Comments (1)

By Bass Fishing Tips, December 6, 2009 9:19 pm

Bass fishing and rock piles …

I don’t know about you but I have a love-hate relationship with fishing rock piles and trying to entice bass from their hardened haven.

Don’t get me wrong, I have caught numerous largemouth, smallmouth and even spotted bass from those heaps of stony rubble.  Even so, all those nooks and crannies have wreaked havoc with my tackle eating a variety of baits and constantly fraying line…

Rock Piles = Magnetic Bass Attractors

None the less, if I am fishing a body of water where rock piles are present, I will make a concerted effort to seek out as many as possible. I will go to even greater lengths to locate and fish the lesser known structures since the fishing pressure is lower and resident bass are usually much more cooperative.

Another great thing about rock piles … they can be bass magnets in winter or summer; spring or fall depending on its location and water depth.  It’s just a matter of considering the seasonal conditions and structural nature of different rock piles in the lake and focusing on those most likely to be productive during that season.

Rock Pile Size and Forage Considerations

Other factors influencing your success when fishing rock piles for bass include the size of the structure since some are only a few tens of feet wide where others might be several hundred feet in length.  The larger the rock pile, the harder it is to locate the area being used by most of the bass …

Identifying the types of forage bass are feeding on when using a particular rock pile is also an important consideration since it impacts lure selection.  Although many people would assume crayfish would be the key forage, many times the bass are feeding on some sort of baitfish.

Five Helpful Tips for Fishing Rock Piles …

So here are five tips to help you fish your favorite rock piles more effectively during your next trip to your favorite bass lake …

• Actions to help locate new, less pressured rock piles;
  • Although you can start of doing some homework with a lake map before you even hit the water, any rock piles labeled on the map will likely be known (and fished) by everyone.  Take extra time to locate other resources (aerial images indicating possible targets) before hitting water.  Once on the water, scan the shoreline for indications of rockier areas extending to water; they may indicate similar areas off shore.  Make effort to survey areas with sudden bottom rises with sonar zigzagging to define extent then check it our with bottom bouncing lures.
• Focus on the secondary structures on the rock pile;
  • Once rock pile is located, take time to map out the structure and identify the “structures on the structure” (smaller piles, wood accumulation, etc.) since these are the most likely sections to hold numbers of fish.
• Make an effort to keep baits in contact with rocks;
  • Don’t just rely on swimming baits (less change of losing lures), use bottom contact lures as well since the action and sound of the lure against the rocks can be a trigger mechanism.
• Alternate between horizontal and vertical presentations; &
  • Most people work the rock piles using a horizontal cast and retrieve approach.  Quietly drifting over the pile and using a vertical presentation (vertical jigging or drop shotting) may provide the bass with a different bait presentation again helping trigger strikes.
• Search out isolated rock piles.
  • In many fishing situations throughout the year, bass, especially quality bass relate to isolated structure more readily than areas with numerous structural elements throughout.  The same applies for rock piles with a possible additional benefit … if the rock pile is isolated and not on the public lake map, it may be one of the less known structures and a true honey hole!

Aerial Image of Lake with Rock Piles

Comments (0)

By Bass Fishing Tips, May 16, 2010 11:12 am

A favorite bass fishing tip for post spawn bass is to use a rig many anglers overlook, drop-shotting soft plastics along edge of drop-offs. Drop-shot rigs are far more versatile than many bass fishermen believe but drop-shotting the shallow to deep water transition edges will produce quality post spawn females looking for an easy meal.

In the following video, Angling Edge’s Al Lindner describes just how and where to use this style of presentation when searching for a post spawn sow …

Comments (0)

By Bass Fishing Tips, May 11, 2010 9:15 am

Have you ever headed out on a body of water you infrequently fish and had some great bass fishing success on off-shore structure but couldn’t re-locate the exact area?

We’ve probably all been in that very situation.

Most of us bass fishermen cherish the little time we get to spend on the water and always want to make the most of every opportunity to do so …

And with all the electronic mapping devices, like integrated depth sounders and GPS units, on the market today, finding those old honey holes is getting easier all the time …

Just watch this video from ESPN and see what we mean!

Just remember to take the time and learn all the capabilities these electronic mapping gems to maximize their benefits …

Comments Off

By Bass Fishing Tips, May 10, 2010 8:45 pm

Improve your odds on summertime smallmouth fishing

Whether fishing the Great Lakes or the sprawling impoundments of the Dakotas, glacial pools in the quiet countryside or the mountain gems of Tennessee, these easy tips will help you catch more smallmouth, period.

