Catching Bass In Any Water

I am Reading an article in the North American Fishing Club that’s about catching bass in any water condition, written by Steve Price.

I am a bass fisher, i don’t care to much for catfish, brim, or even crappies. i like to bass fish, and some times finding the bass can be difficult, if you don’t now where to look. But it can be even hard to catch bass in different types of water. So i hope this article will give you as it has me, a better understanding of how to fish in any water.

Extremely Clear

Visibility: At least eight feet; sometimes 20 feet or more. Typically occurs in the lower end of a lake where the water is deeper.

Tactics: Spring and fall are the best times to fish ultra-clear water because bass will be moving to shallow, During other times of the year look for slightly off-colored water, or heavy cover or vegetation that will hold fish shallow. When its really clear, look for steep, fast-falling points, channels leading to spawning flats, and submerged road beds bass can use as staging areas before moving shallow. Fish then with a jig or deep-diving jerkbait. Natural patterns that mimic real baitfish and other forage typically perform better than bright, gaudy color schemes. It critical to note that–contrary to what might seem logical-extremely clear water doesn’t mean shallow water is off limits. In fact, even on a lake like Powell or Mead, where most of the water looks like liquid air, you can find bass surprisingly shallow. Top water lures work well under these conditions befor the sun climbs high, but after that switch to small plastic worms or jigs in shaded coves.

Finding River Channel Cats Part – 2

Well I,m back with Part -2 of  Finding River Channel Cats, from an article in the, North American Fishing Club.

In rivers where current seams form, they are obvious hot spots. But if they’re not a factor, channel cats could be anywhere on the flat, even right along the shoreline. Don’t be afraid to fish “too shallow” as these fish sometimes hold very close to the bank.

Cover different depth ranges by sliding the float stop up or down the line and making longer or shorter casts. Sometimes it’s necessary to manipulate the float so it stays on course, so a 7 1/2- to 8- foot bait casting rod comes in handy. it allows you to pick up a lot of line when setting a hook that may be 150 to 200 feet downstream.

Float rigs will help you pinpoint channel cats on river flats, but remember that these fish can be scattered. Don’t get locked into one spot. if you don’t get a strike in 15 minutes, move. Even with this technique you can cover only so much water. If the fish aren’t there, look for them elsewhere.

I hope you have injoyed these tips on Finding River Channel Cats, if you have the time please check out the NAFC site to read about fishing.

Finding River Channel Cats Part -1

I m, reading an article in the North American Fishing Club Magazine, its about locating channel catfish. If you love to fish for channel cats, then maybe these tips will help you locate more fish. With what i have read in these magazines so far these guys really now there stuff when it comes to finding big fish.

Channel catfish in rivers could prowl the flats anywhere from the lip into the main channel all the way to the shoreline, and though they may hold in pods, those pods could be scatted.

Popular catfish floats include: Balsa cylinder float (1), Balsa cigar floats (2), Weighted foam float (3), Lighted float (4), Glow-in-the-dark float (5), Foam tube float (6) and floats for floating a leader.

One of the best ways to zero in on active channel cats, and eliminate unproductive water, is to scour the flats with float rigs. They allow anglers to fish along stretch of the flat from one spot. Anchor the boat between the shoreline and the drop-off into the channel and simply allow the bait to drift in the current behind the boat. Cover all depths, working the deep side more than the shallow.

An ideal rig consists of a 25- to 30-pound main line, a large cigar – shaped slip float, 3/8 – to 3/4-ounce egg sinker, barrel swivel, 8 to 10 inches of an abrasion resistant leader and a 2/0 to 3/0 wide gar hook. Pin cut bait onto the hook, making sure the point is exposed. The bait should ride the bottom, even bumping it occasionally without hanging up.

I will have more of this artical from the NAFC for you to read in our next post, until the, GOOD FISHING.

Big Crappies All Year – Part 12

The water has dropped down to 40°

Overview, In hyper-chilled water, crappies are deep and feed only sporadically .

Key Location, Channels with brushy cover or submerged standing timber. Look for crappies 40 to 60 feet deep.

Primary Pattern, Fishing spoons along the channel, or hug the bottom with your Kentucky rig.

The  water temp is now 35°

Overview, Crappies are sluggish, requiring a patient approach.

Key Location, Slabs are on the bottom 40 to 60 feet deep along main-lake channels.

Primary Pattern, More bottom rigging, look for the cycle to start anew soon after water temps bottom out.

Big Crappies All Year – Part 11

The water is now 50°

Overview, Turnover usually occurs during the fall-winter trasition, triggering a wholesale movement of crappies.

