Safety Precautions When Night Fishing

Night fishing is a little harder than fishing when the sun is bright. However, it is common throughout the reservoirs of the south and southeast when the summer months are too uncomfortable to fish for an entire day. The water will usually be so warm that the fish will go deeper and deeper from the surface to find more oxygen, making them harder to catch. Many people night fish as a hobby, but it is important to take extra safety precautions and to be prepared for anything.

Generally, bass fishing is the most common type of night fishing. Since bass are slow moving and they do not migrate long distances, you should be able to locate them at the same locations during many parts of the day. If you have a certain fishing spot, they should still be there at night as well. The fish will also find spots near manufactured structures and anywhere that crawfish may be in abundance.

Typically, you will want to use a heavier tackle at night than you would during the day. Since sight is limited, you will have to rely on the feel of the lure to determine whether you have a bite. Some of the lures that have been proven to give results are hair jigs, pork rinds, and rubber jigs.

When you are preparing for your night trip, you need to take some extra measures that you may not necessarily think about for a day trip. You should check the weather beforehand. When visibility is limited, you do not want to be caught in rain or deep fog. You also need to make sure that your boat is in working order. The last thing that you will want is to break down at night.

You should be well aware of what you have and do not have in your tackle and toolboxes. Light sources are obviously very important to night fishing. Many anglers will use “black lights” and some sort of fluorescent line. When the line is under the black light, it will have a neon glow and make subtle movements more visible. At the very least, you should have extra flashlights and a mounted light on your boat. You want to keep yourself safe and visible to other boats that may be night fishing at the same time.

Bass fish do not have great vision, so they will rely on their sense of smell during the night. Your objective is to create a smell of food or wounded prey. A popular method during night fishing is to create a chum line. If you are not comfortable trolling a chum line, you may want to consider live bait. Be prepared that some larger species of fish are going to be looking for a free meal as well.

Another thing you cannot forget when you go out for any fishing trip is a first aid kit. If for some reason you so much as cut your finger, you will need to have supplies ready and in reach. You need to wear your life jacket at all times when you are fishing at night. Don’t forget your insect repellent because mosquitoes are looking for a free meal, too.

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How to be Good at Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Canada

Smallmouth bass feeds on fellow fish, crustaceans, and terrestrial insects. When fishing for smallmouth bass in Canada, here are some tips to follow:

1. Go to rock shoals. That is where they will most likely be.

Rock shoals are the obvious spots for smallmouth bass. But they can also be found deep in the water where they can find plenty of food for themselves. Look for spots where the crustaceans are abundant. There are going to be lots of them there too.

2. When fishing during early fall or late summer, use a colored lure.

Tub Jig is the best lure of choice. During the said seasons, smallmouth bass tend to go into deeper waters. They are estimated to be within the thirty to forty-foot range. Make sure that your bait reaches that depth.

3. Use live baits when other lures don’t work.

Use real, living worms if and when lures won’t do it for you. Make sure that the worm dangles off the hook nicely. Use a light line to go with it. A four or six pound test is good enough. Don’t use any weight either.

4. Smallmouth bass go in groups.

Additionally, all the smallmouth bass belonging to a certain group are usually sized the same. Don’t expect to see bigger smallmouth in a school of smaller ones. If the size of the smallmouth you saw isn’t the size you want to catch, change your location instead.

5. Fish for smallmouth bass between mid-June to fall.

This is the best time to catch smallmouth bass. During mid June, smallmouths can be found on the river’s bed. During fall, they can be found ten to fifteen feet deep into the water. Remember these important details so you will be able to catch a good number of smallmouth bass every time you fish.

6. Fishing for Smallmouth bass is different from largemouth bass.

Don’t assume for a second that the way to catch smallmouth bass is the same with largemouth bass. Different approach and techniques are necessary. If you are an expert angler of largemouth bass, you might need to learn something new with smallmouth bass.

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The Basics of Bass Fishing

Bass fishing is one of the most common types of fishing. Many bass fish are found in bayou water and salt water. They also move through lakes, ponds, reservoirs and streams.  If you know the basics regarding conditions and places where bass are likely to be, you will have more success when you fish for them.

Many variables change the location of bass, such as water conditions, water levels, weather, and light and food availability. There are three main elements that must be present in a body of water in order for bass to survive: Food, oxygen, and cover.

