Chris Bell asked:


   Striped Bass, also called stripers, rockfish or linesiders. There is an attraction about stripers that makes everyone want to catch them, No matter where you may fish in the Ocean State.  They are a beautiful fish, as anyone who has seen with the sun shining off the silvery sides will agree. Catching them can be a different story, though. There are a lot of bottom fishermen who may switch to bass fishing in 2009 due to the regulations that could be applied to flounder, scup, and other species as a result of the activities of environmentalist groups. Fishing for bass can be quite different compared to bottom fishing.  Stripers are aggressive feeders at some times of the day especially when large amounts of bait are around. This is often easy to spot, as bait will be jumping or the bass will be splashing as they feed. Its a matter of Approaching carefully and stopping before you get close, then casting a lure in among them. Don’t going right into or through the area of feeding fish, this is the best way to put an end to the fishing and infuriate veryone around you.  In this situation a top water plug or soft plastic matching the bait is a good choice. Cast and as soon as you hit the water, close up and begin a retrieve. Don’t move it fast unless it’s bluefish.

   Early morning is a very good time for bass, they will feed in the shallows adjacent to some kind of structure such as rocks, drop offs, and humps.  There also needs to be a current to sweep helpless bait past them. During this time top water plugs will be productive in the low light conditions.  If it is overcast or foggy, so much the better as the low light is excellent for bass fishing. The plugs should be poppers, surface swimmers, or walkers in white. Work them as if they are injured, stopping them on at times during the retrieve. It’s so cool when the fish smashes that surface plug, splashing, rolling, then running like hell. The best way to catch bass.

   Once the sun is up pretty good, the top water plugs stop producing.  Then it is time to switch to soft plastics, moving into an area of structure in deeper water. Current is still important, the stripers depend on it to sweep bait past them.  When the tide is weak or slack you can normally expect the bass won’t be aggressive, you need to bang them on the snout to get a strike. While drifting and using soft plastics, you must first move up drift from the structure and position the boat to drift over the top, then turn the motor off.  Depth is the next issue’ figure out what level the fish are holding in. When working in 30 feet of water, cast then leave the bail open and count to 15 (one thousand one to one thousand fifteen), then close and start a jigging retrieve.  It is necessary to vary the retrieve, slow, fast, jigging and reeling, to find what the fish want. If you feel a hit and get no hook up, work the lure slowly with short jigs to imitate an injured fish. This will usually cause follow-up strikes. The instinct is to pull back and reel fast, but this only works with bluefish, if it’s bass they likely won’t chase it. Another possibility is that a bluefish may bite part of the plastic off and when you simulate an injured fish, a bass will hit it. This is due to the fact that bass love to hang below the bluefish for the scraps, since bluefish are messy eaters, chopping up a meal and not finishing it off, allowing pieces to fall down to the bottom.

   Which soft plastic to use?  Match the hatch, as they say. Use something similar to what they are eating. pay attention to what they barf up when you bring them in the boat.  Look at the bait in the water if you can see it.   For sand eels, use sluggos, or fin-s on a jighead. If they are feeding on bunker, use a 4″, 5″ or 6″ shad swim bait in bunker color. If they are feeding on herring, use a 6″ Storm swim shad in pearl.

   Trolling is different technique used to fish for stripers. It seems easy so most everyone does it.  However, there is considerable skill and knowledge needed for consistent success.  It is important to know what to do if your not catching.  Most trolling is done with wireline, downriggers, or weighted rigs.  This because bass go into deeper water once the sun is up, and you have to present your bait near them if you want a strike.  There is an area along RI’s southern shore that has boulders around 28 feet down.  We use wirelne rods spooled with 200 feet of wire. This will get a lure down just below 20 feet, which is close enough to be in the strike zone, considering how the boulders stick up.  Umbrellas, tube and worm rigs, or parachute jigs are used.  However, trolling is the last method we will use only when other fishing methods fail to catch fish that we know are down there.  It can be very productive. Speed can be from 2-6 knots, we vary it throughout the time we troll. Often we get hits right after a speed change. If it doesn’t work, speed is wrong, rig is at the wrong depth, Use a different rig, or the fish are gone.  First conclusion should be you’re doing something wrong.  However, if you go a half hour without a fish, its time to do something different.

