| > | | | | plastic lure, it should be retrieved in a way that makes |
| One of the most effective ways to catch more bass | | | | it look like a swimming or injured minnow. When fishing |
| is fishing with plastics. Learn how using simple | | | | with a plastic worm, a simple twitch of the rod tip will |
| techniques, fishing with plastics, can put more bass in | | | | elicit strikes from aggressive bass. |
| your boat. | | | | By a wide margin, the most commonly used plastic lure |
| Every bass fisherman wants to catch more bass. | | | | is the worm. Plastic worms are simple to use and |
| Even the pros want to put more fish in the boat. But | | | | easy to rig. They come in various lengths from about |
| for the beginner, it is a little different. As a beginner, you | | | | 7" to 11"and can be rigged with or without weight. |
| can and will catch more bass with plastics. The use of | | | | A plastic worm should be retrieved with a "lift & fall" |
| plastic lures is one of the easiest techniques to learn. | | | | retrieve. Simply put, this means you cast it out, reel in |
| There are a few things to know that will bring you | | | | some line, raise the rod tip a little (from 10:00 to 12:00) |
| more success along the way. | | | | to lift the worm, and then let it fall back down naturally. |
| Shapes Plastic lures come in a variety of shapes. | | | | Most bass will hit on the fall, so you need to pay |
| Everything from frogs to crawfish, worms and even | | | | attention to your line and feel the strike through the rod. |
| smaller fish is available. To have a well rounded tackle | | | | This technique will help you take more bass from the |
| box, you need to have a wide variety of different | | | | middle of the water. Don't worry; you'll know when you |
| shaped plastics at your disposal. The one you use in | | | | get a strike. |
| any given situation should match what is naturally fond | | | | When weather is a little warmer, bass will go deeper |
| in the area you are fishing. For instance, you should not | | | | to find cooler water temps. During the summer, the |
| fish a snake lure in a lake where snakes are not a | | | | use of a drop shot type rig can boost your creel |
| natural inhabitant. | | | | greatly. A drop shot style rig is easy: tie the hook |
| Colors There are just as many colors available as | | | | about 18" from the end of the line. On the end of the |
| there are shapes. The color of the plastic you choose | | | | line, tie a small weight like a 3/8 ounce or ½ ounce |
| can be very important. Every angler has a favorite | | | | sinker. |
| that works for them, so you just need to find the one | | | | What happens here is that the weight sits on the |
| that works for you. The basic rule of thumb is that | | | | bottom and the plastic worm floats about a foot and a |
| when the water is murky, a brighter color may work | | | | half above, kind of like waving in the breeze, so to |
| better. A darker color may work better when the | | | | speak. The "lift & fall" retrieve is still the preferred. Try |
| water is clear. | | | | a few different retrieves to see what works for you. |
| Technique The most important thing though is how you | | | | You can catch more bass with plastics and give more |
| present that plastic. What you want to do is make the | | | | meaning to your fishing excursions when you master |
| lure act in a natural manner. If fishing with a bait fish | | | | the basics. |