All About Bass Fishing - Guide To Finding Bass Based On Conditions
By Rick Seaman and Dan Westfall
Once you’ve determined the general areas that should hold bass, based on seasonal movements, you must consider weather and water conditions which may alter the bass activity. When these conditions change it is important that you adjust your fishing approach accordingly.
3 Most Important Factors About Water & Weather Conditions
- Changing condition dictate where the fish are located and the level of their activity.
- Be aware of changing conditions and be willing to change your fishing techniques as needed.
- Wind is the most common condition and can improve or change the bite significantly.
Water conditions
Water conditions can have a major effect on bass and cause them to move to find their comfort zone.
As a rule, bass move in and up during rising water conditions and they move out and down when water levels are falling.
In clear water bass hold tighter to cover seeking shelter and shade, while bass in murky, stained or muddy water tend to hold outside and around cover. In clear water use subdued colors with a quiet presentation. In dirtier water use noisy, bright contrasting lures.
Bass adapt to most any water temperature but will move to more comfortable temperatures when given the option. They will avoid extremely warm or cold water whenever possible. It is the change that upsets the bass, more so than the condition itself. The quicker the change, the more dramatically the bass will react.
Weather Conditions
The weather can have a sudden and dramatic impact on bass. Long term, weather can change the water conditions as well.
Cold fronts cause the barometric pressure to drop and bass to head for deep cover, often with lock jaw.
Wind can cause waves to crash into shorelines driving bass deeper. Wind can also have a positive effect bringing in baitfish and making the water cloudy for easier ambushing.
Clouds can have a dramatic impact on lakes with clear or relatively clear water. Bass normally avoid UV rays and the clouds allow them to come out in more open water. When they do they are more accessible to the angler.
Rain storms can cause muddy water and quickly cooling water. Rain can also break up the surface to where bass feel more secure roaming about away from cover.
Bright sun is an enemy of the bass, particularly in clear water. Bass hold in shade or move to deeper water where the UV rays are filtered out.
All of these conditions are explained in more detail on the following pages. Take time to learn the effect these conditions have on bass so you can react when they occur during your fishing trip.
AA Bass Fishing Knowledge Base
- Bass Fishing Overview
- Life Cycle Of Bass
- Seasonal Bass Migration
- Bass Migration - Mid to Late Winter
- Bass Migration - Spring
- Bass Migration - Early Summer
- Bass Migration - Late Summer
- Bass Migration - Fall
- Bass Migration - Early Winter
- Fishing For Bass
- It's Now WHAT You Throw, It's WHERE
- Research The Fishery Before You Go
- Review Contour Maps
- Types Of Cover Used By Bass
- Bass Fishing In Grass Beds
- Bass Fishing In Wood & Timber
- Bass Fishing In Brush & Vegetation
- Establishing Patterns
- Learn To Recognize Bites
- Review Lunar Tables
- Choose The Right Lures
- Find Bass Based On Conditions
- Conditions - Fold Fronts
- Conditions - Wind
- Conditions - Cloudy Days
- Conditions - Fishing In The Rain
- Conditions - Water Clarity
- Conditions - Rising Water
- Conditions - Falling Water
- Conditions - Fishing At Night
- Equipment & Tackle
- Equipment - Fishing Rods
- Equipment - Fishing Reels
- Equipment - Fishing Line
- Equipment - Fishing Lures
- Fishing With Live Bait
- Shallow Water Techniques, 0 -10'
- Shallow Fishing - Spinnerbaits
- Shallow Fishing - Crankbaits
- Shallow Fishing - Top Water
- Shallow Fishing - Pitching & Flipping
- Shallow Fishing - Artificial Worms
- Shallow Fishing - Jigs
- Shallow Fishing - Flukes
- Shallow Fishing - Stick Worms
- Shallow Fishing - Swimbaits
- Fishing Mid Range Depths, 10' - 25'
- Mid Depth - Spinnerbaits
- Mid Depth - Deep Diving Crankbaits
- Mid Depth - Artificial Worms
- Mid Depth - Jigs
- Mid Depth - Swimbaits
- Fishing Deep Water & Structure
- Fishing Deep Water - Jigs
- Fishing Deep Water - Jigging Spoons
- Fishing Deep Water - Artificial Worms
- Planning Your Attack
- Bass Fishing Questions & Answers
- Conservation - Protect The Fishery
Bass information by state.
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