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"Timely Tactics for 'Negative-Mood' Largemouth"
By Justin Hoffman
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Nothing can frustrate an angler
more than targeting largemouth
bass that are in a definite
finicky mode. The more lures you
throw at them, the more they seem
to turn up their noses and
silently mock your futile efforts.
If fronts, dog days of summer or
pressured fish are bringing you
down, try these proven tactics in
order to put more largemouth in
the boat during these "tough
times."
There are a number of reasons
why largemouth bass seemingly shut
down and refuse to bite any
offerings that you may send their
way. The number one cause of
negative-mood bass is fronts. This
is a stable weather pattern that
is interrupted by a sudden
temperature and barometric change.
(Think 80 degree F weather for a
straight week ending with a dip
into the low 60's.) Another reason
may be severe heat that causes
bass to seek cooler water and
shade for comfort. Finally there
is the case of pressured fish that
have seen every conceivable lure
thrown at them and become
conditioned to let every single
one of them pass it by. (This can
often happen on "popular" lakes or
during tournament days.)
Recognizing the fact that one of
these conditions is affecting the
fish on your body of water will
enable you to adjust your patterns
and lures accordingly.
Rule #1:
S-l-o-w D-o-w-n
Fish that are in a
negative mood are not willing to
chase down a fast-moving
presentation in order to feed.
These fish are downright lazy, and
can only be coaxed into hitting a
bait that is fished ultra slow. A
rule of thumb I use when facing
these conditions is to at least
double my retrieve time for each
cast. This is at the bare minimum
and may change to as much as
quadruple the amount of time
depending on how finicky the fish
really are.
Negative fish have an
extremely small strike zone in
comparison to actively feeding
bass. Keeping your bait in this
strike zone and for longer periods
will be your key to increasing
your hookups. Many times this zone
may be only inches out from a
fish, therefore, slowing down your
bait will ensure that you remain
in this small window of
opportunity for the greatest
amount of time.
Rule #2:
Downsize Your Bait
Big crankbaits, large
worms or bulky flipping jigs hold
no interest for a negative-mood
bass. They will continually turn
their noses up at these offerings,
but they can be coaxed by a
smaller version of the same lure.
Small tube jigs, mini cranks and
light flipping jigs have all
accounted for many finicky bass
over the years, and continue to be
my top three choices when it comes
to "seducing" largemouth bass. A
smaller offering will seem less
threatening to a bass, and will
appear much more natural and
edible to these weary fish. (A
well-presented "Itsy-Bitsy Bug" or
a "Three-Inch Tube" represents an
after dinner mint when slowly
pulled by these sulking fish.)
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Colour also plays a
factor in provoking strikes, and I have
found it best to stick with the most
life-like and natural colours you can
find. Brown, silver, white and black are
recognized favourites and will
out-produce gaudy colours by a country
mile. Making your presentation appear
like something straight from nature will
be the key to more and bigger fish under
these conditions.
Rods and line should also be
downsized in order to handle these
smaller baits. A medium action spinning
rod with six to eight-pound test is my
mainstay when fishing under these
conditions and has helped to put many a
bass in the boat over the years.
Rule #3: Apply a
Scent Product
Playing into a largemouth's
superior sense of smell will be a step
in the right direction for ultimate
success. If your bait doesn't smell
alive or edible a bass will surely pass
it by - and in these tough conditions,
you need everything to be right in order
to up the odds in your favour. Smell and
taste may be the last stimulus that
causes a largemouth to strike, and it
had better be favourable if you want
your hook to connect.
There are vast arrays of commercial
scents on the market, and my best advice
is to try a number of different kinds in
order to see how the fish ultimately
reacts. I have had great success with a
product called "Real Craw" by Riverside
that uses actual crawfish in its
formula. Another product that looks
promising is "Crackle." This interesting
product not only emits a smell and
taste, but also an attracting sound.
Whichever your choice, applying a scent
regularly and liberally will both mask
and attract, and ultimately entice a
largemouth to take a bite.
Rule #4: Stay
Focused
Targeting negative-mood
largemouth can be a tough and tiring
game, but they can be beat by changing
your approach and tactics. Concentration
is extremely important while out on the
water, and the angler must be ready at
all times for that strike to occur.
Bites will be harder to come by in
comparison to "normal" conditions, and
watching for a slight bump of your line,
or detecting a soft hit through your rod
will be the keys to unlocking this
mystery.
Catching negative largemouth is a
challenging and rewarding experience for
anglers willing to give it a try.
Breaking from the norm will reward you
with lunker bass and make every day on
the water a fulfilling one. |
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