Late Fall – Early Winter Bass Fishing Using Suspending Jerkbaits

Many anglers have been throwing minnow baits (now commonly called jerkbaits) such as Rebels and Rapalas since their early days of bass fishing.  Though originally designed as either a floating or sinking bait, astute bass fishermen quickly determine a little modification to these minnow baits provides a lure that can be more effectively fished at intermediate depths.

Once modified, the altered minnow bait would then either rise much more slowly or sometimes suspend at depth (of lucky enough to get the weight balance right).

Even though is provided an answer to the intermediate depth problem, it was less than a perfect solution. The modification process was by trial and error and sometimes the jerkbait minnow lure was rendered useless during alteration.  Usually a costly effort in both and money!

Are Suspending Jerkbaits Really Special?

Late Fall to Early Winter Bass Transition

At a time when many anglers hang up there rods and winterize their boats, the hardiest of the breed of bass anglers keep their heads in the game despite the cooler weather …

I came across a video earlier today where Pro bass angler Gerald Swindle talks bass fishing tactics and strategies for approaching the late Fall to early Winter transition.  Swindle films the video on Logan Martin Lake on the Coosa River in Alabama after the water temperatures have fallen into the low to mid 40s.

During the video, “G-man” as his fans call him, notes that although 30-plus bass per day outings are rare this time of year, patience and persistence will often pay off with quality …

Watch the video and see what I mean 

Good luck with your late fall/early winter bassin’

Beginning of the End: The Late Fall Period

Regretfully, the opening part of the title is true for may bass anglers!

Even so, the waning part of the fall season can be one of the best big bass periods of any given year…

When the late fall period starts, the migration patterns of the early and mid fall periods are reversed as both baitfish and bass move back out from the creek arms and bays into the main lake area.

Bass will still be actively feeding; they are more prone to be feeding later in the day when surface water temperatures are warmest. This response is related to the actions of the baitfish whose activity is closely tied to the activity of phytoplankton in the open water environment.

During the latter mid to late parts of the day when the Sun is highest, phytoplankton activity increases in the upper portion of the water column drawing the baitfish up as well.

The concentration of baitfish near the surface again creates a situation the bass can capitalize on since the water surface becomes a barrier the bass can use to corral the baitfish making feeding more effective. During the late fall, it is quite common to see pods of baitfish suddenly busting on the surface in the main lake area as the bass are basically herding them against the surface.

Versatility of Bucktail or Hair Jigs

One of the oldest fishing lures known to man is the natural hair (bucktail) jigs. One of its better attributes is in its versatility and it is definitely a great lure for winter bass fishing opportunities.

Watch and listen to Doug Hannon (ESPN) (R.I.P. Doug) conduct a “show n tell” demonstrating why the bucktail (or hair) jig is a great all around bass fishing and catching bait (especially during the cold winter months):

Definitely some great insight into fishing one of the main-stay bass lure families.

The best part … bucktail and hair jigs aren’t just great winter bass catching baits, they also excel when used during early spring and summer bass fishing seasons as well!

More Quick Bass Tips

In today’s fast-paced world where articles and videos are popping up everywhere, it’s easy to fall prey to information overload. There are times most of us would much prefer to get some friendly advice in the form of a short tip rather than a several hundred word article!

So here is the second of a series of quick bass tips to help lessen burden of the information avalanche surrounding us…

1. Best times to use “noisy” baits are when fishing dirty water, heavy cover, dense weed mats or trying for a reaction bite…
2. Some of the noisest lures include lipless crankbaits, buzzbaits, poppers & chuggers, prop baits and crankbaits with rattles…
3. Best times to use quiet lures are when fishing in clear water, on high traffic lakes, during cold fronts & when bass are short-striking…
4. Personally I don’t like to eat F/W bass but I do respect others right to practice selective harvest and take a few home for the table…
5. Some of the quietest baits on the market include soft plastics & swimbaits on jigheads, Texas-rigged plastics, & rattleless spinnerbaits…
6. Change your line often to avoid catastrophe when the “fish of a lifetime” hits…

Exploring Rock Hump Structures

Understanding the relationship between structure, cover and fish is key when trying to actually catch fish and not just cast for them.

