Fishing For Bass - Behaviour

Bass Fishing Information - Bass Behavior You Must Know

The most important bass fishing information you could ever have is knowing the behavior of the bass. In order to track these fish, you need to know what effects them and why.

Bass are controlled by climate. This is because of their metabolism. When it is too cold or too hot, they will not be actively feeding. Learning about the weather patterns in your area can let you know when the perfect time to fish is.

Bass like to stay around 68-78 degrees in the water. In these temperatures, they will be relatively shallow and on the prowl. Fishing in grasses is a good tactic if the weather is right.

In the Spring most anglers like to stay at the deep end of heavy cover. The fish will be shallow when the sun warms the water, but they will be mostly inactive because of the cold water temperature.

In the Summer bass will stay deep most of the time. Searching for underwater structures such as drop-offs and points is a good strategy for finding the bass in hot weather. A topographical map is a good investment that can save a lot of time when trying to find bass in the summer.

In Autumn the bass will come back up to the surface as the weather cools down. In this season they actively feed in order to survive through the winter.

Knowing this bass fishing information is very helpful and can save a lot of time when planning a fishing trip. Knowing bass behavior can tell you the perfect time of the day and time of the year to fish, so you don't waste unproductive days on the lake.

Looking for great tips and techniques for bass fishing? Check out http://www.bass-fishing-secrets.info for the best professional bass fishing secrets.

By Samantha Gonzalez

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Bass Fishing Mastering The Spring Bite!

Some great bass fishing tips below, explaining how spring time is the best for catching big bass, and lots of them!

How to Master Fishing the Spring Season Bass Bite

Spring is one of the best times of the year to be on the water in search of bass. Whether you're after largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass, you can expect active fish. The techniques and places you should fish depend on where you are in the country, what the water temperature is, what kind of lake you're fishing, and what the fish eat. That's what we'll discuss in this article.

Spring is a time of transition for bass, just like every other species of fish and wild animal. Bass are moving from their winter haunts to the areas they will live for the rest of the year, until cold weather in the fall brings them back into deep water. The exact period of time when they make this movement can provide some of the most exciting fishing of the year.

• Early Season:

Early spring fishing is the most unpredictable. Water temperatures are the lowest at this time, and the fish are more likely to be sulking in deeper water. Generally, you can expect to find bass in deep water when the water temperature is below 45 degrees. At this time, it is necessary to fish deep and slow. Jigging spoons and soft jerkbaits are top baits.

Once the water gets into the 45 to 55 degree range, the bass begin to move into shallower water, and become much more active. This is when more traditional bass tactics finally come into play. Now you will want to fish shore-line cover, like stumps, rocks, and weed-beds. Still, it is best if you are in relatively close proximity to fairly deep water. Spinnerbaits are especially good at this time, but you can also do very well on crankbaits, plastic worms, and other soft plastics. During this pre-spawn period, the bass fishing can be, and in fact usually is, fast and furious.

• Spawn:

Finally, when the water temperature inches its way into the 55 to 60 degree range, the bass will begin to move onto their spawning beds. There is an ongoing debate over whether it is ethical to fish for spawning bass, but that's not the purpose of this article. It must be said, however, that most fisherman consider it extremely unethical to keep bass caught off a spawning bed. If you do want to catch them off their beds, there are several good ways to go about it. One excellent way to do this is by finding a bed, and inching a tube bait along it to provoke a bass to bite. Others like to fish noisy topwater lures over the same area. Then just make sure to release them as quickly and gently as possible, to help insure the future of the bass population.

• Post-Spawn:

Once the spawn is over, the bass come off their beds, and are hungry after several weeks of not eating. This is a good time to score a nice fish. Plastic worms, crankbaits, and jigs are good at this time. The fish will be a little spawned out and emaciated, so they aren't as heavy, and don't fight as hard as they do other times of the year. Still, the fishing can be quite fun this time of year. No matter where you live, you have some excellent bass fishing to look forward to this year. So starting getting your tackle ready, and plan a trip to your local bass lake. Just keep these tips in mind, and you're likely to have a great day!

Davdison Manning is an avid outdoorsman spending over 100 days per year pursuing his passion for fishing, many of them in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. He details many of his favorite fishing tips on his website in the Family-Outdoors Fishing Tips Section. His other pursuits include many days spent in the field camping and hunting. Davidson loves to share his knowledge of the outdoors in the hope of helping others to find their own connection to the outdoors.

