| Q: |
What's the difference between bass fishing and
other types of fishing?
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| A: |
Bass fishing requires the use of lures whereas other
types of fishing use live bait. Bass fishing also
relies more on knowledge and ability, rather than luck.
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| Q: |
What exactly is a tackle?
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| A: |
A tackle consists of a rod, reel, line, and lure set.
Rods and reels are categorized as bait-casting or
spinning. Lures are categorized as soft or hard bait.
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| Q: |
I'm lost, how do I make a good tackle set?
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| A: |
First, you want to start by selecting a spinning or
bait-casting rod. Spinning rods are better suited
for lighter lures and bait-casting rods are better
suited for heavier lures. Once you’ve selected a
rod type, you should select the same reel type. Next,
you want to select a lure that fits the same rod/reel
type. Finally, you want to select from two types of
fishing lines. Thinner lines are not easily affected
by wind, but they also break easily. Thicker lines
are stronger, but they are also more easily detected by fish.
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| Q: |
Should I choose spinning or bait-casting?
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| A: |
A spinning rod is an ideal rod for beginners because of its
flexibility and its compatibility with lighter lures. A bait-
casting rod, on the other hand, is more powerful and intended
for heavier lures. It may take some time to get
accustomed to a bait-casting rod. Choose the rod that best
suits you.
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| Q: |
Can I put a heavy lure on a spinning tackle or a lighter lure
on a bait-casting tackle?
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| A: |
You can, but it’s not recommended. Putting a heavy lure on a
spinning tackle or a lighter lure on a bait-casting
tackle can give poor balance and can lower castability. As a
result, no bites are felt and the lure will not move
properly.
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| Q: |
What type of lure should I use?
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| A: |
There is no one lure that works well under all circumstances,
but if bass activity level is high you’ll want to use a
lure with high appeal. If the bass activity is low, you’ll
want to use soft baits. It’s important to learn the different
situations and accommodate accordingly.
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| Q: |
What type of line should I use?
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| A: |
There are three types of lines: nylon, fluorocarbon, and
polyethylene. Nylon lines currently are the most
popular since their high elasticity and low sensitivity make
them ideal for crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
Fluorocarbon lines are a lot tougher than nylon, but lack
flexibility, making them best suited for jigs and soft baits.
Polyethylene (PE) lines are low in elasticity and high in
sensitivity, meaning topwater lures are better suited for
them.
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| Q: |
Where should I fish?
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| A: |
The general rule is to go fishing near obstacles. Bass
especially prefer variation in topography and tend to hide in
the shadows. Knowing the type of obstacles that bass prefer
at certain times of the year is one of the keys to
becoming a top angler.
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| Q: |
What types of casts should I be performing?
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| A: |
Overhead casting should be your primary cast, while side-hand
casting and pitching should only be used in certain
situations. When strong winds occur, performing side-hand casts
will prevent the lure from driftng. When near
structures, pitching should be the cast of choice.
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| Q: |
What kind of lure action techniques should I be using to
effectively attract fish?
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| A: |
It all depends on the type of lure you are using. The steady
retrieve method, where the reel is wound at a constant
speed, is the easiest and most common, but not always the most
effective. In most cases, hard bait relies on
sound and/or vibration techniques while soft bait relies on
built-in movements. Understanding why your lure is
shaped the way it is, and what techniques your specific lure
requires is very important. Always make sure to read
up on your lure(s) before heading out to the lake.
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| Q: |
Help! I can’t get any fish to bite. What should I do?
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| A: |
Try moving to a different area with obstacles such as reeds,
weeds, standing timber, piers, or uneven floors. If
you’re still unable to catch anything, try changing your lure
or technique. Remember that color, sound, and
movement are all factors that attract fish to a lure.
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| Q: |
How do weather, season, and temperature affect bites?
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| A: |
For bass, a water temperature of 64 - 73 is ideal. Bass activity
depends mostly on water temperature, but weather
and season do play a part as well. Cloudy and rainy weather,
mornings and evenings are all times with increased
bass activity due to atmospheric pressure.
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| Q: |
What’s a good season for fishing?
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| A: |
Since bass prefer a temperature of around 64 – 73, the best seasons
are late spring to early summer and autumn.
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| Q: |
How does wind affect fishing?
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| A: |
Wind can affect water temperature, water quality, and casting.
Strong winds can cause the surface water
temperature to drop, and sometimes turn certain areas into mud.
Lures can also drift away when cast in the wind.
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| Q: |
How do I use the depth finder?
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| A: |
A depth finder is a sonar device that reads water depth, water
temperature, and bottom structure. The small dots
that appear onscreen indicate fish or trash drifting in water.
The lower part of the screen displays the differences in
size and shape of the bottom structure. When the bottom structure
is displayed in a dark shade, the soil is hard.
When it’s displayed in a lighter shade, the soil is soft.
Different types of fish tend to stay near specific types of soil,
so you should try and remember the different circumstances.
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