5 Bass Fishing Tips for Beginners
A Bass is a gamefish that lives in the ocean (salt water bass) or in the river (freshwater bass). It is composed of different types: Largemouth, Smallmouth, Striped, Spotted, Redeye.
Bass fishing is judged by the size and weight of the fish that the player reeled in; not by the quantity of fishes caught in a given time. A game official will weigh each entry and the player with the heaviest fish caught will be declared as the winner. Like any other fishing sport, the fish is thrown back in the water after some snapshots and after it has been weighed.
If this sport interests you, here are some bass fishing tips for beginners that could help you to be on the top of your game.
Tip #1 – Do your homework For you to successfully catch a Bass, you must know which lives where and what eats what. You need to do a bit of research to know the different types of bass so you can plan ahead. Also, knowing how your target bass specie’s specifics, will put you on a great advantage.
For example, there are two types of Striped Bass. One type of Striped Bass lives in the sea while the other lives in the river. A saltwater Striped Bass is larger than its freshwater cousin. So, don’t be surprised why you cannot reel in a 35kg Striped Bass (the largest caught so far).
Tip #2 – Choose the right spot It is very important to choose the right spot if you wish to excel in this sport. Since Bass prefers cooler waters, drop your line in tree-covered areas. Also, fallen branches from these trees becomes home to small fishes and crustaceans which are the bass’s favorite dinner.
Additional tip: ask the locals; they know more than anyone.
Largemouth Bass – freshwater lakes; largest variations are found in deep water with abundant food Smallmouth Bass – clean, cool, and clear fresh waters with rocky bed Striped Bass – smaller ones in the freshwater, larger variety found in saltwater. Spotted Bass – clear streams with current flow; just like the Smallmouth bass Red-eyes Bass – usually grows in the fresh waters of southern US. They are the smallest type with a world record of 8lbs and 12 ounces only.
Tip #3 – Choose the right time Based on the fact that this fish loves cool water, anglers should go bass fishing early mornings or late afternoons when the weather is cooler. Furthermore, take the seasons into account. Autumn, when the heat of the summer meets the cold breeze of the Winter, is the best time to go Bass Fishing.
Tip #4 – Use the right Bait Use spinning lure, night crawlers, stick baits, jerk baits or soft plastics if you wish to reel in a Largemouth Bass. If you seek Striped Bass, use live minnows or lures that resembles a minnow. Smallmouth Bass, Red-eye Bass and Spotted Bass on the other hand are attracted to small insects, thus using insect-like bait is a sure fire.
Tip #5 – Use the right equipment You need a flexible and strong rod since Bass fishes are really strong. Next, you’ll need a reel; spinning reels are recommended for beginners since they are easier to manage. However, when you get the hang of bass fishing, you may upgrade to a more versatile baitcaster reel which allows you more power to draw the fish out of the water. Lastly, you need a fishing line. Fishing lines come in different colors. It actually depends on which you are most comfortable using. A good fishing line disappears in the water so the fish won’t be able to see it, but visible above water so you know where your line is.
Fishing is a sport where both men and women are hooked into; but Bass fishing raises the sport to another level because a bass fish will surely put up a fight.
