Bass are known for hiding under cover and waiting for their prey to come close enough to seize which can make luring them onto a hook difficult. With a bit of practice, however, and the right technique, coaxing a bass out of hiding can be made much easier. Some of the most popular techniques for luring bass out of the water and onto your dinner plate are trolling, surfcasting, fly fishing, baitcasting and spinning.
Trolling is one of the most widely used forms when fishing for Striped bass, Smallmouth bass and Largemouth bass and can be done from behind a moving boat as well as from a stationary position in the water. When trolling, a fisher casts his line and allows it to skim across the top of the water in an attempt to gain the attention of the bass. When on a boat, more than one bass fishing pole can be used and the depth of the line can be adjusted simply by either speeding up or slowing down the speed of the boat. When trolling for bass without the use of a boat, the fisherman needs only to cast and slowly reel his line in while sweeping it from side to side. After reeling your line all the way in simply cast it again and repeat the process until you snag a bass. Trolling for bass is popular among both beginning bass fishers as well as more advanced bass fishermen and requires the use of a strong and heavy line and good bait and lures such as silver plated spoons, bucktail jigs and plastic trailers.
Striped bass are often found near shallow bays and along beaches and shorelines, which makes surfcasting an effective way to catch them. Surfcasting, which is often referred to as surf fishing, is the sport of wading in the surf or standing on the shoreline and casting your bait or lure as far out as possible then reeling it in and casting again. Many fishermen who don’t have access to a boat or simply prefer to stay on shore enjoy surfcasting. Like trolling, surfcasting involves the use of heavy duty equipment as surfcasting fishermen often face high winds and heavy surfs, not to mention the struggle the Striped bass will put up once it is hooked.
Like surfcasting, fly fishing is also done when wading in the water and is a popular technique used to catch both Smallmouth and Largemouth bass. Unlike fishing poles used for trolling and surfcasting, fly fishing poles are longer and more flexible and have a streamer or artificial fly at the end. When choosing a fly fishing pole, it’s important to choose an action that is right for the type of fish you plan to catch. A fast action fly fishing rod will allow you to make and throw tighter loops which will allow you to cast further whereas slow and medium action rods will keep your cast at a shorter distance. Smallmouth bass prefer streamers that resemble crayfish and other small baitfish whereas Largemouth bass are attracted to bigger and heavier flies and bugs.
Two of the most popular reels used by fishers for bass fishing are baitcasting reels and spinner reels. Baitcasting reels can be more difficult for beginners but are more commonly used for bass fishing than spinner reels. When baitcasting your thumb is used to ride along the spool of line and help control it. By keeping your thumb set loosely against the spool, the line has more movement and can be cast further. Once you press your thumb to the spool the line will stop moving and your cast is complete. Spinning reels work by having a stationary spool that is controlled by a metal arm. Before casting the metal arm is disengaged so that it won’t interfere and once cast the metal arm catches the line and helps wind it back onto the spool when the handle is turned. Like other forms of bass fishing, both baitcasting and spinning require the use of proper bait and lures to help entice the bass to latch on as well as a heavy line to help support the weight of the bass as you reel it in.
No matter which method of bass fishing you prefer to use when out on the water, LoveBassFishing has a large selection of quality bass fishing gear and accessories to help you get the most out of your fishing expedition. From quality bass fishing rods and reels to lines, lures and bait, LoveBassFishing has all of the bass fishing equipment you need to help catch the bass of your dreams.