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Bass Fishing

When bass fishing, both smallmouth and largemouth, respond amazingly well to several hundred lures, plugs and a wide variety of baits. And they seldom turn down the vast assortment of flies, bass bugs or streamers created by the hand of man. If you can manage to figure out where the bass are, you simply cannot help but catch a sizeable share. They are just that eager to strike any moving object!

Probably the most important difference between largemouth and smallmouth bass is choice of habitat. The largemouth accepts a variety of conditions and doesn't mind spending its life around weed beds, underwater vegetation and waters with muddy bottoms. On the other hand, the smallmouth rarely tolerates anything but lakes and rivers that have rocky bottoms and clear, silt-free water.

The majority of outdoor magazines, books, and videos show pictures of a fisherman bass fishing in a thick cover of lily pads or flipping a popping plug inches from a rotted-out stump. While this may occasionally be true, it just isn't always the best way to fish. Let's take a look at the basic habits of the two species, and then we'll talk about a few methods that have produced for me in most areas I've fished.

First of all, we must consider temperature. If the water is below 50 degrees you are wasting your time, for the largemouth is most active in temperatures ranging from 68 to 72 degrees. But it starts searching for a meal once the waters warm to above 56 degrees. The smallmouth differs in that it tolerates waters with lower temperatures of from 42 to 52 degrees. It is aggressive and feeds voraciously when the waters rise to near 67 degrees.

Chances are, especially with the largemouth, you will find bass in water from 6 to 12 feet deep during the 56 to 62 degrees period. Minnows, crawfish, frogs or worms that are still-fished or drifted are proven winners once you have located the hotspots. Medium depth plugs and spoons will also take a fair share, but they should be worked slowly and close to the bottom. Though the early season is not really the best time for a fly fisherman, it is still possible to take fish on well handled streamers, bucktails or nymphs natural to the region. The fly fisherman should make certain he is using a fly line made for sinking. A surface cast, even with a slowly sinking leader, will not be nearly as effective as a fly that gets down to the feeding depth where it can be manipulated to look natural.

Spectacular surface angling begins once the water warms to consistent daytime readings of 60 to 65 degrees. After the bass move out of the lower depths, they can be found from 2 to 5 feet below the surface.

This is a special time for bass as the warmer weather corresponds with their spawning period. Many states have a closed season on bass at this time of the year, to allow for natural restocking to take place-without fishing pressure.

Water temperature is the key to the favorite hideouts of both smallmouth and bigmouth bars, underwater weed beds and a variety of deadfalls and brush cover. Shorelines, undercut banks, rushes and most any spot 2 to 5 feet deep are excellent possibilities for the probing angler. Surface poppers can take fish at this time and so can streamers or bass bugs. But it still isn't the top temperature range-at least not for the fisherman looking for action on the big ones. River Runts, flatfish, worms and eels, such as the Creme series of baits, will bring success just about any day.

There is nothing to stop a man from using any kind of tackle. Spinning with the lighter lures may be handy, but bait-casting tackle in competent hands is a thing to be reckoned with. So, too, are carefully handled feathers worked by a skilled fly rod fisherman.

Not forgetting the smallmouth, I want to point out that it leaves the medium depths once the water hits the 58- to 62-degree line on your fisherman's thermometer.

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