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Choose Your Lure, Three Must-Have Lures for Your Tackle Box Part II

July 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Article by Craige Bottorff

Have you ever wondered what the guys running around the lake in those fast bass boats are using to catch their fish. If you knew would you give it a try? Chances are they will tell you one of their best baits is the plastic worm. One of the most effective bass catching lures of all time.

Hello, my name is Craige Bottorff owner of CFB Fishing Gear and this is the second in a series of three articles called Choose Your Lure, Three Must-Have Lures for Your Tackle Box. These are fishing lures that I have had a lot of success with and would recommend to anyone that would like to catch more fish. This time it is all about the plastic worm.

While this article is about the plastic worm, remember that there are a number of other soft baits like lizards or slug type baits that can be rigged and fished in much the same way.

The two most common ways to rig a plastic worm are Texas Style or the Carolina Rig. Both are effective. I find myself going with the Texas Style rig most of the time.

To rig Texas Style start with a bullet weight. There are several kinds and sizes of bullet weights but I like the Xcalibur Tungsten bullet weight in 1/8 or ¼ oz size. Led weights are out these days, Tungsten is in. The bullet weight goes on the line first and is allowed to slide freely resting against the hook, after the hook has been tied on.

There are a number of styles and brands of worm hooks. Some will have barbs to keep the worm from sliding down the hook. Others have been shaped at the top of the hook to keep the worm in place. Tru Turn Hooks makes a product called the Tru Turn Hitch Hiker and it screws into the soft bait and works with any offset hook. Try several different styles of hooks and choose the one that works best for you.

After you slide the line through the hole in the weight, tie on the hook. You are now ready to attach the plastic worm. Run the hook into the head of the worm about ½ inch and let the point come back out. Slide the worm up to the top of the hook. The bullet weight should side down against the hook and the head of the plastic worm. Stick the hook into the body of the worm where the hook almost goes completely through. This will keep it weedless as long as the point of the hook does not go completely through the body of the worm. Be sure the worm is straight on the hook and not kinked. That’s it, Texas Style.

The purpose of the Carolina Rig is to let the plastic worm float a short distance away from the bullet weight. This allows a different type of presentation and separates the worm from the bullet weight. This can be accomplished a couple of different ways. Some anglers rig Texas Style then slide the bullet weight up from the hook the desired distance and place a toothpick into the hole of the bullet weight to secure the line. This stops the weight from moving and keeps it at the chosen distance from the bait. Strike King makes a product called Strike King EZ-Rigs that gives the same results without the toothpick.

The great thing about the plastic worm is that it can be fished in heavy cover. You can fish trees and stumps to get down where the big ones hide. Drop it in the moss and tease a big momma off her nest.Letting the worm sink to the bottom and resting for a moment before giving it a slight twitch will often trigger a strike.

There are dozens of different brands of plastics out there. Some have flavors or salt added. I find that the most important thing with a plastic worm is the color. As far as size I like a 7 ½ inch worm. My two favorite colors are Electric Blue and Pumpkin Seed. Start with a variety of colors and find the ones that work best at your favorite honey hole. The plastic worm can be fun and is easy to fish. Another tackle box treasure.

Next time: Topwater Baits

Craige Bottorff: Fishing Tips, owner of CFB Fishing Gear. Check out our sale price on Quantum Kevin VanDam Baitcast reel and other Discount Products. CFB Fishing Gear http:www.cfbfishinggear

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NEED A GOOD BASS FISHING TIP?

July 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Article by Eliseo Lao

Have you ever been sea bass fishing before? Have you ever wanted to try it? Are you ready to learn more about bass fishing? Do you have any knowledge of bass fishing or are you a seasoned bass fisher? Whatever level of bass fishing you are at, a bass fishing tip can still be of benefit to you. After all, the age old adage “the more you learn the less you know” still rings true.

A bass fishing tip can be an invaluable piece of information for anyone who is interested or currently goes bass fishing. There are countless locations and details that can make a great difference in one’s sea bass fishing experiences. Simply knowing that you need to change your sea bass tackle in order to catch different types of sea bass species is an invaluable bass fishing tip.

Another invaluable bass fishing tip can be knowing that certain times of day can make the difference in being able to catch more bass or not. This can be a difference between a great sea bass meal for your family or for a lucrative fishing endeavor for your business. Depending on your stakes, a bass fishing tip can make a world of a difference in your life.

