Every bass fisherman wants to catch more bass. Even the pros share this sentiment with the rest of us. But for the beginner, it is a little different. As a beginner, you can and will catch more bass with plastics. The use of plastic lures is one of the easiest techniques to learn. There are a few things to know that will help you along the way.
Shapes Plastic lures come in a variety of shapes. Everything from frogs to crawfish, worms and even smaller fish is available. To have a well rounded tackle box, you need to have a wide variety of different shaped plastics at your disposal. The one you use in any given situation should match what is naturally fond in the area you are fishing. For instance, you should not fish a snake lure in a lake where snakes are not a natural inhabitant.
Colors There are just as many colors available as there are shapes. The color of the plastic you choose can be very important. Every angler has a favorite that works for them, so you just need to find the one that works for you. The basic rule of thumb is that when the water is stained, a brighter color may work better. A darker color may work better when the water is clear.
Technique The most important thing though is how you present that plastic. What you want to do is make the lure act in a natural manner. If using a bait fish plastic lure, it should be retrieved in a way that makes it look like a swimming or injured fish. When using a worm, a simple twitch of the rod tip will elicit strikes from aggressive bass.
By a wide margin, the most commonly used plastic lure is the worm. Plastic worms are simple to use and easy to rig. They come in various lengths from about 7" to 11"and can be rigged with or without weight.
A plastic worm should be retrieved with a "lift & fall" retrieve. Simply put, this means you cast it out, reel in some line, raise the rod tip a little (from 10:00 to 12:00) to lift the worm, and then let it fall back down naturally. Most bass will hit on the fall, so you need to pay attention to your line and feel the strike through the rod. This technique will help you take more bass from the middle of the water. Don't worry; you'll know when you get a strike.
When weather is a little warmer, bass will go deeper to find cooler water temps. During the summer, the use of a drop shot type rig can boost your success greatly. A drop shot style rig is easy: tie the hook about 18" from the end of the line. On the end of the line, tie a small weight like a 3/8 ounce or ½ ounce sinker.
What happens here is that the weight sits on the bottom and the plastic worm floats about a foot and a half above, kind of like waving in the breeze, so to speak. The "lift & fall" retrieve is still the preferred. Try a few different retrieves to see what works for you.
You can catch more bass with plastics and give more meaning to your fishing excursions when you master the basics.
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