Two Special Baits for Bass
by Ken Sturdivant
Southern Fishing Schools Inc.
Fishing is a great pass time for all
ages and it is not a hard sport. But like any sport a game plan is a
good idea. Depending on the weather set up a small tackle box and have
the items
that are more likely to work.
Game fish get cold in the winter and are
not active looking for food. But in the early fall they are feeding heavily
and will strikes almost everything in the tackle box. Putting the right
lures in front of the fish can always increase your success.
One small
flat tackle box can be set up for the two basic lures needed for any
fishing trip. Tournament fishermen make carry all the tackle they own.
But for
the four seasons there are some really basic lures that will work.
The
first lure has to be a plastic worm. Never overlook this bait for any
bass at any time. The usual sizes come in four, six and seven inch sizes.
You
may use either a straight tail or curly tail. Rig this bait Texas style
and use as small a sinker as possible.
If the weather is warm fish it
shallow around the bank. If the weather is cold fish this bait dead slow
on wood
and around docks as well as on points. In clear water, use a green worm
and in murky water or dirty water, use pumpkinseed. This worm can even
be used successfully without any weight. Fish the worm both day and night.
Baas can see extremely well even at night and the bigger bass feed actively
at night all year.
The second lure is a spinner bait. Bass will attack
the spinner bait. Nobody understands why but they work. This bait can
be fished very fast in the cooling early fall days and then you can drag
in
across the bottom in the winter. Use a 3/8 ounce lure with a tandem set
of blades. The top blade is a silver willow leaf style in a size 4. The
smaller blade is a gold Colorado blade in a size 2. Skirts are almost
always chartreuse and white but mix and match colors.
Cast spinnerbaits
and worms
in and around any kind of structure from rocks and wood and even
on bridges to docks. Bass are fond of any kind of wood. Stumps, standing
or fallen
trees will have some bass in or around them. And the good thing about
a spinner bait is that it will catch all sizes of bass all year round
just
like the plastic worm.
