Largemouth love to seek protective covers like rock ledges, logs, artificial structures, and vegetation. They seek the clear, quiet, and still water, though they can readily adapt and thrive in other types of habitats. So, if you’re a tyro in fishing for largemouth bass, you might as well read on to learn more about largemouth fishing.
In a world full of varying fish species, how can you zero in on the ideal target fish? Well, it depends on where you will fish. If you would fish in a freshwater lake, you might as well go for largemouth bass. The largemouth bass are usually found in most fresh and brackish waters. They thrive in slow-moving streams and rivers and often move in school. Yet, you will often find the adult ones alone. You might also discover some small areas where you find several adult basses, but these adult basses do not congregate or interact with each other.
Bodies of Waters Where Largemouth Bass Live and Thrive
Largemouth got introduced into different countries and regions because it is a popular sport fish. However, it sometimes causes the early extinction or displacement of the native species of its new habitat because it is a voracious predator. In colder waters, the largemouth is always dangerous to native fish like trout and salmon. However, each water habitat allows largemouth to develop their unique habits. Hence, it will be best to know these habits and the location type you will be fishing in to have better success in catching this fish:
Rivers
You might think it unlikely that you will catch largemouth bass in rivers. Yet, they inhabit brown river water, and if you know where to focus your attention, you will surely catch some big ones. If you want to fish for largemouth bass on rivers, it will be best to select a river that directly flows from a lake because you can quickly figure out where the fish will be moving based on the river current.
You can focus on backwaters where the current is a bit less. Remember that largemouth bass will likely bite if it traverses water with less current. However, it will be best to refrain from fishing in dead waters.
But when you fish on the back current, you should consider focusing on the rocks near the muddy bank. Look for a small waterfall or any slightly submerged pipes.
There, you will sometimes find a congregation of largemouth bass. If you notice that the river current goes weak, look for largemouth bass in the river’s main channel. Remember always to take note of the current when fishing for largemouth bass.
Ponds
The pond is another body of freshwater that can serve as a habitat for largemouth. Fishing in a pond inhabited by largemouth bass is the easiest. So, if you happen to have a pond nearby known to be inhabited by largemouth bass, you can try catching it there during your leisure time. Moreover, statistics show that you will likely catch twice as many largemouth basses when fishing in the pond than in a river or lake.
You can find largemouth bass in the upper arms or ends of ponds. Besides, the best time to catch largemouth bass is in late springs and early fall during early morning hours. As the temperature rises, largemouth bass will likely move to the deep waters of the pond. During winter, largemouth bass would dwell more in the shallow waters for warmth during the daytime.
Streams
Another freshwater body you can try to catch largemouth bass is the stream. Streams are like miniature rivers, and if largemouth swims up the stream, they would likely gravitate around structures, covers, and spots with enough food supply.
They would probably dwell along ledges, holes, spillways, sand bars, gravel bars, undercut banks, and near shorelines where there are wood coverage and vegetation.
You will likely find them in slack water, foraging for food. Besides, they would be swimming along the current. As a rule, largemouth bass tends to hang out very near moving water.
Lakes
One of the best places to find largemouth bass is the lake. You should go to the lake if you want more adventure in catching largemouth bass. You can find them out in the deep water or along the shore. However, if you know where to find them, you will likely have a shot at catching them.
Lakes, of course, vary from one another. But on average, the ideal temperature for catching largemouth bass in lakes is during the spring, when the temperature for fishing is at its best. During this time, the largemouth bass has already undergone the spawning season.
Largemouth bass will likely go deeper during the colder season to find more warmth. If you want to avoid coming out emptyhanded, it will be best to know where the largemouth bass hangs out in the lake.
The lake, of course, is larger than the abovementioned bodies of water. As such, you need to understand the behavioral patterns of largemouth bass to catch them effectively.
Essential Factors to Consider When Fishing for Largemouth Bass
Experienced anglers usually make use of various ways to catch largemouth bass. Yet, if you’re a beginner in catching largemouth, it will be best to be familiar with the following essential factors to consider when fishing for largemouth:
Seasonal Temperatures
The water temperature will play a crucial role in determining where to fish for largemouth bass. Largemouth bass thrives in waters with temperatures that range from 30°F to 90°F. Although they have a better way of adapting to changing water temperature, they would rather stay in warmer waters.
