While the professionals choose to use lures to target largemouth bass for sport, live bait is extremely effective for catching bass both in number and in size. To fish with a swimbait, simply cast towards fishery areas and let the lure sink to the depth that the fish are feeding. It’s perfect for floating lures, but also works for sinking lures and even live bait. Both live bait and artificial lures will attract bass, but one may be more attractive to smallmouth bass as opposed to largemouth bass. As an angler, one of the basic knowledge you should know is about the spinning reel! They can catch fish in the heat of summer or the dead of winter- in 40 feet of water, or in 4. Spinning reels can hold more line and stronger line that spincasters. They too seek out the most comfortable conditions and move best when most comfortable. They strike aggressively, fight hard, and will often leap out of the water in stunning displays of acrobatics. Largemouth behaves similarly in the early spring as they do in the winter, but late springtime fishing brings exciting opportunity. In northern climates, largemouth bass can reach 15 years of age. Lake Guntersville is one of the best lakes to take your next largemouth bass fishing trip. They might not grow to the same size as their stripey cousins across the pond (a double-figure specimen would be the fish of a lifetime), but they inspire equal levels of devotion. Largemouth bass fishing is the most popular form of angling around today. Thus, in rivers or turbulent lakes, bass will often consume smaller fish, mussels, or even tadpoles and frogs. This situation means that convincing a bass to eat may be difficult, but it can also help you. The flesh of the bass is typically very mild in flavor, with a slightly sweet taste. Depth Range: 20-35 Feet. Using artificial lures is the most popular method because it requires the most skill. But for you, it doesn’t have to be that complicated. Spinning reels are a step above spincasters in terms of complexity and difficulty of use. The type of reel you should get depends on personal preference, and level of experience. Hopefully we can get on a few!!! Bass are a lot like humans in how they respond to conditions around them. Specific types of line are more effective using certain types of lures, and factors such as water clarity and the size of the fish you may catch can also affect your decision. Jigs are the go-to year round largemouth bass lure. The flavor and texture are akin to many freshwater trout species. If the rock is shallow, on the sunny days they'll move right up against the shallowest rocks that protrude above water. The type of rod you should use to target largemouth bass is, again, as complicated of an issue as you make it. Fall Bass Fishing Techniques and Tips Fall Bass Fishing by Sean Obrien Along with the trout fishing in the fall, the bass fishing really begins to pick up as the season’s change. In the warmer months in particular, bass move into the UK’s shallower waters, hunting for food such as crabs and sandeels in shallow rocky waters, estuarine systems and harbours. Together these fishes form a group that is referred to as the black basses. The jaw extends far back into the body of the fish, leading to a large and horizontal mouth opening. It is a voracious, opportunistic feeder, that challenges even the most seasoned anglers with state of the art equipment and years of experience, but can still be caught by a toddler with a 3-foot pole. To target bass in the summer, you need to focus on fishing in the early morning, late evenings, or even at night. Largemouth Bass are opportunistic feeders that don’t like to expend much energy on getting food- you won’t usually see a largemouth chasing prey too far. These fish are also found in many different types of water and ecosystems. However, spinning reels are also more prone to line tangles, but these are usually easily fixed since the line is visible. So, if you’re using a spincasting reel or a baitcasting reel, I recommend a 7-foot fast-action baitcaster rod. Press the down arrow key to interact with the calendar and select a date. Jerkbaits are a hard plastic lure that is typically used in colder weather. Their popularity is likely due to their ubiquity; the bass has proven its ability to thrive in almost any freshwater environment. When fishing a crankbait in shallower water, use a square-billed crankbait to avoid getting caught in weeds or other covers. If you’re fishing at night, or in thick cover, this wont be an issue, though. Fishing for largemouth bass can be done year round, but the approach you will use will depend on the temperature of the water, and therefore, the time of year. Spinning reels are probably the most popular gears for all anglers from all walks. Cooking bass is a straight-forward process akin to preparing any other white freshwater fish. Recreational sport fishing for largemouth bass has become extremely popular in the United States. Fish finders use sound waves to track movements and even estimate the size of fish, which can help you to cast at the right catches. Crankbaits are another staple bass fishing lure that also imitates baitfish and can be used year round. The Best Locations For Largemouth Bass Fishing. USD. Bass can … Fish around their natural habitat. When you feel a tug, set the hook! These baits float in the middle of the water column and imitate an injured minnow. Or look for sudden depth changes that can be submerged creeks or ditches. A fun part of fishing crankbaits is that when