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How to Catch Smallmouth Bass While Fishing in Small Rivers & Streams

Any fisherman worth his or her salt is well aware of the fact that smallmouth bass are known as one of the hardest fighting fish that can be caught in freshwater. When most anglers think of fishing for smallmouth bass they tend to think of fishing for them from a boat in a lake, reservoir, or large river. While these are all excellent places to fish for smallmouth, this article will outline some tips on how to catch smallmouth bass while fishing in small rivers and streams.

When I refer to the terms 'small rivers' or 'small streams', I'm referring specifically to rivers that are best fished by wading. The size rivers and streams that are normally thought of as "trout fishing" rivers. In many area's rivers of this size provide absolutely phenomenal smallmouth bass fishing. In many instances you can fish just as you would for trout, with the difference being that smallmouth are caught.

The first thing to keep in mind when fishing is small rivers & streams is the diameter of your fishing line. When fishing in this size of river many anglers tend to use line that's much too heavy. In small rivers and streams you always want to use fishing line that's as light as possible. I personally use four pound test monofilament, but six pound is effective as well. Any fishing line heavier than six pound test is a mistake when fishing this type of river. Keep your line light and you will get more bites, it's as simple as that.

If you want to know how to catch smallmouth bass in small rivers and streams, live bait should be employed. Although many types of live bait are effective for smallmouth bass, the most accessible and easy to use are live worms. Live worms that are rigged on a set of gang hooks and allowed to flow naturally with the current is an extremely effective fishing technique. The hooks are attached to your line with a small barrel swivel to prevent your line from twisting, and weight is added in the form of split shot sinkers. This style of smallmouth rig is very effective.

When fishing with live worms while wading it is necessary to have an effective way to carry said worms. Always knowing right where you worms are is a huge advantage to the wading angler. It means that baiting up and re-baiting takes seconds, rather than minutes, adding to your valuable fishing time. This is where an effective worm carrier comes into play. Having a live worm holder that clips directly to your fishing vest is a great idea anytime you are fishing while wading.

The last thing to be aware of is when you are fishing. Certain times of the day, week, and month are better for fishing than others. This is largely determined by moon phases and what the weather is doing. For example fishing during a 'new' moon phase is normally better than during other moon phases. The point is that if you want to know how to catch smallmouth bass, spend a little time studying how the weather and moon impact fish behavior.

Catching smallmouth bass in small rivers and streams is extremely enjoyable and these simple tips will help you experience much more fishing success.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his five year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.

Gang Hooks Ready To Fish - http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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Spinnerbait Tactics That Work

How many fish have you missed?

It is said you could be missing over half the fish that are coming after your spinner bait. Why? Because you're getting short strikes.

There is one way to fix that situation and it's easy to do.....add a trailer hook! Maybe one trailer hook isn't enough, you can add two or even three. Yes three, Hank Parker says he uses up to three trailer hooks, if it's good enough for Hank then it's good enough for me.

A lot of people think you put a trailer hook up on the spinner bait hook, that isn't the case.

For best results, put the trailer hook down by the tip of the hook of the spinner bait, that allows for more natural movement and doesn't confine the hook.

Think about it, if you're getting short strikes then they aren't going to hit the first hook anyway. Try this the next time you go out and see the difference.

Charles E. White has fished for almost 50 years for bass from California to Florida. In his lifetime, it is estimated that he has caught over 6,000 bass. His biggest bass is a 12 pound 14 ounce that hangs on his wall in his office.

Charles has fished with people who have never fished for bass before and taught them how to become successful anglers and also has fished with the Pros in Florida. His new website about fishing for bass is at: http://www.bassfishingweekly.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_White

The Benefits of Kayak Bass Fishing

If you like to fish for large-mouth bass then you will love kayak bass fishing. One of the best things about kayak fishing is that it can be whatever you want it to be: an afternoon on the lake with a bag of rubber worms, a weekend fishing trip with the family, or an extreme multi-state kayak fishing adventure.

Why use a kayak to pursue and catch your favorite game fish?

1. Kayaks are stealthy & can get you very close to fish and the structure that they inhabit.

2. Kayaks are very portable & can be transported by car, van, or SUV - they can even be rolled on special kayak carts.

3. Kayaks can access remote fishing locations that are too shallow for power boats and too muddy for wade fishermen.

4. Kayaks are relatively inexpensive & and will last many "maintenance free" years.

5. Kayaks do not require a registration or an operator's license (this is true in most states).

6. Kayaking/Kayak Fishing is an excellent form of low impact exercise.

7. Kayaking/Kayak Fishing is a great family & social activity.

8. Kayaks are environmentally friendly - they do not require gas or oil.

9. Kayak Fishing is fun! (just add water).

Typical On the Water Scenarios

Spring

It is spring time just after ice-out and the bass are soaking up the afternoon sun in warm shallow coves and creek arms on the Northwest side of your favorite lake. The bottom substrate of these fish holding areas is mud and muck and unfit for wade fishing and your powerboat is too big and too noisy to sneak up on bass in 2 feet of water. What do you do?

