| Fishing for bass in the Midwest can be a very | | | | Summertime calls for an avid fisherman to dig deep |
| frustrating or a very enjoyable experience, according | | | | into his arsenal - and his soul - to figure out the |
| to your attitude and preparedness to undertake the | | | | weather conditions and feeding patterns of the |
| mission. Each area of this country - or of the world | | | | elusive bass. Normally as the weather warms, so too |
| for that matter - has different techniques that will | | | | will the water temperature. This means that the fish |
| work to land the lunkers of your choice. One of the | | | | are going to move deeper into the water and stage |
| most important things to remember is that the habits | | | | except during morning and evening feeding times. |
| of the fish are established according to weather | | | | Deep water lures, in particular plastic worms and |
| patterns and water quality and conditions. | | | | deep water crank baits, will be the lure of choice |
| The Midwestern weather patterns are extremely | | | | during this time. Watch the fish finder, and be patient, |
| different for each time of the year, so fish have | | | | the fish will either move eventually or you will annoy |
| established yearly patterns that can be charted and | | | | them to the point of biting out of aggravation! |
| used to success. If you are not familiar with these | | | | Fall is such a beautiful time in the Midwest United |
| patterns you could be in for a frustrating trip, but if | | | | States. The heat of summer is starting to fade out, |
| you do your homework you should be able to not | | | | and activity on all levels is starting to increase. For the |
| only find the fish, but catch them easily and | | | | bass it means prep time for winter sluggishness, and |
| successfully. | | | | feeding becomes a little more frenzied - if you know |
| For the winter, remember that the fish will be deep | | | | where and when to look! Watch the weather channel. |
| and suspended most of the time. Even in the cold | | | | Ahead of the fronts at this time are usually |
| the fish still have to eat, if in more limited amounts | | | | thunderstorms or heavy rain showers. During these |
| than other times of the year. The trick is to go to | | | | warmer rains the fishing can be incredibly good, and |
| where the fish are and irritate them to the point of | | | | top water in particular, should catch fish like a charm. |
| wanting to get rid of the annoyance. If you get lucky | | | | Spinnerbaits and shallow diving crank baits will be your |
| on a warmer day and find the spots on the lake that | | | | favorite friends. Once the front passes, though, the |
| have plenty of sunshine or warm water run-in, you | | | | fishing can get pretty tough, due to the activity that |
| can be pretty successful with a bright lure, especially | | | | preceded it. It calls for a lot of determination and |
| one with noise, such as a buzz bait or rattling lure. | | | | knowledge of the particular lake in order to have a |
| Catch them in early morning sun or late afternoon | | | | successful fishing day. Find the fish and establish what |
| sun-warmed water, hitting those spots as they feed. | | | | pattern they are on. Then throw to this weakness! |
| This should get you catching a few fish for your ego | | | | Having fished all the seasons in the Midwest, you will |
| boost and a really good time, not to mention a good | | | | now be ready to fish anywhere with success. In a lot |
| story! | | | | of other areas of the world there is not as varied a |
| In the spring, as we all know, the fish are eating | | | | climate change during the seasons, and the fish are a |
| voraciously and preparing for the early spring spawn. | | | | little easier to pattern since there are less seasonal |
| Pea gravel banks will be what they are looking for, | | | | changes. No matter where you fish it is always a |
| so find these and skirt the edges for the feeding | | | | good idea to at least read lake and fishing reports |
| fish, or the stragglers that haven't yet spawned (or | | | | that are current for the area you would like to fish. |
| are just trying to get in on the action). Hit those | | | | Every lake, every stream, every ocean has its own |
| fallen trees in the water's edge, and any other | | | | patterns, and the fish that live there have their own |
| structure that could hold food, such as hatching | | | | way of living, so what applies for one does not |
| crawfish or newly hatched minnows. The fish will be | | | | necessarily apply to another. Practice and knowledge |
| aggressive when on the beds, but not for food - | | | | are the two most important qualities to have when |
| mainly for protection of their spawn! | | | | Midwest bass fishing! |