Night Fishing For Largemouth Bass

In the still of the night lurks the hunted, when it is most unexpected and the prey is at their optimum vulnerability. This can be a great advantage for anglers to conquer their most sought after prey, the largemouth bass. Night fishing can be one of the most invigorating experiences in a bass fisherman’s career amateur or professional.

Why is bass fishing at night beneficial?
First of all only 10% of all fish species feed in the daytime, because their feeding preferences are so commonly night- oriented. In the dark, bass have a lesser ability to sense shadows, perceive noises, and see their surroundings. They can’t sense the things that deter them from biting that hook. These are some essential reasons that one should be acquaint themselves with the supple rewards of catching quantities of massive- sized largemouth bass. Fishermen can be more efficient, effective, and productive at fishing in the dark, if they choose the prominent feeding times to fish for that extreme largemouth trophy bass.

Planning your night fishing excursion
If you are eager to begin your night fishing ventures, you must be aware of your surroundings as you need to be knowledgeable of different terrains in the water. Preparing your night fishing is begun by checking out the terrain during the day. At night things are very different, even if these are waters that you have been familiar with for years. You must remember to move slowly as things are indistinguishable in the darkness. The first and foremost issue is safety all the time, so keep this in mind as you enter the dark water. It sometimes is a good idea to carry a wading staff, and check the depth of the terrain as you advance in the water.

What to wear night fishing
Night fishing outfitting can vary according to personal preference; however the things that usually come in most handy are commonplace. A standard outfit can make the trip more comfortable based on the weather conditions and the season. Summer is chiefly when night fishing is pursued, so that is what the focus will be on for now. Night fishing garb for summer:
Light khaki shirt and trousers
Hiking boots or tennis shoes
A light vest with many pockets
A head lamp
Plenty of insect repellent

You can use this outfit for wading or boat fishing. Even though night fishing in the summer is the most common, you will have to decide if you want to use waders or hip boots when you go into the water, or just use more comfortable "wet wear", it's up to you and your personal preference. In some cases it is just easier to go into the water with your tennis shoes and get a little wet, especially in the warm summer water. There seems to be consensus regarding wading into the water at night vs. using a boat. Wading is much quieter and there is a lesser chance of alarming the fish than in a boat, the choice is yours dependent upon your desire to be in the boat or enter the water.

How to catch largemouth bass night fishing
One of the most successful techniques to catching largemouth bass at night is one of the simplest as well. Use surface plugs that run very shallow when retrieved and move as slowly as you are capable. There is no need to rush this kind of fishing, as a matter of fact, in this case slower is better. Since large- mouth bass eat almost anything, frog imitations are very successful for night fishing. You can try any kind of lure, but make sure it is near the top and during the retrieving, stays near the top and doesn't sink too much.

To fish at night can certainly be an extremely motivating and inspiring experience. Getting out of the heat of the day, breathing in the calm night air, and relaxing in the dark abyss which embraces the best of the fishing life are a refreshing change. Night fishing also enables one to escape the masses during the day when everyone is out, (especially on weekends) and the noise is enough to drive even the deafest fish away.

The best results occur on the calmest and quietest of nights. The less wind the better, as it can present more difficulty in controlling the boat and the line. Once you get experienced at fishing at night, you can almost hear the fish in the quiet of the night. When you become the night-fishing expert you will be capable of practically casting the line and hooking straight into the mouth of that Extreme Largemouth Bass you have been waiting for.

Antique Lures

Antique Fishing Lures for Bass Fishing Enthusiasts

As you become an avid fisherman and even in the early stages, there is one type of fishing that is sometimes even more rewarding than catching the large mouth bass itself. By this I mean "fishing " for the ever elusive antique bass lure. This is an art among itself.

If you ever wanted to be a treasure hunter and a fisherman, looking and searching for antique lures can be a most rewarding experience. Lures have been used for many, many years and the availability of antique lures is becoming scarcer and harder to find. Fishing as a hobby is one that is enjoyed by various people, searching and collecting antique fishing lures can be enjoyed by both the fisherman and his family, son or daughter.

New fishing lures are developed to be the state of the art and "new" technology, one must keep in mind that in days of old, there were only the lures of the day, and believe it or not, Large mouth Bass were caught even then without all of the new gadgetry.

The new era fishing lures are designed and developed to be sleek and take on a live bait appearance, the antique lures have a different look and feel all together. Even the materials that they are made out of are different in many aspects. While the new lures have a polymer design, many of the antique lures were made in a time before all of these new composite materials were even developed, therefore many are made of wood.

Over time, the wood will wear and the bright colors will fade and the enthusiast collector of antique lures will surely have a great find to come across a lure in perfect condition having never been deployed and still with the original wrappings.

