 Largemouth Bass
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The largemouth bass, or black bass, is one of the best known and most popular freshwater game fishes. Found nationwide, largemouth bass have excellent growth rates, particularly in the productive waters of central Florida, Texas, California, Arkansas, California and others. Spring is the best time of year to catch black bass. That's when fish move into shallow water to spawn. Spawning may occur as early as January and as late as May, but March and April are peak months for largemouth bass. Most larger bass are taken at this time because after spawning many large female bass move to offshore areas.
The plastic worm is the most dependable artificial bait for largemouth bass. A weedless "Texas-rigged" or "Carolina-rigged" worm is very effective in heavy plant cover. The Texas rig uses a slip sinker just above the worm head and the hook is embedded into the worm. The Carolina rig uses a swivel with a slip sinker 2 to 3 feet above the hook, which is embedded into the worm (weedless). The Carolina rig allows the worm to float above the vegetation. Worms come in a variety of colors and scents, and bass may favor certain types depending on light conditions; be sure to have both light and dark colors available, as well as several sizes of tapered worm weights (slip sinkers) from 1/8 to 1 ounce. Purple "metalflake" or "red shad" worms with twirly-tails are popular, and plastic lizards and snakes can be effective as well. Most plastic worms are worked slowly along the bottom or through cover by raising the rod tip a few feet, then allowing the worm to sink. The line should be kept fairly tight to feel the strike. Typically an angler will feel the bass "tap" the worm once or twice lightly. By lowering the rod tip and waiting only until the slack is out of the line before setting the hook, anglers greatly lessen the chance of injury to the fish due to deep hooking. With active bass and dense underwater vegetation, "jerk worms" are an excellent bait. Rigged without sinkers, these worms are jigged rapidly over vegetation, with brief pauses to let the worm sink slowly. Bass hit these baits hard, and an instant hookset is recommended.
Spinnerbaits are very good in the spring, usually fished slowly around drop-offs and cover. If a slow retrieve fails, try "buzzing", i.e., retrieving the spinnerbait rapidly so the blades ripple the surface. Crankbaits typically imitate baitfish or crayfish, and a straight retrieve is usually effective. The design of the plastic lip determines how deep the lure dives, and anglers can adjust their choice of baits based on water depth. Popular colors are white, shad, firetiger (green striped with orange underside) and crayfish. Topwater baits are exciting to fish because the angler can see the strike. Topwater plugs that imitate wounded baitfish may be twitched to entice bass. Others are designed to make noise, and a faster, erratic retrieve may antagonize a bass into striking. Topwater lures are most successful during early morning or late afternoon. Stay ready for a surprise strike and set the hook immediately. ---- This article is an excerpt from a government publication. ---- Largemouth Bass Fishing ArticlesDon't see what you are looking for? | |||
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