Fortunately, today’s bass fisherman has a myriad of electronic technology available to us helping improve the catch to cast ratio.

Even so, each time an upgrade in technology occurs, it takes a little more time and effort to learn how to interpret the info displayed on the screen…

This is definitely true with the new and improved side-imaging sonar units currently available in the depth finder marketplace…

Shad Rap Tweaks to Catch More Bass

Ever since it’s introduction in the early 1980’s, the Rapala Shad Rap has been cherished by anglers chasing bass and most other gamefish as well.

A combination of materials (balsa & premium components), shape, and profile, gave the Shad Rap a tight wiggling action that mimics a wide variety of bait that triggers strikes when wide wobbling baits fail to do so. Add in the range of colors patterns and sizes and Rapala produced a lure to catch just about any fish that swims under a variety of conditions.

Though the Shad Rap catches bass any time of year, many bass anglers rely on it during the cold water period, from late fall through early spring.

As great as the Shad Rap is out of the box, a few modifications or tweaks can enhance the lure’s productivity in cold water when bass tend to be lethargic rather than aggressively feeding.

Fishing Lure Nostalgia 2: The White Bush-hog Rides Again

One week after catching the 7-pound plus largemouth, I was back on the water armed with the same quarter ounce white Bush-hog bait.  This week, both the purpose and weather for this fishing trip than was the case for the previous week’s trip (see previous post for more info).

Last Club Bass Tourney – November, 1976

When I arrived at the ramp early on November 7th (1976), I met Harry and the rest of the bass club members who were fishing the last tournament of the season.  Harry was the person who introduced me to organized bass fishing tournaments and the club earlier that year.

Now this wasn’t one of those big-money deals you see on the ESPN or the cable sports channels, this was a small club event to qualify a team that would represent the club at the state fish-offs during the Summer of 1977.  As a matter of fact, there was no money involved in the tournament at all, just points to help earn a place on the team.

Hi-Tech (?) Bass Rigs!

As we loaded the equipment into the boat (a 14-foot, v-hull aluminum boat altered to serve the needs of most fisherman in the 70s (seats, livewell, electric trolling motor, depth finder, etc.), we both noticed the increasing cloud cover and talk of snow by the afternoon weigh-in.

Fishing Lure Nostalgia: Glory Days of a Bush-hog Spinnerbait

Is it true that one particular fishing lure (not just a type or brand) hold a special place in the memory of days gone by?

Absolutely …

As I think back to the days when my bass fishing fever arose from a spark, I fondly remember using one particular spinnerbait like it was yesterday …

The bait, an all white, quarter ounce lure with tandem white Colorado blades called a “Bush-hog” spinnerbait.  It’s actually somewhat funny because if you consider my first choice in spinnerbaits today, the other Bush-hog spinnerbaits in my collection have been relegated to “B-Team” status.

Thinking back to the Fall of 1976 (OK, I just dated myself!), however, one particular all white, ¼ oz. Bush-hog definitely experienced its “Glory Days” over a short week long period.

Blade Baits For Big Largemouth Bass

Blade Baits For Big Largemouth Bass
By Steven Vonbrandt

Blade Baits

Most bass fisherman, because of their use of jigs and worms, have forgotten some of the most important baits that can under the right circumstances catch numbers of hard to catch bass, and many times mean the difference in winning a tournament. These baits don’t have the appeal, or tournament winning reputation of such baits as topwaters, soft plastics, and spinnerbaits. Anglers that are just starting out in bass fishing are many times unaware of how and when to use these lures. Even some really good bass fisherman don’t understand the role of these hard metal baits.

Some of the better baits we use for these techniques are the jigging spoon called a Silver Buddy, and the Strike King Thruster tail spinner. These baits can really help you out at times. We never actually won a tournament just using these baits only, but they can really add some decent bass to the bag when other baits fail.
Most anglers use these baits in deep water with a vertical presentation, but we use them in some other ways that really work well in the Northeast.