Fish where they are. This may seem like an overly simplified approach to picking a spot, but the fact is, many people overlook it. If you are fishing one of the storied lakes of Tennessee, you stand a reasonable chance to boat a six-pounder, but you will not likely catch more than a handful of fish. In direct contrast, you may catch a hundred or more in a mountain stream in Northern Arkansas, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find one over four pounds. Certain locales, like the upper Mississippi River and Lake Erie, offer excellent numbers and a good chance at big fish. Be sure to check with the state wildlife agency and look at creel reports to determine the expectations you should have for a certain body of water.

Give them what they want. Again, this is not a difficult concept but it is one that many anglers refuse to grasp. I like to fish with spinnerbaits, but once smallmouth move up on the beds, they much prefer to eat a tube or crawfish colored Fuzz-E-Grub in my home waters. Likewise, in the late summer when I’ve been catching them on jigs for two months, they begin to feed heavily on shad and I need to switch to crankbaits to turn their motors on. Pay attention to what techniques are working and don’t be afraid to try several different things to see what is best. Also, watch closely to see if a fish spits anything up when it comes to the surface – this can be the clue you need to really hone in on the hot pattern.

Mind the depth. A good smallmouth angler will know the exact depth at which fish are holding. Early morning and late evening often find smallmouth shallow while they hold in somewhat deeper water in the heat of the day. Locating and keeping track of the depth of actively feeding bass can also be indications of whether the fish shown on the sonar are smallmouth or something else.

Follow the lines. A good topographical map loaded onto your GPS can be your best friend when targeting smallmouth bass – especially on large reservoirs. Summertime bass will stack up at the bottom of rock piles and off of main lake points during the day and move on top during active feeding periods. Even on cloudy, cool days when fish feed all day, they will almost always be near to deep water where they can escape if necessary. Look for areas with steep drops or stair-stepped ledges where fish will hold. With a little practice, you can pick out likely spots before you ever leave the boat ramp and maximize your time on the water.

Pay attention to structure. Okay, so you’ve got the fish figured out. They are holding on the leeward side of main lake points where the depth changes from 15- to 24-feet…sometimes. Why are the fish on some of these spots but not all of them? The answer could be because the structure is different. On a given day or moon phase, fish will relate most closely to a particular type of structure. Generally, rocks are a good bet for mid-summer smallmouth, but they may key on sand, grass or even mud flats. Pay attention.

Time it just right. Much of the fishing for brown bass this time of year involves jigs or tubes and a big factor in the effectiveness of either is fall rate. Active fish will often inhale a lure before it reaches the bottom, but how they view that lure determines whether they will hit it or just watch it fall. A lighter weight lets your bait spend more time in the strike zone, but a heavier presentation often triggers a reaction bite as the jig zooms past a smallmouth’s line of sight. Try several different jighead weights before settling on one to determine which the fish prefer. Generally this will change throughout the day.

Color up. It is much too deep of a topic to get into here, but color matters. In general, use bright colors on bright days and dark colors on overcast days; use metallics in clear water and neons in stained water; pearl to white is good pretty much anytime. Sometimes glow colors pay big dividends. The bottom line is EXPERIMENT. The fish will tell you pretty quickly which colors they like best – especially if there are several people in the boat fishing different options. It is a good idea to fish three color combinations if possible to provide maximum contrast. For example, a Sapphire Shad Fuzz-E-Grub with a black Max Gap jig gives you blue, white and black – a deadly combination. For even more variability, try the X-Change Jig System and fine tune on the go.

Put your money on the line. There is nothing more frustrating than having everything right and losing the big one before you get it in the boat. One of the biggest problems contributing to smallmouth getting off the line is, fittingly, the line itself. Monofilament with too much stretch prevents anglers from setting the hook firmly when a smallmouth grabs a jig. Quality fluorocarbons, such as that made by Silver Thread, are a good low-stretch alternative in clear water. In stained to dirty water, it is tough to beat a good superline for sensitivity and great hook-sets.

Next time you hit the water in pursuit of smallmouth bass, follow these simple guidelines and catch more fish. Guaranteed.

via Lindy Tackle!

Comments (1)

By Bass Fishing Tips, May 6, 2010 6:34 am

Take the time to read several articles or books on spring bass fishing and one thing is certain; they will all mention you should use spinnerbaits for spring bass success!

Educating yourself on spinnerbait basics, one of the primary spring bass fishing baits, will increase the number and size of bass you catch.

