subject: Seven Best Ways to An Empty Bass Bucket [print this page] Seven Best Ways to An Empty Bass Bucket Seven Best Ways to An Empty Bass Bucket
Everybody wants to catch more fish, especially America's favorite, the largemouth bass. And just about everyone has a read about what to do to catch a bass. Yet some people still aren't doing it.
And then there's those people that aren't so bad, and enter tournaments, but never win a prize. Some techniques work great in practice, but when it comes down to game time, these anglers swing and miss.
Hopefully after you read this article you won't be one of them. This article is designed to get you to see the things you do wrong, rather than tell you what to do right, because what you do wrong can never make up for what you do right-at least in bass fishing. So, without further ado, here is my list of:
Bass Fishing Empty Bucket Habits to Avoid at All Costs
1. You caught one big bass at that spot in the cove 10 years ago, and even though you haven't caught anything there since, you still insist on wasting at least two hours at that spot. I think every bass fisherman is guilty of this. I know I am.
When I find myself doing it, I just tell myself, "Dude, give it up. Stop trying to re-live the past." And you should to.
2. Not Sticking to What You Do Best. This is especially appropriate for guys entering their first bass tournaments, but it can also apply to amateur anglers at a new spot. You get to the new spot, and either the guy in the bait and tackle store, who's trying to sell you something, or the locals all say, "The bass here only hit the Bass Basher 400". so you buy it and have no idea how to use it. Bad move. By the time you catch up on the learning curve, you're done. You would have caught more fish with your tried and true plastic worm, but you had to go do something new.
3. Overpreparation for a One Day Tournament. Spending 4-5 days practice for a one day tournament? That's just dumb. Don't do it. It's a sign that you're outhinking yourself.
4. Follow the crowd. You found a nice little hole on practice days, but when the tourney starts, the place is packed. Of course, the fish don't bite with all the activity, then everyone leaves. And YOU follow them. Another bad move. Wait it out, what worked in practice will work as soon as the bass settle down.
5. Wasting Time on One Pounders. Largemouths tend to hang out in schools of the same size bass. If you've caught a couple of one pounders, it's time to move on, because you aren't going to win a tournament catching babies.
6. Take some deep breaths and slow down. Hey, we all get excited when we first get to the pond, lake or stream, and especially so in a tournament. But when we're excited, we do everything too fast. From retrieving to moving to another spot, to changing lures, be patient and slow down.
7. Not Sticking it Out in a Hot Spot. Last I heard, bass were not a migratory species, so don't give up. Remember in politics, they say, "It's the money, stupid?" Well, with bass, it's the conditions, stupid. If you got bass in the spot when you were in practice, or last week, trust me, they haven't moved. They're still there. Remember the above tips and just be patient and keep trying different things; the bass will hit sooner or later when the conditions ripen.