Walking the Hollow-belly Frog

There is one bait that reigns supreme when fishing areas with heavy surface vegetation; the hollow bellied frog!

Though the frog looks like a fairly simple bait to fish, there are some tweaks to your presentation that can definitely increase the number of strikes you can trigger with it especially when fishing it in more open water.

Take a moment and watch as bass pro J.T. Kenney explains his presentation system for increasing bass strikes when fishing hollow-belly frogs...

Closer Look at the Smallmouth Bass

The Overview of the Smallmouth…

Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) are native to a number of states in the eastern part of the U.S. and are found in every county of the state. They are known for their acrobatic abilities and putting up a very strong fight when caught on hook and line.

Like their cousin, the largemouth, smallmouth bass are also referred to by other names including: bronzeback, brown bass, smallie, smalljaws and brownie …

Smallmouth bass mature at age three or four, and occasionally live to be 10 to 12 years old. The usual smallmouth caught by fishermen ranges from 8 to 15 inches long, and weighs less than three pounds.  Any smallmouth over four pounds is usually considered a trophy!

Preferred Habitat

Smallmouth bass thrive in streams with gravel or rock bottoms with a visible current.

Smallmouth bass often out number largemouth bass in many streams and rivers wherever they are located across the U.S. In the more southern states, smallmouth can be out numbered by spotted bass in number of river and stream systems.

Smallmouth bass are common in Great Lakes Region and through the lakes of Canada, especially around the islands and reefs and along rocky shorelines. Beyond natural bodies of water, smallmouths can also be found in numerous reservoirs, especially those with steep drop offs and rocky shorelines.

A Closer Look at the Largemouth Bass

A Little Overview …

The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoidesis) is one of the most popular freshwater sportfish in most states in the U.S. When you combine its reputation as a fighter, its palatability, and extensive range, it’s easy to understand why.

Its original range was restricted to warmer waters east of the Rocky Mountains, but its reputation as a formidable game fish created a demand for stocking programs from coast to coast extending its present range throughout most of the U.S. and southern Canada.

Like many other game fish, largemouth bass are also referred to by other names such as bucket mouth bass, bigmouth bass, line-side and green bass.

Water Temperature greatly dictates where to find these fish. Cold water (less than 50 degrees F) will mean most of the fish reside in or near deeper water.

Warmer temperatures (greater than 65 degrees F) will get the fish actively feeding in the shallows. It’s those temperatures in the middle (50 to 65 degrees F) when bass behavior is toughest to predict, so some experimentation will be in order.

Basics of the Black Bass

Today, the black basses are some of the most coveted species of game fish here in the U.S. and growing internationally as well.  Though the black bass family includes a number species, the two most prevalent and pursued are the largemouth and smallmouth bass.  This resource, therefore, will focus on those two species to uncover a few of the secrets to help us all be better at catching rather than just fishing while pursuing our prey.

Why are these two bass family members so popular?

Some of the reasons for their popularity stems from a combination of the size of their populations, the pugnacious attitudes towards forage (real and perceived), as well as to their high-level of adaptability to new waters largemouth and smallmouth bass.

The Technical Overview …

26 Quick Bass Tips

In today’s fast-paced world where articles and videos are popping up everywhere, it’s easy to fall prey to information overload. There are times most of us would much prefer to get some friendly advice in the form of a short tip rather than a several hundred word article!

So here are the first of a series of quick bass tips to help lessen burden of the information avalanche surrounding us…

1. Never be afraid to throw a buzzbait anytime from spring through fall… even in the middle of the day!
2. A buzzbait can be as effective over cover in 15+ feet of water as it is around exposed cover in three feet…
3. Never be afraid to throw a frog anytime from spring through fall… even in the middle of the day!
4. Working a smokey joe Cordell Big-O through a school of shad or alewife fry can pay-off with bass catching dividends this time of yr!
5. Remember… sometimes it’s necessary to “match the hatch” when fishing schooling bass!
6. When trying to match the color of schooling baitfish, get out the permanent markers and add a little color to your hard baits!

