Eight Clues to Finding Big Bass
Landing big bass is 5 percent luck and 95 percent knowledge. There is a lot to learn about bass fishing, including knowing how to locate and tackle the prime bass fishing areas.
Many pro and recreational anglers expect to hook a bass as soon as they drop their lines into a new body of water. They wonder why the bass aren’t striking, even though they haven’t taken the time to familiarize themselves with the water, above and below the surface.
Locating the best bass fishing spots is certainly not a shot in the dark. You’ll need to do a little homework and understand the water if you want to locate the bass.
There are several important factors to keep in mind while searching for those sweet spots swimming with hungry bass:
1. Seasonal patterns will naturally affect your fishing success. Know where bass travel after they spawn, and how they migrate throughout the season. Natural spawning patterns are reflected in bass seasons set by government resource ministries, and all responsible anglers respect their season limits.
2. Understand the seasons. Weather conditions are particularly important for successful bass fishing. Bass are most active just after cold fronts and during early spring and late fall periods. Know where to fish, and when to fish.
3. Know the depth of the water. This factor is naturally combined with the type of bass you’re fishing, as well as other considerations such as lakebed materials, natural covers or nearby weed beds. You will find bass in shallow water, if there are sufficient natural covers in place. However, shallow water should be avoided on hot, sunny days. Knowing the depth of the water will also determine your choice of bait.
4. Fish love clear water, so avoid murky, swampy areas. Everyone prefers clean water; particularly fish that need to live and breathe in it.
5. Know the water temperature. If the water is too cold (below 50 degrees Fahrenheit) the natural food chain will be affected. On the other hand, if it’s too warm, the fish just won’t bite.
6. Locate hidden structures. Bass love to seek shelter among the sunken branches of fallen trees and hide out amid rock beds, under boat docks and around underwater foundations. If you can find structures hidden beneath the surface of the water, you’re bound to find bass.
7. Find vegetation areas. Bass tend to be where they’ll find natural prey, and that’s often amid or alongside a weed bed. Look for areas with lots of vegetation, as these will be home to frogs, insects and other bass treats. Choose a lure made for weed beds, such as plugs or small floating minnows, or anchor your boat near the edge of the bed and cast alongside the weeds. A lure is named as such because it “lures” fish out of hiding.
8. Mind your map. You won’t find the bass in the lake if you can’t find the lake on a map. If you’re fishing foreign territory, the ability to read a map is crucial to your bass fishing success. Sometimes, local tackle shops will have maps available with prime fishing spots marked right on them. Hot spot and topographical maps are two popular choices for anglers. Hot spot maps are made to show anglers where fish can be found, but the natural migration trends prevent accuracy. Topographical maps show the lakes in more detail, with rocks, water depth and other features clearly shown.
To use a map correctly, you need to know how to sector it. Study your map and note areas where fish might be found. Use a highlighter or coloured pen to divide the map into sections. Then, use the sections to decide where you will fish during the time that you have. The size of the sections should vary, depending on the contours, structures and different areas will be fished. Take your time in each section, and don’t give up too quickly or move around too often.
Successful bass anglers know that it takes more than dropping anchor and casting bait to hook a big, hungry bass. That’s why bass tournaments can be so competitive and exciting. To come out on top, you need to think like a bass and search out those sweet spots that other anglers have missed.
Remember what to look for in bass fishing areas:
* Look for weed beds and other vegetation
* Shallow water adjacent to deeper areas
* Seek shoreline and lakebed contours
* Shore points and point drops
* Search out artificial and natural structures
The key to locating bass is your understanding of the water. If you find a spot that you think is prime for bass, be patient. Bass can be stubborn and slow to strike, and it can take a lot of repetitive action to lure them out of hiding. Try several techniques and different types of bait. Before long, you’ll establish a working pattern and land that big bass.