Page 34 - Lady Bass Digital Magazine June 2023-Revised

The Devil is in the Details

Achievement arises from alertness, confidence, and concentration! An avid angler concentrates on the cast,
boat position, wind direction, water conditions including depth, clarity, and temperature. Of all of this, the
most useful information comes from the quarry itself! If an angler listens, the bass tells them how to catch and
not to catch them.

Try to learn something from every cast. Concentrate on what each cast can tell
you. Are the fish in the cover, or not? Maybe the problem is your lure, whether
that be the size, the color or the presentation. Once you get a bite, all of that
information is even more important. What was the bite like? Was the bass in
cover? What was the cadence or speed of the retrieve? What kind of retrieve?
What was the depth? What is the water clarity? What is the water temperature?
What time of day? All these things are pieces of the bigger puzzle.

Concentrating on every clue that lead to a strike can lead to the next strike.
Where did the bait hit the water? Where did the bait land in relation to the cover or structure you were fishing?
What was the position of your rod tip…high, low, etc.? What was the speed of your retrieve? What was the
depth? Can you repeat the placement, retrieve and depth?

Pay attention to your surroundings. Keep an eye out for baitfish
and how they are reacting. Is there bird activity? Why are the birds
doing what they are doing? What is the direction and speed of the
wind? How will it affect your cast and or boat position? Which di-
rection are the fish facing because of the wind or current? Are the
bites coming from the shady or bright side of the cover? Is there
a change in water clarity? If so, where are the fish positioned in
relation to that change? Each of these plays a role and must receive
your attention throughout your time on the water.

The way a bass strikes the bait can provide a lot of helpful information. Was the strike a slight tap, a resounding
thump or did it just get heavy? Was the fish barely hooked or did it swallow the bait? Did it short strike the bait
or did it roll on the bait and get hooked in it’s side or outside of the mouth? All of these are key pieces of infor-
mation that can help you make any necessary changes. Remember, jarring bites often come from very active
fish, while light taps and nibbles more than likely come from inactive fish!

If an angler can determine where the bass are holding in the water column, it can help you to determine the
activity level of the fish. Determining this can help you refine your lure selection and presentation. In general, if
the bite comes in the upper third of the water column, the bass are likely to be very active and willing to chase
baits that are flashy and faster moving. Strikes coming from the middle third of the water column are likely
moderately active and can be enticed with suspending
lures. In this mood, a more precise presentation is need-
ed. Bass who strike in the bottom third are the least active
bass in most cases. They are less likely to chase bait. They
will still bite, but a long chase is not going to happen.

Concentration is key!

34 Lady Bass Anglers Association The Devil is in the Details