Find Hidden Bass Cover: Scout Lakes With Low Water Levels

How do you prepare for future bass fishing trips?

No I am not talking about bass video games or my casting practice sessions on our snow-covered yard during winter!

What I am talking about is observing the terrain surrounding our lakes, ponds and rivers when the water is often low during the late summer and through much of the winter.

Where most of us don’t spend as much time on the water as we would like, we do tend to travel around local water bodies on a regular basis.  Taking the time to scan the terrain and identify hidden bass fishing cover exposed during these low water periods can be extremely beneficial when lake return to their normal water levels.

Though there are many times when dry period observations helped disclose hidden bass fishing cover (future honey holes), two specific examples spring to mind.

In one instance, a reservoir I often fish is subject to significant water level fluctuations over the course of a year.

During a couple of late fall trips, I noticed a sharp drop-off feature (four foot ledge) on a gentle sloping bank about 50 feet off the high water shoreline.  The next spring, I caught several quality fish off the ledge enabling me to upgrade my limit on both days of a two-day tournament bolstering my overall position into second place for that event.

New England’s Secret Bass Lure – The Vibra-Bug

As I started to write this review of a favorite bass fishing lure, the Vibra-Bug spinnerbait by Rocky Ledge Tackle of Pittsfield, NH, I suddenly realized I seem to be fixated on spinnerbaits.  The reason is simple, spinnerbaits are great bass fishing lures that can be fished at almost any depth and come in a variety of styles to compliment different tastes or fishing conditions.

Better yet, this is still northern New England’s secret bass lure and it even worked when I lived in the Midwest!

Earliest Overhead Arm Spinnerbait?

Now spinnerbaits are definitely not a newcomer on the bass lure scene.  One of the first spinnerbaits introduced to the bass fishing public was the Shannon Twin Spin manufactured by the W. J. Jamison Co. in 1917.  This specialty bass lure was virtually weedless with the twin overhead wireless shafts each holding a small Indiana-style spinner extending from the weighted head with a bucktail skirt.  The lure held it’s own through the 1970s and you can find them for sale on E-Bay occasionally today.

Fishing Flooded Shorelines

The topic of this post may seem a little strange considering the previous article (scouting during low water periods), but observations made during those scouting trips can benefit times when fishing for bass along flooded shorelines as well.

Think about it for a moment … While scouting, you are not only observing exposed offshore structures on these scouting trips but you are also noting the “dry” shoreline conditions at the same time!

What’s In Your Bass Fishing Line?

I was talking with a friend recently who only fishes a few times a year and he started asking me about the different types of bass fishing line. Of course he really wanted to know which type, monofilament, fluorocarbon or braided line is the best.

As I sat there gathering my thoughts on how I was going to answer this question without making it a full lecture (I have a habit of doing that sometimes!), I decided to keep it to an overview of the three main types of those bass fishing line: monofilament, super-lines (braided line), and fluorocarbon.

Given the time of year (people prepping for next season) and fact many people maybe even be looking to purchase some line as present for fishermen, I decided my answer would make for a great “short” post on this site …

Are You Missing A Bass Feeding Frenzy?

Here’s a little spring & fall bass fishing secret I first discovered while first fishing reservoirs in the Western U.S. subsequently verifying the pattern on several natural pond systems in the Northeast.

The best part of this tip… it shows an opportunity to connect with a little-known feeding frenzy at a time when most anglers avoid hitting the water’s edge!

Most of us cringe when we hear the weather person start talking of impending cold fronts and the brisk, windy weather that follows.  I know I did until I encountered a situation where bass were herding baitfish (shad out west and alewives/herring in the east) in the rolling surf of wind-swept shores.

Across the U.S., post-front winds tend to blow from the northwest generating large waves subsequently driving plankton, baitfish and bass toward the opposite shoreline…

This means the main area where the pending feeding frenzy exists is typically on the southeast side of the lake, especially where deep water is close by…

When conditions are right, the bass go absolutely nuts chowing down on dis-oriented bait being tossed about in the surf suddenly creating a buffet line they can’t resist…

I have personally caught numerous largemouth and smallmouth bass in excess of 16 inches with the largest being 23 and 21.5 inches, respectively. The fishing can be absolutely insane with jigs and lip-less crankbaits being the easiest to cast into the wind and work throw the mayday ensuing in the crashing waves!

