Largemouth Bass Fishing Tips

Bigger fish usually will hang out alone, so look for outer areas of cover away from the rest of the other cover, especially if deep water is close by.

Place vasoline on the inside threads of any jar i.e.. baby food jar for nuts,screws, etc. The lubrication will make it easier to open months down the road.

The CD zippered pouches carrying case makes a real good spinner bait pouch.

Use large paper clips to keep your snap swivels, snaps and split rings more organized.

Attach some Velcro to the side of your tackle box, so you can retrieve your lures easier without having to go back in your box each time.

Drill several hole in your buzz bait blades to make them bubble, and create more action.

Use-non-skid safety tape on the gunwale area where I place my feet, so I don't slip.

Bend the front /rear props of a devils horse out in calm water, bend in on rough /some current.

Place Alka Selzer in a tube worm to add extra attraction, or use an scented Shooters ear plug on a Carolina rig, on the leader line.

Drill a pattern of holes in your buzz bait blade to create more action.

Place a card board box between your pants leg and the marine battery you carry in/out of the garage.

The Fisherman:
This angler will just go to the body of water, and without preparation cast anywhere, and everywhere.

The Catcher man:
This angler will make repeated casts into an area, because he knows that many strikes come from the second, and third casts.

The high gear ratio in your reel will help you when you work the artificial, because you need to work them fast.

Live Bait
Flipping the shiner in pockets: Bass like to hang out on the edges of weed cover, especially when this is next to a pocket of weeds, near deep water access, or adjacent with other types of cover, i.e., rock, wood, culvert, other weeds, plants, or point. Now let's return to the pockets. Bass will hang on the inside of the pocket, but on the edge, where the weed is, whether that is at the pads or at the open water.

Spinner Bait
The colorado blade is best on vertical presentations, because it falls slowly. It's a good blade for low light/stained water.
The willow leaf blade creates the most flash, with little vibration. I prefer it in weed filled areas where it will ride better over grass/weeds.
Oh! I never have any luck on a spinner bait, stop the excuses!!!

Top Water
Use different variations of retrieves: change speeds, slow down, speed up, let the lure sink out of sight, then reel up. Vary the retrieve. If you suspect fish are actively feeding, for example, you spot them chasing baitfish, keep the rod tip high so the blade(s) occasionally break the surface and spit up water, thus imitating a fleeing bait fish.

Plastic Worms
Go with a 1/8-oz. sliding sinker, in black for most worm fishing conditions. Try and go with a one-piece rod, instead of the two pieces. The one piece has more sensitivity/strength. A Bass inhales a Plastic worm in about the blink of an eye! Is it important to know when you get a strike?Not as important to know, as when you don't. Missing strikes, don't feel bad, most anglers do.

Crank Bait
Use a marker under your lures to place the depth that. The lures run, so you will know when you pick each one up. Use a non stretch line, and sharpen your hooks real good, even right out of the package. Many hooks stick a Bass, like you would get pricked when you stick your hand in a
tackle box not looking.

Seasonal/Daily Patterns
Look for patterns that fish will display, and they may change by the day, climate, weather conditions, etc. i.e. In cool weather fish will hold tight to cover, so fish slower and vertical if possible.

Cover/Structure

Many anglers concentrate more on what rod/reel, and lure they will use, but don't know where the fish are, or patterns of activity.

Bass are cover oriented that is the first thing you look for when looking for fish.

Look for culverts/pipes, especially after a rain. If the pipe is above the water, fish might still be there.

Bass will hang out off edges of weeds, and other types of structure.

When you take a child fishing, leave your rod at home. This will give you the opportunity to pay attention to the most important angler that day, your child!

A garbage can lid is another ideal target. The noise it makes when it is hit is a confidence builder for a child.

Once the beginner becomes consistent in hitting an open target, place the target under some type of obstruction. This allows children to practice casting in what they will see later when they're on the water.