All About Bass Fishing - Guide To Researching The Fishery
By Rick Seaman and Dan Westfall
It is important to gather information before heading to the lake. By reviewing fishing reports and asking questions at local bait and tackle stores, one can get a general idea of what is happening at the lake you plan to fish. Read everything you can get your hands on regarding the season and type of fishing currently happening at the lake. This information will help you decide how to rig your tackle for the actual day on the water.
3 Most Important Factors About Being Prepared
- Being prepared with all the knowledge available will greatly increase success.
- Arm yourself with the type of lures currently catching bass at the lake you plan to fish.
- Check fishing line and replace if curled or frail, sharpen hooks and organize your gear.
Define the Seasonal Locations
Begin by defining what season your area is currently experiencing. Read the section of this book covering that season to get an overall understanding of what the bass are doing. If you are at the end of one season and entering the next, read both sections to get an idea of where the bass will be coming from and where they are going to.
Do your homework
Fishing Reports
Fishing reports define what was happening yesterday or even farther back. You can learn from this, but don’t get caught up in the details. Try to discern what areas of the lake and what depths seem to be producing. Secondly, try to define what type of cover the bass are coming from. When the reports mention specific lures, don’t get caught up in the specific lure or color. Use the information about the lures to help you determine “where” the bass are being caught. Then choose similar lures to help you find the bass.
Bait Shops & Tackle Stores
Develop a relationship with your local bait and tackle store. Many of the employees are ardent anglers themselves and can offer first-hand information. These folks talk to anglers all day long and have a pretty good idea of what’s happening at local lakes. Ask specific questions about areas of the lake, depth and cover. Let them make recommendations for tackle and techniques.
Online Articles
Once you have determined the season, area of the lake, and type of cover that will likely be holding bass, do searches for online articles discussing various techniques for fishing these conditions. Read several articles and try to employ the elements you hear that are common among the articles. This is a great way to get an understanding about lures or techniques you have never fished before.
Tournament Results From Recent and Prior Year Tournaments
If you are familiar with tournament organizations which hold events on the lake you plan to fish, you may be able to gather ideas from the results and articles written about the tournaments. Keep in mind that information about prior year tournaments, at the same time of year may also provide insight to what will be happening now.
Review Lake Maps
Once you determine the area of the lake and depth that is producing bass, review lake maps to familiarize yourself with these areas of the lake. Look for likely spots and mark them on the map so you will have specific places to fish.
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.