Bass Fishing: Picking The Best Lure For Your Location
Fishing for Bass is probably the most popular fishing sport in the United States
. Across the US, the most popular Bass fishing events usually happen in the summer months.
Pros and amateurs alike will flock to tournaments stretching from Rhode Island all the way to Texas. It's very important that these anglers know how the Bass will behave, and what kinds of lures will work best to catch them.
Seasoned anglers usually have a pretty good idea of where the big Bass are just by testing the water temperature and analyzing the surrounding environment.
The angler will then determine what kind of food is available in the water, and make their selection of lure based on these factors. A most effective technique is to pick a lure that mimics food that is not available at that location. This often peaks the curiosity of the Bass, and "lures" them to snatch up your bait!
There are 3 popular lure types that are generally chosen by anglers in these conditions. They are:
1. Crank Baits
Crank baits are good lures to use when Bass are feeding in the mid to surface level. These baits are usually shaped like minnows, and all have a plastic lip that varies in size. This lip determines how deep or shallow the lure will run depending on the speed of retrieval. They are usually bright colored with spotted or striped designs.
2. Swim Baits
These baits resemble the swimming action of a minnow. They have streamlined designs and are shaped like smaller baitfish. The shape of these baits allows for exact imitation of the movement of a live minnow. They are usually equipped with a series of treble hooks suspended from the underbelly of the lure.
3. Jerk Baits
Jerk baits also shaped like minnows but usually weigh more than swim baits. The design of the jerk bait causes it to dive down and then quickly return to the surface using very irregular movemements. This tricks the Bass into thinking that the bait is a distressed minnow, the natural prey of Bass. There's nothing more attractive to a hungry Largemouth than an injured minnow.
Although there are many different types of artifial lures, some anglers still prefer the use of live baits such as grubs and nightcrawlers. As you hone your Bass fishing techniques you may even learn to make your own lures and you'll know which lure is best for the type of bass you are trying to catch and it's surrounding habitat.