| How is it that in an age of technology and | | | | location? |
| electronics, something as 'primitive' as bass fishing | | | | 5. Do you know the Water temperatures of the |
| is luring in new avid anglers year after year. So | | | | location? |
| much so that as soon as they hear something | | | | 6. Do you know that seasonal patterns has a |
| new and fancy that catches their interests, they | | | | direct relationship with whether it is bass fishing |
| will dive into it and try to get as much out of it as | | | | season or not. |
| possible. | | | | But that is not all! Bass tournaments are so |
| One common theme running through bass anglers | | | | competitive and exciting because the winners are |
| (tournament or recreational) is "Where are the | | | | not necessarily the good and consistent bass |
| what...? Where are the bass!" | | | | anglers who knows how to get into boat, hitting |
| Even for the experts. When they are fishing in a | | | | the water, and casting their baits. No, more often |
| body of water that they have never fished | | | | than not, it is those who know how to locate the |
| before, after dropping the boat into the water, | | | | bass more quickly that has won half the battle |
| they will start to wonder, where is the best place | | | | already. |
| to fish? | | | | So how do you know what is the best location? |
| I will try to unravel the mysteries of finding areas | | | | Start by looking at a lake map. |
| best for bass fishing. Locating bass and | | | | There are two general types of lake maps that |
| understanding the water would be the top | | | | most anglers will use. They are referred to as the |
| questions among many bass anglers today. This is | | | | "Hot Spot" and "Topographical" maps. The |
| closely followed by the question, "Which is the | | | | difference between the two is that a "Topo" map |
| best bait to catch a "big" bass?" | | | | shows more detail, and the "Hot Spots" map |
| Actually, Bass Fishing can be simplified into 2 main | | | | shows what the name implies, more fishing spots |
| areas. Once you know them, you will definitely be | | | | (well, at least we all hope they do). |
| a better angler. The 2 must know things are: | | | | Here's a secret about how you can best use a |
| 1. How to locate bass? | | | | lake map. Sector it. That's right. Sector the map |
| 2. How to catch bass using all the different | | | | by first studying it for a moment (look for areas |
| techniques, presentations, and baits? | | | | where the fish would most likely to be). Next, use |
| Learning how to locate bass can be somewhat of | | | | a highlighter to divide the map into sections based |
| a challenge to most anglers as there are so many | | | | on how much time we can pre-fish before a |
| different factors. Here are some 'Do You Knows' | | | | tournament or how many days we have to just |
| for you to consider: | | | | fish for fun. |
| 1. Do you Know how to read a map? This is a | | | | The other secret is to always check the actual |
| fundamental skill that you should try to learn | | | | situation versus what is stated on the maps. The |
| because with a map, it is easier for you to zoom | | | | size of the sections will vary depending on |
| in on the location that is good for bass fishing. | | | | contours, structure, and number of places to be |
| 2. Do you Know that the most practical place to | | | | checked out during the course of the day based |
| look for Active Bass is just after the cold fronts | | | | on what the map shows. Don't just cast your bait |
| and during early spring and late fall? This means | | | | into the water and work on it for five minutes |
| you must take into consideration weather | | | | and leave. Try an assortment of baits to see |
| conditions as well. | | | | signs of fish in any given area. This will help you |
| 3. Do you Understand water depth? This is an | | | | understand their working pattern. |
| important element because the depth or the | | | | A good bass fisherman will know how to keep |
| hollowness of the water tells you if it is a good | | | | notes or markings on his maps. This will be his |
| location. | | | | source of best bass fishing locations for his |
| 4. Do you know what Water clarity of the | | | | enjoyment for years to come. |