Tips and Tactics: A Guide for Catching Bass

When you spend more and more time bass fishingit on, over, around, and even through most forms of
you will obtain more knowledge of the right techniquescover and even in open water. These types of lures
and choosing the right lures at the right location. Askingare often used in the spring and fall when bass move
for tips from anglers familiar with the location is thein shallow water and feed on baitfish. Soft jerkbaits
best way to examine the fishing conditions. Take yourare an eye contact lure meaning the bass has to see
time to experiment with many different lures andit to hit it thus this works best in clear water.
bass-fishing techniques until you discover what is theHardbaits:
most effective for catching bass.Jigs
There are two different kinds of baits for bass fishing.A jig is heavy, lead headed bait with a single hook.
The soft plastic baits and the hardbaits. Examples forThese are one of the most productive baits in use
the soft plastic baits are: grubs, tube baits, and softtoday, often used in waters that are slightly murky to
jerkbaits. For the hardbaits there are: jigs, topwaters,clear with water temperatures below the sixty degree
and crankbaits. These different kinds of lures havemark and when the bass are in an inactive mood and
different uses, different techniques to use, catchesin deep cover. The key to fishing with jigs is to make it
different kinds of bass and also depends on thelook alive as much as possible.
location where you plan to fish.Topwaters
Soft plastic baits:These kinds of bait are one of the most productive
Grubsand exciting baits for bass fishing. Topwaters can
Grubs are tiny lures that usually attract big smallmouthsometimes out-fish other techniques. Effective from
bass and work just as well on largemouths. This kindwarm to cool water, topwaters are often used in the
of lure works more effectively on highland reservoirsearly morning, late evening and during the calm before
that lack wide cover. These lures are best used inan approaching storm. In general this works best in the
clear water situations and also in deep water but arelate spring, summer and fall.
as effective in shallow water. In deep water they areCrankbaits
ideal and more effective if the angler uses the lightestCommonly used by professional tournament fishermen,
grubs that tend to fall more slowly thus being exposedthese baits act as "bird dogs" in their search for bass.
to the fish longer, this is because fishes tend to hitThey have protruding "lips" that causes them to dive
them while they are falling, not when they are alreadybeneath the surface when retrieved. Lures of this type
in the water.cover large amount of water and very effective when
Tube Baitsbass are in a depth of 10 to 20 feet.
Tube jigs are used preferably on inactive fish and inCrankbaits tend to work more effectively in places
clear water. This kind of lure is designed to use aswhere wood or rocks occur, although they are not
drop bait and not designed to work the bottom orwell suited on vegetation. This type of bait works best
swim back. This type of lure is not a "feel" lure whichas a contact lure such as knocking them of stumps or
means that you can give it a slack. The fish won't letbumping them against the bottom. This causes the bait
go of the lure so you won't have to worry about ato stop and then dart erratically, causing the bass to
quick hookset. This is commonly used in water nostrike.
deeper than 10 feet.Always remember that practice is best way to
Soft jerkbaits or Soft Plastic Stickbaitsimprove your bass-fishing techniques.
This bait can be used almost anywhere. You can use