Besides, the weather will play a vital role in your success in catching largemouth bass. If it rains, for example, during spring, and the rain is warm, you can expect to be successful in catching largemouth bass.
Water Conditions
Largemouth bass thrives in slow-moving to stagnant water with enough coverage and vegetation. They would likely hide or take cover in those vegetations. So, it will be best to be mindful of these spots when chasing largemouth bass.
Besides, they like to dwell more in waters about 6 to 20-foot deep. They feel uncomfortable under bright sunlight and shallow waters, considering they are very defensive.
Moreover, you can find success in fishing for largemouth if you fish for them in current breaks where there are boulders, logs, or docks that break the current. They also like to lounge along current breaks.
Season for Spawning
Another factor you need to consider when scheduling your fishing trip to your favorite lake is the spawning season of largemouth bass. The male largemouth bass will start building nests when spawning. They would use their tails to make this nest, moving debris at the bottom of the lake.
They would usually build this nest on gravel, sand, or muck bottoms. Hence, you will likely find them in shallow waters such as backwaters, shallow bays, and channels during the spawning season. The depth of these spots is around one to four feet.
Covers and Structures
As mentioned above, largemouth basses are pretty defensive. They would likely hide under covers and structures to protect themselves. These covers or structures can be anything. It can be an island or a hump that juts out off the shoreline, the edge of weed lines, or rocks.
As mentioned above, they have the habit of dwelling at the bottom of the water body. Yet, water temperature and season changes can also dictate their behavior.
Largemouth loves to inhabit near the bottom of the water body, where there are underwater structures that sank deep into the water. They would likely hide between roots or weeds.
They would also take cover under rocks while waiting for their prey. Besides, they would make the underwater structures their reference point to delineate their territory. Hence, if you really want to catch largemouth bass, it will be best to check out these underwater structures.
Changing Behavior of Largemouth Bass Throughout the Different Seasons
Like many other marine creatures whose lives depend much on seasonal changes, the largemouth bass also lives according to seasonal changes. Being mindful of these seasonal changes and how the largemouth bass reacts to these changes can help you succeed in catching largemouth bass:
Spring
When spring takes over the winter, largemouth bass will likely migrate to the shallower waters to spawn. The water of the lake, for example, will begin to warm up during spring, and bass will start to move out of the deep. They would also seek the shallower waters of the secondary creek channels or near the shoreline.
The males will build the nests for the spawning of the female fish. Hence, you will probably find them near the shore in coves or on the drain edge during spring. When the temperature breaches the 60°F threshold, the largemouth will begin to spawn.
Summer
Summer, of course, follows spring, and during summer, the lake’s waters, for example, go up to 80°F or higher. Hence, fish like largemouth bass, being cold-blooded, will likely seek the colder parts of the lake. So, during summer, you will probably find them seeking the vegetation and staying near the shallow waters for feeding.
They would also stay deep when the sun is at its zenith because the surface water will be hotter. Besides, stratification happens during mid and late summer. This means that there is less oxygen in the deeper parts of the lake. So, the largemouth bass will likely move out of the deep.
Fall
Largemouth bass will become a bit very active during fall. They would need to feed more often to prepare for the coming winter. They would usually roam around the creek channels that lead to the main water to forage for food.
Winter
Largemouth bass will feverishly store up as much energy as possible during winter. You will likely encounter them still actively moving around in shallow and mid-shallow water, trying to make a last-ditch salvo for finding food. But when the deep winter sets in, you will only catch largemouth bass if you engage in deep-water fishing.
As the temperature dips to 50°F, largemouth will go deep to twenty feet or more because it is warmer in the deeper strata of the lake. So, you need to be creative when fishing to lure them to the upper strata of the waters. Nevertheless, most anglers would not fish during winter. They would likely move to other warmer fishing grounds or wait for the spring.
Conclusion
When catching largemouth bass, you need to use the best fishing techniques to ensure success when fishing. You can use artificial lures for this purpose, depending on the conditions of the current. You can also use the drop-shotting method, wherein you suspend a plastic bait over a weight via a drop-shot knot.
Jiggle it up and down and let it rest. Keep your line tight to get the feel of the bite. You can also use Senko worms which are considered the easiest to use artificial lures. You can rig the Senkos either Texan or Wacky Styles. Lastly, you can cast them out without weight in the shallow waters and use a little weight when fishing in the deep waters.