Simple Reservoir Classification System

Looking for a few tips for your bass fishing trip to those new reservoirs this season?

Today’s post includes a tutorial video where Doc Bass guides you through the different primary classes of impoundments and how those classes relate to the bass fishing opportunities you’ll encounter in each one.

The Essence – Changing Landscapes Equal Different Reservoir Classes!

Everyone knows as you travel across this great country of ours, the nature of the landscape changes dramatically.  You likely also noticed, not only does the nature of the landscape change, so does the types of structure and cover found in the reservoirs created on each of these different landscapes.

Once you learn how differing terrains influence the nature of the impoundments found in the same area, you are well on your way to understanding what to expect with the bass fishing conditions on each body of water.

So give a listen to Doc Bass as he provides a few tips and pointers to help you plan your next bassing expedition to that new reservoir this coming season:

Fish Finder Buying Tips for New Kayak Anglers

Things are looking up…

You have taken the plunge…

Purchased your new kayak even launching it onto your local lake while mastering the art of kayak fishing.

After spending most of your first kayak fishing adventures probing the shallows, you’ve decided to up your game and invest in a sonar unit to explore the watery depths of your favorite honey hole.

So as most good Internet-oriented anglers do, you fire up the app to your favorite online tackle retailer starting your research into the different types of fish finders available to kayak anglers. It doesn’t take long to get mesmerized by the numerous models of fish finders available in the market today.

Question is, how do you identify the best fishfinder to meet your needs?

Since I am also a relatively new kayak bass angler, I developed this list of questions, thoughts and considerations developed as I work through my search for my ideal sonar unit:

What degree of portability do I want or need in a new sonar unit?

Most traditional sonar units come with sonar displays and transducers designed to be mounted on the boat or kayak and powered by the vessel’s 12 volt electrical system. These types of units work fine for anglers willing to dedicate the fish finder to a specific kayak or boat. For those anglers desiring a greater degree of portability with traditional sonar units, many manufacturers produce portable sonar packs including a protective case, an internal battery system along with portable transducer mounts.

One of the more interesting recent advances in the sonar industry is the development and introduction of wireless transducers and associated apps for mobile devices such as cell phones. It should be pretty obvious, these wireless transducer-type fish finders offer the greatest potential in portability. These wireless transducers are also “cast-able”, affording the user the option to either employ it from any kayak or when fishing from shore. Of course the increased portability of wireless transducers means less functions/features are available on these fish finder compared with traditional units.

What types of sonar display functions are desired?

A number of other exciting technological advancements have been developed by fish finder manufacturers over the last decade or more, These advancements include features like color sonar displays; down and side imaging displays; and GPS mapping and tracking functionality.

Each of these features offers the kayak angler different ways of viewing their favorite fishing environments but typically at a greater cost and lower level of portability.

How much of an angling techno-geek are you?

One of the major considerations you should give serious thought too…

How comfortable are you in implementing and using new technologies?

Let’s face it, not all of us are technically oriented and prefer to keep things relatively straightforward and simple. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with keeping things simple. Understanding your level of technical prowess and accepting it will minimize your frustrations when selecting your new fish finder both during set-up and during later use.

If you are the type of person looking to minimize your frustration and usually fish the same small lakes and ponds, you may want to consider either one of the wireless units or a traditional-type fish finder with sonar and/or down imaging displays. Kayak anglers more comfortable with technology who desire more features/functions and have deeper pocketbooks may want to consider units with GPS mapping and side imaging features to meet their requirements.

What types of water bodies do you normally fish?

As I mentioned in the previous section, if you fish a limited number of small lakes, ponds and rivers, a sonar unit with fairly basic displays and functions may well suit your needs.

On the other hand, if you fish larger lakes and rivers with more complex bottom structure and cover, fish finders providing the different types of sonar and imaging displays along with GPS mapping features may be a better option.

Bottom line…

It all comes down to a matter of personal preference and size of your pocket book relative to the set of features and functions that will work for you when buying a fish finder for your first kayak.

A Specialized Winter Bass Rig

Bass fishing during the winter cold-water period can be rewarding when you connect with the fish but it can also be very frustrating when they’re not cooperating…

Cold water means slower metabolism and less feeding so many bass only respond to slow moving or near-stationary baits…

Though suspending jerkbaits and the ultra-finesse “float n fly” rig are winter mainstays, other rigs can also be effective from time to time.

Let’s face it, sometimes even winter bass sometimes want a “big meal” as long as it’s slow moving that is 

In the second “What Doc Thinks” video, I offer some insight in how a few simple tweaks to the “float n fly” produces a rig designed to present larger baits to sluggish winter bass…

Closer Look at Canyon Reservoirs

When most people think of the western U.S., especially the desert southwest, they often visualize towering rock pinnacles, vast expanses of wind-blown sand and deep sinuous canyons.

As a matter of fact, many of us yet to travel to this part of this great nation, have only experienced the area and its relatively unique landscape via photos or videos.

Once the opportunity to visit this spectacular region becomes reality, the magnificence and grandeur of the scenery is more than breath-taking. The same reaction holds true for all of us non-native bass anglers when we first experience the nature of fishing canyon reservoirs.

