Before you get a fishing boat hire and set out to catch a bass, first understand bass behavior. Successful bass fishing is dependent partly on the skill and partly on your knowledge of the fish. Below is an outline of key bass tendencies that will help you to understand bass behavior and successfully catch a bass.

Bass Habits

Bass move closer to the shore just before nesting. The pre-nesting period is also commonly called pre-spawning. Mostly, pre-spawning commences in spring. This is a great time for you to catch a bass because both the female and males feed aggressively at the shore. Also, at this time bass attack anything that would be a threat to the eggs, including your bait, which means that trapping them will be quite easy.

Bass swim in the direction of the current, and you can assess the current from the direction the wind is blowing. Make sure you fish while you're facing the wind so that the bass won't get to your boat first and be alarmed. You're chances of baiting a bass will be high as the bass will most likely bite the bait.

Bass Weather

Bass don't like the hot weather and direct sunlight, and they will hide under shelters when the sun is out. Therefore, the best time to catch bass is on a cloudy day. Also, they tend to become active right before a storm. So, if you notice dark clouds are gathering, let down your bait, and you will likely catch a bass. However, don't wait for the storm to start.

If you want to increase your chances of trapping a bass, move close to bass shelter points, such as submerged tree stumps, coves, and thick clumps of grass. You will likely catch a bass in this shelter areas. Also, once there is a cloud cover on a hot day, the bass will start to come out of the hiding place, and it's a sure bet you're likely to catch a number of them.

Bass Bait

Before you choose the bait you'll use, it's good to know which type is best. For instance, bass diet changes with the seasons. Late in the year during summer and fall, bass prefer shad for food, whereas in the early first half of the year they mostly feed on crawfish. Using the right seasonal bait or an imitation of the seasonal bait will increase your chances of success.

Also, bass diet varies a bit depending on whether you're fishing in freshwater or salty water. If you're fishing in salty water, then the best baits include salty water organisms such as worms, salty water crustaceans and prawns. However, if you're fishing in freshwater, then opt for freshwater crustacean, small fish and tadpoles.

Your chances of catching a bass will be higher if you lure them with their favorite bait, know their favorite spot, and understand their behavior.