Here’s a great video presentation on some of the key points to remember about spinnerbaits and how to fish them throughout the bass catching season …

I hope you agree; Kreig does an excellent job and goes beyond just naming the spinnerbait as a great spring bass lure but also describes the how’s, why’s and when’ of using them …

Kudos to Kreig and have fun with spinnerbaits the next time you hit the water!

Comments (0)

By Bass Fishing Tips, May 4, 2010 10:26 am

I found this article while monitoring my Twitter feed and thought it was interesting since I live in Missouri …

Though I tend to agree with the five lakes Paul listed in this post from Ezine Articles, I believe he left off at least one of Missouri’s big bass lakes …

Since Mozingo Lake is great for big bass fishing!

Mozingo Big Bass

As a matter of fact I am sure a number of people would argue he left off several more, for instance Smithville Lake near KC comes to mind (plus another smaller “secret” lake here in the NW corner of the state …

So without further delay …

=========================

Missouri’s Big 5 Largemouth Bass Fishing Lakes

By Paul Marsh

Largemouth bass fishing in Missouri is a prized activity featuring bass tournaments and some excellent trophy sized bass. But where are the largemouth bass opportunities greatest? That’s what we are going to cover now.

1. Lake of the Ozarks

Let’s just get this one taken care of right away. While the state record bass does not hale from this lake (we’ll get to that later), it is a safe bet that as many largemouth bass are pulled from this lake as any other in Missouri. While part of the reason for this is the angling pressure present, the lake has been well-managed for largemouth and currently is enjoying a hey-day of largemouth bass success. Just consider the fact that over 500 amateur and professional tournaments are held on this lake each year, and you will have an idea of how good it is. Every largemouth bass fisherman in Missouri, the Midwest, and perhaps the country, will want to experience this phenomenal lake.

2. Bull Shoals Lake

Okay, I gotta be careful here. Much of Bull Shoals Lake is beyond the Show-Me state’s borders, but I am not going to leave off the home of Missouri’s state record largemouth bass. Weighing in at 13 lbs 14 oz, this bass was a real lunker. Unlike Lake of the Ozarks, Bull Shoals offers more solitude for the fisherman looking for a place all his or her own. Featuring crystal clear water, anglers often fish the lake with much lighter tackle than normally is done. In addition to largemouth bass, Bull Shoals is known for a wide variety of species such as walleye.

3. Truman Lake

This lake would be a relative newcomer to many top largemouth bass fishing lakes in Missouri. Stories of days with fish after fish in the 4 lb to 7 lb size range are becoming commonplace. This is another lake that retains a relatively low density of fishermen, especially in comparison to nearby Lake of the Ozarks. Other great opportunities exist for hybrid bass and walleye.

4. Table Rock Lake

Some folks consider this lake to be not only a top lake in Missouri, but nationwide. Table Rock also plays host to a multitude of bass fishing tournaments…smallmouth bass tournaments are also renowned here! This is another one of Missouri’s clear lakes and tackle and approaches are adjusted accordingly.

5. Mark Twain Lake

This relatively turbid lake retains much of the timber that stood in its bed when it was flooded years ago. There is an excellent largemouth bass population, many of trophy size. This lake is the one from our top 5 that is found north of the Missouri River. Though you will not find a lot of the commercial activity prominent at some of the other Missouri lakes, what you will find is fish, and lots of them.

As you make your bass fishing plans, put one of these lakes on your list. You won’t be sorry you did.

Fishing Information from Family-Outdoors

Great Fishing Destinations for Bass and Trout

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Marsh

http://EzineArticles.com/?Missouris-Big-5-Largemouth-Bass-Fishing-Lakes&id=4222524

Just remember … although the five listed are good, don’t forget to bring your big bass tackle to northwest Missouri for some great Mozingo Lake fishing!

Comments (0)

By Bass Fishing Tips, May 3, 2010 11:16 am

This evening I came across four video segments of the last two days of the 1988 B.A.S.S. Megabucks tournament on Little Harris Lake won by Larry Nixon.

Watching those videos instantly brought back fond memories of my days in Colorado.

A few years before the 1988 Megabucks tourney (1984), Larry Nixon, Rick Clunn, Ken Cook and Don Siefert (Lowrance Electronics) visited Denver, Colorado as part of a “Bass University” seminar series over a four week period.

The event was hosted by the Denver Bassmasters (I was serving a term as President) and four members were selected transport each speaker from/to their hotel by Stapleton Airport. It just so happened that I was selected to drive Larry the evening he was in town.

Though all four of the pro anglers were very gracious spending a couple hours after the event with club members, Larry was extremely friendly, completely down-to-Earth and a true gentleman (IMHO).

So without further delay, here are the four videos … Enjoy!