the bass hit them, they hit hard. When it is spring and the water temperature is 55 to 65 degrees, the pre-spawn starts. To catch largemouth in the fall, look for shad minnows with bass chasing them. Largemouth bass seek protective cover such as logs, rock ledges, vegetation, and man-made structures. Largemouth bass tend to avoid direct sunlight, so midday glare off the water can make bass fishing a challenge. Many people assume that you should first purchase a fishing rod before buying a reel, but it is actually the reel that determines the rod so that doesn’t work. Even the professionals are constantly stumped by the largemouth bass. Cold largemouth, like hot largemouth, is slow largemouth. Identifying Characteristics: They are olive-green or greenish-gray, with numerous dark splotches converging into a horizontal stripe on each side of the fish. The largemouth bass is one of the most popular, if not the most popular, sport fish in the world, and with good reason. If you choose fluorocarbon line to target largemouth bass, I recommend using 12-pound test for small and medium-sized lures. Using slow retrieving soft plastics is the most consistent method, but fishing topwater lures can be effective especially when the water is calm and the sun is low on the horizon. Spotted bass are one of Capt. Monofilament is the most popular type of line used to target largemouth, though, so using it is a safe bet. Along with water temperature, spring largemouth location is driven b… They will generally lie in wait under a log or other cover and then lunge at its desired meal. Your email address will not be published. It is the strongest, most castable, and it has no “stretch.”. In swampier areas, such as in the American South around Louisiana, bass will often have a more insect-based diet. The largemouth bass closely resembles the smallmouth bass and other species i.e., spotted bass, redeye bass, etc. Professional bass fishermen will use different rods for every type of lure they’re fishing with. My grandfather always said, “if you think you’re fishing too slow, slow down.”. Find out more, An introduction to bass fishing throughout Dorset, Devon and Dorset, plus listings for the region’s finest independent bass fishing guides. Largemouth bass (scientific name: Micropterus salmoides) is very popular game fish and in most cases it has the upper jaw that goes beyond the rear end of the eye. Spinning reels are best paired with more moderate action rods with larger line guides. They often surface while thrashing violently to free themselves from the hook. When you want to cast, you press and hold the button, bring the rod back, quickly bring the rod forward, and release the button. If you decide to target largemouth with braided line, try a 10-pound test for spinning rods and spincasters, and 35+ pound for baitcasters. The quality of the largemouth bass that fishermen catch is what attracts avid largemouth bass fishermen to schedule a largemouth bass fishing trip to Lake Guntersville. Fish.Travel. Spinning reels don’t have a button you press to release the line. Also, spinning reels tend to have a faster line retrieval rate, making slow presentations of lures more difficult. Big swimbaits, spoons, and big jigs work well in the winter, especially when you can find the fish, as you can see from the picture below. To fish a crankbait, use deepwater lures in open water fishing with a medium to fast retrieve. Gus’ favorites, particularly when they are hitting topwater. Whether you’re fishing in a pond, lake, creek, or river, largemouth bass will tend to be hanging out around cover. Due to its broad range and popularity as a sport fish, numerous fishing methods have been devised to catch this fish. 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Here’s a picture of a largemouth I caught with a rubber worm a couple years ago. That will be enough information to get you started catching largemouth but to fully understand these fish and how to catch them will take several lifetimes. This is an excellent method as the smokiness of the grill will lend an additional depth of flavor to the fish. In areas with deeper water or faster currents, the bass will often have a more aquatic diet. So, this reel may be a good choice when you just get started fishing for largemouth bass, but after you gain some experience you will want to switch to a different type of reel. But no matter what, largemouth bass are a worthy target for fishermen looking for a challenging and exciting target. Updates to come! And with the massive surge in popularity of light-tackle lure fishing and saltwater fly-fishing in recent years, bass fever looks like it’s here to stay. In fact, the Largemouth Bass is the fish that prompted my familiarity with the phrase “that’s why they call it fishing not catching.”. Thus, in these cases, the bass will often consume mosquitoes, flies, mayfly nymphs, or even larvae such as that of the blackfly. Luremefish.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites. This is due to the comparatively shallow and slow-moving water making it easier for the bass to surface and consume prey flying by. Fishing with these soft plastic lures can catch you fish in a variety of situations. Being in the Centrarchidae family, they are closely related to crappie and bluegill. As with summertime, early morning and late evening tend to be the best times to fish, but in the Fall the fishing can be good all day. Bass is very tender, white, and flaky. 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