Catching a big bass fish is a pretty tough task. On this list, we’ve gathered the best tips and techniques that will help you increase your chances of catching bass.
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9 Top Bass Fishing Tips
1. Where There’s Cover, There’s Bass
The easiest place to find the bass is around the cover. This particular breed likes to take cover behind rocks, wood, boat docks, lily pads, grass, whatever it may be.
And that’s why you should look for these things and put your lure there to maximize your chances of getting a catch.
This is not to say that bass don’t roam out in the open, but they could be harder to locate that way.
2. Get Lure That Looks Like Their Prey
Bass fish feed on a diverse range of prey –from baitfish such as shad and bluegill to baby ducks.
Therefore, when you’re fishing for bass, you should get lure that imitates the kind of prey your bass will typically go after.
In essence, if your bass feeds on shad, use a silver-colored crankbait or swimbait.
On the other hand, if it’s small minnows that bass feed on, go for a drop-shot rig.
3. Be Flexible
You won’t make it very far as a bass angler if you’re one-dimensional and not open to trying new and different techniques.
Your best bet is to continuously look for new places and different techniques.
This means you should experiment with new waters and find ways to adapt to other fishing conditions there.
So if you’re already familiar with murky water and spinnerbaits, try fishing in a lake with clear water.
4. Be Aware of the Relationship Between Weather and Bass
Understanding how drastic the effect of the weather can be on the behavior of bass can go a long way.
Bass are more likely to be active and come out to feed when the weather is cloudy.
And under these circumstances, you should go for moving baits like chatter baits, spinnerbaits, and topwater plugs.
Contrarily, bass tend to stick close to cover when the sun is shining.
In that case, you should go with a bottom bouncing bait like Texas-rigged soft plastic or a jig.
5. Be Aware of the Water Temperature
Water temperatures can vary a lot from one location to another and depending on the time of year.
The activity of bass and their feeding patterns can also be impacted by the water’s temperature.
When it comes to cooler water temperatures, you should go for slower moving baits.
On the other hand, faster, more energetic lures are better-suited for warmer water.
6. Understand How Wind Can Affect Your Bass Fishing
You may find that when the wind is blowing faster than 15 MPH, it’s more difficult and frustrating to fish.
But even under those circumstances, you should still find the way it would positively boost your fishing.
This is because the wind usually stimulates bass and bring them out from behind their covers.
Moreover, the disturbance on the water’s surface caused by the wind will act as the perfect camouflage for your moving boat, making fishing on-the-go a lot easier.
7. Practice Your Knot-Tying Skills
Don’t leave a possibility for a bad knot to ruin a catch for you.
Make sure you’ve got your knot practiced near perfection to save time and catch more fish on your trip.
Tying fishing knots is one of the most important things to learn when it comes to tips and techniques.
8. Use Technology to Your Advantage
Technology has made everything easier, and this doesn’t exclude fishing.
Apart from fish finders and sonars, you can make use of services like Google Earth and Fishidy to better understand the locations at which you’ll be fishing.
By identifying key areas of a body of water, you can predict where the fish will be and consequently develop a plan for your fishing day before you even get to the spot.
Make sure that you’ve identified creeks, ledges, and other hiding areas where the bass will be.
9. Be Patient and Determined
If you don’t find bass in your desired location, don’t give up on it right away.
Bass are generally shy and it may take some time to actually catch any.
It’s best to have confidence in the technique and lure you use and then some patience to pick apart every inch of the cover where your bass may be hiding.