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Fishing Tip: Last Chance To Catch Big Bass Before It Gets Cold
Bassin' With Bill Dance: Fishing Mainlake Points
What's Hot In Fishing Equipment: Okuma Low Profile Baitcaster
eBassin.com Tackle Shop
Fishing Times
Crappie Tip: Use Slip-Corks In Tough Conditions
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Last Chance To Catch Big Bass Before It Gets Cold
I cast the diving crankbait into the rocks at the shore, knowing full well the lure was a deep runner and that this water was only a foot or two deep. The largemouth were stacked up like cordwood, apparently feeding on crayfish that had moved into the shallows during fall. Either that or the bass were trying to stock up on groceries before the coming winter. In either case, it was a fishing bonanza. In cast after cast, my buddy and I were able to put the lures where they would dive and scrape along the bottom, often running sideways as the bill scraped the rock ledges before a bass hit on every few casts. It was the kind of day you dream of.
My buddy was already into a fish when I hooked one, a 3-pounder that gobbled up the diving plug. It turned out to be a bookend for my buddy’s fish. Both were soon released as we continued to cast and catch.
To read the entire tip on "Last Chance To Catch Big Bass Before It Gets Cold" click this link, courtesy of ebassin.com
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Fishing Mainlake Points |
If you asked me to pick a spot that offers you the best chance of catching a few bass, I’d point to the nearest mainlake point. But, for a point to produce, it must have immediate access to deeper water so bass will have an escape route in case of danger.
When fishing a main-lake point, don’t just work the shoreline. It may feel odd, but move the boat out away from the shore. Structure fishing is the modern bass angler’s cornerstone of success. With the ability to locate offshore structure comes a better knowledge of the black bass. To find fish on big water, you have to know where the bass are most likely to be. And, a point is an excellent place to start. Not every point will produce, but sticking to a mainlake-point pattern, the odds are heavily swayed in your favor.
The shape of a point can be determined by studying the terrain above the water. Steep hillsides and bluffs often indicate fast-falling points. Flatter shorelines usually indicate long and gently sloping points.
Which type is best? If I was limited to one type of underwater terrain, I’d pick a mainlake point located close to a submerged creek or river channel. I call these “channel points.”
Let’s assume you locate bass on the end of a point at daybreak. It’s a great start and you pick up a few bass. The next morning you rush back to the hotspot. You use the same lure and technique, but now you couldn’t catch a cold in wintertime!
Analyze the situation. Start with two possibilities; the fish moved, or they simply aren’t feeding. These thoughts may pacify the mind, but they are not going to catch fish.
The fish may not want the lure you used the day before, so try a variety of colors and sizes. Same with the retrieve, so try different techniques. Yesterday they wanted the lure fished slowly, but today they might want a quick retrieve. Maybe they want a rippin’ retrieve. Maybe they’re a little deeper than yesterday. Test for that, too.
After you’ve experimented and still can’t buy a bite, assume that the fish moved. Now, consult a topo map, and look for another location with similar features. If this doesn’t work, check the creek bend closest to the point.
The good thing about a topo map is that it shows you exactly where the channel runs, as well as the location of the best channel points.
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Okuma VS Low Profile Reel
With nine high-performance bearings, the Okuma VS Low Profile baitcasting reel is a technologically advanced baitcaster that is super smooth on the water. Machine-cut brass gears, a centrifugal braking system, a titanium-coated line-guide insert and a multi-disk drag system provide anglers with all the confidence they need to haul in that fish of a lifetime. The reel’s quick-release side plate also allows for easy spool access. The VS sports a one-piece aluminum frame and comes standard with both a large-arbor wiffle spool for ultimate casting performance and a traditional standard arbor spool for all-around fishing applications. For more information, contact Okuma, 1-800-466-5862; www.okumafishing.com.
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Use Slip-Corks In Tough Conditions
Expert crappie anglers incorporate many different styles of fishing during winter. One technique that lets you fish away from the boat, get the bait to any water depth and present it slowly is a slip-cork rig.
A slip-cork (also called a slip-float) is a simple float with a hole through it. The rig consist of a bobber stop, slip-cork, sinker and hook or jig.
Set the desired depth by placing the bobber stop at that depth on the line. Reel the line and stop into your reel. The rig will cast a long distance because all the components are near the sinker. When it hits the water, the sinker pulls the line through the cork until it gets to the bobber stop.
To learn more about how to catching America's favorite panfish, CLICK HERE and order your subscription to CRAPPIE Magazine today. |
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