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