Winter Smallmouths Like Small Profile Baits

Though there are times when large profile baits work great during the winter, smaller baits are often the key to winter bassin' success...

Here’s another video tip to help get those sluggish winter smallmouths into the boat by using small profile baits…

Small tubes, reapers, or paddle-tailed grubs anyone?

Optimized Cold Weather Crankbait Fishing

Though many bass anglers key on one particular crankbait style for wintertime fishing, John Crews thinks you may want to broaden your selection to catch more cold water bass...

Take a moment to watch this video and see what John is talking about!

In addition to traditional squarebill cranks, thin-bodied crankbaits like the Rapala Shad Rap and Spro Little John rock during the cold weather period...

Are you stocked with crankbaits for cold water conditions?

Lures for Late Fall Fishing

As the year moves through the various seasons, we anglers notice changes in bass behaviour as well as the effective baits to catch them!

Rapidly cooling water mean slowing of the bass' metabolism meaning it's often time to switch to slow presentations as well.

Take a moment and listen to FLW Bass Pro, Terry Bolton describes three great lure selections for late fall bass fishing…

Froggin’ the Reeds

Reeds, cane grass, tule reeds, cat-tails are all forms of emergent vegetation that offers great cover for bass and other game fish.

Though it’s possible to fish these woody-like grass beds via different methods, one of the more exciting techniques to cover water effectively is walking a hollow-belly frog through the open lanes and weed edges…

Take a moment and watch this short but informative video to see what I mean:

Did the video get you excited to hit the reed beds with a frog?

It sure did the trick for me :)

Tight lines all!

Catching Late Fall/Early Winter River Smallmouth

As fall winds down and winter approaches, water temperatures quickly descend to the low 50s and into the 40s, concentrating on deep water areas with cover can be key…

Add in the right baits like jigs, drop-shot or deep-diving crankbaits for bottom contact presentations and the smallmouth action can be fantastic!

Take a few moments and watch the following video to see what I mean

Makes me a little anxious to hit my local smallie river for some fall bass fishing, how about you? 😎

Crank the Contours for Transitioning Bass

Anytime you are bass fishing during a cool/cold water transition period, focusing your presentations on the right type of structure and cover will help you catch more bass…

During these transitions, bass often use the structural contours of the shoreline as roadways to assist in their movements between deep and shallow water areas…

In this video, Elite Series Pro Aaron Martens (Rest In Peace) explains his approach to fishing shoreline contours with crankbaits to connect with transitioning bass…

As Aaron suggests be sure to follow the contours and maintain your boat position to enhance your cool-cold water crankbait fishing success!

Oh and of course … “never throw a worm if the bass are biting crankbaits” ;)

Frog Color Selection Tips

Hollow-belly frogs are one of the most popular and exciting bass baits to fish any time the water temps are over 55 degrees and bass holding cover is present.

Just like most other baits, frogs come in a plethora of colors and the choices can be daunting for the beginning frog angler!

Question is… do we really need one of each frog color to be a successful frog fishermen?

Not necessarily as explained by Bassmaster Elite Series pro, Ott Defoe in this short but informative video…

One thing to keep in mind, though these pros may mention a specific frog manufacturer in the video, the tips work with any brand including your favorite!

Tight lines all :D

How to Fish Football Jigs

Football Jigs… Swim Jigs… Finesse Jigs… Flipping Jigs… Timber Jigs… Arkie Jigs…

Arghhhhh!

Did you ever wonder why there are so many different types of jigs?

Believe it or not there really are legitimate reasons for having different types of jigs; one of which is the unique action some jigs have…

These unique actions mean some jigs are designed for specific presentations and the football jig is definitely one falling into that category!

Take a moment and listen to Bass Pro Shaw Grigsby explains how to fish football jigs…

Given the design of this type of jig, I personally limit the color patterns those resembling crayfish…

How about you?

Effective Summer Bass Fishing Lures

Bass Lures – Effective Summer Bass Fishing Lures

By Trevor Kugler

In this article, I’m going to list some of the most effective summer bass fishing lures. I’m listing these lures in no particular order seeing as how “the best” bass lures are the ones that work best for each individual angler. Everyone has their favorite bass fishing lures; the point is that you might not have some of these effective summer bass fishing lures in your tackle box/bag. If you don’t have any of these bass lures available you probably want to add them.