1. You launch your kayak and quietly paddle into the fish holding coves. If you see carp milling about or turtles basking then you are in the right place.

2. You pick up your favorite rod on which you have tied a jig and pork trailer, a small profile spinner bait, or a small shallow diving crank-bait.

3. You cast your lures in and around any lily pads, weed growth, logs, or dark looking depressions.

4. You hook up with a big fat pre-spawn large-mouth.

Summer

It is summer time and the bass or either holding tight to shoreline cover, docks, and boat houses or they are hunkered down deep in the thickest greenest weed beds. What are your options.

1. You can fish the shoreline by skipping rubber worms into and under cover. You'll catch many fish this way, but not always the biggest ones.

2. You can position your kayak close to shore and makes parallel casts with crank-baits, spinners, etc being certain to focus your attention on the edge of the drop off to deeper water. Active fish that are cruising the inside of weed edges or drop offs will give you plenty of action.

3. You can cast heavier spinner baits or jig and worm combos and work the outside edge of the weed beds. Bass and other game fish hide in the weeds so that they can ambush bait fish that swim by. The best outside weed edges are near steep drop offs and secondary submerged points.

4.You can wait until after dark and work the shallows paying special attention to the mouths of feeder creeks, outflows, submerged humps, and points.

5. You can skip the lake altogether and try one of your local rivers. Most rivers are under fished compared to lakes and most trout fisherman have given up on the rivers by summer time so you will more than likely have the river to yourself. If the current is slow enough you can launch your kayak and exit from the same spot eliminating the need for two vehicles. If the current is too quick to paddle against, be sure to plan your trip carefully so you know where to take out at the end of the day. Try casting spinner baits, rubber worms, or jigs into shoreline cover or work mid river rocks and weed patches with tube jigs, spinners, or small crank-baits. Be sure to pay special attention to seams, eddies, drop offs, and creek mouths. If you get tired of sitting in the kayak drag it onto the shore and wade fish a while, you can work your way down stream using the kayak as a transport to your next wading spot.

Fall

It is fall (September/October) and bass are feeding heavily in preparation for the cold water season. Some fish are suspending on drop offs or over deep water and some are cruising the remaining weed beds looking for a meal. What are your options?

1. You want to be fishing early afternoons until dark, the water will be warmest this time of day and the air temperature will be more comfortable too. You may even be able to sneak out of work early enough to get in a few good hours of fishing before nightfall.

2. You can work buzz-baits, weedless spoons, rubber worms, jigs, or spinner-baits over remaining weed beds, paying special attention to weed beds around the mouths of feeder creeks and outflows. Also look for lay-downs, submerged logs, boulders, and brush piles.

3. You can work deep points and drop offs with jigs, drop-shot rigs, deep diving crank-baits, or jigging spoons. Once you find the depth the fish seem to be holding at repeat the pattern on the other points and drop offs.

4. You can troll deep diving plugs just over suspending fish, drift fish with a float and fly set up, or live line a bait-fish in the strike zone.

Winter

It is winter time. If you live in the south put on a sweater and go fishing. Be glad you are not shoveling snow or scraping ice off of your line guides. If you live up north, pack up your kayak and fishing gear and go visit one of your friends down south. If you don't have a friend down south FIND ONE on the Kayak Fishing Stuff Forum paying special attention to the Florida, Georgia, Carolina, and Louisiana forums.

So, be sure to give kayak bass fishing a try. It will change your life, improve your catch ratio, and you will be doing your part to make the world around you a better place.

Craig Sheppard is an experienced kayak angler, outdoors enthusiast, and the General Manager of Kayak Fishing Stuff. To learn more about kayak fishing and fishing kayaks visit: http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com

Kayak Fishing Stuff has been serving the kayak fishing community since 2001. If you fish from a kayak or have been thinking about starting this is the place. At KFS you will find brand name kayaks, quality kayak fishing gear, and a tremendous amount of free kayak fishing information.

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Great bass fishing secrets, including all the best bass fishing tips out there!

Bass Fishing Tips

Some great bass fishing tips here from expert bass fisherman, Trevor Kugler

Bass Fishing Tips - 3 Tips to Make Anyone a Better Bass Fisherman

In this article I will use my two plus decades of fishing experience to outline 3 tips that will make anyone a better bass fisherman. What exactly does it mean to "be a better bass fisherman"? At the end of the day it means to catch more bass, and these 3 bass fishing tips will help you do just that.