Another bass fishing tip can advise you when the next great sea bass fishing competition takes place. This might give you enough notice to join in and possibly win a substantial cash prize. If you are competitive by nature or make most of your income from your sea bass fishing endeavors, this bass fishing tip can help pay your bills.

Maybe you want to find out the best places to go bass fishing. A bass fishing tip can give you some recommendations for the very best places to go. This can give you insight into a location that you might never have heard of before opening up another great place that could become a regular place you love to go visit. Who knows? The possibilities are endless. Why not explore all those that interest you? Why not leave yourself open to the advice and tips others offer? If nothing else, they can be food for thought getting your mind thinking about other possibilities that you might never have thought of before.

And, most importantly, give yourself time to pick and choose options that sound best to you. Give yourself time to weigh tips and their sources. You do not want to make huge changes or decisions based off just a single tip that might not be from a credible source. Use your head, but keep yourself open to what these tips can offer you.

Eliseo is an avid fishing guy.For more fishing info visit http://www.charasfishinginfo.com

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You Need the Best Bass Fishing Tackle

July 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Buy the Award Winning ‘Esca Lures’ online at…

http://www.innovativefishingtackle.co.uk/

Yes, I know — most people believe that these guys are not interested in doing anything more than selling stuff on TV. And I know that most of them probably receive some sort of compensation for their fishing tackle and equipment endorsements. And yet it’s not all commercialization — these guys have an acute interest in bass fishing tackle, and it’s in your interest to ask why.

The answer may surprise you: the proper use of good-quality bass fishing tackle can make the difference between landing a big one or letting one get away. That’s why these pro fisherman have tackle boxes stuffed to the gills (excuse the pun) with all sorts of tackle — these guys actually USE this stuff!

The application to your own life as an angler should be obvious then: it would be well worth your time to learn about the different types of bass fishing tackle — not only learn what’s available, but more importantly how to distinguish the good stuff from the garbage.

I’ll let you in on a little secret.

I’ll tell you how I find out which tackle is the best to use. I actually have two sources of information: my angling friends and fishing magazines. One of the things that I like to do from time to time when I am out fishing with my friends is to start a casual conversation about tackle — I like to listen to their responses — and in the course of the conversation I can learn a great deal from them about the lures and tackle that has worked, as well as the other stuff they have tried in the past that hasn’t. Let me tell you, I’ve saved a lot of money not having to buy unnecessary or worthless bass fishing tackle down through the years — just by taking my friends recommendations to heart.

I’ve found the worse thing that I can do is to make a tackle purchasing decision based on “window shopping” — just buying something that seems to strike my fancy when I see it for the first time in the store. The problem with this kind of impulse buying is that you really don’t know whether that item of fishing tackle really works.

That’s where my fishing magazines come in: I read these magazines regularly — and it isn’t the ads that I pay attention to so much as it is the product reviews. I’ve learned to read these magazines with a highlighter in hand — and when someone has written an article or product review that describes the performance of fishing tackle or equipment, I highlight all that stuff and mark the page for future reference. Now when I am in need of new bass fishing tackle, rods, reels, new line or anything else, I pull out those old issues and read over the reviews — it’s an honest, unbiased source of information. Again, I have saved a ton of money over the years by not having purchased unnecessary or crappy tackle.

So, when it’s time to buy replacement tackle items, don’t be foolish — check with your friends, and check out the fishing mags and make an INTELLIGENT and INFORMED decision.

How Do You Know What Saltwater Fishing Tackle You Should Be Using?

Do you want to go ocean fishing? If you do, then you need to know about saltwater fishing tackle. The tackle that you use is vital to your success in catching any saltwater fish. If you don’t have the right tackle, you can fish all day and not ever catch anything. The best way to learn about the equipment that you will need is to do some research online and offline by reading articles and books.

When you want to learn about saltwater fishing tackle, the internet is a great resource because there is a lot of information on this subject. You can learn what a beginner needs to use because you don’t want to use any professional tackle until you understand how to successfully catch fish that live in the ocean. When you start to price the gear needed for ocean fishing you will understand what I am talking about. The gear used by some of the professionals can be very expensive so you can see why you need to know what gear to get and how to use it properly.

Plus, when you research online, you will have all kinds of websites that carry quality saltwater fishing gear, so you will have a good chance to look at everything that is available. It is a good idea to research the different types of tackle that you find and learn what you can about it before trying to use it. This will help you use it correctly when you try to fish with it. Otherwise, you will not have any luck fishing because your equipment won’t be doing what it is supposed to. So, make sure you know how to correctly use all of the tackle.

