Bass Fishing Lures

What are the different types?

Bass fishing lures are probably the most highly purchased of all fishing lures today. Bass fishing today has become one the hottest sports among anglers. Like golf, Bass fishing tournaments are common and becoming popular as tournament stakes are high. There are many manufacturers of bass fishing lures, companies such as Heddon, Rapala, and Bass Pro Shops offer anglers sponsorship into tournaments for the serious angler that can prove his or her level of professionalism.

These aggressive fish can be found in nearly any body of water throughout the United States. Both large and small-mouth bass are habitually warm water fish, and are likely to hide in cover in hopes of attacking their prey. Bass fishing lures come in many shapes, sizes and colors to help the angler mimic this prey.

Spinnerbaits are one of the most popular and adaptable bass fishing lures ever invented. These effective fishing lures can be fished fast or slow, in clear or murky water, at variety of depths.

Crankbaits are another commonly used bass fishing lure that come in all shapes and sizes covering a full spectrum of colors. Crankbaits are comparatively simple to fish and can be very efficient when used in the right situations. Diving depth is determined by the size of the lip or bill the longer the lip the deeper this bass fishing lure will dive.

Buzzbaits produce a splashing, sputtering, and gurgling commotion which bass find hard to resist. This deafening line of bass fishing lures when fished on the surface will often persuade bass to come out of deep cover.

Artificial worms and minnows are also common bass fishing lures and will produce great results when others may fail.

Trolling for bass another excellent technique that works best in large rivers or lakes that have long stretches of deep water with slow to moderate current. While trolling, bass fishing lures should remain in the water at all times. Try varying depths until desired results are achieved. Trolling is a relatively easier technique as compared to casting, and enables the amateur angler to cover more water thoroughly. Any of the bass fishing lures mentioned in this article can be trolled effectively.

Choosing the right bass fishing lure depends on many conditions. Color plays an important role of duplicating the baitfish in the particular body of water you are fishing. The size of the lure number of blades etc, are just many things to consider when choosing your lure. With spring just around the corner, bass fishing is sure to be a sport enjoyed by many.

Author : Dennis Driscoll creator and a contributing author of Fishing Lures and Imformation and RC Cars Information
Source : EzineArticles.com

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Tips on Fishing

Some anglers prefer a long jigging pole or cane pole to swing a jig or minnow to prime fishing spots in shallows. Others prefer a spinning or spincast outfit to present the bait from a greater distance. Both work great.

Step1 One of my favorite set-ups is a Charlie Brewer Weedless Crappie Slider fished with ultralight tackle. Because it's weedless, I can cast and retrieve this lure without worry of hangups. I cast the Slider just beyond the spot where I see a fish then bring it back past the fish.

Step2 If the water is clear but nests are in brushy areas or weedbeds, I use a jigging pole and try to place a minnow or jig on top of fish I see. I look into every cranny in cover for crappie hovering over their nests, then work the bait back to the fish and lower it into the water. No movement of the bait is necessary. If the crappie are feeding or guarding nests, strikes come quickly.

Step3 In many lakes where standing timber has rotted away, shallow man-made attractors of cedars, bamboo or old Christmas trees often draw spawning crappie. A top rig here is one used by crappie guides Jerry Blake and Darryl Morris on Arkansas' lakes Greeson and DeGray. A Thill 1/2-inch, pencil-style slip float is rigged beneath a bobber stop and above a No. 6 Eagle Claw Aberdeen hook. A split shot is added between hook and float, and the hook is baited with a live minnow. Several rigged poles are placed in holders, the bobber stops are positioned at the depth where crappie are likely to be, then using a trolling motor, the guides slowly circle each attractor. Crappie often pull several floats down simultaneously, a testament to this tactic's effectiveness.

Step4 Many spawning crappie move into extreme shallows in flooded timber that can't be reached with a boat. To catch these fish, slip into some waders and move slowly through brushy backwaters, using a long pole to place minnows or jigs near cover or casting a Crappie Slider to swirls in the water that reveal fish. Don't rush, or you could trip on a stump or log. Carry a basket or stringer for your catch, and use a staff to provide support and probe the water ahead.

