Midwest Bass Fishing Tips

Fishing for bass in the Midwest can be a very frustrating or a very enjoyable experience, according to your attitude and preparedness to undertake the mission. Each area of this country - or of the world for that matter - has different techniques that will work to land the lunkers of your choice. One of the most important things to remember is that the habits of the fish are established according to weather patterns and water quality and conditions.

The Midwestern weather patterns are extremely different for each time of the year, so fish have established yearly patterns that can be charted and used to success. If you are not familiar with these patterns you could be in for a frustrating trip, but if you do your homework you should be able to not only find the fish, but catch them easily and successfully.

For the winter, remember that the fish will be deep and suspended most of the time. Even in the cold the fish still have to eat, if in more limited amounts than other times of the year. The trick is to go to where the fish are and irritate them to the point of wanting to get rid of the annoyance. If you get lucky on a warmer day and find the spots on the lake that have plenty of sunshine or warm water run-in, you can be pretty successful with a bright lure, especially one with noise, such as a buzz bait or rattling lure. Catch them in early morning sun or late afternoon sun-warmed water, hitting those spots as they feed. This should get you catching a few fish for your ego boost and a really good time, not to mention a good story!

In the spring, as we all know, the fish are eating voraciously and preparing for the early spring spawn. Pea gravel banks will be what they are looking for, so find these and skirt the edges for the feeding fish, or the stragglers that haven't yet spawned (or are just trying to get in on the action). Hit those fallen trees in the water's edge, and any other structure that could hold food, such as hatching crawfish or newly hatched minnows. The fish will be aggressive when on the beds, but not for food - mainly for protection of their spawn!

Summertime calls for an avid fisherman to dig deep into his arsenal - and his soul - to figure out the weather conditions and feeding patterns of the elusive bass. Normally as the weather warms, so too will the water temperature. This means that the fish are going to move deeper into the water and stage except during morning and evening feeding times. Deep water lures, in particular plastic worms and deep water crank baits, will be the lure of choice during this time. Watch the fish finder, and be patient, the fish will either move eventually or you will annoy them to the point of biting out of aggravation!

Fall is such a beautiful time in the Midwest United States. The heat of summer is starting to fade out, and activity on all levels is starting to increase. For the bass it means prep time for winter sluggishness, and feeding becomes a little more frenzied - if you know where and when to look! Watch the weather channel. Ahead of the fronts at this time are usually thunderstorms or heavy rain showers. During these warmer rains the fishing can be incredibly good, and top water in particular, should catch fish like a charm. Spinnerbaits and shallow diving crank baits will be your favorite friends. Once the front passes, though, the fishing can get pretty tough, due to the activity that preceded it. It calls for a lot of determination and knowledge of the particular lake in order to have a successful fishing day. Find the fish and establish what pattern they are on. Then throw to this weakness!

Having fished all the seasons in the Midwest, you will now be ready to fish anywhere with success. In a lot of other areas of the world there is not as varied a climate change during the seasons, and the fish are a little easier to pattern since there are less seasonal changes. No matter where you fish it is always a good idea to at least read lake and fishing reports that are current for the area you would like to fish. Every lake, every stream, every ocean has its own patterns, and the fish that live there have their own way of living, so what applies for one does not necessarily apply to another. Practice and knowledge are the two most important qualities to have when Midwest bass fishing!