It is also a good idea for you to take the time to find someone in your local area that knows about saltwater fishing and the tackle required to be successful. This will be a great big help, especially if you are new to ocean fishing. They can show you the best gear to use and let you know any important information about using it. So, if you can find someone who will be willing to talk to you about saltwater fishing, you will definitely learn a lot.

The key to having success with saltwater fishing is to definitely have the right saltwater fishing tackle. Without the correct fishing gear, you will just end up getting frustrated because you won’t catch anything, no matter how hard you try. So, make sure you do your homework before you go out and try fishing for ocean dwelling fish. That way you can make sure you are successful right from the beginning of your fishing trip.

Buy the Award Winning ‘Esca Lures’ online at…

http://www.innovativefishingtackle.co.uk/

Getting the Best From Used Fishing Tackle

When the topic first came up about used fishing tackle you didn’t quite understand the question. Everyone always threw the stuff away, right? Apparently not. There is a whole online business and quite possibly and few offline businesses that don’t sell the new stuff at all. Their entire stock has caught fish before you even order a thing. Before you make your mind up, you need to consider the options.

If you’re just starting out in this sport or have kids that love it then this might be just the thing for you. The good news is that there is no real age limit (unless they are going to eat the bait) or even physical prowess needed for this activity. It can be a solo thing or a family affair. Guess what? People all over are enjoying this and they are utilizing inexpensive used fishing tackle.

That’s where the difference comes in to new and old. It’s all about price. The older stuff can cost around or each, sometimes less depending on where you purchase it and what you purchase. The new stuff prices at – for the same product. It’s really interesting how people will pay almost four times the amount because it is new and still in the box. Of course that can be said for quite a few things.

Why is used fishing tackle suddenly not effective or useless because it has already caught a few carp or bass or what-have-you? It’s not. The only difference is how much you want to pay for it. There are a few other items to consider when weighing your options. Keep in mind that it is cheaper but it will also have a shorter use life. Meaning it will not last as long as one straight out of the box.

You’re decision about whether or not to purchase used fishing lures may be affected by who is going to be using them. If it’s you then it comes down to personal preference. If it’s your ten year old that can’t seem to manage to keep track of their rod and reel much less the smaller items, then you may want to consider skipping the new ones. If you’re still not sure then ask someone from a supply store that sells both. Tell them when and where you’ll be heading out to drop your line and perhaps they could advise you as to the best choice.

Buy the Award Winning ‘Esca Lures’ online at…

http://www.innovativefishingtackle.co.uk/
 

We provide ESCA LURES offering quality items at prices far cheaper than the high street. Every item is carefully packaged using the latest technology to ensure safe shipment to you. Enjoy your visit!

www.escalure.co.uk

www.innovativefishingtackle.co.uk

 

 

Showing various bass baits.

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Bass Fishing Tips and Tricks for Using Soft Plastic Baits

July 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

No matter what kind of baits you use, there are tons of bass fishing tips and tricks to help you use them successfully. First, let’s take a look at some of the tips and tricks for using soft plastic baits.

 

1. Grubs. These are tiny lures, but you can catch both smallmouth and largemouth bass with them. Some of the tricks you can use with these are to drop it, dart it or swim it. To drop it means to use a semi-slack line in deep water and hop the line back to the boat. When you swim it, you cast out the grub so that it sinks to the bottom. Then you slowly start retrieving it back towards the boat. To dart the grub, let it sink a few feet in the water and then jerk the tip of the rod upwards.

 

When it is windy, make sure the nose of the boat is pointed into the wind and that you cast from the back of the boat. If your line is heavy, always use a heavy hook and avid using thin wire hooks that the bass could straighten out. Grubs are best used in summer when the bass are not biting at crankbaits.

 

2. Tube Baits. These are great when the bass are inactive. You should use this type of bait when fishing in deep water- more than 10 feet and for the best results uses a spinning reel on a 6 – 6.5-foot medium action rod. When fishing in vegetation use a heavier weight than you would in other conditions. Once you have the fish away from the cover, stop reeling and let it tire itself out with the rod and the reel absorbing the impact. If you manually close the reel and pull the line taut on the reel to avoid any loops or tangles. When you use one of the baits with a weight, you should use two small bullet shaped weights pinched on the line.

