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| What
the other animals are doing ...by Frank
Lapinski |
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When I’m working a small backwater or stream, I scan the
shore to see what the other animals are doing. Are the herons
feeding, are they moving slowly or are they running after schools
of minnows? Are they right at the edge or in water up to their
bellies? What I’m trying to ascertain is whether or not
I have large amounts of bait in this portion of water and if
the bait is tight to the bank or out off it. I’ll try to
notice if the stumps I’m catching fish on had turtles or
snakes sunning themselves or did I only catch fish off the ones
that were empty. These turtles and snakes are predators too
and they like to stay near a good food supply. Keep your eyes
open while you fish, nature is talking to you. Notice how birds
feed heavily before a storm, well fish do it too. If I see a
lot of feeding activity in my yard, I run for my fishing rod
because the lake is doing the same thing. Look around and hear
what the noise is about |
| Paying
attention to details ...by Mike
Bailey |
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I have noticed that a lot of my fellow fisherman don’t
pay a lot of attention when they are rigging their plastics.
Take the time out to make sure the bait is rigged straight,
and check it every few casts. The more natural a bait looks
in the water, the more appealing it is to those weary bass.
Paying attention to detail can play an important part in your
fishing success |
| Spring
in the North Country ...by David
Ramlow |
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In Minnesota, where bass fishing is closed until late May to
protect the spawn we have to at a different starting point then
our southern fishing brethern. Pre-spawn is a time when fishing
is fast and furious, and fish in this stage can be found and
targeted even in early June, if you know where to look. Most
naturual lakes have areas which just don't warm as quickly as
the rest of the lake. Sandy bottoms, deep shorelines, wind-swept
eastern shores. Look for smaller areas which offer ideal spawning
areas, after the spawn has occured in other parts of the lake.
You will fish still moving in, aggresively feeding and not yet
on the the beds in these areas. The best areas have boat docks
and pilings for docks not yet put our for the year. Target these
areas now, rather then trying to take fish beds in the warmer
parts of the lake |
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Inside Turns ...by David
Ramlow |
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In the North Country, once the spawn is complete, a large population
of bass move to the weed lines, adjacent to drop-offs in the
deeper waters of the lake. It is on these weed lines. Bass school
as they do in southern reservoirs near ledges or creek channels.
Most everyone knows points attract bass, and a good weed point
with cabbage and scattered coon tail should not be passed by
without checking. My game plan, however, involves following
the weed line in, to where it turns back out towards the flat.
I believe that is in these "inside turns" where the
bass live, and they move to the points to feed. Inside turns
generally offer a shorter distance to travel to deep and shallow
areas, and offer protection and cover on both sides, rather
then open water as on a point. I also think inside turns are
more consistent producers, year after year since they generally
have a different bottom composition than the surrounding area.
Fish in these areas tend to be in a neutral feeding mode, so
I search for them with a jig or worm, making casts up into the
weed edges and working them a few feet beyond the weeds before
tossing back in. Probing the inside turns is a consistent pattern
to find fish where they live. Bass only feed points for a certain
amount of time each day. When they are through, they return
to the safety of the nearest inside turn where they can continue
to be caught with a less aggressive approach |
| Slow
Down ...by Hugh
Crumpler |
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When catching appears to be slow, slow down your presentation.
While fishing grass beds, be sure your lure is in constant contact
with the grass. When fishing a rocky bottom the lure should
remain in contact with the rocks and fished slowly. The bite
usually feels like a little more pressure on the line |
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