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Bass Fishing Techniques & Bass Jigs
One of the most effective and most popular methods of
tricking or catching a small mouth bass is to work over the top of weed beds. Some
fishermen prefer jigs, while others choose live
bait.
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Walking- the-dog: this is an angling technique that usually
requires some time to master, but beginners should not shy away from trying it, for it is quite effective with
bass. Casting over a relatively long distance, allow the bait to sit for a brief period of time, take up the
slack, and with your rod tip pointed at the water, give it a jerk to the side, then immediately move it backward
and reel in any slack, then jerk again, and repeat all the way back. More or less a darting from side-to-side. You
are in effect simulating the prey’s elusive movements, enticing the hunter to follow, stalk and hit! This
might be your ace up your sleeve for hooking YOUR NEXT BIG ONE.
Slip-bobbers, rigged with a ¼ ounce plastic
jig, live bait like minnow, night-crawler or leech at its tip and of course, all on a sharpened hook
Jiggling, lightly shaking, presenting this close to any emerging weeds or brush, underwater
logs, trees, stumps or cover, may prove successful.
Remember that fish are constantly on the move while feeding. The timing of day, amount of
sunlight, temperature of the water and more all feature into the angling equation.
Bobber-rigs or jigs are popular and quite successful too. Slip-sinkers, Carolina (drop-shot rig)
works well too.
Free-line fishing in shallow waters may yield many a bass angler quite the haul. Casting a
plain
hook with live bait and feed the line to the bait, allowing it to ‘swim’ naturally will
attract some certain attention. Other experts would recommend if you are in the so-called watery salad, weeds or
heavy slop, cover and jungles underwater, to go heavier is the key. 20 lb line the minimum and heavy-action, sturdy
bait-casting rod and reel combos with long, straight handles to provide you with leverage to reel your BIG ONES
in!
Floating jig-heads, with slip-sinker rig, with 2-3 foot leader have proven to be useful too,
especially when kept close to the bottom, watching not to get snagged in the process. Weed-less hooks can help you
retrieve live-bait and or that hooked fish, through very think underbrush.
Again, understanding what bass actually eat, where and when, will help you with choosing and
presenting the most effective, appropriate and tempting bait (whether live or artificial). Drawing on the natural
diet of the fish, can assist you in improving your baits and lures appearance, strategy, tactics and eventual
success. Bass, as a predator will be looking for certain shapes, colors and familiar movement. Plastic worms and
crawfish are popular choices. Part of the reason bass is such a popular species to be fishing for, is they are
notorious for hitting hard, biting solid and strong pulling or fighting – a strong game fish to be sure. They are
known to put up a good fight.
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