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CRANK THE MUDLINE
a mudline created by wave action against the shoreline is a grest to catch bass in a clear.bass move into this murky band of water to feed on crayfish uprooted by the churning waves and will nail a crankbait.
FARM POND LUNKERS
some of the biggest largemouth bass caught every year come from farm ponds. pond bass typically receive little fishing pressure and can grow to large dize quickly. try spinnerbaits,plastic worms, jigs and topwater lures around submerged wood cover, weedy shorelines and any depth change, especially one close to the bank.
BASS FISHIN' TIPS
A Few Good Lures:
There are thousands of different bass lures on the market, but you only need a few to consistently catch bass. Jigs, spinnerbaits, plastic worms and topwater lures will catch bass wherever these great gamefish swim. Other lures will work, too, but always keep these basic baits in the top drawer of your tacklebox.
Water Temperature and Bass Activity:
Bass are cold-blooded creatures, so their activity level is directly related to the temperature of their surroundings. If the water is below 60 degrees, fish slow-moving lures like jigs and plastic worms close to the bottom. In warmer water, faster-moving lures like crankbaits and spinnerbaits fished off the bottom will usually work better.
Which Lure Color Is Best:
Bass can see colors about as well as humans can. In clear water, use realistic lure colors that mimic living prey - silver or gold crankbaits and topwater plugs, black or brown jigs. In murky water, use bright colors that can be easily seen, such as chartreuse crankbaits or white spinnerbaits.
Four Seasons Of Bassin':
Bass often display strong seasonal habitat preferences. In spring, they prefer shallow bays and tributaries protected from cold north winds. In summer, they gravitate to dropoffs, ledges and submerged islands and other offshore structures. In winter, look for them on deep points, sloping banks and channel ledges.
Keep It Moving:
When retrieving a weedless lure across the top of lilypads or pond scum, keep it moving at a fairly slow, constant pace. This gives the bass plenty of opportunity to track down the lure. Avoid using a stop-and-go retrieve, for the bass may strike at the lure and miss it.
Flat Crankbaits In Cold Water:
A flat-sided crankbait is a great choice in cold water. These lures don't vibrate as hard as a rounded crankbait, making them better suited to sluggish bass. In early spring, many bass pros fish 'em around shallow logs and stumps, the same places you'd normally fish a spinnerbait.
The Slack-Line Hookset:
When you feel a bass bite your worm or jig, immediately lower the rod tip and bring it back sharply, so you snap the slack out of the line. This hookset will drive the point through the tough jaw of bass in much the same way that the blow of a hammer drives a nail through a board.
Big Surface Lures At Night:
Nothing is more thrilling than the sound of a lunker bass smashing a surface lure at night. Cast a big, dark-colored top-water wobbler, popper, prop bait or buzz bait close to weedlines or shallow shorelines after dark. Use heavy line, and don't set the hook before the fish pull.
Isolated Objects Attract Bass:
Bass are drawn to isolated objects - a lone stump on the end of a point, a small patch of grass growing a couple of boat-lengths from a large weedbed, etc. Target this randomly-scattered cover first - often that's where the biggest bass in the area will be.
Wear Polarized Sunglasses:
Viewers of my TV show occasionally write in to ask why I'm always wearing sunglasses when I'm fishing, even on cloudy days. No, it's not because I'm trying to look cool - Polarized sunglasses greatly reduce the glare reflecting off the water's surface, allowing the angler to see fish-holding objects such as rocks, stumps and logs (as well as the fish themselves) more clearly. Keep at least two pairs of glare-reducing sunglasses handy when you're fishing - one with gray lenses for sunny conditions, and another with brown or yellow lenses for overcast conditions.
Try Hot Colors:
Can't buy a strike? Try a spinnerbait or jig in a hot color such as blaze orange or chartreuse. These outrageous hues don't look like anything in nature, but they can provoke a reaction strike from a moody bass.
