• Bass fishing can more enjoyable for those who follow tipsbass image by Liz Van Steenburgh from Fotolia.com
  
  Fishing can be a family or individual pastime and can take place in all different bodies of water, man-made and otherwise. Bass is a name that encompasses a variety of fish, but the most commonly known bass are the small mouth, large mouth, and white bass. These species can be found in ponds, lakes, and river ways. There are many tips and tricks to fishing for bass, and to be successful when fishing for them it helps to understand their behavior.
  
  

Casting

• For the novice fishermen, it is a good idea to practice casting before attempting to fish for live game. Practice casting a rod with a large plug on land. Try to cast the rod and slow the spool as the plug hits the ground at the desired location. The goal is to cast with the elbow and the wrist only. Tilt the reel on its side when casting. The purpose of practicing is to learn how to control the spool.
  
  

Seasonal Behavior

• Seasons have a big influence on bass. To catch bass successfully, it helps to know their behavior. During colder months, all bass tend to move slower and seek out warmer water because they are a cold blooded species. Spawning for most bass takes place in shallow water during the spring months. To catch bass during the early spring months, seek out coves and tributaries where the sun's rays easily penetrate the bottom. The eggs of bass are incubated by the heat of the sun, so bass can usually be caught in these shallows. During summer months, bass will move to even shallower water to find warmth. Large mouth bass mainly migrate to open water during the fall to hunt and consume shad and it can be difficult to catch them during these months for this reason. A good tip is to cast uphill in the spring and downhill in the fall.
  
  

Color

• Bass respond well to the color red. If the water is dirty, use a deep shade of red. If it is overcast or if the water is dark, use purple colored bait. Brown bait works best in fall months. In their natural habitat, bass will feed on night crawlers, so bait that is brown and blue will grab their attention. Sharpen hooks before setting out to fish. Not all hooks are sharp when purchased. Thin fishing line is best because bass are less likely to notice it.
  
  

Bait

• Allow the bait to fall to the depth necessary when fishing for bass. Once the bait has been cast, shake the rod slightly; this will trigger the bass to notice the bait. Taking things slowly is the key when fishing for bass. If the fish do not bite immediately, stay patient. Drop the bait back down and slowly reel it back up. Cast near banks and brambles and pay attention to the temperature of the water. Remember, bass are cold blooded so they are more likely to inhabit the warmest water.