| otting can mean the difference between taking a cold | | | | that you've lost the feel of the weight against the |
| boat ride and a great day of catching fish. Invest the | | | | bottom, and your depth hasn't changed significantly, |
| time to practice this technique and you will have more | | | | you have to put two and two together and get ready |
| fun bass fishing in the cold winter months. This and | | | | to set the hook. |
| other Bass fishing techniques are required to master | | | | The preferred hook set for this technique is called a |
| the art of bass fishing. | | | | sweep set. Once you have detected a fish holding |
| If you put the time in, you will soon learn how to | | | | your bait drop the rod tip towards the fish, reel down |
| master the fall and winter bass fishery in British | | | | to the point of feeling resistance (or just shy of that |
| Columbia. Your efforts will be rewarded with | | | | point) and 'sweep' the rod horizontally away from the |
| exceptional smallmouth bass of trophy sizes. | | | | fish. |
| Remember though it takes roughly 8 to 10 years for a | | | | If the rod loads up good and you're sure that you've |
| smallmouth bass to attain a weight in excess of 5 lbs., | | | | got the hook in the fish just fight him to the boat. If you |
| so conserve your catch by practicing responsible | | | | set the hook and it didn't feel solid you may want to |
| catch and release methods. | | | | set the hook a second time. The drag on your reel |
| Well the cold weather has put the bass into their | | | | should be set tight enough that it doesn't give on the |
| winter patterns. Forget about rip baits, spinner baits and | | | | initial hook set. But it shouldn't be set so tight that a |
| crank baits. Now is the time to break out the finesse | | | | larger fish can't take the line if needed. |
| gear. One of the most common techniques for getting | | | | British Columbia, Canada's foremost sport fishing web |
| bass to bite during this season is splitshotting. It is a | | | | site containing BC saltwater fishing, BC freshwater |
| fairly straightforward technique and requires little | | | | fishing, maps, fishing tackle news, sport fishing |
| investment in terminal tackle. | | | | destinations, fishing tips and techniques, editorials, |
| The hardest thing there is to teach a bass angler | | | | articles and much, much more. Inside you'll find |
| learning to splitshot is detecting the bite. The bite will | | | | everything you need to tackle trophy fish of all |
| vary according to the activity level of the fish. There | | | | varieties including salmon, halibut, steelhead, trout, bass, |
| will be times when they pop the bait hard and you will | | | | and sturgeon to name a few. They also had their own |
| know immediately that they are eating the bait. Other | | | | approach and techniques regarding bass fishing. |
| times there will be a soft, almost imperceptible tick and | | | | Since the best spot to catch bass is never on weeds |
| then nothing. And finally there is the dreaded pressure | | | | and cover, use weedless lures when possible. This will |
| bite. The pressure bite will take two forms. | | | | cut down on the expense of losing lures. |
| The first way to describe a pressure bite is you will | | | | Bass exist in a wide variety of temperatures, but tend |
| feel a slight resistance to pulling your line forward. This | | | | to get inactive during a cold front. Fish swim deeper |
| is somewhat like hooking a soft, spongy rubber band. | | | | during the sunniest part of the day. Sun seems to |
| The second pressure bite is when you lose contact | | | | adversely affect bass fishing. Seek out shady spots or |
| with the bottom. | | | | deeper water with cover. On cloudy or overcast days |
| A bass has picked up your lure and is just following | | | | try shallower waters. In cold water, retrieve your bait |
| along with your forward movement. This is why it is so | | | | slower. Fish tend to react slower in colder |
| important to maintain bottom contact. Once you realize | | | | temperatures. |