Author : Daker Carter
Source : EzineArticles.com

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Fly Fishing Tips - Dry Fly Fishing

Although its true that most trout feed below the surface most of the time, my favorite kind of fly fishing is dry fly fishing. This is where you present an imitation of an adult insect that has reached maturity and is floating on the surface film of the water. The excitement I receive from seeing a large trout come from below and take the fly is how I got hooked onto fly fishing in the first place. Most fly fishermen will have success catching trout, but at the expense of watching a strike indicator all day. If you're like me, the sight of a rising trout will make your heart skip a beat. Know in advance that if you only fish dry flies, you will probably catch less fish than your friends that are nymph fishing. However, these 5 tips will greatly increase your productivity and help you catch more trout on dry flies.

1) Read the water: Often, beginners are guilty of walking right up to the water and casting. To be effective as a fly fisherman you will need to take the time to learn how trout live and feed. Subsequently, you will then understand where likely trout lies are in the water. When you approach the water look for places where fish can hold without expending much energy and where they have protection from predators. Now, hopefully you are wearing the requisite polarized glasses so you can learn to identify a holding trout under the water. Focus on those spots where they should be and wait for any shadows to move. Those moving shadows are feeding trout. the biggest clue to where a trout is holding is when they are feeding on the surface. Look for small ripples that accompany the small splash of a surface feeding trout. Now keep watching and you will see that trout come to the surface.

2) Use as long a leader as you can: When trout feed on the surface, they are obviously looking up to see their meals coming to them. Because of this, if your fly line is too close to your leader the trout will see it and will not take the fly. Make sure to have on as long a leader as you are comfortable fishing to prevent unnecessary spooking of the trout. Sometimes there is too much foliage to have a long leader. I try to have at least 9 feet of leader and more if possible. Longer leader is harder to manipulate, so practice, practice, practice.

3) Match the hatch: Take notice of the bugs flying around you. Give the bushes next to the water a little shake a get a good look at what flies off. It is good to know the color of the naturals around you, but it is imperative that you have the right size. The right color fly that is too large will leave you empty handed where as the fly that is close in color and is the right size will still be very effective.

4) Cast upstream: Stealth is on your side if you take this approach. As I've already mentioned, if a trout sees your fly line, it wont take your fly. That goes the same for you. If you step into it's view you will have a very frustrating experience. Cast your dry fly upstream. Now, any trout that you may be trying to catch are facing away from you and should be in direct line with your fly that is now traveling downstream towards you and the fish on the current. As the fly makes its way back towards you strip in the loose line so that when trout takes the fly you can set the hook. Avoid casting directly upstream from where you are. This causes your fly to directly follow the fly line and will also make trout wary.

5) Limit false casting: Trout can be very shy and easily put down. The less false casting you do, the more opportunity you will have to catch trout. You should only be false casting to dry your fly. If you are false casting because you lack accuracy, then move closer and perform shorter casts. Move slowly to keep your stealth advantage. when you do false cast, try to change the direction of the cast so the line doesn't fly over the water you are fishing. Practice your casting. Eventually, you should be able to pick up your line and cast it with accuracy the first time.

Put these tips to use and I know your dry fly fishing will improve. Now, go practice and catch some fish.

Author : Paul Schackman Senior Editor for DS Fly Fishing
Source : EzineArticles.com

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Bass Fishing Pro Tips

In this article I will reveal some bass fishing pro secrets. I'll tell you about one bass fishing technique that will make bass literally attack your lure! I'll reveal why the taste and texture of your bait makes a difference, and I'll tell you what color lures to use depending on the prevailing weather conditions.

First let's look at how to choose the best color lure. Knowing how to choose the right bass fishing lure will increase your catch dramatically! There are three main variables to consider when choosing your lure: light, water, and what the bass happen to be eating for supper on that particular day.

The amount of light and quality of light will depend on the time of day and the prevailing weather conditions. On cloudy and grey days, lean toward a brighter color lure like chartreuse. On clear sunny days, a white color lure is often a good choice. Surprisingly, as light becomes more scarce, darker color lures seem to work best. Some bass fishing pros recommend using black or grape colored lures as nightfall approaches.

You must also factor in water visibility when choosing the color of your bass fishing lure. And in case you didn't know, bass have excellent eyesight! According to Bill Dance, "A bass' eye receives five times more light than the human eye and can see forty feet in clear water. In murky water, they can see up to seventeen feet. In muddy water, they can see five to seven feet."

