Bass Fishing Tips

Here are some frequently asked questions that I hear and maybe some that you have wondered about. I will give you my opinion on these questions and tell you what has worked for me!

“Why do fish slap at or rush up to my bait and not eat it?”

This has frustrated many of us to some degree but I have found this to be a good thing. How you may ask? I consider this to be a sign that I am fishing something they are very interested in but not willing to eat. My job is to now narrow down color, size, and presentation of that bait type to start getting fish to commit to eating it. So if this happens to you get excited because your on the brink of closing the deal! Here is an example of this. I have been fishing a spinnerbait and have fish bump it aggressively but not eat it. This is when I go to my tackle and make a change. Usually the blade size or profile of your bait is alittle off. I will start by going smaller in both profile size and blade size. This will almost always result in a hook up. If that does not work try adjusting your color or your retrieve.

“Why do my fish struggle to live in my livewell?”

This is a common question in the heat of summer and can be very crucial in tournament situations were you can be plagued by penalties. Not to mention I do not like seeing a bass die under any circumstances. This is what I do to keep my fish healthy all day while in my livewell. First you need to make sure your livewells are in good working order then try to keep them clean after each use. I do two main things to keep my fish lively when the sun has made the water warm enough to bathe in. I recommend purchasing a bottle of rejuvenate at your local tackle shack this gives the bass energy. The second tip is to freeze a few 8 oz. bottles of water and keep them in your boat adding them to your livewell as needed. This will give the fish cooler water and more oxygen. One last thing, If you hook a fish deep just cut the line immediately before he has a chance to loose alot of blood. Place him in the livewell and keep an eye on him.

” How do I set the cast control on my new reel?”

This one usually is asked after a few frustrating backlashes. I recommend reading your instructions for your reel first and then testing your reel in your yard to get the feel of it before your next fishing trip. Most reels have a dial on the side of the reel that reads 1 thru 10 or something of that nature. Try setting this at a high number to start with like 8 or 9 until you get used to casting. Once you have mastered the higher setting you may then adjust it lower to get more spool speed which will enable you to make longer casts. There should be smaller cast control knob on the opposite side of your reel this controls the fall speed of your bait. You want your bait to fall smooth and at a relatively slow speed. If you are looking for a reel that is very easy to set and control I recommend the Pinnacle Pro Select. You may view this reel in our shop.

” What type scent attractant do I need to use if any?”

I never let my bait enter the water without adding a good fish attractant I mean let’s face it the more help we can get to catch fish the better! I recommend trying to match the scent with the lure your fishing. For example, you would not want a crawfish attractant on a spinnerbait. I use an attractant called Mega-Strike. This has proven to catch fish for me all over the country. Something that I do is keep some of the attractant on my hand when pitching to apply it every time I touch the bait.

Whatever question you have do not be afraid to ask it. The only dumb questions are the ones you don’t ask!

Keywords: Bass Fishing tips | fish attractant