In his book "Roland Martin's 101 Bass-Catching Secrets," Roland Martin, nine-time B.A.S.S. angler of the year, states that bass have nine behavioral reasons to strike a lure, including feeding, reflex action, anger, protective instinct, curiosity, competition, territorial instinct, killer instinct and ignorance. Live bait or the action of lures triggers bass to strike.
Live Bait
According to watersheds.org, hellgramites, the larval stage of a flying insect, the Dobsonfly, live under rocks in rivers, streams and fast-flowing water. Hook them behind their hard heads. Smallmouth bass go crazy for them.
Crayfish live under rocks near the shoreline in lakes and streams. Hook them through the tail. Bass can't resist an easy, tasty meal.
Catch minnows, or shinners, with bread in a bait trap lowered over the side of a boat while fishing. Hook them under their dorsal fin. According to Roland Martin, huge largemouth bass love big shinners.
Bass love nightcrawlers. Hook them so that part of the worm can wiggle.
Leeches also produce nice bass.
Plastic Worms
Fish a plastic worm by casting it out and letting it sit on the bottom of a lake for at least one minute, then give it a twitch. Allow it to sink and repeat the process. The up and down movement can trigger a bass to strike.
According to trails.com, a plastic worm, one of the premier lures for fishing in weeds, will not snag where a regular lure will repeatedly snag. The Texas rig, in which the point of the hook buries in the plastic worm, allows fishing heavy cover from a boat without having to worry about constant snags.
Spinnerbait
Spinnerbait lures have an inverted V shape with a spinner on one side and a hook covered by a wavy skirt on the other. A hole In the middle allows attachment to a swivel snap connected to the line. The versatility of a spinnerbait allows fast and slow retrieves, below the surface or under the surface for a topwater strike.
Topwater Lures
According to Trails.com, Jimmy Houston another bassmaster, who has a TV show on bass fishing rates a topwater lure by Heddon called the Zara Spook, which looks like a torpedo, as the best lure when no other lure attracts the attention of bass. For best results, fish it by retrieving from side to side, like walking a dog.
Member Comments