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