Bass Fishing Techniques - The Most Popular

There are several popular techniques for catching Largemouth bass. I will describe some of them in this article and hopefully point you in the right direction in your search for more fish.

One of the more popular methods of catching big fish is called "pitching" or "flipping". This method of fishing requires patience and stealth. You will need a rod that is longer than usual, generally about six and a half to seven and a half feet long. Your reel should be very powerful and should be filled with heavy line, at least twenty pound test monofilament.

When using this method of fishing you are targeting specific fish holding near specific areas of cover. You generally will "pitch" your lure no more than twenty to thirty fee from the boat. You therefore need to be very quiet and discreet in reaching your spot. Even a trolling motor is too loud when you start to get very close. This is a great approach for inactive fish. It works often on hot summer days when the fish will not otherwise bite. You objective is simply to put your bait right under the nose of the fish. Because you are fishing heavy cover you need to be ready for any strikes. It is imperative you set your hook quick and horse the fish away from the heavy cover you caught him under. This is why the long heavy rod and heavy line are used.

Topwater fishing is another excellent method for catching Largemouth Bass. It is considered by many to be the most exciting way to fish. Watching the fish attack your bait and not just feeling it can be a thrill. It can also be a hindrance if you do not know how to react. It is very important to wait until you feel a strike before you set the hook. Novice fisherman will often jerk their bait when they see the fish tailing their lure. This will in fact pull the bait away from the fish before it has had a chance to engulf it. When fishing in a topwater style the key concept to remember is to employ an erratic retrieve. You are trying to imitate a small wounded fish when fishing in this manner. The steady monotonous retrieve that works with a crankbait will not suffice in this scenario. You need to employ a series of stop and go moves along with the occasional jerk of the rod tip to give your bait a very inconsistent movement pattern.