| Splitshotting can mean the difference between | | | | contact. Once you realize that you've lost the feel |
| taking a cold boat ride and a great day of | | | | of the weight against the bottom, and your depth |
| catching fish. Invest the time to practice this | | | | hasn't changed significantly, you have to put two |
| technique and you will have more fun bass fishing | | | | and two together and get ready to set the hook. |
| in the cold winter months. This and other Bass | | | | The preferred hook set for this technique is called |
| fishing techniques are required to master the art | | | | a sweep set. Once you have detected a fish |
| of bass fishing. | | | | holding your bait drop the rod tip towards the |
| If you put the time in, you will soon learn how to | | | | fish, reel down to the point of feeling resistance |
| master the fall and winter bass fishery in British | | | | (or just shy of that point) and 'sweep' the rod |
| Columbia. Your efforts will be rewarded with | | | | horizontally away from the fish. |
| exceptional smallmouth bass of trophy sizes. | | | | If the rod loads up good and you're sure that |
| Remember though it takes roughly 8 to 10 years | | | | you've got the hook in the fish just fight him to |
| for a smallmouth bass to attain a weight in | | | | the boat. If you set the hook and it didn't feel |
| excess of 5 lbs., so conserve your catch by | | | | solid you may want to set the hook a second |
| practicing responsible catch and release methods. | | | | time. The drag on your reel should be set tight |
| Well the cold weather has put the bass into their | | | | enough that it doesn't give on the initial hook set. |
| winter patterns. Forget about rip baits, spinner | | | | But it shouldn't be set so tight that a larger fish |
| baits and crank baits. Now is the time to break | | | | can't take the line if needed. |
| out the finesse gear. One of the most common | | | | British Columbia, Canada's foremost sport fishing |
| techniques for getting bass to bite during this | | | | web site containing BC saltwater fishing, BC |
| season is splitshotting. It is a fairly straightforward | | | | freshwater fishing, maps, fishing tackle news, |
| technique and requires little investment in terminal | | | | sport fishing destinations, fishing tips and |
| tackle. | | | | techniques, editorials, articles and much, much |
| The hardest thing there is to teach a bass angler | | | | more. Inside you'll find everything you need to |
| learning to splitshot is detecting the bite. The bite | | | | tackle trophy fish of all varieties including salmon, |
| will vary according to the activity level of the fish. | | | | halibut, steelhead, trout, bass, and sturgeon to |
| There will be times when they pop the bait hard | | | | name a few. They also had their own approach |
| and you will know immediately that they are | | | | and techniques regarding bass fishing. |
| eating the bait. Other times there will be a soft, | | | | Since the best spot to catch bass is never on |
| almost imperceptible tick and then nothing. And | | | | weeds and cover, use weedless lures when |
| finally there is the dreaded pressure bite. The | | | | possible. This will cut down on the expense of |
| pressure bite will take two forms. | | | | losing lures. |
| The first way to describe a pressure bite is you | | | | Bass exist in a wide variety of temperatures, but |
| will feel a slight resistance to pulling your line | | | | tend to get inactive during a cold front. Fish swim |
| forward. This is somewhat like hooking a soft, | | | | deeper during the sunniest part of the day. Sun |
| spongy rubber band. The second pressure bite is | | | | seems to adversely affect bass fishing. Seek out |
| when you lose contact with the bottom. | | | | shady spots or deeper water with cover. On |
| A bass has picked up your lure and is just | | | | cloudy or overcast days try shallower waters. In |
| following along with your forward movement. This | | | | cold water, retrieve your bait slower. Fish tend to |
| is why it is so important to maintain bottom | | | | react slower in colder temperatures. |