A small hook won't be able to land a largemouth bass. Along with the hook size, you'll need to consider the type of hook point you'll want. There are spear point, which are the standard, hollow point, knife edge and surgical needle.
Over the last few years, the rivers edge is getting more & more crowded, as fishing pressure increases so does the amount of lures the fish will see in a day. Trying new methods of fishing can sometimes prove to be rewarding.
If you want to take up bass fishing this year, you need to make sure that you have the right type of lure in your tackle box. Here are the top four types of lures that you should carry with you if you want to be a successful bass fisher this year.
Crappie fishing is rather easy, which is why it is great for anglers of all skill levels. The main thing that you need to keep in mind is that to have the most success you need to find the right depth where the crappie is located. Once you know the right depth you can have a lot of success reeling in the fish.
At New Melones Reservoir, despite the continuing snow melt, the water level dropped another foot last week. The water clarity is good and the temperature is slowly coming up, now averaging 76 to 81-degrees. Trout are showing signs of schooling over deep water and feeding on shad minnows. Trollers have been finding trout at 40 to 60 feet with Speedy Shiners, Needlefish, and ExCel lures. Night fishermen have been doing well by anchoring over fairly deep water and lowering their light to about 20 feet. This attracts plankton, which in turn, attracts shad, which will attract larger fish. Live minnows and nightcrawlers are choice baits. The kokanee numbers may be down, but the quality is good with some going 15 to 18 inches. Bladed lures may work well in deeper water as they create vibration which will attract fish. Scented corn on each hook is important. Big trout winner at Glory Hole Sports was, again, Bob James, of Murphys, with a 2-pound rainbow caught at 55 feet in the main lake. Big catfish winner was John Tennant, of Twain Harte, with an 11-pound, 15-ounce fish caught with sardine bait in the main lake. Bass fishing is good for those who specialize in that type of fishing. Hayden Lee, of Angels Camp, recently caught a 10 pound Largemouth Bass on a topwater lure and he had no net in the boat. He and a friend were able to boat the fish for photos before release.
The water temperature has an effect on the activities of bass fish. As such, it is important to always consider it when trying to catch one. When the water is cold, it is important to use slower moving bait. When the water is warm, you should use more aggressive bait.
As our seasons change, so does the cycle of the bass. The seasons can be quite beneficial to fisherman or detrimental to novices who don’t know the cycle of the bass and where to find them during different seasons. As the seasons change, so does the ability to catch bass. Most professional bass fishermen will know that it is extremely difficult to catch bass in the summer however, it is still possible and as the bass life time progresses, usually by summer you can find the biggest and juiciest bass. I have devised a series of tips which should be followed to ensure you are in the right place at the right time.
Lure choices can be broken down even further by utilizing my much written about principle of "search & finesse". Basically, I think all lures will fall into one of these two categories. Is it a fast moving, run & gun search lure; best used to cover lots of water and locate a hot, unpressured fish? Or does the lure require a slower retrieve, a twitch, jerk, or some other rod manipulation technique; better suited for a slow approach on a known hotspot, and a musky that has already seen plenty of baits? With this in mind you need to ask yourself questions 3 & 4:
Not knowing what to expect, my friend and I had come prepared for about any possible situation. We had brought along about every freshwater fishing rig and tactic from the mid-south, despite the insignificant probability that we might ever use some of them. Among these rarely used tactics was that of using steel leaders, lengths of wire that are tied onto the end of the fishing line to ensure that toothy fish don’t bite the vulnerable, regular line when they strike the lure. The only time we had ever used this tactic before was when fishing for gar, long and hideous fish that resemble alligators without legs; but sure enough, our exceptional freshwater tactic did work. It spared our lures when fish bit, and we began catching many fish.
Based on the time of year, there are many techniques used to catch a bass. The most common and favorite among most is the jig and trailer used year round, accompanied by a pitch cast. These movements alone are beautiful in their simplicity. Some who have mastered the pitch cast put a jig and trailer in an area the size of saucer from 50-60 feet away with little to no splash. The pitch involves a slight sway backwards, then a smooth step forward as you use your wrist to swing the tip of the rod forward toward your target. You release the bait from your hand at the precise moment and the bait will glide slowly just barely above the surface of the water to enter quietly at the spot that was being pitched
When it is in summer and later months, its best to use some attractive baits. The reason would be the murky waters which walleye thrive in. Try a fluorescent yellow or green lure. Run it across the bottom with perhaps a pickerel rig. A pickerel rig is designed to allow a weight to drag the bottom and 2 hooks (or more) come of the main line. I’ve had lots of success with leeches and leech products (fake leech – with smell) catching walleye. But this only works if they are hungry, as they are hard to see. I would be more inclined to use something colorful.
The seasons of the year determines the Walleye mood. Early spring the walleye are really active and hungry. Most anglers use minnows as bait during the spring of the year on the lake. The walleye tend to be found in shallower waters during the spring also. They are found most commonly in 8-20 feet of water. They do this in order to feed and spawn for
Just about any type of live bait will work as amberjack aren’t finicky. Also, the depth of your bait or lure really doesn’t matter—These fish will grab food or artificial bait wherever they land.
Fish often hit lures just below the surface, or deep down using down riggers. Lake trout are often found near the bottom in deep water and usually catch by anglers fishing heavy jigs tipped with bait (dead minnows, sucker meat or night crawlers). Thick weeds are found near shore in many areas. If you work a small jig tipped with bait along the deep-water side of the weed beds you may be able to catch rainbow trout, perch, tiger trout, splake, lake trout, and even kokanee salmon.
Ice Advice Have you ever wanted to sit out in sub zero temperatures and hold a pole for hours on end? Then the popular sport of ice fishing is for you. The challenge and sportsmanship of this past time draws vast amounts of people to lakes around North America each year. But the focus of this is ice fishing in Michigan, some would argue the best ice fishing in the United States. As soon as the blistering cold weather hits the great lakes state and area lakes start to freeze, fisherman begin to venture out on to the frozen tundra.