Key Location, Intersection channels 25 to 40 feet deep.

Primary Pattern, Crappies are often tight to the bottom right now, and they’re going to stay  through the cold weather months, so bang a Kentucky rig along the  the channel.

The water temp has dropped to 45°

Overview, Crappies have settled into a winter pattern now, setting up on deep channel structure.

Key Location, Channels with brush, 18 to 40 feet deep.

Primary Pattern, Fish the bottom along bends and pronounced drop-offs.

Big Crappies All Year – Part 10

The water has cooled down to 60°

Overview, Colder nights spell rapid cool-down. As drawdown continues, many crappies leave reservoir tributaries.

Key Location, Deep points and steep bluff banks at or near the mouths of tributaries hold large schools of crappies in the 15- to 25- foot zone.

Primary Pattern, Drifting live minnows on long rods rigged with heavy sinkers is a proven fall tournament tactic. Lower the sinker to bottom, then reel up to the level of suspended crappies.

The water temp is now 55°

Overview, The 60° pattern should remain the same until the lake turns over- assuming it does.

Key Location, Deep points and steep rock bluffs near tributary mouths hold concentrations of fish.

Primary Pattern, If crappies aren’t on the points, drift jigs or troll crankbaits for fish schooled in the open water between the points.

Big Crappies All Year – Part 9

When the water reaches 70°

Overview,  Baitfish move farther back into tributaries, crappies follow, feeding on wandering schools.

Key location, Check channels, secondary points and flats in the back half of reservoir tributary arms. crappies hold anywhere from two to 10 feet deep, depending on water clarity.

Primary Pattern, Use a bass fish approach. Cover water quickly, casting a grub or small crankbait to every piece of wood you encounter.

The water has now dropped to 65°

Overview,  reservoir drawdown usually starts about now; dropping water levels push baitfish and crappies out of tributary arms toward the main body of the lake.

Key Location, Crappies use the same migratory routes they took in the spring to move back to the main lake. Find them on creek channel cover in the 12 foot zone.

Primary Pattern, Cast grubs or bump Kentucky rigs around creek channel cover.

Big Crappies All Year – Part 8

The water has cooled to 80°

Overview,  Crappies are following channels, or moving shallow to prey on baitfish schools, you can expect a pickup in activity.

Key Location, Primary tributary points, where the creek and river channel intersect, can hold a ton of baitfish and crappies now.

Primary Pattern, Target the 15- to 25- foot zone with a Kentucky rig. If crappies are suspended, slow-troll cranks.

The Water temperature is now 75°

Overview, Shad move into shallow coves and tributaries to spawn, and the crappies follow.

Key Location, The first half of reservoir tributary arms will hold large schools of crappies.

Primary Pattern, Target scattered wood along the creek channel 10 to 20 feet deep with grubs and Kentucky rigs.

Big Crappies All Year – Part 7

Overview, The water has reached 90° In the sun belt, water temps in the 90s are common by August. Crappies suspend for long periods now to conserve metabolic energy. River-run reservoirs with a flowing channel usually have better fishing now than slackwater lakes.

Key Location, Channel ledges lined with standing timber or brushy cover offer your best bet now. Crappies are probably suspending 18 to 30 feet deep in60 feet of water.

Primary Pattern, If fish are suspended high in water column, slow- drifting minnows or tubes through the school can produce strikes. If they’re tight to bottom, use Kentucky rig.

Overview, Water temp is 85°, While the lake’s surface temperature cools quickly as the days grow shorter in early fall, deeper water cools more gradually, so expect to find crappies deep.

Key Location, Deep channel cover continues to be your best bet for finding concentrations of fish.

Primary Pattern, Kentucky rigs bumped along cover and spoons jigged over wood.

Big Crappies All Year – Part 6

Here we go with part 6 of Big Crappies All Year.

Overview, The water has reached 80°, Most crappie fishermen hang up their rods after the spawn, but a shift in tactics can yeild fast action on post spwan fish.

Key Location, Before moving to their deep summer haunts, many crappies gravitate to the edges of flats, hanging tight to scattered wood or suspending above the breakline closest to the structure.

Primary Pattern, Troll small diving crankbaits like the 200 series Bandit around the edges of flats in the six to 18-foot zone, occasionally banging the plugs off stumps and the bottom.

Overview, Water temperature is 85° Crappies will be moving out of tributaries via the same creek channel migration routes they traveled before spawning.

Key Location, Slabs gang up on secondary and primary points that drop quickly into deep water. Look for them suspending 18 to 30 feet deep around baitfish schools.

Primary Pattern, Target channel points using a Kentucky rig bumped slowly along the bottom.