 

3. Soft Jerkbaits. It is best to use a fast action rod when using soft jerkbaits, such as Slug-Go, because you have more control over the line, the lure and big fish. However, you must make sure you tie on the hooks with heavy line to give the line more strength and resistance to abrasion. Fish slowly when you are using this type of bait so that the bass will be able to see it under the water. Brightly colored soft jerkbaits work best because they attract the attention of the bass. If you want to change the action of the lure, simply insert a small finishing nail in the body of the lure. If you want to make sure you attract the bass’s attention add rattles to the lure.

 

4. Plastic Worms. Worms are the best bait you can use for bass fishing, especially plastic worms. It does take a lot of practice to rig one of the baits and to learn how to fish with the,. The different rigs you can use are: Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, floating rigs and swimming rigs. The size and the color also make a difference in how successful your catch will be. If there is thick cover and low visibility in the water, you should use bulky worms with twist tails or even multiple tails. Dark worms are best to sue in dark water and smaller worms work better when the fish are inactive.

For more great bass fishing tips,bass fishing techniques and lots of other information related to bass fishing visit http://www.BassFishingTechniques.net

Chillin in the man cave talking about rods and reels. The first Get Reel Bass Fishing HQ informational video. including these products; Penn Reels Quantum J & J Sports J & H Tackle Pflueger Fishing Tackle Abu Garcia Rod and Reels

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BASS FISHING FACTS AND MORE

July 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Bass fishing has a fascinating history. It started in the late 18th century and continues to progress until today.

It probably was originally practiced in search for food among the people in the south of the United States. Since then, it has started gaining numerous audiences of all ages and nations. Today, countries such as Australia, Cuba, South Africa, United States and most of Europe participate in this kind of event.

Timelines

•    The year 1768 or 1770 represents the birth of bass fishing sports. Onesimus Ustonson introduced his first multiplying reels to the fishing gurus and lovers. It was later developed into bait caster.

•    William Shakespeare Jr. materializes the production of a level wind device and secured its patent on 1897.

•    The William J. Jamison Co introduced the overly ornamented Shannon Twin Spinner in 1915 and was improved to create today’s spinner baits.

•    In 1932, President Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted the creation of Tennessee Valley Authority and encouraged the creation and building of numerous dams. These dams were later used for culturing different varieties of bass fishes.

•    Five years later, DuPont Company filed patent for nylon fishing net, this was later developed into nylon monofilament fishing line.

•    The year 1992 is one of the most glorious events in the history of bass fishing. Larry Nixon, the famous fisherman in the history of bass fishing won M total earnings for this sport on this year.

Bass Fish

Several fish species that are being caught in the bass fishing events are the following:

•    Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede) – Largemouth Bass
•    Micropterus dolomieui – Smallmouth bass
•    Micropterus punctatus – Kentucky Bass

Other species of Micropterus are also caught but one that remains popular is the Largemouth bass. However, it should be emphasized that Australian Bass are different from the above North American Bass variants although most share similar features.

Perhaps, the most robust success of Bass Fishing was in the 1950s. The popularity of the game during this period is the springboard to the development of modern fishing equipments from bass boats, rods, lines, lures and various fishing gears.

Electronic gears were also incorporated among the host of equipments bass fishers used at that time. Reels of different types, which function in hauling and hoisting, were also created.

The contribution of bass fishing industry to the US economy records to Billion and the number continues to grow. Statistics show that the audience base of this sport is increasing and that more and more people are getting interested in it compared to tennis and golf.

Written by strsinthesky

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Bass Fishing Basics: Getting Started

July 1, 2011 By 1 Comment

In this article I am going to outline some of the basic equipment that will be needed to get started Bass fishing. Keep in mind that this is just an overview and not an extensive list. You will find that you are going to need more of certain items and less of others. It depends on the style of fishing you enjoy and use the most.

We are going to start with the rod and reel combo. This can be a daunting choice when you first start out because of the number of combination’s and the cost. The easiest way to start the decision making process is to decide what type of reel you plan to use and then pick a rod/reel combination. I would recommend starting with an open face reel. They are relatively easy to cast and you purchase a decent one without hitting the wallet too hard. The bait casters are my personal favorite but do take time to learn how to cast. The spinning reels are not going to be very strong or reliable. Let’s leave those alone while bass fishing.

