As anglers one of the biggest, if to the biggest thing to understand is why fish bite. In this article, I’m going to explore some of the reasons why fish bite and provide fishing tips that you can use to your advantage to become a more successful angler. Understanding the reasons why fish bite or don’t bite is of the utmost importance to any angler worth his or her salt.
Although there are many, many reason why fish bite, for this article I’m going to focus on the 3 main reasons that have enabled me to catch more fish on a regular basis. More than twenty years ago I had the pleasure of knowing and learning from an incredible angler that taught me these three tips about why fish bite, and I’ve been using them to my advantage ever since. Now you can do the same. Let’s get down to the business of ‘why fish bite’, shall we?
The Diameter Of Your Line – Many anglers overlook the importance of the diameter of their fishing line. If fish can see your fishing line they are much less apt to bite, it’s as simple as that. This is especially true when fishing in clear water for fish such as trout or smallmouth bass. Many anglers use fishing line that’s entirely too heavy for the fish they’re attempting to catch. Use line that’s as light as you can get away with. You will get many more bites, the lighter your fishing line is. For example, I use four pound test for all of my river and stream trout fishing, and I regularly land fish in the nineteen to twenty two inch range. The diameter of your line matters! The Weather – The weather plays a huge role in the behavior of fish, and thus why they bite. If you want to get more bites when fishing, spend a little time learning the ways in which the weather impacts fishing and you will get more bites. A great fishing tip is to be fishing when certain fronts move through your fishing area, and conversely you might as well not bother when other frontal systems make their way through your fishing area. The weather is a big reason why fish bite. The Moon – Of the three reasons why fish bite listed in this article, the moon is probably the most important. When it comes to fishing tips, the moon is kind of like the Holy Grail. Understanding how the moon impacts the behavior of fish is amazingly important. You will get more bites simply by being on the water when the moon is in certain phases, such as when it’s a new moon. Believe it or not the moon plays a huge role in your fishing success or failure. Start using the moon to your advantage sooner, rather than later and you will begin catching many more fish.
These simple, yet amazingly effective fishing tips are the three biggest factors as to why fish bite. What, you think I’m crazy? Just test them and find out for yourself. Believe me, you’ll be glad you did. Many times the most effective things in fishing are the most simple, there’s no doubt about it.
By: Trevor Kugler
Posts Tagged ‘Fishing Tip’
Fishing Tips – Why Fish Bite
March 16th, 2010Top Bass Fishing Tips – Part Three – Bass Fishing From Shore
December 30th, 2009
Welcome to the third article in the series Top Bass Fishing Tips. In today’s article we are going to look at bass fishing from shore. Before we do again if you have missed any of the previous articles in the series, do a quick search and I’m sure you find them as the goal behind this series is to you with top bass fishing tips so that you can catch more bass.
Bass fishing from shore is not a new concept. In fact I think for most of my life I would consider myself a shore fisherman. Bass fishing from shore is a great opportunity for a lot of learning and experience in learning how to catch more bass.
The key to shore fishing is, knowing where to be at the right time. Smallmouths are great for catching from shore as often their haunts will only be casts length from the shoreline. The trick in getting the key right with shore fishing is understanding structure. If you were fishing from shore in the middle of summer in a spot devoid of weeds the I could safely say that you’re wasting your time trying to catch more bass that way. Now if that same shoreline was full of weeds and stumps, then I would be all over it big time. Also what is the bank structure? Does it taper off gradually; does it have a fast slop into deeper water? These are the kinds of questions you need to ask yourself as a shore fisherman before setting that pole in the water.
Also another great bass fishing tip from shore is for dock and pier fisherman. Bait and food tend to gather on the windward side of a pier or dock. This is the area where the wind is blowing and bringing in the food and baitfish. Fishing on the other side of the dock or pier might bring fish, but you’ll more luck fishing on the side where the wind is blowing in. Find the food and baitfish, and you can find Bass.
