Fishing for bass in the Midwest can be a very frustrating or a very enjoyable experience, according to your attitude and preparedness to undertake the mission. Each area of this country – or of the world for that matter – has different techniques that will work to land the lunkers of your choice. One of the most important things to remember is that the habits of the fish are established according to weather patterns and water quality and conditions.

The Midwestern weather patterns are extremely different for each time of the year, so fish have established yearly patterns that can be charted and used to success. If you are not familiar with these patterns you could be in for a frustrating trip, but if you do your homework you should be able to not only find the fish, but catch them easily and successfully.

For the winter, remember that the fish will be deep and suspended most of the time. Even in the cold the fish still have to eat, if in more limited amounts than other times of the year. The trick is to go to where the fish are and irritate them to the point of wanting to get rid of the annoyance. If you get lucky on a warmer day and find the spots on the lake that have plenty of sunshine or warm water run-in, you can be pretty successful with a bright lure, especially one with noise, such as a buzz bait or rattling lure. Catch them in early morning sun or late afternoon sun-warmed water, hitting those spots as they feed. This should get you catching a few fish for your ego boost and a really good time, not to mention a good story!

In the spring, as we all know, the fish are eating voraciously and preparing for the early spring spawn. Pea gravel banks will be what they are looking for, so find these and skirt the edges for the feeding fish, or the stragglers that haven’t yet spawned (or are just trying to get in on the action). Hit those fallen trees in the water’s edge, and any other structure that could hold food, such as hatching crawfish or newly hatched minnows. The fish will be aggressive when on the beds, but not for food – mainly for protection of their spawn!

Summertime calls for an avid fisherman to dig deep into his arsenal – and his soul – to figure out the weather conditions and feeding patterns of the elusive bass. Normally as the weather warms, so too will the water temperature. This means that the fish are going to move deeper into the water and stage except during morning and evening feeding times. Deep water lures, in particular plastic worms and deep water crank baits, will be the lure of choice during this time. Watch the fish finder, and be patient, the fish will either move eventually or you will annoy them to the point of biting out of aggravation!

Fall is such a beautiful time in the Midwest United States. The heat of summer is starting to fade out, and activity on all levels is starting to increase. For the bass it means prep time for winter sluggishness, and feeding becomes a little more frenzied – if you know where and when to look! Watch the weather channel. Ahead of the fronts at this time are usually thunderstorms or heavy rain showers. During these warmer rains the fishing can be incredibly good, and top water in particular, should catch fish like a charm. Spinnerbaits and shallow diving crank baits will be your favorite friends. Once the front passes, though, the fishing can get pretty tough, due to the activity that preceded it. It calls for a lot of determination and knowledge of the particular lake in order to have a successful fishing day. Find the fish and establish what pattern they are on. Then throw to this weakness!

Having fished all the seasons in the Midwest, you will now be ready to fish anywhere with success. In a lot of other areas of the world there is not as varied a climate change during the seasons, and the fish are a little easier to pattern since there are less seasonal changes. No matter where you fish it is always a good idea to at least read lake and fishing reports that are current for the area you would like to fish. Every lake, every stream, every ocean has its own patterns, and the fish that live there have their own way of living, so what applies for one does not necessarily apply to another. Practice and knowledge are the two most important qualities to have when Midwest bass fishing!

Jigs are one of the oldest artificial baits used in angling. The earliest examples used a weighted hooks with animal hairs or bird feathers tied to them. The jigs used today are still just that simple, but come in a wide variety of styles. By adding an assortment of jigs to your tackle box will make you a much more versatile and consistently productive bass angler.

Jigs can be broken down into two general categories; those that are designed for light-line use, for smallmouth and finesse largemouth bass fishing; and those designed for the heavier line and largemouth bass in and around cover.

The light-line jigs are a lot less bulky than their larger cousins. The hooks are also a lot smaller. Relatively snag-free conditions are fished with these jigs, allowing the use of spinning outfits with 6 to 10 pound (2.7 to 4.5 kg) lines.

Jig heads come in a large number of varieties, but a few basic styles are all you really need to get yourself started. The standard ball-head is a great choice to begin with. However, the banana shaped head will snag a lot less vegetation in the weedy situations you get into. Other styles, like the arrowheads, can be used in both situations. Add to them a new array of sliders, rockers and wobblers are used mainly by walleye anglers, but horizontally flattened sliders are useful for fishing over and around shallow bass cover.

One of the oldest jig dressings is buck tail. When worked properly, the deer hairs pulsate as the jig is pumped through the water to resemble a darting minnow or baitfish. There is no built in action to jigs. The plastic rails are the easiest jigs to use. Their actions attract bass and can be worked effectively even by the novice angler. Twister tails, shad tails, twin tails and a host of other shapes and actions are also available. Stick to these two common types and you will no trouble attracting those lunker bass.

