You can choose from thousands of lures to fish for bass.The more you know about bass habits, the more effective your lure will be.Break down the science of bass fishing with these main types of lures.
Step 1: When fishing in the cold, use slow moving baits.
Bass will only bite when your lure is in their strike zone.
Step 2: Break Spring into 4 segments.
Pre-spawn means that bass will be around the 8–15 feet depth, spawning means they will move up to their spawning beds, and post-swarm means bass move back down to 8-15 feet.When waters reach the 45 degree mark, pre-spawn occurs.Water can be between 55 and 65 degrees.Post spawning doesn't happen to an entire lake due to differences in water temperatures.The beginning of summer is when the temperature climbs up to 90 and 80 degrees.
Step 3: During the Summer, fish along the shore early in the morning and off of structures during the day.
Bass will move into open water around creek channels and structures when fishing in the Summer.It's best to use topwater, plastics, jigs, and even lipless crankbaits if you want to catch some fish.
Step 4: The first night of the fall is a good time to fish.
The bass will show more erratic behavior as the temperature drops.As bass prepare for the upcoming cold months, the first cool night of Fall is a good time to look for a feeding frenzy.
Step 5: Look at the terrain.
Bass like to hide within debris or stay close to certain areas if the weather is nice.There are plenty of places to cast in the vegetation, rocky bottoms, shallow flats, fallen trees, structures, bushes and grass.You should research the swimming habits that correspond to the time and place you are fishing.
Step 6: When you want to cover a lot of water, use crankbaits.
These lures can be used in many different ways.In light vegetation, rocky bottoms, shallow flats, and through bushes and grass, you can use them.Rattles help bass find the bait.The eyes are a good feature to look for on a crankbait.The eyes seem to work best for predatory fish.Depending on the depth and the speed at which you reel, lipless or with a lip crankbaits are effective.
Step 7: How deep will you be fishing?
If you are fishing as deep as 50 feet, use lipless crankbaits.You will have to use a lighter lure in shallow water if you want to catch fish.A 10 pound nylon monofilament or fluorocarbon line is used to classify shallow, medium or deep diving crankbaits.When fishing for bass in shallow water, use square bill crankbaits with round, stubby lips and sharp off noses.Medium-diving crankbaits are good for fishing in a 5-10 foot range.If you are fishing 12 feet or deeper, use deep-diving crankbaits.
Step 8: Look at the water conditions.
Lipless crankbaits can easily be ripped out of grass or bumped along a clean bottom, whereas a lipped crank bait will hit something and kick.When fishing through wood cover, use lipped crankbaits.
Step 9: Pick the shape of your crankbait.
Depending on the temperature of the water, the shape of your crankbait determines how much movement you will get, as bass are less active in colder temperatures.A flat crankbait with narrow sides has a tighter wiggle that is more appealing to bass who won't react when water is cold.
Step 10: The line should match the diving depth.
If you want your crankbait to run deep, pair the correct size of line with it.You can lighten up a deep diving crankbait with a 10 pound fluorocarbon line or you can use the same line to get a medium diving cranbait.
Step 11: The colors should be limited.
Stick to the basics of bass fishing with the full spectrum of crankbaits.Choose from bright, dull, and contrasting patterns.The shad patterns work well in bright sunlight and are more effective in cloudy water.Bass can be found in shallow water as well as in the spring.If bass are feeding on bream, bluegill works well.
Step 12: spinnerbaits can be used to cover a lot of water.
They can dive, retrieve quickly, and even weave through thick cover thanks to their unique blade shape.Spinnerbaits can be weedless or standard.If you are fishing in a lot of cover, a weedless spinnerbait is a good option.A cheater hook can be used to catch fish.
Step 13: Pick the right blades.
leaf, Colorado and Indiana are the major blade types.For different conditions, each blade type is effective.When fishing through grass and in clear water, the leaf blade is the most effective.A long slender blade with rounded points on either end allows for a faster spin and less water resistance.The Colorado blade can be used when fishing in muddy and murky water.The rounded shape allows it to spin slower.The Colorado blade and leaf blade are slower than the Indiana blade.
Step 14: Look at the water conditions.
Ensure that you use the most effective blades by checking for debris or water clarity.The larger the blade, the easier it is to maneuver around the debris.Spinner baits are meant to cause a reaction from the bass when it is windy and cloudy.Spinner baits can be used in clearer water and in muddier water.
Step 15: The line should match the diving depth.
Lighter spinnerbaits should be used for shallow water.The weight will be between 18 ounce and 2 ounces.The deeper your lure is, the deeper it will swim.You can add a trailer to your hook if you want to make your lure go deeper.
Step 16: The colors should be limited.
It is best to keep it simple, since there are so many colors to choose from.For night fishing or fishing in muddy water, choose chartreuse with white and black.Some people are successful with painted blades.
Step 17: When fishing in shallow water or areas covered in surface vegetation, use topwaters.
