Patterns Throughout the Day

As I fish more and more for bass I am also reading continuously to learn and make myself a better angler. Here are some bass basics I read in an article by Charles Stuart in bassresource.com. This information seems very useful especially for lakes around here. I have noticed that at certain periods throughout the day cetain presentations cease to work and other presentations start working better. This article really cleared that up. I would like to add that I also like to use a shallow crankbait for a morning bite as well. Here is a section from the article Bass Basics.

Morning

Buzzbaits and spinnerbaits can be excellent. Fish them on top or just below the surface. Your retrieve should be reasonably fast. Look for the fish to swirl beside the bait. If this happens but you do not catch a fish, a plastic worm will often do the job when cast to the same location. See below for the worm techniques.

Midday

Bass move to cover during the day. Fish "jig-n-pig" rigs close to the shoreline under fallen trees and bushes as these are "ambush points" for bass and you can capture larger fish. Fish this method very slowly along the bottom of the lake or river. Watch the line for movement or "twitching" and always set the hook hard. Crankbaits and spinnerbaits will attract bass from deep water. If you want to fish deep, reduce the line strength to perhaps 10-pound test and use a crankbait with a deep angled lip. Lipless crankbaits work well bounced off the bottom of the lake with an erratic retrieve. Plastic imitations of various shapes, styles, lengths and colors will also work fished with or without weights.

Afternoon

Plastic worms, crawfish, lizards, frogs, fish and grubs will all catch fish. Tube jigs and other plastic "shapes" which bear no resemblance to any living creature will catch bass on any given day. Do not be afraid to ask other fishermen what color is working that day. Your tackle dealer will also be able to tell you what is working in the area. Imitations such as soft plastics should be fished slowly. A good idea when trying a new lure is to drop it close to the shoreline and watch it move as you retrieve your line. The key to plastics is to make the imitation look as much like the real thing as possible. Watch closely and then imagine what you bait is doing when you cast out into the lake or river on your retrieve. You can also return to the morning methods shown above as the light begins to fade. This is when bass move back to shallow water and ambush points, such as downed trees, large rocks and lily pads to feed.