Getting A Line On Bass Fishing

Bass fishing offers a wide range of ability and challenge for the beginner and the professional. There are several fish in the species line including bluegills, spotted bass, largemouth and rock bass. These are warm water bass. Others such as striped bass, white bass and white perch are a temperate bass. If you are heading out to catch some bass, your first and most important goal is to know where to find them.

Where You Have To Look For Bass

There are several locations that they like to call home. For one, look in your lakes. You can find a wide range of them in shallow lakes in the south. This is where you are likely to find your largemouth bass. Here, look in the weeds and in the reeds. But, you are likely not to find too many here. They enjoy eating algae and plankton which is not readily available in many lakes. Instead, look to the rivers. The water temperatures and the oxygen levels are just right in many rivers for the bass. You'll need to look just outside the current's direct flow. Look on the downstream side of rocks and fallen trees as this is where they enjoy hiding. To catch them, do some bottom and surface fishing.

A great place to find your bass is to look in streams. Here, you will find smallmouth bass in the cooler water of the streams especially just below the rapids. Look in the hiding places such as where erosion has made holes. Look where there are rocks or fallen limbs as well. Look below a dam especially on a hot day. You'll find that they are never in direct current flow. Also, take a look at ponds. These are a source for smaller bass especially near the shore near fallen logs. Of course, look in the reeds. You can fish any of these locations at night for good results too.

Remember that bass are looking for prime conditions and will search them out. They are looking for just the right water temperature and water level. They will seek out locations with good food supply and the right sunlight.

As for bait, you'll want to use a wide range of choices. In still fishing, go with night crawlers, insects and minnows. For bait casting and spinning, use artificial products, trolling with live bait or you can even fly fish for them. For lures, make sure to get at least a five and a half to seven foot rod and your line should be about six to ten pound test. For fly fishing, go with seven to nine feet in rod with a fast taper. You will also need a single action reel that has floating #7 to #9 line with a six to eight pound leader.

If you can, take someone skilled at bass fishing with you your first time out. You are likely to learn a lot. Talk to your local bait shop dealer to learn what bait will work well for your bass. Pick a variety of locations to fish and you'll find success.