Plastic Worms

I don’t know what exactly it is about plastic worms that bass can’t resist, since worms are not part of their natural diet. Whatever it is, bass really LOVE plastic worms. Many anglers, both amateur and professional, swear by them. If you have not tried bass fishing with soft plastic worms, I recommend you pick some up for your next fishing trip.

My two favorite brands of plastic worms are Berkley (buy here) and Gary Yamamoto (buy here).

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Spinnerbaits

Most, if not all, bass anglers know what a spinnerbait is, but not too many of us actually use them on a regular basis. A cluster of flash and vibration,  spinnerbaits are sometimes exactly what the bass are looking for.

The best spinnerbait brands, in my opinion, are Terminator (buy here) and Booyah (buy here).

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Crankbaits

The reason crankbaits are so effective at catching bass is because they do a good job at mimicking bait fish look and behavior. If the bass are holding in deep water, deep-diving crankbaits are great for getting down there and enticing strikes.

The crankbaits I use most are Rapalas (buy here), but when I can spend a little more, I prefer MegaBass (buy here).

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Jig-and-pigs

One of the oldest tricks in the book to catch big bass, jig-and-pigs are simply a jig with a pork rind trailer. I don’t really know what it is about the pork trailer, but it seems that bass really respond well, especially in cooler water. Jig-and-pigs are still very popular because of their bass catching abilities.

I’ll use just about any quality bass jig (buy here) with an Uncle Josh Pork Frog Trailer (buy here).

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Rat-L-Traps

Who doesn’t love Rat-L-Traps? They make a rattling noise that simply drives bass crazy. They were invented over 40 years ago and are still very popular today. This is proof that they are obviously effective at catching bass.

Out of all the rattling lures out there, I use the original Bill Lewis Rat-L-Traps (buy here).

                          

Now is the time to be in the yard practicing your flipping and pitching aim and techniques! Use buckets, cups whatever you can to get your aim down to hit the target. When fishing visible structure such as trees and laydowns, you will want to have a good aim and hit the right spots! Always fish from the outer most part of the tree to the closest to the bank. The reason for this is to not spook the fish that are closer to the base of the tree at the bank. This alone will catch you two or more fish on each site!

Always work from out to in when fishing laydown trees. Let the jig fall as straight and fast as you can on the cast, pull off a couple pulls of line from your reel as the jig hits the water, this will allow a more straight and consistant fall of the jig. Vary your retrieve with short jigging motion and sweeping motions. Depending on the mood of the Bass one of these will usually work to trigger a reaction bite. Bait casting reels with sensitive line and sensitive rod work best for this style of fishing.

When you feel  that bump or that different feel, SET THE HOOK! Hook sets are free and unlimited so don’t hesitate and chance the Bass either deciding against it or swallowing the jig, which could damage and possibly kill the fish! If fishing underwater structure not visible, drop the jig in, let it hit the bottom and jig it a few times with 3-5 second pauses, this should trigger a bite from one of those big, fat fall Largemouth Bass! And remember the most important thing, HAVE FUN!

Thanks to Michael for providing this article. Visit his blog for videos, stories and tips at http://bassfishingnc.blogspot.com/

                          

The best time of year for largemouth bass fishing is during the spring. This is when they move from deeper water into the shallows to start their spawning action. This is a great time to catch those big bass because they will be concentrated in the shallows near the shore.

Between about the middle of March to the middle of June (when the water really starts warming), look for nice debris-free sandy spots in about 2-5 feet of water to locate the largemouth bass spawning beds. Cast your lure/bait starting from the edge of the bed(s) and working your way throughout the whole area.

I recommend to using a smaller lure/bait fished at a slow to medium speed near the spawning beds/flats. The reason for this is: largemouth bass will hesitate to leave their beds unattended to chase some food. So, in order to induce more strikes, you will need to place and keep the lure/bait in the direct vicinity of the spawning bass.

Watch the great fishing video at the top. Kreig Adkins shows us how to use spinner baits for spring time bass. There is a great deal of information that can be learned about catching largemouth bass in the spring. Enjoy the video and get out on the lake to catch those springtime bass.

                          

This is the real world record largemouth bass. Even though it’s not officially recognized, it’s the largest EVER caught. At 25 pounds 1 ounce, this bass beats the “official” IGFA record by almost three (3) pounds. She was caught in 2006 at tiny Dixon Lake, California by Mac Weakley.

Mac Weakley and his two friends, Jed Dickerson and Mike Winn, have been after this fish ever since Jed caught and released her in 2003 at 21 pounds 11 ounces. They called her “Dottie” because of the dot on her gills. After 3 years they finally caught her again. This time she weighed over 3 pounds more.

Mac and his friends decided not to pursue the world record due to the controversy surrounding the fish. The issues that were brought up: (1) The fish was not weighed on a certified scale. (2) It was unintentionally foul-hooked. (3) No measurements of length or girth were taken. (4) Dottie was released.

What an amazing fish! I would be extremely happy to catch a bass half that size. Controversy? Forget the controversy! I would have at least tried for the world record. Imagine the bragging rights and the monetary gain. You would have sponsors begging at your doorsteps. Some say that bass was worth at least $1,000,000. Nice!

Too bad that Dottie can’t be caught again. In 2008, she was found floating dead in Dixon Lake. Rest In Peace Dottie. I won’t have a chance to catch you.