Most people love to fish for bass in the spring time when the waters are warm. However, I discovered the joys of winter fishing. It is true that at this time you will not get numbers, but with the right bass fishing techniques you can catch some real beauties with half the effort you would have to put in any other season.
Catching Smallmouth Bass in Winter Waters
Catching smallmouth bass is a challenge in itself. Doing it in winter time, as many opinioned to me, doubles the odds. However, I still maintain that I never got this amount of joy and thrill from any other fishing times. There are well defined bass fishing techniques that are applied in winter to catch the elusive smallmouth. The most important feature among these techniques is patience. The others are good understanding of the depth of the water, and the structures beneath and proper insulated clothing.
Bass Fishing Techniques can give Outstanding Results
Knowing the right technique will definitely take you a long way, more so if you are armed with the right equipment and bait. Now the bass is well known for its voracious appetite but few know that it is fatally attracted to jigs. If you want to catch smallmouth bass, forget about what type of bait you use, it is not so important. Rather learn to use jigs well and you will never fail catching a smallmouth.
Choosing the Right Location
The smallmouth love depth, however in winter they do not go below 30 feet. You will need to find a structure which has to be quite away from the shore, at a depth of 20-40 feet and the place has to have sudden drop of areas (the favorite way of hiding for smallmouth bass). The boat should be stationed quite still (anchor it on both ends) and the distance from the chosen structure should be sufficient to allow you to cast a line freely. Here, youd cast your jig and bobbing retrieve it in the water. The trick is to learn to differentiate between a strike by a rock or weed and a fish, so you can set the hook.
The Success of Bass Fishing Techniques is owed to a Lot of Practice
Casting a jig and retrieving it is an art that requires long and patient practice. It takes quite some time to learn by feel whether your line is striking a rock or a fish. You should be able to instantly recognize the difference because the slightest hesitation will loose you the fish. |
