Eight Clues to Finding Big Bass
by Terence Uniacke
Recreational and pro anglers alike often expect to hook a big bass as soon as they drop their lines into a new body of water. They scratch their heads and ask why the fish aren’t striking, but haven’t taken the time to familiarize themselves with the water above, and below, the surface.
Locating the best bass fishing spots is certainly not a shot in the dark. You’ll need to do a little homework and understand the water if you want to locate the bass.
There are several important factors to keep in mind when finding sweet spots swimming with hungry bass:
1. Your fishing expedition will naturally be affected by seasonal patterns. Know the patterns of the bass; where they go after spawning, and how they migrate throughout the season. Be a responsible angler and respect your seasonal limits. Government resource ministries protect the species by setting bass season in accordance with natural spawning patterns.
2. Keep the season in mind. The success of your bass fishing will depend on weather conditions. Bass are most active in early spring, late fall and just after a cold front. Knowing when to fish is as important as knowing where to fish.
3. Know the depth of the water. This factor is naturally combined with the type of bass you’re fishing, as well as other considerations such as lakebed materials, natural covers or nearby weed beds. You will find bass in shallow water, if there are sufficient natural covers in place. However, shallow water should be avoided on hot, sunny days. Knowing the depth of the water will also determine your choice of bait.
4. Fish love clear water, so avoid murky, swampy areas. Everyone prefers clean water; particularly fish that need to live and breathe in it.
5. Know the water temperature. If the water is too cold (below 50 degrees Fahrenheit) the natural food chain will be affected. On the other hand, if it’s too warm, the fish just won’t bite.
6. Find sunken treasure. Bass love to seek shelter among submerged branches and structures. Look for trees that have fallen into the water, old building foundations and even boat docks. Some bass species love to hide out in rock beds and under ledges, so try those areas as well. If you can find a structure hidden beneath the surface of the water, you’ll like be able to lure out a big bass.
7. Look for vegetation. Bass are predators, and will naturally stay close to their prey. Weed beds are filled with frogs, insects and other bass treats. Use live bait or choose a lure made for weed beds, such as plugs or small floating minnows. Anchor your boat near the edge of the weed bed and cast alongside the weeds. As the name suggests, the right tackle will “lure” a fish out of hiding.
8. Map out your territory. The ability to read a map is fundamentally important to your bass fishing success. Depending on where you fish, you may find prime fishing spots marked on maps available at local tackle shops. If you can’t find the lake on a map, you’ll never land the bass. Most serious anglers rely on two main types of lake maps, including hot spot and topographical maps. A topographical map shows the lake in more detail and includes rocks, variations in water depth and so on. Hot spot maps are drawn for the sole purpose of showing anglers where fish are located. Fish naturally migrate, of course, so a hot spot map should never be considered as a sure thing.
To use a map correctly, you need to know how to sector it. Study your map and note areas where fish might be found. Use a highlighter or coloured pen to divide the map into sections. Then, use the sections to decide where you will fish during the time that you have. The size of the sections should vary, depending on the contours, structures and different areas will be fished. Take your time in each section, and don’t give up too quickly or move around too often.
Successful bass anglers know that it takes more than dropping anchor and casting bait to hook a big, hungry bass. That’s why bass tournaments can be so competitive and exciting. To come out on top, you need to think like a bass and search out those sweet spots that other anglers have missed.
Pack these important tips into your tackle box before you head for the lake:
- Weed beds and other vegetation areas
- Shallow water adjacent to deeper areas
- Seek shoreline and lakebed contours
- Shore points and point drops
- Human-made and natural structures
The key to locating bass is your understanding of the water. If you find a spot that you think is prime for bass, be patient. Bass can be stubborn and slow to strike, and it can take a lot of repetitive action to lure them out of hiding. Try several techniques and different types of bait. Before long, you’ll establish a working pattern and land that big bass.
About the Author
Author Terence Uniacke is a contributor to several popular Internet magazines, on outdoor recreation and recreation and leisure topics.
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