A World of Rocks, Rocks and More Rocks!

Canyon reservoirs are characterized by deep, narrow, rock-rimmed valleys encased by steep rock walls and bluffs often reaching as high into the sky as they dive deep to the reservoir’s bottom.

Depending on the elevation of the water’s surface, many of the reservoir shorelines are merely the intersection of the water with the bluff rock walls. The nature of these shear rock walls can sometimes be a little more irregular providing a staircase of ledges at varying depths or piles of fallen rock debris that toppled from the canyon rim. Each of these situations provides different bass holding types of rock cover including rock piles, boulders on the ledges or overhangs where the bass hide underneath waiting in ambush.

In areas where less resistant rocks are found at the water’s edge, steeply sloping banks and points of weathered rock debris maybe present. Occasionally, these non-vertical banks also provide cover for the bass in the form of flooded brush or even a lonely cottonwood.

Is Keeping Bass Wrong?

Following the rise in popularity of bass tournaments during the latter part of the Twentieth Century, “catch and release” became the standard for bass anglers to help protect the health of our fisheries…

But is “catch and release” the ultimate answer in keeping bass populations healthy and thriving?

I decided to use my inaugural episode of my new video series named “What Doc Thinks” to address this issue 

I also decided to provide a few links to articles discussing the benefits of combining selective harvest with catch and release to preserve the health of our treasured fisheries below:

Selective Harvest 1

Selective Harvest 2

Selective Harvest 3

Selective Harvest 4

Side Scanning Sonar for Bass Fishing

The breadth of tools available in today’s world of bass fishing electronics is absolutely fantastic.

It seems like it was only a few years ago, when the electronics technology available for bass anglers focused primarily on different types of fish finders  such as flashers and chart recorders.

Recently, however, advances in electronic technology now allow bass fishermen to locate their position with global positioning systems (GPS); monitor the subsurface world with underwater cameras and use sonar units sensing the underwater world both vertically and horizontally using side-scanning technologies.

Below, Al Lindner (formally of In-Fisherman and now Angling Edge fame) shows the benefits side-scanning sonar units and how they provide an amazing perspective of the underwater environment.  This in-turn, of course, can help you catch more bass …

Extend Your Floating Net Handle

If you are a small boat, float tube or kayak angler you may have purchased a Promar or Foreverlast short handle floating net to safely land your prize catch. 

Where the short handle works well if wading or fishing from a float tube, it doesn't take long to find it comes up a little "short" at times when fishing from a canoe or kayak (splash). 

Want to know a way to solve the problem and keep the net floating?

Take a moment and learn how via this DIY video tutorial...

Problem solved with just a few components and sweat equity it seems :)

Best Fall Baitfish Lures

 Is there any time of year that bass are more focused on baitfish than the fall?

I don't think so!

Since bass are so keyed on baitfish when putting on the fall feed bag, what are the best lures to throw and increase your success?

Watch the following video and see!

According to bass pro Jeff Sprague the top five include:

1. Walking baits
2. Lipless crankbaits
3. Squarebill crankbaits
4. Chatter-type baits
5. Jerkbait

Those may work for him but personally I would add spinnerbaits and buzzbaits to the list as we;;!

Do you have any favorites?

Getting Goosed When Bass Fishing?

I Came across a pretty interesting find when I was searching for information via YouTube on kayak bass fishing.

Here’s a dude, fishing for bass in an area with lots of vegetation (great cover right) and a couple of tag-a-long geese watching every cast… 

Everything looks innocent enough. I’ve had many encounters with waterfowl (ducks, geese & even swans (though the swans can be real nasty) where they were aimlessly swimming round the boat while fishing…  

Never really had much of a problem… 

I have to admit though, I have never had the same type of encounter as this guy 🙂 (whew!)…

I guess it goes to show… you really shouldn’t be teasing the wild critters… 

Especially if fishing for bass from a KAYAK! 

And it definitely gives a whole new meaning to the expression … getting goosed! 

Fortunately it seems everyone and everything came out OK…

Fishing the Shaky Head

Soft plastic baits definitely play a major role in many of my days on the water and set a baseline for many of the bass fishing tips and tactics I rely upon.  Coupling different types of soft plastic baits with different styles of presentations always reap benefits under a wide range of environmental conditions. 

The shaky worm fishing rig is one presentation method helping many anglers adjust to those days when tough fishing conditions prevail on the water ...

In this video, Bass Pro, Jeff Kriet provides an "on the water" demonstration of how the shaky worm (also called jig worm) rig works under even the toughest of conditions:

 

Shaky worm fishing works best when scent-enhanced worms are rigged on fairly light (1/16 to 1/8 oz) jig-head coupled with light line and a slow to dead-sticking retrieve.

Give the shaky worm rig a try the next time you're on the water and encounter tough fishing conditions!

Saving Trailer Hooks

Ever get caught out on the water, reach into your tackle box for a trailer hook but can’t find the hook keepers?

I know I have!