Next, let’s buy some line to put on our brand new reel. If you followed the suggestion above and bought a rod/reel combo, you will want to replace the line that came on the reel. It will be cheap, low quality line. For a beginner, I recommend that you start with clear monofilament 10lb test line. This is a good middle point in line strength and will not be heavy enough to degrade the action of some of the more “sensitive” lures.

Now, let’s buy some tackle! This is my favorite part! I love shopping in the tackle section of my favorite sporting good store. There are a few general selections that I feel every bass fisherman should have in their arsenal. The first is soft plastic worms. I usually use the 7.5 inch soft plastics. You want to make sure that the plastic is soft enough, or “rubbery” enough that the action in the tail is pronounced. I recommend the following color combinations: Black body/Blue tail, Junebug, Black body/Chartreuse tail. You will also need a pack of 3/0 hooks and some bullet weights to “Texas Rig” these soft plastics. I also recommend that you have a few spinner baits on hand. Start with a black/chartreuse, black/blue, black/red color combinations. To start with just choose any style single blade you like. I will go over the differences in a later article. Next I recommend having a few top water plugs. Start with a floating top water plug around 4 inches in length. I suggest buying two of these. One needs to be gold in color and the other silver.

Here are a few other things to buy as well. You will need a tackle box. you have to put your new tackle some where right? The style and size is completely up to you. Just make sure that it is durable and somewhat weather resistant. You also will need a dip net. After all, you are going to need something to help you haul in the lunkers you are going to be catching!!! A knife, set of needle nose pliers and some bug spray should round off the list.

This is just start. There will be many more articles to come on this wonderful sport. There are many resources out there to help you learn all you can about Bass Fishing. There are magazines, books, and dvd’s.

I

f you are interested in watching instructional dvd’s to learn how to Bass Fish,I recommend you go to http://onlineoppurtunities.info to sign up for a 14 day free trial with Netflix. There are a lot of dvd’s on Bass Fishing that you can watch for free! Click here: http://onlineoppurtunities.info Happy fishing!

www.fhcoutdoors.com Rods Shimano Compre – 6’6″ Medium Power, Fast Action Shimano Crucial – 7′ Medium Heavy Power, Fast Action St. Croix Swimbait – Mojo Bass 7’9″ Heavy, Fast Action Reels Shimano Citica 201E – 6.3 gear ratio Shimano Curado 201E7 – 7.0:1 gear ratio Shimano Cardiff 301A – 5.8:1 gear ratio

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Bait Fishing: Key Fishing Information About Sub-Surface Plugs And Minnow baits!

July 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Article by Mark Fleagle

Many largemouth bass anglers use a variety of sub-surface bass lures on a regular basis. There are three main types of sub – surface plugs that work well when bait fishing for largemouth bass. The three types are crank baits, Minnow baits, and vibrating plugs. All sub – surface plugs are very effective to catch largemouth bass in the summer months when the largemouth bass are active and a faster retrieve works better. Sub – surface plugs are not the best choice when fishing cold water with one exception. Bass crank baits are some time used for cold water bait fishing presentation using a method called the stop and go. Al you need to do to fish the method is cast your bass crank bait out and retrieve it slowly then stop for a second or two, start your slow retrieve again and then stop again. Repeat all the way through your cast and retrieve.

Bass crank baits are probably the most popular of the sub – surface bass plugs used by largemouth bass fisherman. Crank baits typically have a relatively short, deep body and a wide broad lip that cause the bass bait to wobble through he water. If you attach or imbed a rattle into the body you will make these bass sub – surface plugs even more deadly. You can buy largemouth bass fishing crank baits that have preset diving depths. Normally these depths range from as shallow as 2ft to a max of 30 ft. Crank baits usually are only recommended to bait fish for bass in warm water fishing presentations but if you use the slow stop and go retrieve you can use the bass crank baits in cold water they can be quite effective.

are another popular summer time large moth bass bait fishing presentation that is use quit often by bass anglers. Minnow bass baits are typically designed long and slender and have a narrow lip that gives them a wiggle type wobble. Minnow sub – surface bass plugs are typically used where you need a shallow largemouth bass bait fishing presentation. Some minnow sub – surface bass plugs are designed with a very long and narrow lip and are used for deep water bass bait presentations. You can also add weights to these bass lures to go and stay deep. The bass plugs are designed to be negative buoyant so you can add weights to keep them right at the depth you are retrieving even if you stop your retrieve which is a good way to attract curious largemouth bass and entice them to strike your minnow bass plug.

