In lakes that don't have shad, bass feed heavily on bluegill and shiners, both grass-oriented species, so target weedy areas. The slow-falling bait mimics a dying shad and bass aggressively strike. This helps egg development in females. WRB 17,132 Posted August 15, 2017. I follow the classification of bass waters that divides them into lowland reservoirs, highland reservoirs, natural lakes, tidewater lakes and rivers, both natural and dammed. How is it different from the seasonal patterns bass anglers have long used to guide them to lures and locations? Why aren’t the fish telling us? In winter, I prefer ones that draw strikes without moving fast. I find that natural colors work great, particularly in clear or lightly stained waters. Walking down the bass fishing aisle at any sporting goods store can make your head spin in circles. One of my favorite techniques for catching bass in the summer is shaking and swimming a ½ ounce Penetrator jig and Hawg Craw. Even if color choice does nothing more then breed confidence in your ability to trigger fish, you’ve increased your odds for catching trophy pike and muskies. When bass are schooling in summer or chasing shad in bays in the fall, a chrome or shad-colored lure is a logical choice. Larger baitfish that survived the winter limit the available food sources for bass. Baitfish and bass will gravitate to weedy bays and pockets, where the water is cooler and highly oxygenated. As a result, when the mercury shoots up in the summer, the water temperature does as well. The bass’s metabolism slows tremendously and they don’t need to feed as often, which means they’re difficult to catch. In spring, bass are not picky eaters and devour anything available. If you look in a pro's tackle box, you'll see alongside the standard colors a few colors not seen in nature—hot pinks, blues, red chrome, and multi-colored lures—almost anything imaginable. Pantone Color Institute summed up the S/S 20 color trends as "friendly and relatable" in that they convey a sense of ease. I was planning a trip north after Xmas but again postponed them plans for now lol. Always keep a topwater lure, especially a noisy chugger, tied on now. 4. Fish for fish. The deeper a fish lives the less light gets down in the water to show off the color of your bait. If there's some stain to the water, a deep running crawfish pattern crankbait rooted along the bottom is strong now; bass feed heavily on crawfish emerging from hibernation during the late winter/early spring transition period. Once you get ahead of the fish, its non-stop action! Kevin VanDam needs no introduction. Baby Bass. Certain colors fade due to the lack of light penetration caused by lower water clarity, increased depth and the sun (or lack thereof) overhead. WRB. Anglers should choose baits that imitate these species that threaten bass eggs. Sometimes, especially in prespawn, water that's just one degree warmer will hold most of the bass. For fishing heavy vegetation use solid colors, like black and white, which offer contrast and are easy for the bass to find. Finding one of these structures and presenting baits that mimic shad will increase your chances of landing bass. When the water temperature reaches approximately 50 degrees, crawfish emerge … Bass will hold at the lower end of the light penetration spectrum, where they can still see adequately but remain concealed from their prey. Bass are more baitfish-oriented now than in any other season. As summer progresses, shallow waters become extremely warm and bass seek deeper water for cooler temperatures. Like the Senko bait, this lure is also impregnated with salt to achieve the most attractive fall rate for hungry bass. I actually begin fishing a fall pattern when the water has cooled 10 degrees below its hottest point of the summer — this can vary greatly from lake to lake. Bass seem to love the color, and it looks natural in the water. Oops! In clear lakes, I like shad patterns; in murky lakes, I want standout colors, like chartreuse with a black or blue back. During spring, all species of fish start moving toward shallow bays and north- or west-facing bank lines to capture the sun’s warmth. I like to call the shad spawn Mother Nature’s way of fattening up the bass after they have spawned. You'll often see bass suspending near the surface now, looking like they're sunning themselves. It’s the color of the sun and many flowersmirror this rich color down on earth. The basic rule of thumb here is based around the vision of a bass. Bass fishing is easy during the beginning of summer when the fish are up and the weather is comfortable. 25. Once the water hits 50 degrees, bass are definitely in a prespawn mode. Water clarity is one of the most important factors that can influence bait color for bass fishing. Again, look for migration routes leading to shallow, protected water. What Do White Bass Look Like? Tried again before the season closes an took a skunk. Match lure size to baitfish size. Cold-blooded bass are the same temperature as their surroundings. Stick Bait. Lures that have the size and color of lake crawfish species are the best options for mimicking what the bass search for during this time of year. Water levels are low, dissolved oxygen is low, and the mercury is up. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and top-water baits all allow you to cover a lot of water and draw violent strikes from bass. My rule for clear water color selection is to look at what color the bottom of the lake looks like. Everyone from professional anglers to weekend fishermen spend countless hours trying to discover the magic lure to catch bass every time they fish. In using the Seasonal Guide, it helps to determine what type of lake you're fishing, because bass use different places in different types of lakes. The color really matters. Fall days shorten, water cools and bass move shallow again into the creeks where they were found in the spring. At the water’s edge, you will also notice small groups of shad chasing each other around items such as rocks, dock pylons, vegetation, or any debris in the water. Depth is a critical component for selecting the right bait color for bass fishing. Two particular fishing situations call for special color considerations: night fishing and topwater fishing. Pre-spawn, spawn, post-spawn, and late spring require different approaches. A rapid temperature drop is best, for this can really put bass on the move from deep main lake structure to shallow water. The water in most NC and SC lakes is very hot and the oxygen content is very low. Water clarity is a major determinant of bass depth in winter. Once you notice the shad spawn, choose baits that mimic the same size, shape, and color of the shad in your local lakes. Like all creatures, crawfish are determined to mate, eat and protect themselves from predators. My only fishing trip got cancelled lol. A 1/8 ounce size is a good choice. Summer gets a bad wrap amongst fishermen because they don't understand bass movements and feeding patterns. When presented with an easy meal and the energy used to capture it is less than the energy gained from eating it, the bass sees this as a benefit and takes the opportunity to eat. In order to determine the water clarity, there is a very simple procedure you can follow. Make ’em bite. During this phase, bait choices should mimic the bream or small sunfish in your area. I begin checking conditions for the area I'll be fishing as early as 15 days before a tournament. If you know the area you are fishing is holding fish, but the bite is slow, experiment with different colors. Bait options vary depending on whether you target male or female bass. These species have a tremendous color variance across the country. Now that we have discussed some of the best colors to use for bass in muddy water, let’s talk about the best lures and baits to use. Because of the protein content, crawfish are a highly sought-after food source during pre-spawning. I've shared a boat with VanDam several times, and I have been amazed at his uncanny ability to find and catch bass on lakes he either hasn't fished for years or has never fished before. Each stage has its own available forage. Clear Water = Subtle Translucent Colors Gray – White – Green – Silver Outside of red and green, many dark colors appear quite similar to bass, which are unable to make highly selective decisions based on those dark colors like blue and black. Good choices would include a Senko in Baby Bass or a Zoom Trick Worm in watermelon. Tie on a brightly colored lure and reel it to the very end of your rod tip. If there are a lot of bluegills in the lake use bluegill colors such as green, blue with some orange or yellow. Understanding the timing of these events is key to consistently taking bass on crawfish imitations. Most bass are not very aggressive and won't feed much right after spawning, but they can be tempted to bite a reaction-type lure. Bass are among the most sought-after freshwater game fish. Just what is this mysterious "Seasonal Guide" VanDam refers to? As the fall rains wash nutrients from summer growth into the lake, these nutrients trigger plankton explosions. In the wintertime striped bass are typically found at depths over 20 feet deep. Try to keep it close to natural colors like gray, green, silver, and white. This is how they spawn. Many argue that Green Pumpkin, Cinammon, and Chartreuse are the most productive colors and we agree. In autumn, the water cools down and everything in the lake seems to migrate to the backs of creek channels. Bass are generally scattered and lethargic. Knowing the primary forage bass eat at any given time improves your chances of catching them. Looks like you do n't have shad, in muddy water than junebug! Up for the season closes an took a skunk ( flooded willows are )! Tandem Colorado or Colorado/Indiana spinnerbait is excellent in stained water is tinted more... Water and the bass are most likely to be done in the wintertime striped bass feed on. Fishing... multiple times beds, they still chase after bait fish and come... 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