| If all you want when you go bass fishing is | | | | |
| to spend a nice pleasant day out on the lake, | | | | Now that you're starting to think like a |
| then more power to you. Bass fishing just | | | | fish, you need to take your bait into |
| for the unadulterated relaxation that it | | | | consideration. Lots of bass fishing is done |
| provides is one of the best and purest | | | | with large bait because bass are a fierce |
| reasons to drop a line; however, if you're | | | | fighting fish and big bait just seems like |
| one of those fishermen who's angling day | | | | the way to go. However the truth be told, |
| isn't complete until you've caught and | | | | bass are very hungry and hostile. They will |
| released a boatload, or you've hauled in a | | | | strike on a large variety of lures. Think |
| few trophies then you are going to need to | | | | smaller lures, like spinners and don't forget |
| apply a more heads on approach to your | | | | about the lowly plastic worm. Properly cast |
| fishing tactics. In this situation you are | | | | brightly colored worms are the number one |
| going to need to know your enemy and plan | | | | bait choice among bass fishermen for this |
| your assault, and by this I mean that you | | | | simple reason. They catch bass. Shallow |
| need to be the bass. | | | | water is a good place to try out a float |
| | | | worm. Straight worms will get lots of bites |
| Before you decide which direction to turn | | | | in the undergrowth. |
| your boat at the start of the day, consider | | | | |
| the day itself. If you were a big, strong | | | | Once you have started to think like a bass, |
| aggressive but somewhat lazy bass, where | | | | it's important to write your discoveries |
| would you be in the early morning hours when | | | | down. Keep a detailed written journal of your |
| the deeper water might be cold since the day | | | | most productive tactics, and the least |
| has just begun? Why in the shallows of | | | | productive ways too. Put together a log that |
| course, sitting in the cover of the | | | | contains all of your bass fishing equipment. |
| undergrowth watching the lake come to life. | | | | Note the day and date of each of your |
| This applies to the evening as well when the | | | | excursions, along with the weather, the |
| day winds down and the water starts to cool | | | | vegetation, the distance from the bank, and |
| off. During these times, quietly reconnoiter | | | | the bait that you used. When you do pull in |
| the tall grass, the fallen logs, and the | | | | that trophy, mark down the time; and when you |
| underbelly of the lake world. Many bass may | | | | pull in a minnow, mark down that time too. No |
| be starting and ending their days here, | | | | detail is ever too small when developing your |
| completely visible to the naked eye. | | | | bass book. |
| | | | |
| As the sun traverses the sky, the fish will | | | | Bass are strong fish that will put up a good |
| start to migrate to and from deeper water; | | | | fight; and that's the reason most bass |
| and you can often catch them in transit. | | | | fishermen go after them. Study them and their |
| Cast a sinker that drift into the edges of | | | | habits and document your findings. You will |
| the grassy interface. Be patient, and don't | | | | find that your effort will ultimately pay off |
| bob the bait. This approach can prove to be | | | | in the end with larger and more consistent |
| fruitful on overcast days when the bass | | | | catches. After all, in order to land them you |
| haven't quite decided to go out into the | | | | need to understand them. |
| deeper water. | | | | |