Vibrating sub – surface bass plugs can be fished at any depth because they sink and they are excellent for any back trolling or down rigger trolling where stay at a predetermined depth. These baits are used quite frequently when walleye fishing but they are also quite effective when you are largemouth bass fishing in some bait fishing situations. These sub ‘surface bass plugs have very tight wiggle pattern that generates vibrations through the water that can be felt by large mouth bass from some distances away. These Bass baits are also a good way to discover new bass fishing habitat because you can cover a lot of water in a shot period of time.

I want to thank you for reading my article about sub-surface bass lures. Have a great day!

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The Best Baits for Lagemouth Bass

July 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There really is not much of a better live bait than a nice, big, juicy night crawler worm when fishing for largemouth bass. When presented properly to the fish, the wriggling worm appears to be swimming through the water as a worm or small snake normally would. The best bait for catching largemouth bass is worms, grubs, small mice, small frogs and leeches. The baits presented to the large mouth bass should be live, and fish scents can be used if the bait is not working on it’s own.

When referring to bait, we must not include lures, but the bait need not necessarily be alive. dead worms, minnows, grubs, etc., can still catch their fair share of largemouth bass, as long as the fish are in a feeding mood, or are protecting their present habitat. Largemouth bass can be very territorial, so use top-water crank baits to flush them out, them start with live baits if they do not strike the crank baits, or if they stop striking them.

Many fishermen fish only for largemouth bass, and most use lures, and only resort to live bait when the lures are not producing. Live minnows may work well with some largemouth bass, but they are nowhere near the best baits to catch these possible lunkers. Largemouth bass can have huge bellies, and gigantic mouths, but this does not mean that large hooks should be used. The largemouth bass will strike a smaller lure or bait presentation before tackling something bigger, because they are confident in catching the smaller offerings.

The larger hooks can injure the largemouth bass irrevocably, and they can also easily tear the mouth of the bass, where the hook is most often set. Smaller hooks, used 2 or 3 in series, about an inch apart, will enable the setting up of a great worm harness, and still be not visible to the fish. The smaller hooks also stand a much better chance of being swallowed by the larger largemouth bass, and the smaller hooks will not so easily break the tissue of the fish’s mouth, making landing them as probable as catching them.

Largemouth bass can give up a really good fight when you find some that have lots of energy and strength. They are known to jump high out of the water to try and shake the hook free, so the drag on the reels must be set at a rather high level, but not too high so that the largemouth bass will break the line before the drag goes out.

Fish on!  And fish safe.

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Large-Mouth Bass Fishing Tips

July 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Largemouth Bass…probably one of the most coveted trophy fish to lurk our fresh water lakes, ponds, and rivers. Pursuit of this elusive predator has been going on for hundreds of years. There are accounts of “bass fishing” that date back before the formation of this nation. I imagine the Native Americans had a blast hooking on to a lunker with their long cane pole bending so far as to touch the surface of the water!

I refer to this species as a predator because it has all the right tools: massive appetite for small prey, sharp vision, rapid response reflexes, and a tracking system,if you will, in their lateral line. They feed on just about any small creature that finds it’s way in the waters that they inhabit. Small fish of several varieties, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and crustaceans make up this hungry fish’s diet. Even a small duck or mouse making a swim for it better beware of the dangers stalking them from below!

Along with all of the live bait that is available for catching largemouth bass, there have been tremendous advances in the world of artificial lures. There are literally thousands of varieties of rubber worms, spinner baits, and crankbaits, just to name a few. All of which are effective in their own application. No matter what style of artificial lure you may come across, the effectiveness of that bait depends on how well it resembles natural prey and the presentation of that bait. Water color, depth, and temperature also play a significant role in lure choice.

There are two qualities of artificial baits which must be taken into consideration in deciding which to tie on: attraction and triggering. Attractive baits are usually bright in color, noisy, sometimes included with a spinner or curly tail. It’s the attraction qualities that draw a fish out of cover. Sometimes the attractiveness of the bait alone will cause the fish to strike, but other times the bass need a little convincing. Triggering baits are usually crafted to offer natural motion of a particular prey of the bass. A jerkbait like a Rapala will look like a wounded fish if presented properly and is usually hard for the bass to resist. Ultimately, the best possible bait will have both characteristics, drawing the fish out of cover and then triggering it to strike once they get there.