If the water is dark or murky, bright and shiny or flourescent colors will be your best choice to attract attention. When the water is downright muddy like chocolate milk, then flashy, bulky, and noisy baits are your best bet. If the water is clear, you will want to choose natural colored lures that imitate the food found in the bass environment.

Try to determine what the bass are eating and factor that into your choice of bait. Bass eat sunfish, minnows, shiners, bluegill, crayfish, frogs, and insects. But you could add a lot more things to the list. Large bass have been known to eat baby ducklings, rats, and blackbirds. Your shiny and silver or yellow lures will imitate minnows and sunfish. Your greens and browns resemble crayfish and frogs. If you can determine what the bass are biting on, you will always be more successful.

Equally important to the choice of color is the smell, taste, and feel of your bait. According to Bill Dance, "Bass can smell eight times better than a dog."

A lot of fisherman fail to take into account the smells that rub off their hands onto their bait. Your hands must be free of the smell of any petroleum products like gasoline, suntan oil, or sunscreen. Insect repellent, nicotine, and the natural oils produced by your skin alert bass that there's a predator in the vicinity. These man made scents will literally scare away a wary bass. Conversely, coating your bait with a powerful scent like cod liver oil or other fish attractant can make a big difference in the size of your catch.

If you're a smoker, just remember that when you're bass fishing, you have got to clean your hands before handling your bait or lure. Bass fishing expert Russ Bassdozer recommends, "Just keep a bar of Ivory soap on the boat. It is 99.44% pure, no added perfumes, and it floats if you drop it." The smell of soap, of course, is not exactly a plus either, so you should use some kind of fish attractant to mask or neutralize the negative smells that adhere to your hands.

As for the taste and feel of your bait or lure, it's important to understand how a bass eats its prey. When chasing a fish, an agressive bass will inhale its prey with its large cavernous jaws. But once inside its mouth, the bass will taste and feel whatever it is it chomped on, and only then will it decide to swallow. If a bass detects a hunk of metal, it will likely spit it out. That's why you will often have more success with a lure or bait that is gummy or otherwise imitates the feel of something natural like a fish or frog.

Still another good reason for using a fish attractant is that once the bass has your lure in it's mouth, "the scent and taste of the attractant will cause the fish to hold the lure in its mouth longer," says Russ Bassdozer, "rather than taste an unadulterated DEET, PVC plastic and L-Serine cocktail and spit it out." This will allow you a couple extra seconds to detect the bass on the end of your line and to set the hook.

OK, I saved the best for last.

Here's a bass fishing technique that will provoke a bass to attack your lure ferociously! As you know, bass see in color, and some colors are more effective than others depending on various factors. But when a bass sees a bit of red on your lure, it really drives a bass crazy. That's because a little red on your lure looks to the bass like the blood of injured prey! It's not surprising that pro bass fishermen will often attach something red to their bait that resembles blood. Adding a sploch of red can double the effectiveness of your lure.

Author : William Perkins
Source : articlecity.com

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Where and When to Go Fishing

A clear understanding of factors that trigger crappie spawning is essential for successful spring fishing.This article will tell you something about fishing knowledge.

Step1
Water temperature is one primary key. Most experts quote a figure of 56 degrees as the temperature at which nesting activity begins. But spawning's peak may not occur until the temperature climbs to 58 or 60 degrees.

Step2
The exact time when the water reaches this temperature varies from year to year, latitude to latitude, and one body of water to another. It is important, therefore, that crappie anglers determine when ideal spawning temperatures are most likely to occur and do some on-the-water investigation that will lead to a visit during peak nesting time.

Step3
Looking at sunrise-sunset tables can be helpful. I learned this from Steve Wunderle who wrote the excellent guide, New Techniques That Catch More Crappie.

Step4
The first [crappie] nests to appear had an average of 13.2 daylight hours, and the last nesting sites occurred when the daylight averaged 14.6 hours. In other words, you can determine when spawning will begin and end, and therefore postulate when it might peak, by calculating the number of hours between sunrise and sunset on a given day.

Step5
Finding areas with these characteristics is the key to finding crappie beds. Nests often are near a log or other large object over a bottom of sand, fine gravel or interwoven plant roots. The depth where nests are found can vary considerably, from less than 1 foot to as much as 20 feet. But most will be in 1 to 5 feet of water.

Author : Daker Carter
Source : EzineArticles.com

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