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Today, bass fishing as a sport has gained a lot of popularity everywhere due to the importance that has been given to it by the people. People find pleasure and fun fishing for bass. Americans are the top bass fishers all over the world.

Bass Fishing is not only popular among men, but also among women of all age categories. Its popularity is such that several TV programmers in the US have take up Bass Fishing as their topic. Bass fishing, to learn, is very enjoyable and a guide can help one to learn the sport and catch fish. Observing the guide, one can come up with different tactics too. It is only the interest that keeps the bass fishing skill alive

Many don’t consider bass fish s edible and thus they enjoy this as a sport. For others, the bass fishing sport has been developed online which can either be downloaded or bought, but, truly, bass fishing is to be felt, not played.

A couple of these games which can be purchased online are:

1. Tournament Edition of Bass Masters Classic:

The classic game can be accessed by those within the age group 6 or above. This has a 3-D creation, 4 lakes of the United States and also a lake for practice of anglers, various playing modes, optional levels of difficulty and also a guide. The cost lies between $7.95 and $8.

2. SEGA Bass Fishing:

These are available for age groups ranging between 6 and above, and are suited for Windows 95 and 98.

These are some that can be downloaded free of cost from the net:

1. Pro Bass Fishing:

Rippling water, splashing fish, dancing water bugs ,jumping frogs ,bouncing rod tips, the toughest and biggest bass fish ever and several other options are some features of this game.

2. Super Bass Fishing Screensaver 2.1:

A display of 40 lanker magnificent pictures of bass fishing, some lanker bass strikers, close ups and scenic settings are some this game’s attraction. Moreover, these have colors of high order and they use great graphics,

3. Bass Fishing Scenes 2.0

This game displays pictures of beautiful fishing places, great strikes and lanker bass and attractive images meant for freshwater fishermen.

4. Fishing Calendar 1.42

Version 1.42 of the game is formatted as a calendar with columns, on which the best days to fish in a month and the best time for fishing are marked, which is a great source of information to the players.

5. Ugly Bass Utilities

This game provides the players a view of topographic or user maps and these are used on certain longitudes and latitudes. Moreover several landmarks can be marked using symbols and details can be stored on every location.

While some of these applications are shareware i.e., they are trial packs and can be used only for limited time and thus it is better to play these games online to the fullest.

Though the bass fishing games are exciting and challenging when played as a tournament, there are several plugs about this .Some people do bass fishing for various reasons but many others play the game for pleasure as mentioned above. So, those who have not played the game yet, should really give it a try as it’s an experience that is definitely not to be missed.

Holly Stevens asked:


One of the best bass fishing techniques would have to be splitshotting. This can make all the difference between a successful days fishing or sitting twiddling your thumbs all day.

Without doubt you should take the time to practice this bass fishing technique and not only will it make your a better bass fisher but it will give you more enjoyment when your out fishing during the cold winter months.

If you desire to master bass fishing then this is a technique that you must learn.

If you do decide to put the effort in you will learn very quickly how to master the art of the fall and winter bass fishing. By taking the time to learn techniques you will be rewarded with exceptional smallmouth bass.

A fact that you must remember is that it takes a smallmouth bass about eight to ten years to gain a weight in excess of five lbs. To make sure you preserve the smallmouth bass you should always practice responsible catch and released techniques.

The cold weather will always put bass fish into their winter patterns. You will need to forget all about spinner baits, rips baits and crank baits. The time will have come to break out all the finesse gear. And as mentioned earlier, one of the most successful bass fishing techniques to get the bass to bite during the colder months is splitshotting.

It is quite a simple technique to master and will not require you to invest much in termainal tackle.

One of the hardest things to teach an angle in learning the splitshot bass fishing technique is being able to teach them how to detect the bite. The bite will always vary depending on the activity level of the fish.

Sometimes the bass fish will pop the bait hard and it will be easy to tell when they bite but then on other occasions there will quick tick and then nothing after that.

And last but not least there is the pressure bite which is dreaded by many fishermen.

The pressure generally takes 2 forms

The first way to describe a pressure bite is you will feel a slight resistance to pulling your line forward. This is somewhat like hooking a soft, spongy rubber band. The second pressure bite is when you lose contact with the bottom.

