Bass Fish Hideouts — 8 Tips
Trying to land that big trophy bass? You’ll need five percent luck and ninety five percent smarts. You’ve got a lot to learn before you can fish for bass, including where to locate them and how to handle their habitat.
Many pro and recreational anglers expect to hook a bass as soon as they drop their lines into a new body of water. They wonder why the bass aren’t striking, even though they haven’t taken the time to familiarize themselves with the water, above and below the surface.
There’s no luck involved in locating the best bass fishing spots. It really is a science, and you’ll need to do some homework. Understand the water, the climate and the season.
There are several important factors to keep in mind while searching for those sweet spots swimming with hungry bass:
1. Seasonal patterns will naturally affect the success of your fishing expedition. Know where bass travel after spawning, and how they naturally migrate throughout the season. Government resource ministries reflect the natural spawning patterns when they set bass seasons, and every responsible angler will respect their seasonal limits.
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. Deep or shallow water? It depends on the type of bass you’re fishing. Some species prefer deep, cold water, while others thrive in shallow, weedy areas. Know the habits of the fish you’re hoping to hook, and determine the water depth. Lakebed materials, natural cover and weed beds should be taken into account. Some types of bass are found in shallow water, but only when there is sufficient natural cover. Fish will not stay in shallow, unprotected water on a hot, sunny day. They type of bait or lure you choose will also depend on the depth of the water.
4. Avoid murky, swampy areas. Fish love clear water, because they need to live and breathe in it. Look for clean water and you’ll be more likely to find fish.
5. Water temperature is important. When water drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the natural food chain will be affected. If it’s too warm, on the other hand, the fish simply won’t bite.
6. Locate structure areas. Bass love to hide out among the sunken branches of fallen trees, amid rock beds and even under boat docks and underwater foundations. Fine structures hidden beneath the surface of the water, and you’ll find 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.
Knowing how to sector a map is the key to using it correctly. Study your map carefully and look for areas where fish are most likely to be found. Divide the map into sections with a colored pen or highlighter. An experienced angler will use the sections to determine where to fish, depending on the amount of time they have to spend on the water. The size of the sections can also vary depending on structures, contours and how many different areas will be fished. It’s important to take your time, and don’t give up too quickly on your chosen spot.
A consistent bass angler knows that success depends on more than simply dropping anchor and casting the line. That’s why competitive bass tournaments are so exciting. Try to think like a bass, and look for the spots that other anglers might have missed.
Remember what to look for in bass fishing areas:
* Weed beds and other vegetation areas
* Shallow water adjacent to deeper areas
* Seek shoreline and lakebed contours
* Shore points and point drops
* Search out artificial 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.
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