| When you spend more and more time bass | | | | most forms of cover and even in open water. |
| fishing you will obtain more knowledge of the | | | | These types of lures are often used in the |
| right techniques and choosing the right lures | | | | spring and fall when bass move in shallow |
| at the right location. Asking for tips from | | | | water and feed on baitfish. Soft jerkbaits |
| anglers familiar with the location is the | | | | are an eye contact lure meaning the bass has |
| best way to examine the fishing conditions. | | | | to see it to hit it thus this works best in |
| Take your time to experiment with many | | | | clear water. |
| different lures and bass-fishing techniques | | | | |
| until you discover what is the most effective | | | | Hardbaits: |
| for catching bass. | | | | |
| | | | Jigs |
| There are two different kinds of baits for | | | | |
| bass fishing. The soft plastic baits and the | | | | A jig is heavy, lead headed bait with a |
| hardbaits. Examples for the soft plastic | | | | single hook. These are one of the most |
| baits are: grubs, tube baits, and soft | | | | productive baits in use today, often used in |
| jerkbaits. For the hardbaits there are: jigs, | | | | waters that are slightly murky to clear with |
| topwaters, and crankbaits. These different | | | | water temperatures below the sixty degree |
| kinds of lures have different uses, different | | | | mark and when the bass are in an inactive |
| techniques to use, catches different kinds of | | | | mood and in deep cover. The key to fishing |
| bass and also depends on the location where | | | | with jigs is to make it look alive as much as |
| you plan to fish. | | | | possible. |
| | | | |
| Soft plastic baits: | | | | Topwaters |
| | | | |
| Grubs | | | | These kinds of bait are one of the most |
| | | | productive and exciting baits for bass |
| Grubs are tiny lures that usually attract big | | | | fishing. Topwaters can sometimes out-fish |
| smallmouth bass and work just as well on | | | | other techniques. Effective from warm to cool |
| largemouths. This kind of lure works more | | | | water, topwaters are often used in the early |
| effectively on highland reservoirs that lack | | | | morning, late evening and during the calm |
| wide cover. These lures are best used in | | | | before an approaching storm. In general this |
| clear water situations and also in deep water | | | | works best in the late spring, summer and |
| but are as effective in shallow water. In | | | | fall. |
| deep water they are ideal and more effective | | | | |
| if the angler uses the lightest grubs that | | | | Crankbaits |
| tend to fall more slowly thus being exposed | | | | |
| to the fish longer, this is because fishes | | | | Commonly used by professional tournament |
| tend to hit them while they are falling, not | | | | fishermen, these baits act as "bird dogs" in |
| when they are already in the water. | | | | their search for bass. They have protruding |
| | | | "lips" that causes them to dive beneath the |
| Tube Baits | | | | surface when retrieved. Lures of this type |
| | | | cover large amount of water and very |
| Tube jigs are used preferably on inactive | | | | effective when bass are in a depth of 10 to |
| fish and in clear water. This kind of lure is | | | | 20 feet. |
| designed to use as drop bait and not designed | | | | |
| to work the bottom or swim back. This type of | | | | Crankbaits tend to work more effectively in |
| lure is not a "feel" lure which means that | | | | places where wood or rocks occur, although |
| you can give it a slack. The fish won't let | | | | they are not well suited on vegetation. This |
| go of the lure so you won't have to worry | | | | type of bait works best as a contact lure |
| about a quick hookset. This is commonly used | | | | such as knocking them of stumps or bumping |
| in water no deeper than 10 feet. | | | | them against the bottom. This causes the bait |
| | | | to stop and then dart erratically, causing |
| Soft jerkbaits or Soft Plastic Stickbaits | | | | the bass to strike. |
| | | | |
| This bait can be used almost anywhere. You | | | | Always remember that practice is best way to |
| can use it on, over, around, and even through | | | | improve your bass-fishing techniques. |