variations in water depth and so on. Hot spot maps are drawn for the sole purpose of showing anglers where fish are located. Fish naturally migrate, of course, so a hot spot map should never be considered as a sure thing.
Knowing how to sector a map is the key to using it correctly. Study your map carefully and look for areas where fish are most likely to be found. Divide the map into sections with a colored pen or highlighter. An experienced angler will use the sections to determine where to fish, depending on the amount of time they have to spend on the water. The size of the sections can also vary depending on structures, contours and how many different areas will be fished. It’s important to take your time, and don’t give up too quickly on your chosen spot.
Successful bass anglers know that it takes more than dropping anchor and casting bait to hook a big, hungry bass. That’s why bass tournaments can be so competitive and exciting. To come out on top, you need to think like a bass and search out those sweet spots that other anglers have missed.
Remember what to look for in bass fishing areas:
* Weed beds and other vegetation areas
* Fish shallow water adjacent to deeper spots
* Seek shoreline and lakebed contours
* Shore points and point drops
* Natural and artificial structures
Locating bass and understanding the water are the first steps to finding bass, and once you’ve found a spot you think will be a prime bass fishing area, don’t give up on it too quickly. Bass can be slow to strike and may need repetitive action to be lured out of hiding, so you may need to try several different baits and techniques to establish a working pattern and land those big bass.
Writer Terence Uniacke contributes articles to a variety of web sites, on fishing recreation water and recreation and leisure topics.
Article Source: Articles Directory – ArticleGOLD
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