When water temperatures rise above the mid eighties bass fishing can become much more difficult. Bass (especially largemouth bass) prefer water temperatures from the mid seventies to the mid eighties, and when the temperatures rise above the mid eighties bass fishing can become tough.

A great way to combat high water temperatures is to fish in the early mornings. This is when the water will be the coolest and cloudy days and rainstorms can help with the water temperatures as well. During the summertime it’s also a great idea to go fishing when there is the least amount of activity on the water. Once all the toys come out, bass fishing can become all but impossible on many lakes and reservoirs.

So what are the effective bass fishing lures that you need to know about and have access to in the summer?

Top Water Baits – These baits can perform best during the mornings and evenings during the hot days of summer. There are many different varieties of top water bass lures that are effective and some of the best are frog imitations and soft stick baits. Frog imitations such as the rebel Teeny Wee Frog can be extremely effective during the summertime.

Shad Imitations – During the summer months many lakes and reservoirs are full of Threadfin Shad. These bait fish are a staple food source for bass all year, but especially in the summertime. When it comes to bass lures one of the most effective is the KickTail Minnow. Of all bass fishing lures available today, this may be one of the most effective. Shad imitations are a must for any tickle box/bag.

Slow Falling Plastics – Plastic worms and grubs are excellent bass lures in the summertime. After your early morning fishing and the day (and water temperatures) start to heat up bass will move to deeper cover. Throwing soft plastics at these bass can be a very effective technique. At this time of the year many times strikes come as the lure is falling, so the less weight you can use the better. Slow falling plastics can be a great option in the summer.

If any of these bass baits aren’t in your fishing repertoire I would add them. These bass lures are all effective when fishing during the dog days of summer and will help you experience more bass fishing success. Just remember there is nothing that will help you bass catching ability like spending time on the water fishing, so for God’s sake get out there!

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his five year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.

Effective Summer Bass Lures

Article Source: Bass Lures – Effective Summer Bass Fishing Lures

How to Flip and Pitch

Confused about the proper techniques for flipping and pitching baits into cover?

Take a moment and listen to BASS Pro Denny Brauer explains some of the does and don’ts of these two shallow cover presentation methods…

Very informative don’t you think?

Tips On Fishing Sinking Senko-type Baits

Ever wonder how to fish those salted, sinking stickbait worms like the Yamamotto Senko?

Confused about when it’s the time to use either a Texas or wacky rig with soft stickbaits?

The tips provided in this video by college angler Nick Barr will help!

Great info on fishing soft stickbaits like the Yamamotto Senko, don't you think?

Fishing Vibrating Swim Jigs

It doesn't matter whether you can them chatterbaits or vibrating swim jigs, this type of bladed swim jig can be deadly on big bass!

In this video, FLW Pro Terry Bolton provides a great intro to the equipment needed and techniques for fishing vibrating swim jigs…

Many anglers feel vibrating swim jigs (chatterbaits) are best in cool water periods but I like them anytime ice is not covering the water!

Using Crankbaits as Search Baits

Every time we fish a new body of water we are faced with the same dilemma…

Where do we start fishing and with what bait?

As far as the bait goes, a search-type lure such as a crankbait allows an angler the chance to fish both quickly and effectively…

Since there are usually many different types of cover and structure present, one of the best approaches is often to fish as many different fish-holding elements as quickly as possible.

As you start catching fish using crankbaits, it helps you hone in on the type of cover/structure bass are relating too as KVD discusses in this video…

Given the variety of depths crankbaits can cover, is there really any better search bait?

Early Season Bass On Lipless Crankbaits

One of my favorite early season techniques to trigger strikes from early season bass is working lipless crankbaits around deep water transition areas.

Though I vary the retrieve from steady slow rolling to stop and go, one of my favorites is to yo-yo the bait through deeper holes and up the sloped banks…

In this video, the guys from Small Waters Fishing describe their nuances to fishing lipless cranks for pre-spawn bass…

Time to get out there and yo-yo a lipless crankbait for a springtime lunker!

