Steve Alexander of Private Water Fishing in Texas 'shocks' one of the trophy bass lakes that he manages, and provides unique insight into how they manage lakes to grow trophy largemouth bass.
Pick up a few tips on how to fish your favorite spot in the cloudy and over cast conditions. At these times most fish are in a feeding frenzy and these tips take full advantage.
There is nothing more exiting then watching a bass hit your topwater lure but the bass aren't always sitting in the shallows. Here are some tips for deep water jigging that will help you land fish when the topwater action turns off.
Spoons aren't just for cold water anymore! Fish love the lifelike action a spoon presents and these tips are going to help you with your presentation to make this lure irresistible.
If you plan on releasing the fish you catch it is important to handle the fish as little as possible and release them as quick as you can so as to cause as little damage to the fish as possible. Use these netting tips to release the fish as quickly and safely as possible.
Snag Proof has developed a frog for fishing open water. This frog is weedless and sink proof the only place you are going to see that frog disappear is down the throat of a trophy fish!
Using crankbaits from a kayak has its challenges, and Chad Hoover shows you two pieces of gear that will make the job easier in this episode of Kayak Bassin.
As a bass angler your trolling motor has to be able to get you in and out of the heavy cover where the bass are hiding, be easy to use and dependable. This tool is great for cranking lures to cover as much water as possible. These tips will help you land more fish.
Dave Mercer stops by the WFN booth at ICAST 2010 for a snack - I mean to talk about the winner of the Best Soft Plastic Lure, the Live Target Frog (Hollow-body). Mercer offers tips on how to rig up this frog and when to fish it.
The advancements made in the technology used in fishing are huge! One of the biggest advancements is in the electronics on angler's boats. Shaw Grisby offers tips on using your electronics to catch more fish while finesse fishing.
When you are fishing for bass in deep water in the fall sometimes they can suffer from extended air bladders. JP offers tips on how to release the pressure using a technique called fizzing.
G-Loomis released their first new rod design in 17 years and it took home the most prestigious award at ICAST 2010. The NRX has increased castability, sensitivity and is incredibly light.
John Crews sings the praises of this new fluorocarbon line at ICAST 2010. Crews says the line is so clear that after he spooled his spinning reel he could still see the base of the spool! And at $20 for 200 yards it is a great price.
Fresh Water
Salt Water
Smallmouth Bass Eric Engbretson/USFWS
Introduction
Bass are one of the most popular gamefishes in the world with many species inhabiting both fresh and saltwater environments. They belong to the Perciformes order, which contains 40 per cent of all bony fish in the world. They tend to prefer warmer water temperatures, ranging from tropical to temperate habitats. Some of the more popular bass groups are black bass (largemouth, rock, smallmouth), temperate bass (striped, white), and sea bass (black sea bass, European sea bass, giant sea bass). The term "bass" is sometimes used to describe fish that are not technically part of the bass family, like South America's peacock bass, which is actually a cichlid.
Bass Species
Select a species from the list below for detailed information on common types of bass:
Bass fishing is very popular because it is not overly difficult to pick up. The fish's eagerness to bite and its strong fighting spirit make for an exciting fishing experience.
Big mouth bass fishing continuously attracts both novice and professional anglers across North America.
Bass Fishing World Records
Largemouth Bass - 22 pounds 4 ounces - Lake Biwa, Shiga, Japan and Montgomery Lake, Georgia, USA
Smallmouth Bass - 11 pounds 15 ounces - Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee, USA
Striped Bass - 78 pounds 8 ounces - Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Black Sea Bass - 10 pounds 4 ounces - Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
Spotted Bass - 10 pounds 4 ounces - Pine Flat Lake, California, USA
Shoal Bass - 8 pounds 12 ounces - Apalachicola River, Florida, USA
Guadalupe Bass - 3 pounds 11 ounces - Lake Travis, Austin, Texas, USA
Rock Bass- 3 pounds 0 ounces - Lake Erie, Pennsylvania, USA and York River, Ontario, Canada
White Bass - 6 pounds 13 ounces - Lake Orange, Orange, Virginia, USA and Amite River, Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, USA
Australian Bass - 8 pounds 4 ounces - Lake Wivenhoe, Queensland, Australia
Suwannee Bass - 3 pounds 14 ounces - Suwannee River, Florida, USA
March is prime freshwater fishing season for many species of fish in Florida. Here's everything you need to know to take advantage, including a list of top spots in the state.