Fishing Through The Mid-Fall Period

When they refer to fall bass fishing the “Mid-Fall” period is the one they are talking about. By this time, water temperatures have fallen to the low sixties/upper fifties and the bass have really strapped on the old feed bags. The techniques will be similar in nature to the early fall period but the location of your quest shifts further into the back of creek arms and bays.

The reason for this is the fact that the bass are following the schools of baitfish which are searching out their primary forage plankton. Plankton tend to thrive in the upper end of creek arms and backs of bays since those areas are usually receiving more concentrated levels of nutrients they feed on. One indication of a rich phytoplankton population is the presence of a greenish coloration to the water (the phytoplankton are green due to the presence of chlorophyll for photosynthesis).

As the creeks discharge water into the creek arms, the water is often laden with the requisite nutrients derived from fertilizer runoff thereby feeding the phytoplankton which in turn feeds the baitfish with the bass hot on their proverbial tails!

Which creek arms might be best?

Simply the creeks with an active in-flow of water since the influx carries both the nutrients required to feed the plankton and it provides a constant source of dissolved oxygen helping offset the oxygen depleting effect of dying plankton and other vegetation.

Mid-Fall Fishing Techniques

Early Fall and the Baitfish Factor

During the summer, baitfish such as shad and herring reside in deepwater, main lake areas just as many bass do. Once the water temperatures start to slowly decrease, baitfish start to migrate to the shallower bays and flats in the lower portions of creek arms in search of forage (plankton) as they prepare for the coming winter period.

It should be of little surprise that the bass will be “hot on their tails” as the bass also start to strap on the proverbial “feed-bag” to prepare for the winter doldrums.

Both the baitfish and bass tend to remain near sections of major creek arms and bays closest to the main lake during this early fall period. As a result, bass are somewhat scattered and are sometimes hard to pinpoint while in a pseudo-transition state. Structure and weed beds located near the entrance to creek arms and bays as well as deep weed-laden flats are typical haunts used by early fall bass and baitfish.

If aquatic weeds are a significant type of fish-holding cover in the lakes, rivers or reservoirs you fish, carefully monitor the pattern of dying vegetation. Remembering to key in on deeper, more vibrant weed beds and weed-lines as shallow vegetation dies off can often provide excellent dividends in both the quantity and quality of the bass caught in weed-infested waters …

Even though bass are still transient in nature and are typically scattered during the early fall period, they are already starting to feed heavily and can be readily caught when located. A definite plus for the early fall bass angler …

Bass in the Summer to Fall Transition

Anyone used to fishing ponds, lakes or reservoirs with fairly deep water should realize many summertime bass reside in main lake areas. While taking up residence in their main lake hide-outs, summertime bass often relate to main lake points, offshore bars/humps/rock piles, submerged cover on deep structure, deep weed beds and creek channels.

The reasons bass prefer these summertime locations are simple;

• The deeper water areas offer a combination of cooler temperatures (hence relief from summertime heat) and
• Presence of forage since many baitfish such as shad or herring.

Just as bass prefer areas with cooler temperatures and plentiful food, baitfish also live out in the main lake deeper water for similar reasons. As environmental conditions change, the summer to fall transition kicks off and usually occurring between earl September in the north through late October on southern waters.

When the calendar passes the Autumnal Equinox, a combination of shortened days and cooler air masses work to lower water temperatures throughout all aquatic systems. As temperatures fall, signals are sent out to the fish causing both bass and baitfish to slowly start the migration from their summertime, deepwater haunts into shallower creek arms and bays.

Selecting Good Shore Fishing Locations

Fishing from shore for bass can be both challenging and rewarding. Obviously, one of the first things you need to identify is a great shore fishing location.