Before getting down to the tips themselves I think it's important to point out that there are no "magic formulas" when it comes to bass fishing, or any other style of fishing for that matter. Any company or organization who tells you otherwise is being less than truthful. The best of all fishing tips is to spend as much time on the water fishing as you can. There is simply no substitute for practicing your craft.

With that being said, reading bass fishing tips such as the ones listed below and implementing them into your bass fishing repertoire can make you a much more successful bass angler. Let's get down to business, shall we?

1. Don't Get Too Heavy - Many bass anglers use rods, reels, and line that is very heavy, much heavier than is needed. Using heavy gear and line is fine if you're fishing heavy cover or the bass you catch mean the difference between making the rent or not, but for 'average' bass fishermen it's simply not necessary. Downsizing your gear and line can mean many more bites. Not to mention the fact that using appropriate gear and line is a much more enjoyable way to catch bass than using heavy gear and line.
2. Fish At The Correct Times - When it comes to bass fishing tips, this one is quite effective. Bass are more active at certain times of the day, week, and month than others and knowing the correct times can definitely tip the odds into your favor. Being on the water when the bass are active is a great advantage to the angler, and can be accomplished fairly easily simply by paying attention to the weather & moon. These two forces of Mother Nature have a big impact on fish's activity levels, and the more you understand and use this information to your advantage, the more successful you will be. Fish at the correct times and you will catch more bass, it's as simple as that.
3. Use Realistic Bass Baits - There are thousands of different bass baits on the market today, and whatever bass bait your choose to use, make sure that it's as realistic as possible. Whether you bass bait of choice is live, synthetic, or a lure making sure that the bait is realistic under the water is a big advantage. You want your bass bait to look like what the bass normally eat as much as is possible.

Add one or all of these bass fishing tips to your repertoire sooner, rather than later. Any one of them will make you a much better and more successful bass fisherman.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his five year old daughter in the heart of fishing country.

Realistic Bass Bait - http://www.jrwfishing.com/ktm.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

Bass Fishing Lures

Another great article on bass fishing lures.

Bass Fishing Lures - The Most Effective Bait Fish Imitations

This article will discuss some of the most effective bass fishing lures that imitate various bait fish. Bass, both large and small mouth, feed quite heavily on bait fish in many waterways so knowing which lures imitate which small fish can be of the utmost importance top the serious bass angler.

These lures are being listed in no particular order as to their effectiveness. I have personally experienced success with all of these bass fishing lures when fishing for both large and smallmouth bass. The bottom line is that these baits are the most effective for imitating the bait fish listed.

Here's what I suggest. Do a little research concerning the body of water you intend to fish. If the predominant baitfish in the water you are fishing is listed here, give the corresponding lure listed here a shot. The bottom line is that these bass fishing lures are the most effective options available today.

1. Minnow Imitations - Minnows are probably the best known bait fish among anglers. These bait fish are the easiest to find and use as live bait. The Banjo minnow and other soft plastics mimic minnows quite well, but the most popular and effective minnow imitation when it comes to a traditional "bass fishing lure" has to be the Rapala floating minnow. This balsa wood fishing lure mimics a live minnow to a very high degree.
2. Sculpins Imitations - Sculpins are a bottom feeding fish that likes to hide and live under rocks on the bottom of a lake or river. These bait fish are well known by trout fishermen and sculpins imitations are used extensively by fly fishermen. These bait fish are very prevalent in rivers and streams, so they are a favorite small mouth bass meal. Any lure that can be retrieved right along the bottom and even 'dug' into the bottom on the retrieve like a Storm Kickin' Goby is an effective bass fishing lure.
3. Shad Imitations - Shad are probably the best known bass baits of all, especially in the southern United States. There are many different shad imitations on the market with soft plastics being some of the best shad imitations. However when it comes to bass fishing lures many times a traditional crank bait is called for. When you want a "traditional" crank bait that imitates a shad the KickTail Minnow is hard to beat.
4. Sunfish Imitations - When it comes to a true sunfish imitation a hard head swim bait is the best option. The Castaic Baby Sunfish is an incredibly realistic bait fish imitation that looks a lot like a real baby sunfish.

The bottom line is that if any of these bass fishing lures aren't a part of your repertoire and any of the above bait fish are the predominant bait fish in the body of water you are fishing, the above lure should be added to said repertoire sooner rather than later.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his five year old daughter in the heart of fishing country.

The Best Bass Bait - http://www.jrwfishing.com/LargemouthBassBait.htm

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