Fishing Tips for Bass: The Best Ways to Getting a Catch
One of the biggest misconceptions about Bass is that it isn’t just one type of fish, the word Bass encompasses many different types of fish from smallmouth or largemouth, choctaw, Guadalupe, spotted bass, striped bass and a number of other species.
The main type of Bass that comes to our minds is the largemouth bass where we have seen the photos of 22lbs giants being brought out of the water.
If you are a keen Bass fisher or want to start fishing for the first time then there are a few things you need to know, and some tips and advice that will help you in becoming a better Bass fisher. Below, we have listed out a selection of great tricks that will get you well on your way to catching some 22 lbs beasts.
What Does a Bass Look Like?
Bass fish species are very distinctive and hold an olive green color tone, living up to 16 years when they are out in the wild. You will usually see them snacking on anything from shrimp, frogs and insects, so this will give you an ideal starting point on what you should be using for bait.
Bass Fishing Tip #1 – Know When to Fish
The best time to fish for Bass is during the pre-spawn season which tends to begin around Spring time, as the weather is a key influencer on where you will spot bass. During pre-spawnboth male and females will feed aggressively and they nest very close to the shoreline, making it an opportune moment to catch yourself a big largemouth Bass.
If the sun is out then Bass fish won’t be spotted as clearly as they would when the sky is overcast. During cloudy periods you will have more chance to see Bass in the open, so just remember that is you are fishing on a sunny day the chances are that Bass will look for shelter and stay there. This doesn’t stop you from fishing, you just need to prepare your bait near sheltered areas where Bass may be hiding.
Bass Fishing Tip #2 – Make Way For Live Bait
Sometimes you need to use live bait, and even though this isn’t a preferred choice for fishermen it can bring results when they aren’t happening. If you find yourself struggling to get a catch or any kind of lure on your line then make sure you have some live bait handy that you can switch over to.
Shiners are commonly the best type of live bait, but also remember the Bass diet of frogs, worms and crayfish we talked about earlier. Using these types of live bait could change your luck.
Bass Fishing Tip # 3 – Selecting The Right Rod and Reel
Every angler has their own particular choice when it comes to selecting the right rod and reel, but generally you should look at getting a 10-12ft rod that is both supple but can also be strong enough when you are tackling one of the strongest and largest fish species. You also want to make sure that you get a rod with at least a 2-3oz casting weight.
In terms of reels and lines, again, it comes down to what kind of angler you are. Some like to use the lightest lines possible which makes the catch fun whereas other prefer a medium to heavy spinning rod to do the job.
It also depends on the weather conditions, you don’t want to be using lighter reels and lines during rough weather otherwise you will be packing up and heading off a lot sooner than you would have hoped.
Bass Fishing Tip # 4 – Night Fishing for Bass
If you are more of a night fisher, or you happen to be in an area where the daytime temperature is just too much to handle then try this technique.
The biggest tip about night fishing for Bass that we can give you is the fact they move into shallower water when the sun sets, and it’s usually this time of the day where they feed on nocturnal insects and fish. Just take extra care when the visibility becomes limited.