I have broken up artificial bass baits into 3 categories: topwater, subsurface, and subterraneous.

Topwater baits are usually fabricated to resemble wounded prey on the surface. Poppers, prop lures, floating frogs or worms, and buzzbaits are a few popular choices. As with all lures presentation is key. I’ve found this to be especially true with topwater baits as the chances of spooking fish in shallow water is a high risk. I recommend using light, finesse casts using a braided low visibility line. After casting a floating topwater bait, I like to let the bait sit still for a few seconds.

A good rule of thumb is to wait until the ripples made from the splash reach out to 10-12 feet in diameter. This allows the visibility in the water to clear and gives a fish that might have been spooked by the cast time to notice your lure. Buzzbaits customarily sink upon arrival so engage your reel when the bait touches down and reel just fast enough that the blade churns the water at the surface. Raising and lowering your rod tip will determine how fast the retrieval will be. As with any topwater bait, always keep your eyes about 6 feet behind the lure. Most strikes are quick, violent, and from behind. So, keeping your eyes behind the bait will result in more hook-ups and less jumping and cursing!

Subsurface bait category contains what I believe to be the most popular of the artificial bass baits: The Rubber Worm. The most versatile of all baits, it can be presented in numerous ways. Floating worms work well at the surface and in shallows. Plain rubber worms rigged with no weight can work just under the surface, on submerged structure or vegetation, or suspended between surface and lake bottom. Weighted, the worm can be presented as a subterraneous lure as well, working the bottom and along rocks or vegetation off of points and channels. There are also those with a straight tail, curly tail, or paddle tail. The beauty of this bait is, there is no wrong way to fish it. If it’s in the water, you can catch fish on it! Actually, the worm is diverse enough to have it’s own category. Other sub-surface baits include crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and any other swimming bait. Crankbaits come in different varieties: there are deep, medium, and shallow divers that range in depth potential. Spinnerbaits are fast sinkers and should be engaged as soon as they hit the water. Retrieval speed is at your discretion but make sure your line stays good and tight to refrain from missed strikes. I recommend using the lightest line possible, probably 10-12 lb test braided fluorocarbon when fishing beneath the surface. The light line ensures that you can feel

strikes but the high-strength braided line protects from snags on underwater debris. The smaller the diameter of the line, the less visible and it cuts through the water more easily. These types of baits should be used when fish are suspended off the bottom, but not high enough to feed at the surface.

Subterraneous lures are fished primarily on the bottom or on structure that is submerged.

They are usually weighted and sink very fast. Such baits as jigs, weighted worms or soft plastics, and some deep diving crankbaits are excellent examples. These baits are usually fished in close proximity to your position, making stealth a key. Use a much slower approach and make every inch of your flip or cast count. Use heavier weighted line , 12-14 lb test, as contact with logs, brush, and submerged structure is inevitable. Man-made structures like docks and pilings are excellent spots to drop these lure to the bottom. Staying weedless is also highly beneficial. Use weedless hooks on worms and make sure your jigs have gaurds that protect open hooks from debris.

Making the choice on what to fill your tackle-box with can be confusing. With all that there is to offer, you could go crazy standing in sporting goods right in the back of Wal-Mart! Remember what to look for in a lure: what attracts fish and what triggers strikes. Know where you will be fishing and buy lures that resemble bait-fish or forage in that area. Be resourceful, use the internet to find breeding, feeding, and nocturnal habits of largemouth. Find out how the phase of the moon affects their behavior. Last but not least, take a kid fishing! Share with our young people how important it is to protect Earth’s natural resources and how to enjoy them at the same time.

Good luck and I’ll see you on the lake

Written by Joshua386

Swim baits, Soft Plastics, Senkos, Trick Worms, Chatter baits

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Mastering the Basics of Bass Fishing

July 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Fishing Tips, is an educational resource in that the beginning and intermediate bass and trout angler. For Bass Fishing, enthusiasts, Fishing Tips, presents Mastering the Basics of Bass Fishing, and the four most gifted methods for catching largemouth bass soft putty worms again baits, jig Fishing, with typical jigs, cylinder worm jigs and jigging spoons, diving lures such owing to crank baits, jerk baits, chime baits and swim baits, top water lures allying through spinner baits, buzz baits and traditional plugs.

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By increasing your Bass Fishing, trips leave also amass your chances of gaining safeness consequence your commotion. Existing will succor you to develop the highly capital skills and techniques to fish since Bass.

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