A bass has picked up your lure and is just following along with your forward movement. This is why it is so important to maintain bottom contact. Once you realize that you’ve lost the feel of the weight against the bottom, and your depth hasn’t changed significantly, you have to put two and two together and get ready to set the hook.

The preferred hook set for this technique is called a sweep set. Once you have detected a fish holding your bait drop the rod tip towards the fish, reel down to the point of feeling resistance (or just shy of that point) and ’sweep’ the rod horizontally away from the fish.

If the rod loads up good and you’re sure that you’ve got the hook in the fish just fight him to the boat. If you set the hook and it didn’t feel solid you may want to set the hook a second time. The drag on your reel should be set tight enough that it doesn’t give on the initial hook set. But it shouldn’t be set so tight that a larger fish can’t take the line if needed.

When fishing for bass the best spots will never be in weeds or cover, this is why you should always use weed less lures whenever possible. This will help to save you money as you will not lose as many lures.

Bass fish do exist in a variety of different temperatures but the do tend to be less frequent on the cold front. Fish will always tend to swim deeper during the sunniest time of day. Sun does seems to effect bass fishing in a negative way. Try to seek out the more shady spots or areas with deeper water and cover.

Then if you are fishing on a overcast day you should try and find shallower water. When in cold waters you should reel in your bait much slower and fish generally tend to react much slower in colder temperatures.

Another popular technique that is used by many angles is the freshwater fish identification. This is handy knowledge to know if you ever find yourself watching bass fishing pro or listening to commentary during a fishing program you will know they are speaking the truth.

To become a great angler you will need to learn many bass fishing techniques. Remember to practice each one often and you will find yourself getting better and better.

Gordon Lee asked:


Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in Bass fishing and this has led to many new business sprouting up to ride along with the wave of excitement. Hooking, pardon the pun, new Bass anglers is easy. All you have to do is to invite them for a Bass fishing trip and before you know it, they are now passionate about the sport. Businesses seek out hot interests like a heat seeking missle and we see resorts, sports gears and fishing related things being built – all with the aim to capture this hot market. As a Bass angler, clearly we have benefited from all these interests.

Right now, more and more are getting their feet wet to learn and find out what the big bass buzz is all about. For the uninitiated, Bass fishing is more than just fishing. Having a prized big bass in your hands and the opportunity to show it off is a feeling that is hard to describe. Only those who have done it will know the feeling and once you have done it once, you want to do it over and over again. But after the first bass fishing expedition, for the beginner, there is still lots more to learn.

First, you have to know the lures that you must have to enjoy bass fishing. What the top 3 lures for catching Bass? No real surveys have been conducted but it is generally agreed by pro bass fishermen that plastic worms makes the best lures, followed by the spinner bait and then the crank bait.

After considering the lures, there are still other factors to consider, chief of which is how you intend to cover the waters

in your fishing. Do you want to cover a smaller segment of water thoroughly or do you want to skim across a larger area as quickly as possible to find fishg. Worm baits are very effective and Bass are absolutely seduced by it. However, worm baits tend to be slower and are best in certain areas which will come with experience.

One main problem with learners fishing with a worm is that they do not realise that the worm does not have the ability to sense strikes. And the main reason for the inability to sense them is due to the fisherman using a sinker that is too heavy and a line that is too thick.

To overcome this predicament, a variable buoyancy worm using lead strip sinkers can be adopted. The advantages are:

• No moving lead on the line to dampen the feel of a gentle pickup • Precise amount of lead can be applied to deliver the worm action needed • Bass finds it easier to inhale the worm • It helps in hook setting • In snags, you can quickly shake yourself loose • Worms can be hung virtually suspended over the bottom when fishing in shallow water.

To tell how much lead strip is needed, wrap one strip around the hook and bury the barb in the worm. Ease it into the water

and watch it sink, it should barely settle toward the bottom. If it sinks to fast, take some off, etc. Make sure to use no heavier than 8-pound mono line – preferably 6 pound.

How much lead strip do you need? Well, one tested way is to wrap one strip around the hook and bury the barb in the worm.

Now, gently ease it into the water and watch it sink. It should barely settle toward the bottom. If it sinks too fast, start

again by taking some off, etc. Use a mono line that is no heavier than 8-pounds – preferably 6 pound.