The lures are meant to pop and splash on the surface of the water.Bright colors work best in the spring.Black, white or gray work well in the fall and winter.To get the attention of the bass, choose topwaters that produce a lot of noise and splash.
Step 18: You can choose the right lure for the water.
Topwater lures include walkers, poppers, wakebaits, minnows/twitch baits and prop baits.Different types of topwater lure are more effective in different conditions.Walkers keep the bait in striking distance for the bass when they cover a lot of top water.Bass will bite when fishing around stumps, docks, bushes, rocks, and small areas that are covered.When fish are attracted to the V shaped wake, wakebaits work best.Bass can find minnows/twitch baits in clear lakes or small areas.When bass are guarding their nest, they are great during spawning.During spawning season, prop baits should be used in places with a lot of grass.They create a lot of movement, which keeps them in a striking range.Buzzbaits can be used in sparse grass if you want a topwater presentation.After spawning in the late summer, these are the most effective.Frogs are meant to be used around heavy grass.They are one of the toughest lures to catch and can be used around cover.
Step 19: The right technique is used.
You have to mimic fleeing or helpless prey with erratic movements in order to get the feeding and agitation response from bass.A zig zag pattern can be created on the surface of the water when you use a walker lure.Point the rod tip back to the lure quickly if you want it to glide.The bait should move from left to right with a series of fast snaps.The poppers have a mouth and a tail.Use your wakebait's sharp lip to cause it to shimmy back and forth.Bass guarding their nest can be attracted by float minnows/twitch baits back to the surface.To spray water with prop baits, use a series of short jerks on your rod.The buzzbait's blade can be used to spit and spray during jerks.Bass explode onto your lure if you twitch frog along the top of grass and water.
Step 20: Keep the colors simple.
It's best to use black, white, green and yellow for these baits.
Step 21: When using jigs, use short-range flipping and pitching techniques instead of casting out into the distance.
One of the most effective lures are the ones that give you a very accurate feel on the line.The plastic skirting attracts bass all year.When a bass hits a bait, give the rod tip a small twitch to see if it picks it up.
Step 22: Use a proper technique.
Give the line plenty of time to hit the bottom and cast out a jig.Jigs and plastic are fished differently.The bait is retrieved by moving the rod tip instead of reeling in.After the bait has hit the bottom, slowly lift the rod tip until it points straight up in the 12 o'clock position.Drop it to the 9 - 10 o'clock position and then reel in the slack.Continue until your line is in.Most people hold their finger against the line while lifting the rod tip to know when a fish is biting.The line can go slack suddenly or go sideways if you look for sudden resistance or bumping on the line.Drop the rod tip very quickly to the 3 o'clock position and pull back hard to 12.
Step 23: Look at the water conditions.
Jigs are the most effective when used in cover or closed to cover.Crawfish are supposed to move along the bottom.Jigs and plastic worms are best used slowly.Bass are hiding in fallen trees.You can use a jig on brush piles on a rocky bottom, standing timber, thick grass, and flats.The limbs connect to the trunks of the fallen trees if you pitch or flip a jig.The jig should fall to the bottom with a semi-tight line.To mimic the movements of a crawfish, drag or hop your jig down ledges.When fishing through thick grass, use a 34 ounce jig.Jigs provide protection from predatory animals when fishing on docks and piers.
Step 24: The colors should be simple.
Jigs are meant to be light in clear water and dark in murky water.
Step 25: Plastic/rubber lures can be used to kill worms or lizards.
These lures are the most effective because they are so realistic.Weighted or weightless they can be fished.Any type of plastic can be fished weedless to allow fishing in heavy vegetation.
Step 26: Use a proper technique.
Don't reel the lure in, but rather retrieve it with purpose by lifting and dropping the rod as you take up the slack of the lineThe same technique can be used to fish a plastic/rubber lure.Give the line plenty of time to hit the bottom.After the bait has hit the bottom, slowly lift the rod tip until it points straight up in the 12 o'clock position.Drop it to the 9 - 10 o'clock position and then reel in the slack.Continue until your line is in.Most people hold their finger against the line while lifting the rod tip to know when a fish is biting.The line can go slack suddenly or go sideways if you look for sudden resistance or bumping on the line.Drop the rod tip very quickly to the 3 o'clock position and pull back hard to 12.Use a floating plastic/rubber lure, around 7 inches, with a light wire hook on a split-shot rig or a Carolina rig.
Step 27: The fish are based on the bass patterns.
Bass are not very active in the winter.The only time these lures are not effective is when bass are very active.
Step 28: Look at the water conditions.
When the water is over 55 degrees, plastic/rubber lures work best.When the water is murky but the bass are active, use large lures that are 7 to 10 inches in length, while shorter ones are 4-5 inches.It is best to use both rigs and plastic/rubber lures slowly.
Step 29: The colors should be simple.
When fishing in murky water, choose from black, blue or purple.When using plastic worms, red colors may work well.