Bass is one of the most popular gamefish in North America. Bass are available across the entire Northern hemisphere throughout the great lakes all the way to the B.C. Pacific islands. Bass prefer waters with warmer temperatures, shallow muddy ponds and slower moving rivers as well as lakes.
The Best Time And Places To Fish
Like with most fish species, the best time to fish for bass is usually in the early morning or late evenings as they tend to seek shade during the day. Bass live in diverse habitats, with largemouth bass overlapping small mouth bass territories. They are a very aggressive and strong fighting fish who are reaction biters, meaning they will bite anything that comes across their face. They also have a strong sense of smell, therefore using some sort of scented baits will help with the success rate.
Smallmouth bass prefer clear waters or lakes with a rocky bottom. You can target them along the shoreline or along the shoals as well as deeper waters. They can be targeted from late springs through to late fall.
Bass love water with lots of structures, so look for sunken logs or weedy shoals. Areas with lots of cover and hiding places will usually hold bass. Work your way and cover as much water as you can, if one method doesn’t produce try switching up lures. Bass feeding habits can change when it comes to a change in the weather or water temperatures, so make sure to change up your tactics. Try retrieving lures at different water depths and different speeds.
Tips To Catch Bass
When targeting bass, there are a number of lures that will entice them due to their aggressive nature. Start with smaller sized lures and work your way into the larger sizes, these following lures are great for bass fishing: Curly tail jigs, crankbaits, in-line spinners, spoons, plastic worms, top-water lures, buzz and spinner baits. Target waterways with cover where the bass can ambush prey, remember that bass are aggressive biters so be ready to set the hook any moment you feel tension.
Live baits are one of the best baits for bass fishing, however be sure to check your local regulations. Live bait includes night crawler worms, minnows, leeches, crayfish and minnows. These live baits can be fished very successfully under a float.
Smallmouth Bass Facts
Average sizes: 1 to 4lbs
Habitat and temperature: Live in deeper water, often around rocks, sand, or gravel areas. They prefer water temperatures under 70°F (21°C).
Biology: Spawn in late May and June. Bass deposit their eggs in shallow, gravelly areas. The males usually guard eggs and fry. Bass tend to get very aggressive during this time
Largemouth Bass Facts
Average sizes: 1.5 to 6lbs
Habitat and temperature: Inhabit shallow, warm waterways with aquatic vegetation, sunken wood, man-made cover, and rocks. They prefer 79 to 81°F (26 to 27°C) water.
Biology: Spawn in late May and June in fanned-out bottom depressions. Largemouth prefer vegetated, quiet channels with slow water.