Spinner baits, by virture of its construction, can move more quickly across the surface. It can be bounced on the bottom,

against tree limbs and moved in many different ways in order to stimulate strikes. It is a great probing lure for the shoreline because of its tangle-free construction.

Lastly, Crank baits are great if you want to check out a spot without wasting too much time. They cover a lot of water in a hurrry and you can use them for locating fish that may be scattered.

The most important rule is this – make it easy for the Bass to get to the lure – no matter where you are fishing in. Drop that lure right in front of them! Scientists have proven that Bass can calculate the amount of energy it will take them to go after the prey and if they decide its too much effort, they won’t bother.

The bottom line is this – discover and learn to use each type of lures and find what suits you. Once you find the right one for you, you will really find enjoyment in bass fishing!

Aside from considering the lures, the other important factor is to know the accurate time in going for bass fishing.

The Biggest Bass are definitely caught at dawn or dusk. Remember – bass love to prey at ambush spots, which seems to offer lots of cover for the baitfish. They like to hide, and then pounce on their prey.

These bait fish are most active in the dusk or dawn. When they feeding, the bait fish’s guard is down and less aware of threats, So that is when the bass strikes. Fish during these times for the best chances of success.

When retrieving an underwater lure in poor light conditions, pull in the lure at a steady pace once it is set in motion. This makes it easier for bass to locate and grab it.

Although I mentioned that dawn or dusk is the best time to fish for bass, there is one exception. Don’t bother trying when

the water is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature causes certain aquatics species to disappear, which in turn, nullifies the food chain feeding.

Just by keeping these 2 factors in mind for bass fishing – lures and the time to fish – you are on your start to winning the

game of bass fishing. Once mastered, you can then consider other factors like water quality and weather conditions. Happy Bass fishing!

Daniel Eggertsen asked:


Bass fishing is the number one sport in North America and for good reason. Fishing for bass is very challenging and a lot of fun for the whole family. It is a great way for families to spend quality time together while enjoying some of the wonderful things that nature has to offer. Bass fishing also provides the serious angler with a chance to catch that trophy fish they always dreamed about or participate in bass tournaments for some wonderful prizes.

Ohio bass fishing is very popular and you can get some excellent results anytime but especially during the summer months. It is a wonderful place to go for family fun and entertainment because there are numerous lakes and parks in Ohio that offer many wonderful activities for any family member that is not a fan of fishing. They will stay happy and occupied while you enjoy some of the best bass fishing you have ever encountered.

You can’t beat the fun and excitement that Ohio bass fishing can bring. It is an experience that you will love and always remember. There are many great fishing opportunities available in these waters and if you have the chance to enjoy some of it, you really don’t want to let it pass you by.

Best Locations for Ohio Bass Fishing

Ohio is full of many lakes and ponds that provide excellent bass fishing opportunities. You can pick up a map of the lakes and rivers in Ohio that can provide you with some information on the fishing opportunities to find out which areas are considered to be the best when it comes to bass fishing. These can be found at many local bait shops and stateparks. You can also use the internet to learn about the different bass fishing locations in Ohio so you will have an idea of where you can go.

Here are some of the Lakes in Ohio where bass fishing is considered to be

excellent.

Buckeye Lake

Lake Hope

Knox Lake

Hargus Lake

Seneca Lake

Harrison Lake

Burr Oak Lake

Lake Erie

These are a few of the lakes that are found in Ohio that provide great opportunities for bass fishing. The Ohio River is also an excellent place to catch bass and there are other rivers and lakes available as well.

Tips on Catching Bass in Ohio

Bass love to stay around structures like rocks, stumps, sunken trees and weedy areas. They like the cover these structures provide and they are naturally drawn to these areas of the water. The bass fishing is best when the water temperature is above fifty degrees and below eighty degrees. The largemouth bass is the largest species of bass and can grow up to twenty pounds. The average weight for the other species of bass is around four to five pounds.

Bass eat a variety of foods that includes frogs, smaller fish and tadpoles.

These are great baits to use when you go bass fishing but considering they will strike at just about anything that moves, artificial lures will work very well to. Metallic spinners and lures that are designed from bright colors will attract their attention and draw them in your direction. Weedless lures are recommended as they will not get tangled up as much so you will not lose as many.