With the first EverStart event over. Cooler weather and high winds brought low weights on day one by Okeechobee standards. But day two prove to be a different story, with weights as high as 35lbs. Day two leader Brandon Medlock went on to win for the second year in a row. His double weed guard jig that his father makes was the major lure he use to help him win. Other techniques were used such as
Sitting at my tying bench I was inspired to tie something a little different. I came across a spider pattern in one of my books and modified it so that it was easier to tie and was more fishable than the original. Take a curved scud hook (size 12) and place it in your vice. Take 6/0 white tying thread and dress your hook. Take some white deer hair (not bucktail) and tie it on top of
Bass fishing in North America evolved independently of European influence. The more wealthy U.S. angler concentrated on going after trout and salmon, while the working-class folk went after bass using poles and live bait. This is a major reason why bass culture and literature were targeted more toward the commoners.
The first artificial flies used for bass fishing were borrowed from the already existing trout and salmon designs. Later, anglers began to develop flies that were specifically targeted for bass fishing.
With the expansion of the U.S. railroad system, there was a possibility to expand the presence of black bass around the country. The species proved able to adapt to new environments and populations started to grow throughout the country.
Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture started assisting farmers to spread the largemouth bass and raise its numbers.
Industrialization polluted and changed many of the ecological systems previously inhabited by other fish species like trout. In its place, smallmouth bass was often introduced and was able to survive these harsher environments. With time, however, even the smallmouth bass began to decline in numbers due to worsening conditions.
Recently, there has been more emphasis placed on cleaning up and preserving lakes and rivers. This action has brought about an increase in smallmouth numbers and a resurgent reputation among anglers.
Check out this video to see some of the most recent efforts to improve the fishing environment in Minnesota and around North America.
Bass Fishing Spots: Where To Plan Your Next Fishing Trip
There are several bass fishing locations that anglers can choose from based on their proximity and preference.
Bass Fishing In Ponds
Many weekend anglers fish for bass in ponds, even more so than in lakes. They often go out bass fishing with live bait, like creek chubs. This requires using a slightly larger hook to assure that a biting bass can be easily hooked. Using a hook that is too small will allow bass the opportunity to bite and slip away.
You can find bass fishing live bait in close proximity to many of the fishing spots. It is always best to use live bait that is local to the spot where you plan to fish because fish are familiar with it. .
Bass Fishing In Rivers
Bass fishing in rivers is very popular and opens the opportunity to use a variety of different baits and fishing styles. One of the more effective methods is to use live worms that do a great job of hiding the presence of a hook. A decent substitute for this is the bass worm, an artificial worm that allows an angler to avoid the use of live bait. Plastic bait comes in many varieties of shapes, sizes, and color.
Artificial lures like spinners and spoons are also very effective. Choosing the right one depends on the conditions and usually requires a bit of experimentation to get it right. Make sure to use spinners with the water flow, not against it. Cast your line upstream and allow it to float naturally downstream towards you. Bass like to face upstream and wait for their prey as it swims downstream.
It is often difficult to choose the best bass fishing hot spots along a river as even just a few yards upstream or downstream can make a huge difference. Look around: there may be excellent bass guides available in your area to make your experience a lot more productive and enjoyable.
Bass Fishing In Lakes
Bass lakes are readily available throughout North America and are excellent spots to develop and perfect your bass fishing strategies. Unlike ponds and even some rivers, a lake is a perfect body of water to take the boat our for a nice long day of bass fishing.
Many of the popular bass sport fishing competitions are held on lakes. For example, the Bassmaster Elite Series held tournaments on Pickwick Lake, Alabama and Lake Murray, South Carolina in the 2011 season.
The Bassmaster Classic, often dubbed the Super Bowl of bass fishing tournaments, has taken place on many different lakes in its history. To get a better idea of how special it is to win this tournament, check out the video below for Boyd Duckett's thoughts on winning the Classic on Alabama's Lay Lake.
Lakes are also conducive to night fishing for bass. Many anglers prefer to fish at night, especially in the summer when cooler temperatures and calmer environments often lead to greater ass activity than on a hot, sunny day.
I am a first mate for my fathers charter business, Niagara River Guide Service. Here are a few of the pictures. Check out our facebook page as well by typing "Niagara River Fishing" in the search bar to see updated pictures after each of our charters.
We fish and scuba dive the island with guest stars, Bill Shedd from AFTCO Co. and world famous artist, Guy Harvey and son Alex, catching a stunning Atlantic blue marlin that put on an amazing show, and a sizable dorado that went on the grill.