Comments (0)

By Bass Fishing Tips, May 2, 2010 5:17 pm

• Are *bass* biting this early?
  Published: May 2, 2010
  Source: Google Alerts - spring bass fishing
  Doc Bass' View: We all have to remember to fish close to home!
  Well, the Detroit River offered its version of that behavior recently for bass guide Gerry Gostenik as he tried to showcase its legendary smallmouth fishing ... See all stories on this topic
• Influence of May's Moon Phases on Mozingo Lake *Bass Fishing* *...*
  Published: May 2, 2010
  Source: Google Alerts - spring bass fishing
  Doc Bass' View: Interesting post on spawning and the moon phases (plus it has May's Astro table) ...
  It's the time of year when Mozingo anglers seek big bass since the lake's largemouths are moving to the banks to spawn. A major influence on Mozingo's big. Mozingo Lake - http://mozingolakemo.com/
• *Bass Fishing* Forums - Starting the collection from scratch.
  Published: May 2, 2010
  Source: Google Alerts - spring bass fishing
  Doc Bass' View: Definitely have to love smallmouths anywhere but lakes like the ones throughout New England are tops!
  Don't set your tackle box on the back fishing deck and then forget about it till well ... Later in the spring I plan to stock up on topwater stuff as well. ... www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?...
• *Bass Fishing* Tips – More Bass with Rattles and Scent? « Capt *...*
  Published: May 2, 2010
  Source: Google Alerts - bass fishing baits
  Doc Bass' View: Nice to see someone else has the same view and experience with scents and rattles ...
  This appeals to a wider number of anglers and doesn't lock the angler or bass into accepting the bait with only one scent option. What XBT baits does offer is a wide variety of color options developed with Nat...
• Plugin by C. Murray Consulting

Comments (0)

By Bass Fishing Tips, May 1, 2010 10:53 am

It’s the time of year when many fishermen will seek big bass as all members of the bass family move to the banks to spawn around the major moon phases during May.  The astute bass angler will pay close attention to the major and minor activity periods by studying the alignment of celestial bodies compiled on astro charts or solunar tables for bass fishing.

In the following video, Doug Hannon, ESPN’s Bass Professor, explains the importance of the moon phases on fish and wildlife activity levels, especially big bass:

Next you will find a copy one of the solunar tables for bass fishing pertaining to optimal times in May provided by “primetimes2.com” for reference …

May 2010 Moon Phase Table - Click for Larger Version

If you have trouble reading the image above, click on it for a larger version!

Comments (0)

By Bass Fishing Tips, April 30, 2010 6:47 pm

The second of N2IT’s Mozingo bass tournaments was held on Sunday April 18th and the results are “in the books”!

Co-hosted with Tightlines Lures and Smithville Marine, the results from this Mozingo bass tournament were definitely better than the first 2010 event held in March.  Twenty-seven angler teams headed out on a near-perfect spring day (albeit cool!) finding plenty of fish at intermediate (keepers) and shallows (mostly shorts) with water temps ranging from the low to mid 50s.

A total of 90 largemouths were weighed at a total wieght of 262.17 lbs (nearly 3 lb average!).  At the end of the day, 11 of the 27 boats weighed five fish limits.

Winning weight for the event was 2.30 lbs (including a 6.84 lunker) and the official big bass for this Mozingo bass tournament was 7.27 lbs …

The next Tightlines-N2IT Mozingo Lake event is scheduled for June 6th from the Main Boat Ramp.  Click the image below for more info:

Comments (0)

By Bass Fishing Tips, April 29, 2010 11:13 am

A few days ago I saw a “Tweet” telling about a new bass fishing technique called the “Sweeping Method“.  Initially I though it would describe a hook-setting method, so I dismissed it since I already posted an article describing sweep hook-setting several months ago.

Today, however, I came across the video on YouTube and after watching the video found that my initial interpretation was wrong!

As a matter of fact, the sweeping technique has absolutely nothing to do with hook-sets; it’s actually a method of presentation …

Modeled after some of the oldest presentation methods known to man, namely jigger-poling and doodling, this fixed line retrieve allows a stealthy bass angler to work in close to shallow cover with complete control of the lure …

Interested in learning more?

Then take a moment and watch this bass fishing tactic video below to see how this kayaking fisherman uses the Sweeping Method to his greatest advantage …

One concern I had watching him work the sweeping method using a buzzbait on such a short line pertains to a high potential for broken rods …

I think using a graphite-fiberglass composite rod (like an Ugly Stik) and baitcasting reel spooled with braided line and a slightly loosened drag should help minimize that issue …

What do you think?