Attitudes of Bedding Bass

Springtime is the right time, especially when it comes to big bass and shallow water…

When it comes to shallow, spring bass, many bass anglers focus on bedding bass when looking for a trophy.

Though bedding bass can often be easy to locate, they are often less than cooperative when it comes to accepting our offerings…

BASS Elite Pro, David Walker gives some great tips on both reading the ‘tude of the bass and presentations help put them in the right mood to take the bait…

Walker's insights may just help figure out those finicky bass during the spawn or at least we hope so :)

Tubes for Early Season Smallmouth Bass

Tube baits are bass-catching wonders throughout the year but they are especially effective in the early season…

Once smallmouth bass start to leave their deep water wintering holes and head towards the spawning grounds, they have one thing on their minds…

It’s dinner time!

Add in the fact that the lakes are coming to life with baitfish such as gobbies and sculpins plus crawfish, smallies are often scouring the bottom to feed…

In this video, the folks from Berkley and InFisherman TV show us the power of tubes when offered as a dinner-time alternative…

Do you have a good assortment of bass tubes ready for the early season smallmouth bite yet?

Practice Makes Perfect for Pitching Docks

Here’s a tip from the folks at Wired2Fish on how to practice your boat dock pitching technique at home…

Bass Fishing - Targeting Bass on the Points

Bass Fishing - Targeting Bass on the Points

By Kevin Sewell

Fishing points can help you put more bass in the boat. Points will usually hold some bass on any given day throughout the year. Some of these spots will produce better in the spring and fall while others will produce in the summer and winter.

There are definitely some things that you should know to help you catch more fish. During the spring and fall, bass will be transitioning from deeper water to shallower water. At these times of the year, you can expect to do well on the secondary points that are back in the bays or coves.

Before the spawn, staging fish can be found on these secondary points. Some of the biggest females are caught in these spots before they actually move onto the beds for spawning time. Some spots will hold numerous fish, making it a little bit easier for you.

 During the summer and winter, secondary points will still hold some fish and even some big bass, but the main lake points are usually the best places to target the bigger bass. You can also find some nice schools of fish on the main lake points, especially if there is any type of current. In the summer, you have to factor in the thermocline. Points that drop off quickly are more productive, but the fish are going to be suspended on the thermocline.

The depth will be different depending on the lake, but expect to find bass in the 15 to 25 foot range. Jigging spoons usually work well to trigger a reaction strike in this deep water. In the winter, bass will be holding in deeper water and they may come onto the points to feed.

A few warm days during the winter can trigger a feeding spree, but the fish will most likely be very deep, so try to find points that have deep water nearby. All points are not created equal. On most lakes, there are many points to choose from.

Points that have weed growth, wood, quick drop offs, boat docks or any other type of natural or manmade cover will usually hold more fish. Something as subtle as one point having bigger boulders falling into the water than the other point can hold many more fish.

Find out what works for you and make sure to remember what points work best during each specific season. You will be able to use this information on many different bodies of water that you fish. For more information on bass, take a look at our bass fishing page.

 Article provided by Kevin Sewell at Ultimate Fishing Site Take a look at our most popular pages on our website. You will find everything you need from these pages.Fish

 Article Source: Bass Fishing - Targeting Bass on the Points

Springtime Bass Tips from KVD

KVD is fishing Texas honey-hole, Toledo Bend Reservoir during spring frontal conditions…

In this video, VanDam focuses on reaction bait techniques using spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and lip-less crankbaits to fool wary largemouths from Toledo Bend’s flats…

Big Bass on Off-Beat Presentations

Doug Stange of InFisherman TV describes a system for increasing your success using off-beat presentations for big bass in this short video segment…

Take a moment and see what does suggests for some "different" presentations that produce big gals!

Male Bass Bedding Behavior

Fishing for bedding bass can be frustrating…

Many times you can see bass sitting on the bed but then find they avoid almost everything you throw at them…

The video below shows how bedding bass react under different situations…

Definitely some things to think about!

Kayak Bass Fishing Intro

Just getting started trying to hone your skills at some kayak bass fishing?

