Largemouth Bass Tips

    What to use:  The most common lures to use are crankbaits, grubs, plastic worms, spinnerbaits, and top water baits.  Use bright colors in dark stained water and neutral colors in clear water.  With live or imitation bait, either jig them vertically or retrieve them along the bottom slowly lifting them off the bottom.  Remember that fish almost always feed up and usually strike when the jig is falling.

    Where to find them:  When fishing for bass, keep trying new spots until you have success.  Do not waste your time.  If they are there, they will strike.

    When fishing a lake try to find a spot that provides food and cover.  Also fish areas where water is warmer such as the shoreline.  These are areas that warm up first and stay warm throughout the summer.

    Cover is used to hide away from predators and to easily ambush prey.  Good examples of cover are drop-offs, flooded timber, edge of weed lines, and lily pads.  Though lily pads are best fished when there is no other cover nearby.  The best type of cover is cover that is close to deep water.

    Many people confuse structure with cover.  Structure is any change in the bottom of the lake.  A sudden underwater point on the bottom of the lake is considered structure, while submerged trees or lily pads are examples of cover.  A good rule of thumb for structure is anything that looks different from everything else.

    If you can find a place between 2 to 15 feet of water, some structure, and some cover, you may have just found a potential hot spot.