There are a number of factors that play into selecting a great location including:

• The season of the year since it definitely plays a major role in the movement of both bass and baitfish. As an example, if you’re fishing in the spring, you need to focus on shallow, hard-bottomed spawning flats. On the other hand, if it were the heat of the summer, shore areas close to drop-offs and points would be a better bet since many bass have moved from the shallows.
• The kind of water you are fishing is also key. Is the waterbody a river, stream, lake, pond or reservoir? Each type of waterway will have its own unique kinds of cover and shoreline obstacles (heavily vegetated or heavily developed for instance) and therefore must be accounted for from the outset.
• Different waterbodies also have different types of structure and cover that will be in close proximity to shore.  Therefore some areas maybe great in one season but not in another.
• Another important characteristic is the water clarity because it has a direct bearing on the depth both baitfish and bass use and whether they will be present or not.
• The type of baitfish and forage is also important since the forage prefers different environments and the proximity of those environments to a shore fishing location is keenly important when bass are actively feeding.

One other important note to keep in mind when shore fishing.

Bass and other gamefish use their ability to detect vibrations for feeding and to avoid danger. When vibrations arise that are not normal for the area, near-shore bass often become spooky and become inactive so strive to be quite and maintain a low profile when fishing from shore …

Spinnerbaits For Night Bass Fishing

Many bass anglers head to the lake at the day’s end during the summer for two distinct reasons. First, it allows them to escape the high-level of recreational boat activity present throughout the summer. Plus when air temperatures are high, nighttime is often the best time to find feeding bass, especially the big gals!

So what does the savvy nighttime bass angler do to catch big bass?

There are many lures and presentations that will trigger summertime bass into striking from dusk to dawn. Although many anglers feel night time is topwater time, there are many night where the bass are not on a topwater bite. When that happens, it’s time to probe the depths and one of the more popular subsurface lures is the spinnerbait. Spinnerbaits are one of most versatile artificial lures available to the bass angler. When combining the multitude of spinnerbait configurations with different retrieves, the spinnerbait’s advantage over other subsurface bass lures is unquestionable.

What Makes a Great Nighttime Spinnerbait?

Most spinnerbait manufacturers produce baits in a variety of different configurations by offering a range of different weights, color patterns along with the type and number of blades on the upper shaft. This allows each bass angler the benefit of using a spinnerbait they have the most confidence in when fishing their favorite waters.

Increase Success By Using Fishing Journals

Identifying the key elements and patterns is a critical factor often turning our bass trips from fishing events into bass catching adventures.

Most of us can recall the generalities of past days on the water then mentally compare those sketchy details against the conditions we currently face during a day of fishing.

Although many of the methods employed and patterns encountered may be remembered, the subtle details that actually lead to success during those previous outings usually escapes us.

Why Bass Pros Succeed …

So how do the professional anglers apparently adjust so quickly to changing conditions on the water during tournaments?

Basically by accessing the details of earlier tournaments and fishing trips in preparation for the current event!

Many if not most bass pros keep a fishing journal to track the specific details and review that information before hitting the water for upcoming events.

Why does the journal help?

Tough Bite? Try Inline Spinners

 Thinking back to those early days when just starting to fish, I clearly remember the first two lures added to my fledgling bait collection in my single tray: a red and white Daredevil spoon and #2 Mepps in-line spinner.  Though both lures are fairly versatile, it was the in-line spinner that has remained a staple part of my angling repertoire ever since!

A Bass Fishing Standard Through the Years …

Dating back to the early part of the 20th Century, the Mepps version of the in-line spinner really grew into favor shortly after the end of World War II here in the U.S.

Comprised of a single French or willow-shaped blade that is attached by a clevis to a straight wire shaft with weighted brass bodies and plain or dressed treble, the in-line spinner comes in a variety of sizes and styles enhancing its versatility.

The four Mepps varieties typically found in my tackle box today include:

• Aglia with plain and dressed trebles in sizes #1 through #4;
• Aglia Long Minnow in sizes #1 through #3;
• Comet Minnow in sizes #2 and #3; and
• Black Fury in sizes #1 through #4.