Many of us have been there and once you’ve selected a kayak you quickly learn there are a number of different factors at play when bass fishing from a kayak or any other low profile craft!

Here is another short video providing an introduction to the world of kayak bass fishing with some very useful tips…

Fishing from a kayak or canoe takes a little getting used to but allows us to get into places anglers fishing from big rigs can only dream about & well worth the effort!

Until later…

Tight lines and many gunwale crossings!

Casting Tips for Light Crankbaits

It’s no secret that thin-bodied, lightweight crankbaits like Rapala’s Shad Rap are not only bass killers but exceptional baits in cool and cold water conditions…

One issue many bass anglers encounter when trying to fish these lightweight baits… how to cast them efficiently to get reasonable casting distance…

In this short video, bass pro Terry Bolton gives several tips on how to cast lightweight crankbaits with both spinning and casting combos…

Definitely some great info to keep in mind when fishing Shad Rap type crankbaits especially during the colder water periods!

Bass Fishing Stupidity Will Lead to Access Denial

Bass Fishing Stupidity Will Lead to Access Denial By Jim Hickey

Are bass anglers (or any angler for that matter) ignorant, arrogant, and just plain stupid?

Sometimes you just have to wonder...

Bass fishing is, as all outdoor recreational activities, a privilege. In today's sometimes overly critical world we must work diligently to protect our ability to access all water bodies, home to our favorite resource.

We are both stewards and ambassadors of our sport and in many respects, the resource. Anytime we act carelessly or intentionally damage the resource's environment or leave a negative impression with the casual observer regarding our actions, we often ignite a bias against our access to that environment.

How does it happen? In many ways they are nearly impossible to list but here are a few examples:

• Leaving or discarding trash around areas where we are fishing (either on land or water);
• Taking fish for show and then dumping them in the trash receptacles at the ramp or worse yet, just leaving them on the bank to rot; or
• Being less than courteous while either fishing on the shore, at the ramp and on the water to other people, especially non-fishermen.

What do these actions end up causing?

At best, the negative image of bass anglers as sportsmen and worse a growing number of regulations and restrictions limiting our access to this precious resource.

One particular example springing into my mind dates back a number of years and involves someone flagrantly misusing the bounty of our sport.

This one issue involves a lake in southeastern Massachusetts surrounded by three properties, one a golf course, second cranberry bogs and the last a privately held conservation area.

Both the golf course and bog owners did not (and still do not) permit access to the lake from their properties because of previous vandalism and liability issues. For many years, however, the private conservation area owner did allow access to a small launch and picnic area on the south side of the lake.

Or at least they used to until one so-called bass angler did the unthinkable...

After betting a friend he could catch a limit (5-fish) of big bass (> 5 lbs. each) from this lake, he managed to accomplish that feat on his next trip. Rather than just take the fish home to show his friend, he pinned the bass on a stringer then tied the stinger around a tree at the launch for his friend to see later that day.

Now remember, the launch is located on privately owned conservation land so when the caretaker made his rounds that afternoon and saw this idiotic display, he immediately reported it to the main office.

Within 24 hours, the land was posted, the access road sealed off with earthen mounds (replaced a couple of weeks later with locking, iron gates) and all future fishing access denied.

So again I ask, as bass anglers, are we stupid, arrogant or just plain ignorant?

There are many water bodies in southern New England where access to the water is rapidly becoming virtually impossible due to heightened development of the area or negative treatment of formerly cooperative landowners. Actions like this or even simply discarding of trash or being discourteous while fishing will result in a growing number of access issues.

Always bear in mind, the actions of today often dictate our access to our treasured resource for the future...

Jim Hickey (a.k.a. Doc Bass) is an avid freshwater angler mainly pursuing black bass (largemouth, smallmouth & spotted bass) for over four decades. During that time, he has been active as both a recreational and tournament angler, as well as assisting others in honing their fishing knowledge and skills.

Doc Bass continues to share his thoughts on successful bass fishing on numerous forums and websites including his own bass fishing blog site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_C._Hickey http://EzineArticles.com/?Bass-Fishing-Stupidity-Will-Lead-to-Access-Denial&id=3449551