Bass Fishing 101
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By:
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admin
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Mood:
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- Bass Articles
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Date:
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Aug 03, 2009
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Music:
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None
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Most published works and accomplished authors (many anglers themselves), depict bass fishing as the ultimate angling experience and 'The Bass' (predator-hunter itself), as tough-minded, unpredictable, with a strong survival instinct, great awareness, sensing/sensors, that make them the keen and effective hunters they are.
These fish benefit from natures' gifts of powerful sight, hearing, vast speed, maneuverability and even jumping action moves, that will have you catch (pardon the pun), your breath
with awe, excitement and expectation that is! All of this makes it possible for the Bass to live up to its name and reputation, as one of the "extremes" of the gaming fish populations and every angler's dream catch!
Part of the Percichthyidae family (also sub-classified into the genus Morone considered a separate unit or branch (white, yellow, striped), they are widely distributed in temperate and tropical waters, sub-species to be found in fresh and saltwater. There are also the Australian bass (Acquaria novemaculeate), European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).
Their food of choice/feed and natural diet includes small fish, crustaceans, worms and insects some anglers have also had great success with fishing live bait, like minnows, worms and even frogs.
Then there are the black bass, collectively referred to and including our prized target called by some to be the most sporting species in North America the Centrarchidae family. (Largemouth and smallmouth bass, redeye, spotted, striped, black bass, Suwannee, Quadalupee).
Artificial baits have proven useful to most anglers. Live baits are best, but these fish can be tempted, teased and lured to strike with artificial ones such as spinners, spoons, crank-baits, surface plugs and plastic worms more on this a little later. Knowing which to choose (and WHY), use, switch to in certain conditions, and how to optimize this art of allure, is a key basic element for every aspiring or great angler alike. In this article and following articles, I will teach you many bass fishing tips and techniques that will help you catch more and bigger fish.
These fishes are all active predators, warming to natural baits and artificial lures. Most anglers would suggest spinning or trolling for freshwater fishing for Bass (larger species) and spinning or fly fishing for the smaller species. Saltwater enthusiasts might also consider surfcasting, trolling or up-tide fishing.
Fishing for and catching Bass, in various waters across the globe, has a proud history and tradition. Most of us are too glad to get dabbling in and form part of it, whether from boat, shore, rocks or rocks, rivers, streams, lakes or oceans. We like to tell our mighty tales and contemplate how to change and modify, adapt and or create new techniques, approaches to hook smallmouth, large-mouth, speckled, spotted, striped and black bass. To each his own. You pick your favorite.
Knowing how to tell a smallmouth bass from a large-mouth bass, striped bass from spotted and so on, is a very basic skill most anglers master quickly. Looking specifically at size and physical features are good places to start. Train your eye to 'spot the differences', so to speak.
They differ in size, markings and dorsal fins for example. Their upper jaws are different in length and their dorsal fins are not the same. The large-mouth has a spiny dorsal fin, highest in the middle portion, with almost a distinct 'break', right before the second set of dorsal fins start. For our friends the small mouth bass, these fins are flatter, first and second are connected, with distinct scales at the base of the second set of dorsal fins.
Apart from knowing and telling your fish species apart, by sights and or physical characteristics, there are some general advice we can propose right upfront. Experiencing, treading lightly and honoring nature, the great outdoors, abiding by the anglers' code (catch and release, licensing), environmental protection for generations of anglers (and women) to come, and the like are all vastly important in your angling endeavors.
Second, maintaining an overall alertness, what some call "reading the waters" (understanding the body of water, habitat to the fish, contour, depth, temperature, stratified levels etc.), being generally, as well as specifically 'observant', arming yourself with knowledge, skill and understanding of the fish, the species, the environment, and all other relevant factors to your fishing activity and undertakings paramount for successful process and outcome.
Third, (and almost most importantly), remain adaptable, for change is a BIG part of this enjoyable outdoor activity. It is definitely not for the faint of heart or the impatient among us!
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