My personal choice for rod, reel and line combination when fishing inline spinners include either 6 or 6.5 foot, medium-light action, spinning rod with a 2000/2500 series reel and fairly light monofilament line ranging from 4 to 8 pound test.

Fishing the Swim Jig

Fishing a bass jig with a craw-type trailer almost seems natural to most bass anglers but there is one jig-fishing technique (namely the swim jig) that is a mystery to many.

Unlike conventional jig fishing techniques such as bottom-hopping, pitching or flipping, the swim jig method uses an actual swimming retrieve rather than the standard drop, hop or dragging presentations.

Though a straight swimming approach is preferred by many, experimenting with different retrieves such as stop and go, imparting a rise and fall action during the retrieve, or imparting a pulsing effect can be pure dynamite …

Fishing Points With Scattered Brush

If there’s one thing that gets the old blood pumping when fishing new water, it’s finding spots where great structural elements combine with good bass-holding cover…

If the new water body is a man-made reservoir, a classic structure-cover combo is scattered brush on points leading to deep water shown here:

A really cool thing about the brush laden point above, the brush starts in shallow water and extends out to the edge of the shallow to deep drop-off thus providing almost limit-less ways to fish it…

Best Bass Boat Accessory Available

Here is another bass fishing tip for all you bass anglers with a boat and guest fisherman you are not quite sure of … If you are a bass boat owner and ever taken a guest angler along for a day on the water, I imagine you have had a day where the back-seater stressed the relationship before the day ended …

I know I have and let’s just say there was more than one time when leaving the person on a lone island in the middle of the lake crossed my mind  … Don’t fret however, it seems at least one bass boat manufacturer has added an accessory to their line that just might alleviate the problem … literally! So give a watch to the video below and witness this really cool new gadget in action … You will be glad you did!

Now isn’t that just the best bass boat accessory available on the market today  …

Be sure and check out Nitro Boats at…

Nitro Boats by BPS

Visual Perspective: Cypress Trees As Bass Cover

Seeing all the images of anglers fishing cypress trees during recent pro bass tournaments on the Sabine River on the TX/LA border brought back memories of how cypress tress create classic fishing holding cover.

Knowing these trees have extensive root systems with root balls and knees, they also pose a few challenges when trying to lure bass from their twisted maze…

Recently I located a couple of interesting articles & video online about fishing around cypress groves and sent “tweets” out to interested followers.

Selecting the Right Spinnerbait for Conditions

One of the most versatile but often misused or neglected bass lures around is the trusty spinnerbait. Originally developed in the early part of the 20th century (Shannon Twin Spin for instance), the spinnerbait has seen it’s popularity rise and fall continually since its inception.

Why are spinnerbaits so versatile?

The weedless nature of the bait plus variety of possible configurations such as:

• Sizes ranging from 1/8 to > 1 oz
• Single, double and more spinner arms
• Long or short arms
• A multitude of possible color combinations (heads, skirts, blades & even trailers)
• Several different blade types (Colorado, Indiana, Willow, Turtle/Mag Willow, Presto, etc.)
• Multiple blade combinations both by type and number of blades

The possibilities are almost endless and at times mind-numbing…

Even though different anglers may have their own preference regarding the make-up of their spinnerbait arsenal, truth be told it doesn’t have to be overly complicated.

Recently, Booyah Baits developed their new Covert Series spinnerbaits in conjunction with bass pro Jason Christie to specifications Christie and his family has used for decades. Not only does the bait incorporate the overall design features (sizes, wire frame size, balance & components), they also created the baits their preferred color combos (heads, blades & skirts) for any water conditions encountered. To help in bait selection, Booyah developed an interactive graphic that identifies the best spinnerbait for different water temperature and clarity conditions. Click on the image below to access the graphic:

Even though the graphic identifies the preferred bait from Booyah’s Covert series line, since it IDs the “best” bait sizes, blade combos and skirt colors for temp and clarity conditions, you may be able to find a similar bait from your favorite spinnerbait company.

Of course there’s always the option of purchasing the components and building your own specialized spinnerbait for water conditions that you regularly fish.