A Few Good Lures:
There are thousands of different bass lures on the market, but you only need a few to consistently catch bass. Jigs, spinnerbaits, plastic worms and topwater lures will catch bass wherever these great gamefish swim. Other lures will work, too, but always keep these basic baits in the top drawer of your tacklebox.
BLUEGILL AND CRAPPIE FISHIN' TIPS
How To Keep Bait Lively:
Panfish experts agree that fresh, lively bait is vital for panfishing success. Keep minnows cool and well-aerated in your boat's livewell or in a bucket with an aerator pump. Night crawlers should be kept cool and moist in a container packed with worm bedding or moss. Crickets should be dept out of direct sunlight in a screened container; they'll stay hoppin' fresh if you feed them some moist bread scraps between fishing trips.
Use Lightweight Jigs:
Small soft-plastic jigs are tremendous lures for all species of panfish, but don't use one that's too heavy. Start with a light (1/32 to 1/16 oz.) leadhead - this will have a slow, enticing fall, just like an injured minnow. White, pink and chartreuse are proven colors. Cast them around shallow wood cover and swim them back to the boat with a slow, steady retrieve. If fish happen to be deep, or if the wind picks up, switch to a heavier jig. Store panfish jigs in a multi-sectioned clear plastic utility box and write their weight on the lid above each section with a waterproof marker.
Twist-Tail Rule:
Arguably the most productive (and least expensive) artificial lure for all panfish varieties is the soft plastic twist-tail grub.
Bite-Sized Baits:
Worms are a good bait for bluegills - so good, in fact, that you'll go through scores of worms in no time unless you economize. Once you've attracted a large school of 'gills to your fishing area, use progressively smaller bits of worm on your hook - these panfish are competitive, and when there's a school present, they'll readily bite even the tiniest chunk of worm the instant it hits the water.
CATFISHIN' TIPS
Big Blues Love Cold Water:
The biggest blue catfish often come from water below the 40-degree mark. Most other gamefish are sluggish in water this frigid, but not blues - they'll bite aggressively and put up a world-class fight.
Flatheads On Bluegills:
One of the best baits for a big flathead catfish is a live bluegill. Fish it under a float in shallow water, or below a heavy sinker on the bottom of a river. Use stout tackle - when hooked, a flathead usually heads straight for cover.
Juggin' Fun:
One of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to catch catfish is on juglines. Wrap a length of strong monofilament line around the neck of a plastic milkjug. Pull out the desired length (6 to 10 ft. is usually plenty) and secure the remainder in place with a sturdy rubber band. Rig a stout live bait hook at the end of the line and a heavy sinker (an old spark plug or wheel weight will work) about a foot above the hook. Use liver, worms, minnows, shrimp or prepared catfish bait. Put out several jugs away from heavy boating traffic, then get set for fun as catfish try to make off with them. Always check local regulations before jug fishing.
Cats On Corks:
In Spring, catfish often move around shallow rock banks to spawn. They can be caught using live minnows or prepared baits drifted shallow beneath slip bobbers.
Catfish Attractor:
A "fish block" is a great catfish attractor. These biodegradable blocks, when submerged, emit a fish-attracting odor which will call catfish and baitfish from a wide area. Tie a block to a tree limb or boat dock to attract fish close to shore, or sink one of or more on underwater structure. For best results, return in a couple of days and fish close to the block.
Feeding Frenzy
In summer and fall, large schools of bass often chase baitfish to the top in a feeding frenzy. To locate active bass schools, cruise the lake and watch for circling and diving birds- they're feeding on injured baitfish the bass have left behind.
Lures That Rattle
When crayfish crawl across the bottom, they make a clicking sound which bass recognize as a feeding cue. A jig or crankbait with built-in rattles will simulate this sound.
Sneak Up On Pond Bass
Use a stealthy approach when fishing a clear pond- often the bass can see you before you see them. Avoid brightly-colored shirts and hats; experienced pond anglers often wear camouflaged clothing. Direct your first casts close to the shoreline while you are still a good distance away from the water's edge.
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