A quick and easy solution for those times when you want to add a trailer hook to a spinnerbait or buzzbait but can’t find the keepers is described in the following short video…

I hope it helps! 

Bass Fishing Tools: Lake Versus Topo Maps

Both topographic and lake maps often display features of a lake or reservoir bottom structure and are an important tool for bass anglers.

The following video was created to provide some thoughts and basic insight into how to use both lake and topographic maps when planning your next fishing trip.

It also provides a information regarding free sources for lake maps (mostly state sites or online sites like Navionics) as well as where to find free topographic maps…

Free Map Sources

Here are a few links to free map resources you may find helpful…

• U. S. Lake Maps via Navionics
• National Map
• MyTopo Digital Topos
• Digital Topo Maps

Plus most state GIS departments have topo maps and other imagery products available for their area…

If you know of any bass fishermen interested in learning more about lake and topographic maps, be sure to either send them the article link.

Better yet share the article via Twitter, Facebook, etc. via the buttons below!

Thanks for your support and remember…

Tight lines and full live-wells!

Swimming Worms for More Bass

The Texas rigged plastic worm has likely caught as many bass as any other bass bait on the market. 

Rigged with a bullet-shaped weight, the T-rigged worm can be worked by, through and over just about any type of bass-holding cover especially vegetation.

Though most bass anglers hop, drag or pull T-rigged worms through cover there is one presentation many don't use... the swimming worm!

Take a few minutes and watch as bass pro Shaw Grigsby explain why he loves fishing swimming worms for bass all across the country...

Bassin' During the Bluegill Spawn

As the bass are winding down their time on the spawning beds, bluegill and other sunfish are just starting theirs.

That's great news for bass recuperating since bedding 'gills mean an easy meal and energy source!

Knowing the right baits and presentations to coax bluegill-focused bass into chomping your bait will put more and bigger bass in your boat during this part of the season.

Watch and see what I mean:

Buzz Craw Rigging Tweaks

Soft plastic baits like the Mister Twister Buzz Bug or Zoom Speed Craw are most commonly used as part of a Texas rig, on an open hook jighead or as a jig trailer.

Over the last few years however I've developed a few rigging tweaks to present the bait it three different ways giving bass a look they haven't seen before as I describe in the video below!

Using Swimbaits to Catch Springtime Smallmouth Bass

In many northern lakes, smallmouth bass leave the deep water wintering holes and head up onto the rocky flats in search of food and spawning areas each spring. 

Before they start the annual spawning ritual, smallies with roam the flats searching for minnows and crawfish to chomp on in preparation for the spawn...

Using a subtle paddletail swimbait as a finesse type presentation that allows us to cover water efficiently can be one of the more productive methods for catching springtime smallmouths as bass pro Bill McDonald demos in the following video...

Using Lightly Weighted Tubes for Super Shallow Bass

Springtime bass spend most of the late prespawn period up in the shallows searching for food after a winter of much lower levels of feeding activity as they prep for the spawn.

When found in shallow, dark-bottom bays, many anglers use bright-colored, Texas rigged soft jerkbaits or stickbaits that mimic the bait they're chasing to entice aggressive fish from cover.

Did you realize a lightly weighted 4"+ tube can be an excellent substitute the bass probably haven't when up on a shallow water feed?

Take a moment and see what the guys from W2F say about fishing slightly weighted tubes for super shallow bass...

A Bass Pro’s Jig Fishing Secrets

Are you one of the many bass fishermen struggling to master the subtleties of fishing a jig and pig?

If so, I have a treat for you today.

Recently, Bass Pro and Bassmaster Classic Winner, Skeet Reese, created a great tutorial video about jig fishing on Clear Lake in northern California. Not only does he do a fantastic job of explaining many of the nuances of jig fishing but he also gives some insight into adjusting when things don’t go according to plan!

So grab a drink, maybe a bowl of popcorn but definitely a pencil and pad of paper and enjoy the show :)

Fishing Rivers for Prespawn Bass

Bass in rivers pose different challenges for bass anglers but there are some predictable movements these bass make during the prespawn period that can help unravel these challenges.

Like most fish, river bass tend to prefer warming waters and stable conditions as the prep themselves for their annual ritual to keep their "gene pool" going into the future. Though river flows and heights change often during the spring, bass tend to head to the backwater areas to feed and setup shop for the spawn.

Arming yourself with a variety of snagless baits to work shallow woody and vegetated cover can be key to early season river bass success as bass pro Seth Feider discusses in the following video...

Saving Smallmouths Caught in Deep Water

During the summer and winter months, bass, especially smallmouth bass call deep water (> 30') cover and structure their home. 

When catching smallmouths from their deep water haunts, their swim bladder inflates making it almost impossible to swim upright. Since the smallies have no way to evacuate the bladder on their own, knowing how to properly "fizz" the bladder is key.

Take a moment and watch as bass conservationist Barb Elliot demonstrates proper fizzing technique...

The is another method for other bass that involves using a large fizz needle that enters the bladder just above its crushers at the back of the mouth that can be accessed via the link below:

Alternative Fizz Method