How to Bass Fish

In a few words, this article on how to bass fish could be called how to choose the right bait. While it is definitely correct that largemouth bass do not always follow the rules when it comes to baits chosen, it is also true that most of the time they do. If you are an avid fisherman, you will always hear match the hatch. All this fancy-talk means is that you should choose the color and shape of the bait the bass are currently feeding on.

Sometimes this is difficult if not impossible to pull off. Sure there are fishing forecast in every state but sometimes the time it takes to grab those priceless caveats of information can be frustratingly painful. Let me explain. If the bass are feeding on shiners use a lure the same color, or if it is perch or sunfish, tie on something of the same fashion. It will pay off in the end as the bass will either bite strongly or not at all. If the not at all option is selected then you would have tried another color or shape and this conversation would be null and void. Many bass anglers say that you should use darker lures in low light conditions and brighter when the sun is shining high. I highly agree and have used this theory many times for fantastic results. If the lake is clear use a brighter or shinier lures vs. darker ones for stained or muddy water. This rule of thumb most always holds true but not 100 percent of the time.

So remember that darker colors in darker water and lighter lures in clear and sunny weather does not always hold true. You must experiment if the bass are not hitting. Try something new; it might be a great surprise. The gold coloring of the Florida wild shiner can be easily matched with over a thousand lures that you and I would have a hard time telling the difference of under water. This is an essential part of learning the correct way of bass fishing. It is important that the bass angler at least has the option for choosing the color and shape he wants to use. Do not allow a big-mouthed friend or even worse, a freelance fishing writer (eek) try to convince you that it is his way or the highway. Thats just not true. It is your way or the highway. Go fishing and prove all those “hater’s” wrong about the quality of you’re fishing prowess. Shut them up with a stringer full of wonderful largemouth bass and do not offer them a single fish.

The color and shape of the lure is ultra important and it is really just a common sense issue. The bass want what they are accustomed to feeding on, plain and simple. If something comes there way that is exactly the opposite of what they are feeding on, normally this will show itself very early in the fishing day.