The next top bass fishing tips is in learning when to fish. Ask any great shore fisherman and he’ll tell you evenings and early mornings are the best time for success. The reason being, these low light conditions help to conceal the bass, making him feel less vulnerable plus it also gives a bass an advantage for his own ambushes on his food source. During the middle of the day is when most fish bass included hold even tighter to structure, and unless that structure is within casting range from shore, you can sure bet the bass have moved to deeper haunts till the evening comes.
There you have it a couple quick bass fishing tips, that are sure to help the shore fisherman. Tomorrow we will continue in our series of top bass fishing tips and I hope you continue to follow along in this series.
By: David Pentoch
Top Bass Fishing Tips – Part Two – Where Are the Bass?
December 3rd, 2009
Welcome to Part Two of the series Top Bass Fishing Tips. If you missed any of the other articles in the series then just do a quick search for top bass fishing tips and you should be able to find the other articles. The goal of this series is to provide you with top bass fishing techniques to help you catch more bass. In today’s article we will look at answering the crucial question where are the bass?
A lot of considerations come into play when we consider how to locate bass. The body of water we are fishing, weather conditions, structure and other elements but let’s try and put these together to round out this bass fishing tip. So to try and help do that first I want to discuss water.
Water us made up of 3 strata. There is a top strata, a middle strata and a bottom strata. During the course of the year water tends to form into these 3 distinct layers, and easy to help you identify with this is concept is, have you ever gone swimming while you were up at the cottage or camping? I’m sure you have, right and as you were swimming you noticed that in the summer swimming along the top can be quite comfortable but dive down a few feet and you instantly notice a drop a in temperature. Now I’m not suggesting the middle layer is just a few feet beneath the surface, but it’s just an example to help identify the concept of water strata. These strata play an important role in a fish’s life. This is applicable to all fish species and not just for bass fishing. Without getting into a huge discussion about water strata, for now for this bass fishing tips I just wanted to get you used to the concept.
Things to consider when thinking about water strata and how we can use that in our bass fishing technique. Let’s break it down.
Top Water Strata. This is a section of water that generally for the most part if the year is warmer then the other 2 layers. Although it is important to note that this layer also drops to the bottom during fall weather and is the first layer to become available in the spring on the surface. Ok to catch more bass in the top water strata consider proper bass fishing lure choice. For instance, top water or “floating” lures with splashing and darting actions can help trigger active fish in this zone of warmer water. Remember this zone becomes very active in the spring as the water stratifies and by summer becomes distinct. Also weather patterns and time of the day help to dictate when active bass may move into this layer of water.
Middle Strata of Water. Is often a transitional section of water that determines how the water will circulate during the yearly seasons and also acts as the definitive barrier of range of water temperatures that separate the top water from the bottom. Tacking advantage of these bass fishing tips for this section of water takes some consideration. Bass will usually hold in this water as a transition. Sometimes moving off to drop offs sections and holding in this strata yet still having access to the active top water. Finding choice bass locations that contain this middle strata along close access to top water habitat can make for some of the best bass fishing. Bass fishing lure choices here range from swimming action baits, rattle baits, shad rap style lures and other medium diving plugs.
Bottom Water Strata. This section of water is generally the coldest in terms of water temperature within a lake. This section of water also rotates to become the top water strata during certain times of the year so be aware of that and be ready to adapt to this to catch more bass. But to make bass fishing tips easier to understand let’s stick with a summer scenario when this is the bottom strata. Bass fishing in this strata takes special considerations. Bass generally drop down here during certain weather patterns, when bass are spooked or go in-active. It is still possible to catch more bass here you just have to adapt. Bass fishing lure choices for this water layer are, worm rigs, flipping jigs, deep diving crankbaits and so on. Often the presentation method is slow and methodical to entice the bass to bite.
There you have it a couple quick bass fishing tips, that discuss water conditions how water stratifies and how that can determine our bass fishing technique and bass fishing lure choices. Tomorrow will continue in our series of top bass fishing tips and hope to see you there.
By: David Pentoch