Finding and buying on antique lure is challenging at best, nonetheless, that is the excitement of the hunt when you can locate an antique lure in places unexpected. There are many places to search for these antique lures, and once you become good at searching you will be the great fisherman in both bass fishing and catching the elusive antique lure.

Some of the best places to search in an easy way, is on line in auctions. Besides the standard auctions that we are most aware of on the Internet, there are local auction houses in your neighborhood that may have the occasional fishing tackle up for grabs.

Don't be surprised if there are others in the water looking for the same treasure as you, so be prepared to go up against the best of fisherman who have been at this for years.

Antique fishing lures tell a story and many collectors have had their lures passed down in the family for generations and were there to see and tell the story of their grandfather using a particular lure to catch the "big one" when they were just a child.

There is a personal attachment to these lures and if you have someone you know that may be a little older and was at one time an avid fisherman, you may just want to ask them if they still have their old equipment, you just might be surprised if you listen to the old fishing stories, that you may be rewarded for your attentive listening ear and valuable time by giving an "old timer" a chance to reminisce about the "good ol' days, and find yourself walking away with a relic to call your own.

Largemouth Bass Fishing - Lake Fishing For You and Your Loved Ones

Fish caught on a lake fall into three general headings: Game fish, Food fish, and Forage or Bait fish. Largemouth Bass, fall under the general heading of Game fish. Anglers, both amateurs and pros, enjoy tournaments every year and compete for large sums of money all over the United States. Whether you are an old hand at fishing on a lake or a beginner it can prove to be extremely fun. For the novice, it will be important to master the correct rigging, casting, type of bait or lure etc., in order to get the best enjoyment possible from their experience.

Therefore, we will be discussing some tips that could help the new angler, master the art of lake fishing and catch that extreme long sought after Largemouth Bass like the pros. First, knowing where the fish live, and making sure Largemouth Bass inhabit the lake you are fishing on will give you the edge to find your prey. Ask at the bait shop for Lake Maps and any information that will assist you in your quest. The local fisherman are keenly aware of the "special" places they catch their best bass and may be willing to share that information with you. At times, it may be prudent to hire a guide to assist you if you are new to the area and unfamiliar with the lake. Second, If you are fly-fishing remember that you are working the line not the fly. Fly-fishing is an art and takes many years of practice. Keep in mind that the fly is but a passenger, which is attached to the leader. Be gentle and have finess, don't snap the line like a whip or you'll loose your fly.

Instead use a smooth, snappy kind of stroke with the same type of movement as you would a whip but not as hard. The art of Fly-fishing requires one to have the "proper timing" and timing is one of the most important factors in the backcast and forward cast. Third, The most popular lake fishing is done mostly with larger, sturdy rods. Largemouth Bass can and do get quite large, easily weighing over 12 pounds. If there is a large abundance of food combined with a safe habitat, largemouth bass can get so large that your wildest dream of catching the extreme largemouth bass will come true just as if you were a pro. Landing a large fish such as this will provide you with a lifetime of memories. Keep in mind that catch and release is commonly practiced today and ensures that the population of fish is intact for the next generation. Be prepared to take lots of photos to capture the moment and have those memories forever.

When going out to catch largemouth bass, the ideal length and weight of the rod is about 8 ½ feet in length and from 4 to four and three quarters of an ounce in weight. Casting with a rod and reel is just as much an art as Fly-fishing and can take lots of time and practice in order to become confident in placing your cast right where you want it. Take your time and learn to cast with your rod and reel using a practice plug. Before long you will be able to land any cast exactly where you want it.

One day you may just cast your lure right into the mouth of the extreme largemouth bass of your dreams and land it just like the pros. Lake fishing really is not difficult to master and with a little patience you will be coming home with your share of Largemouth Bass and a camera full of photos of your day out by yourself, with friends, or with your family and loved ones. With a little patience and practice, the novice can become a successful angler in the lake. I wish you a lifetime of happy fishing and memories.

The Taxonomic Hierarchy of the Largemouth Bass

Scientifically Known as Micropterus salmoides a species of fish in the sunfish family.

Micropterus is Greek, meaning "small fin". Salmoides is from the Greek salmo, meaning "trout", and refers to the fact that largemouth bass have been called "trout" in some southern states.

Largemouth bass are native to North America. They can be found at St. Lawrence, Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River Basins, the Atlantic drainages from North Carolina to Florida and to northern Mexico. The species has been widely introduced as a game fish.

In Case You Were Really Interested In The Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom Animalia -- animals
Phylum Chordata -- chordates
Subphylum Vertebrata -- vertebrates
Class Actinopterygii -- ray-finned and spiny rayed fishes
Subclass -- Neopterygii
Order -- Perciformes, perch-like fishes
Suborder -- Percoidei
Family -- Centrarchidae
Genus -- Micropterus
Species -- Micropterus salmoides