Check out the video below for a great introduction to largemouth bass fishing.
Bass Fishing Seasons To Mark On Your Calendar
When and where you go bass fishing will make a difference to your overall angling success.
Spring Bass Fishing
Early spring is bass spawning season and they begin to feed vigorously in preparation for the big event. Mature largemouth bass are best lured with small baitfish or imitations of baitfish that are flashy enough to catch their attention.
There may be some specific regulations in your region on bass fishing limits. Areas that are trying to expand their bass numbers may place special limits on fishing during the bass spawn season.
It is best to call or check your local online bass fishing home site for information on any special rules and regulations in your region.
Summer Bass Fishing
Summer bass fishing may be an excellent pastime on the weekends with family and friends. Bass feeds well in the summer so your fishing outlook is positive.
Although you may fish all day, experts seem to agree that early morning and late evening are the two times of day that produce the best results. The bass's large eyes allow it to see other fish in low intensity light while keeping a stealthy profile during such times. This may be one of the reasons that bass have adapted to feeding during low light conditions. However, when there is no light at all, the feeding rates drop considerably.
The summer is also a perfect time to enjoy your boat and to try out bass trolling. Trolling is a fun way to combine riding your boat and fishing at the same time. The fishing line is dragged by the speed of the boat, providing a different type of fishing experience. Trolling is quite complex, as the speed of the boat, equipment used, and skill of the fisherman are huge factors to success.
It is always a wise idea to check your local bass reports when planning a trip to find the best times and spots to fish in the summer.
Fall Bass Fishing
The fall is also an excellent time for bass fishing. The cooling temperatures make bass more active and the fishing itself is similar to spring time. The fall usually brings many changes in conditions so the anglers must learn to adjust their technique quickly to these conditions.
The live bait or lures used during the fall season should normally be larger than ones used during the spring. The natural prey of the bass has had all spring and summer to grow, so by fall time it is much bigger. The fall also lends well to using different types of bait, but you should always try to match the types of bait used to the natural prey that the bass is accustomed to in the particular location.
You will often need to experiment with a few lures and techniques to fine-tune your fall bass fishing on any given day.
Winter Bass Fishing
For most anglers, winter and bass fishing do not mix very well. During the cold winter months, many recreational anglers pack it in until the next early spring fishing action. However, most does not mean all. Some brave souls do go out during the coldest winter months to continue bass fishing year round.
Winter bass fishing is of course much different than during the other seasons. An angler has to be determined and very patient. Bass does not feed as often during the winter months so the fishing really slows down. It does not, however, fully disappear. Fish can even be caught through ice or on partially frozen lakes. One simply needs the will power to handle the cold and the long waiting period that it may take to catch the fish.
The one special feature about winter bass fishing is the quality of fish that tend to bite. During winter, you may get a lot fewer bites, but on average they tend to be a lot larger fish.
Winter fishing is similar to summer fishing in that much of the action happens around sunset and sunrise. In addition, the bait or lures need to move a lot slower in the winter as the fish are not as aggressive. By moving the bait too quickly an angler may demotivate a slow moving fish from the chase.
Top 5 Bass Fishing Tips
Always make sure that your hooks are sharp to maximize results.
Stay aware of your surroundings - you can get a lot of clues about the fish's location.
Do not be afraid to experiment. It is a good idea to try out different things to see what is working best.
Fish at a pace that allows the bass to discover and strike the bait. Going too fast does not allow the fish a chance to strike.
Safety first. Always make sure you know the weather forecast and keep safety at the top of your list.
Bass Fishing Games
For the bass enthusiasts, there are many bass fishing games available to practice your skills even when you are not out on the water.
Top Five Bass Fishing Games
Fishing Craze
Trophy Bass 3D
Flysim Fly Fishing Game
Trophy bass 4
Rapala Pro Fishing
If you want to play some free online games, check out our fishing games section.
Top 10 Bass Fishing Hotspots
The king of all freshwater gamefish is the largemouth bass, but where are the best places to go? Here's a list of the 10 best bass fishing lakes, with a shoutout to the smallmouth.
Pros Reveal Favorite Urban Fishing Spots
Just because you live in a city doesn't mean you can't fish! Nine fishing professionals reveal their favorite urban spots from around the world.
How To Catch a World Record Fish
Catching a trophy fish is a great reason to be proud, but a world record fish is even better. Here's everything you need to know to catch a world record fish and earn a fishing legacy you can really be proud of.
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