One light style is the tube jig, its a split-skirted plastic sheath that covers the jig head. You can use standard heads with them, but the newer elongated styles, developed for tubes specifically are of course best. When using a tube you can also use fish scents to help attract more bass. Heres a great bass fishing tip, put a few small chunks of alkaseltser in your tubes the bubbles created will drive the bass crazy. The bubbles will also attract bass from a longer distance.

Be sure to use light jigs for largemouth and smallmouth bass in open-water situations. When you are fishing in heavy cover, switch to bulkier flipping jigs with weed guards to help keep them from fouling or snagging. These baits usually have rubber or plastic skirts and large hooks. They work great with a pork rind, plastic or one of the newer trailers. They also add bulk and action and help slow down the jigs fall to better imitate a crayfish or other creature. Use flipping jigs when fishing short-range targets, such as docks, submerged stumps, or holes in heavy vegetations and weedbeds. To pull large bass out of this heavy stuff, use strong baitcasting equipment.

Jigs come in an assortment of colours. Try to match the forage of the water body you are fishing. Blacks, browns, and orange are the standard. When they fail to fool the bass, experiment with the brighter colours, such as yellow, chartreuse, orange, red, or blue. For clear-water smallmouth bass the smoke bodies are effective. Just experiment and get out there and go fishing.

Sport fishers enjoy bass fishing tremendously especially if they succeed in catching their prey, and can prove very rewarding, whatever size or specie it may be. In order to achieve success in catching fish, it is necessary to study some tips.

Ranging from how to classify the fish down to the techniques in securing hold on the bait, many fishermen have their own advice and tips that are useful to both the novice and pro alike. Bass fishing tips are given with the purpose of helping the angler catch fish.

The first and most important tip is to become familiar with the fish you are going to catch. It is important for sport fishers to have an idea of their nature as well as their breeding activities. By researching thoroughly on their biological history, appearance, and their strengths and weaknesses, this will help you in order to catch them.

Take for example the regular black bass. It is wise to determine what their scientific names are and relate them to other fish. Maybe you will find that its characteristics maybe similar to that of a largemouth bass. By doing so, you can plan with similar details on catching the black bass just like of the largemouth bass. By tweaking your techniques accordingly, you will be able to be ready for catching both types. It’s best practice to be prepared for changes in circumstances.

Next is your preferred destination. Consider destinations suitable to your preferences. If you are passionately devoted in the study of certain specie of bass fish, for example, a peacock bass, then the Amazon River or any river tributaries that nestles in the jungle of the South American continent is the best place for you.

If you are in pursuit of a largemouth bass, then the waters of the North American continent is best suited for your purpose. Be familiar with the terrain, if you have to, trail several kilometres before you reach the river you want to catch fish. Just as much as researching into the fish itself, it is important to find out as much as possible about the surroundings and characteristics of the landscape, and prime positions for catching fish.

Season is also an important tip to consider. In knowing, what your prey’s characteristics are and becoming familiar of the terrain of your selected place, you can now associate them with the season. What are the different seasons over thereall Do fish come out in this particular kind of season? Knowing this before setting out can really save you time, and bring in a lot more fish. After all, you could be waiting patiently, and the fish aren’t even due to come out!

For example, summer is one of the seasons most sport fishers look forward to. Summer is when the bass’ biological systems functions more effectively. Also, their system is accustomed in growing themselves rapidly at water temperatures that range from seventy up to eighty degrees Fahrenheit. Other than that, their prey such as small school of fishes, crayfishes, and waterweeds grow rapidly during summer and provides them enough food that result in duplicating rapidly other than any season in a year.

After careful consideration on what season to do your bass fishing, it is time to think about the fishing arsenals to use. Try to know and master the function it offers, and maximize the use of the fishing gears. Do not ever forget the basics of each gear and familiarize yourself with the latest trends.

Here are some of the basics of spinner baits, a kind of lure in catching fish. It is one of the most versatile bait because it can be placed in any cover without hassle. Each combination of the colors, blades, and its style will help you lure the fish you want to catch. Spinner baits will be of help if you know the basics of handling and manoeuvring it. Let your bait be more of an asset and not of a liability to you.

The method of catching your prey will be the most important tip you should not forget. How can I maximize the use of my bait? How can I properly handle the fish once it strikes my bait? Peacock bass, for instance, have enormous power within and can throw you out of your fishing vessel if not handled properly.

The best thing to do is to keep your feet planted on the floor of your boat and once the peacock bass strikes your bait, manoeuvre your rod towards you and not away from you.

Now, are you ready to lure your prey?