A bass favorite meal is crawfish, which they prefer over shad. Basically, crawfish are usually more plentiful and they are easy for the Bass to catch. However, a bass will typically eat anything from rats, mice, ducklings, frogs, snakes, salamanders, worms, lizards, grubs, baitfish, insects, and leeches. Their ability to feast on one thing above another is why many people find such enjoyment from fishing bass.

Oxygen is another key component in finding bass fish. The basic rule of thumb is that the cooler the water, the more oxygen content. Therefore, if you are fishing in the spring, summer or early fall, you will find that the larger bass will drop down lower to find the cooler and more oxygen-filled water. They will also swim to find areas that are more concentrated in vegetation in order to find a better oxygen source. Trees, stumps, wind-blown banks, and power plants are all good sources of oxygen that will attract bass fish.

A bass relies on cover for a means of protection and way of ambush. Cover is part of a bass’ survival. The bass is known as a lazy fish, so they will hide and wait for their prey to come to them. The other reason for cover is that bass fish do not have eyelids and the cover is a way to prevent blindness. Some common cover areas to find bass in are around fabricated wood structures such as fencerows, docks, and pilings. They have been known to hide under floating pieces of wood or decaying wood. Weeds are the second best place to hunt for bass. Finally, rocks are the third place that bass will find cover. Rocks are not as reliable as weeds or wood, but sometimes a bass will find decaying pieces of food to feast on within some rocks. Remember that rocks do not produce oxygen, so the source is not as consistent.

When it comes to fishing, everyone has a different opinion. You will often find that these opinions range in location and source. However, there are some lures and baits that are recommended for bass fishing that may be useful if you haven’t tried them. Tequila colored 7-inch worms with added scent are recommended, as well as Rebel Wee-Rs. Hellgrammites are thought to be the best live bait, and many will say that you don’t need big lures to attract big bass. Everyone will tell you to tie up to an embankment, or find a dock to get close to, but it is really an art that could take years to perfect.

Bass are notorious for slow moving and lack of distance in their movements. Logically, you could sit 30 feet from the biggest bass of your life, and he is not going to swim to your bait out of pure laziness. Finding the exact spot is difficult and a lot of fishing has to do with luck. The only part that you can control is finding the most likely places that a bass may be and exercise some patience. Weather is important to bass as well. If it is a cloudy day, you might have more luck than on a hot summer day. However, overcast is probably ideal for water temperatures, but then you have to decide what you are willing to sit through in order to catch a fish. The bottom line with bass fishing is you can only do your best with the knowledge at hand.

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Chasing The Big One With Bass Fishing Equipment

Professional Bass fishing has, over the recent years, become multi-billion dollar industry. Tournaments are held each year, endorsed by every angler or wilderness related company you can think of. Because of this, bass fishing equipment has a range of items that makes the beginning anglers’ head spin. To make things even worse, each company’s line of lures, lines or other bass fishing equipment say that theirs is the best. How do you know what to look for in a rod, reel, line, and lure? Usually the answer is trial and error, but there are a few key pieces of advice to lend when choosing the right bass fishing equipment for you or your loved one.

Bass fishing can be, at times, filled with intense moments of excitement, especially when you’re reeling in that huge big mouth bass. To make sure that it doesn’t get away, you’re going to need the right equipment. Bass fishing rods are usually made of composite materials like fiberglass to ensure their flexibility without taking from its sturdiness. Also, the eyeholes that line the rod usually are a bit bigger, allowing for the line to have fewer complications when the wielder reels the game in. Most professional bass anglers use an open-faced reel for it’s smooth reeling and it’s lower rate of line tangle and other complications.

Arguably the most important piece of bass fishing equipment is the fishing line that you choose. Most fishing lines today consist of a combination of nylon and other composite plastics. Since bass have a tendency to become very heavy fish, it’s important to make sure your line has a test that is at least ten pounds or more. Also, the lure is almost as important as the line. Bass fishing lures come in a multitude of shapes and sizes, but usually replicate a small fish, such as a minnow. Depending upon the size of the ‘lip’, the piece of plastic shaped like a spoon at the nose of the lure, the lure can either trill deep or shallow.

There are all sorts of factors that can affect the effectiveness of your angling, it’s best to research products in detail before you buy them. Taking out the trial and error process can save you tons of money on bass fishing equipment, and eliminate the frustration of missing the catch. With the right tools and the right skill, bass fishing can be an addictive sport that can bring years of fulfillment.

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