Largemouth Bass Fishing Tips

Watch the Weather

Bass anglers pay close attention to the weather. Warm fronts create very favorable conditions in the spring and autumn for largemouth fishing. The warm temperatures spur the baitfish species that live in the shallower waters into activity. This in turn will bring the hungry bass into these waters to feed on them. Anglers will watch for a string of 70-degree days in the springtime, knowing that when the water warms up the bass come alive. In the summer, a warm front can slow fishing down. The perceptive angler knows that bass seek shade in the shallows under weeds, docks or other cover. They seek bass in these places and in deeper waters where the bass will head to cool off. Early morning and early evening are the best times to catch bass when the heat rises. Cold fronts shut down bass activity. Before a cold front bass increase their feeding but they will almost stop feeding altogether for as long as 2 days after the front passes by. By watching the weather anglers will know when conditions are optimum for bass feeding.

Weeds

The successful bass anglers know where the weeds grow in the waters where they fish. Bass typically gravitate to weeds; they use them for cover from other predators and to hide in and ambush fish themselves. Weeds give off oxygen in the water and this attracts smaller fish along with insects. Submerged weeds that grow in the water but do not reach the very top will be havens for bass. Floating weeds which have large leaves such as lily pads will have bass under them taking advantage of the shade they offer from the sun. Thick weeds that choke an area of water on the surface will have bass swimming through the maze beneath them in search of food. Bass anglers will identify these different weedy parts of the water they fish in and take careful note of how deep the water is. This allows them to target bass with various methods, such as weedless plastic worms, spinnerbaits, topwater lures and jigs.

Jigs

Jigs are one of the most effective lures bass anglers use to catch bass. Jigs usually consist of an oversized hook hidden by some sort of material that forms a "skirt" which extends down from a weighted head near the hook's eye. Fishermen use jigs in shallow and deep water and the waters in between. One technique that turns bass on is to take a piece of pork rind and place it on the hook of a jig. This is nicknamed a "jig and pig" lure; some people will tip the jig with a crayfish or plastic worm rather than pork. Anglers cast jigs into places where they suspect bass are. Bass will grab this type of offering as it descends in the water so the key is to keep the line taut while still letting the lure drop in the water. By doing so, the person feels the fish biting and then sets the hook.