Bass fishing is a really popular sport that can be enjoyed by anyone with the knowledge of a few Bass fishing basics. All species of Bass are some of the most sought after fish, as they are great fun to catch, and offer some of the best sport, both from the shore and from a boat.
One of the first Bass fishing basics to learn will obviously be the bait. This can be live bait such as peeler or soft back crabs, these are really fine baits for Bass. A crab is a peeler when it is in the process of losing its old shell, (to test if a crab is a peeler, try lifting the rear end of its shell; it should come away easily). A crab is a soft back when it has already discarded its old shell but before its new shell has hardened.
Other good Bass fishing baits include sand-eels, lugworm, and rag worm. Sand-eels can be collected from wet sand where they lie buried on a receding tide. They can be used as a dead bait but are more effective as live bait. Both lugworm and rag worm can be dug at low tide and will keep for a couple of days wrapped in damp newspaper. You could also try what is called a bait cocktail, which consists of both crab and worm on the same hook.
Other popular baits are artificial lures, and these should be part of any Bass fishing basics kit. There are so many of these artificial baits available that you could spend a fortune on them. My best advice would be to take a trip to your local tackle store, and ask for the most popular types for your local area. Start off simple with just a handful, which should include a couple of (top water baits) a couple of (spinner baits) and a couple of (plastic or rubber lures). As with the live baits these should all be retrieved slowly when fishing for Bass.
The next of the Bass fishing basics is the cast. If fishing from the shore you should try to cover as big an area as possible. To do this you should cast in a fan shape, start with a cast to the left of where you are standing and retrieve your bait, slowly pausing every ten to fifteen feet. On your next cast aim slightly to the right of the last cast and repeat this process until you have covered a fan shaped area. Try this a couple of times and if you have no luck simply walk twenty or thirty yards down the shore and start again.
Night fishing for Bass can be very productive, some of my best Bass fishing has been at night. For this you will need a lure that makes a lot of noise in the water when being retrieved. There are some excellent lures available for this (again ask at your local tackle store) and the Bass will find them irresistible. These are just a few of the Bass fishing basics, you will pick up more as you go along, but the best advice I can give is to get out there and have a go, I guarantee you will soon be hooked.
By: Mike Legg
Posts Tagged ‘Low Tide’
Bass Fishing Basics – Best Baits For Bass Fishing
March 13th, 2010Surf Fishing Techniques and Tips to Enjoy the Sport
December 4th, 2009
Surf fishing is a great and less expensive way of enjoying fishing. Of course, you don’t need to have a boat to enjoy this sport but enjoy its pleasures right at the shore. It does not require too much equipment as well.
Surf fishing is a good sport that you can enjoy at the beach or at the shoreline together with your buddies. All you need is your fishing gear, your baits and lures and off you go to a great day of catching fishes on the shoreline. However, this sport may not be as easy as it appears. One of the important surf fishing techniques you need to learn to enjoy the sport is to find the right spot for your surf fishing.
Of course, fishing requires patience but not being on right spot can result to disappointment and may make your adventure less exciting. Of course, you don’t have to stick to one spot if you are unlucky. Among the important tips your should learn in this sport is finding the right spot. If you are new to the place, you can always observe what part of the shoreline locals go to catch fish.
If you frequent the area but have only decided to go fishing the next time, observe it during low tide. Find the structures, troughs, hollows, sandbanks and rocks on the shoreline and visit them the next time you are ready when the tide is high. To help you spot the best areas to do surf fishing, go for eddies and those points and bays.
To avoid damage to your fishing reel when doing this sport, you can make a sand spikes, or surf rod holders to protect your fishing reel by not putting it down on the sand.
Choosing your bait is also another important consideration in surf fishing and in any types of fishing. One of the surf fishing techniques that you will never go wrong in terms of choosing your bait is to choose that which is available locally. Depending on the species of fish available in the place, or on the fish you plan to catch, you can also bring in some baits and study which is fit for what fish.
Although baits can be locally available, don’t forget to bring your artificial lures. At times, they can be more effective than the real ones. Keep in mind to bring in the right tackle. Fishing rods used in this sport are often longer than the usual. For bait type, rods are those usually measuring 81/2 feet to 12 feet long. These long rods are designed for large fishes in the surf as well as allowing you to cast a little farther from the beach.
Bring your nail clipper. One good tip to cut your fish line effectively is with the use of your nail clipper, so don’t forget your toenail clipper the next time you go out to enjoy this sport.
Of course, surf fishing does not only require you to learn the best spots to go and find the most fish, but it also needs the right timing when it comes to the time of day. Fishing two hours before or two hours after the high tide is said to be the best time to do your this activity and enjoy a good catch.
Learning some surf fishing techniques and tips can indeed make your adventure more exciting and less disappointing, and it can indeed help you appreciate the sport more.
By: Carolyn Anderson
Surf Fishing Basics – Learning the Surf Fishing Sport
December 1st, 2009
Surf fishing is an exciting sport you can engage in especially if you love beach and water adventures or fishing in general. What is good about this sport is that you don’t need a boat or a very expensive yacht to enjoy fishing. You can actually grab your fishing rod and bucket and go out to the shore to enjoy a great day of fishing. Here are some surf fishing basics you have to learn to enjoy this great sport.
Surf fishing is done in the shoreline and you can simply stand on the waters and enjoy fishing with your buddies. The challenge of this sport is finding the right spot to get the best fishes you can.
The best areas on the beach that you would most likely have a good catch with this sport are those areas with eddies formed from rock jetties. Another good spot to find good surf fishes are points and bays where the water creates currents as it goes back to the sea. Some may use beach buggies to find good areas in the beach to surf fish but if these vehicles are not allowed, you can also survey the area during low tide, take note of structures and rocks on the beach and mark that spot for your fishing during high tide.
One of the surf fishing basics to keep in mind if you are not yet an expert on determining the best spot to do fishing is to watch the locals and observe where they fish. In whatever way you want to find the best spot to surf fish, it is always important to be safe always. Rocks and waves can be dangerous so be sure you are always safe, you have your protective gear for animal stings and bites, but don’t risk climbing dangerous rocks just to be at the right spot.
Before you get into some real fishing adventure, one of the surf fishing basics you have to keep in mind is to secure a license to fish in the said area to avoid penalties later on.
Of course, one of the surf fishing basics is to be prepared with your equipment. Bring the right tackle and use baits that you can locally find. These will depend on the species of fish you are after. If you are not sure which type of rod or which type of gear is best for you and in the place you want to surf fish and the species of fish you intend to catch, you can always consult an expert before buying one. When it comes to baits, you can be safe if you use baits locally found, although you have to know what is best for the type of fish you are targeting to catch. Artificial lures will also work especially if you are dealing with a school of fish.
The sport of surf fishing usually requires patience, but once you get a good catch, you will eventually feel the excitement of this sport and adventure. If you have mastered the skill of spotting the right area for this sport, you will eventually find it a great sport and a great adventure as well.
By: Carolyn Anderson
