Learning How to Catch Bass

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Daniel wanted to learn how to locate & catch bass and enlisted my help this morning. He would be accompanied by his son Onyx and hopefully he would have a better understanding at the end of the day. They have a cottage on a lake up north that apparently has smallmouth, but they are never able to catch any of the bigger ones!

After a long run to our starting spot, I instructed them on a drop shot technique. They were casting it out to a deep break and working it back when I noticed Onyx tight to a fish. He briefly had a smallie on the end of his line but it was short lived on the very first jump! Too bad as it looked pretty big!

After a little while Daniel soon fought a nice bass and this one actually made it into the net for some great pics. A quick release and they were back at it again!

I spent another 30 minutes having them work the area but despite a few missed strikes, we weren’t able to catch anything else. Time to relocate to another spot and change up presentations!

We pulled up onto a deep water shoal and this time I had them fish the drop shot vertically. It was a little tough for them to stay straight but eventually they managed to make it work. Both had several missed hits before Onyx finally locked up on a good fish. He was now into a quality bass and as usual, it went straight to the air. With the line kept tight, he was soon able to bring it close enough for me to net. This was definitely his biggest bass ever and several pics were taken before being released back to the water.

I made several drifts in various depths over the shoal but all we had to show for our time were missed fish. We would have to relocate once again!

I had wanted to show them a few different techniques and when we arrived on our next location, I did just that. One was throwing a blade and the other a soft plastic bait but this time we were shallow. I wanted to see if there were any aggressive fish in the area but soon found out there weren’t. I had seen a couple of fish swimming and made a cast back with a jig when the line jumped. I instantly set into a bass and handed the rod off to Onyx. Such a cool name! He battled this fish and was happy to be fighting another big bass. Most of the ones they catch are 6 to 10 inches from their lake up north! Now he was seeing what size they should be. Eventually another quality bass made its way into the net and pics were taken before the release.

I covered plenty of area and quite a few bass were caught by both along with a few nice walleye. All of them were taken on jigs as this seemed to be what was working. It also gave them a good idea of how to work these baits when they return to their lake up north.

I had wanted to get Onyx into a fish of a lifetime and when the action slowed, I relocated to try for sturgeon. Not knowing how it would be in flat calm, bluebird skies, I decided to head to an area that had recently been producing. Well it apparently was the right decision as it didn’t take long before he was fighting a good one. Both couldn’t believe the strength these dinosaurs have and with a little help, he managed to bring the fish to net. It was a struggle however and I needed to help him with holding his beast so that his dad could take a few pics. Back it went right after!

I switched gears quickly afterwards and went back to the shallows where Daniel managed to pick up a nice bass on a soft plastic. Too bad this was the only one in the short time we stayed! I did however get a chance to show them how to work a top water bait and ironically it was hit by a pretty good bass that didn’t remain on the line for long. Onyx was fighting the fish when it went down into the rocks and broke the line. I only hope the fish will be able to free the bait and not die!

Time had passed quickly today and I wanted to try back where we had begun, due to the poor results earlier in the day. This time however, it was much better and they were able to get a number of good fish including some keeper sized walleye to bring back with them. They would be having fresh fish for dinner tonight!

I made a couple more stops and managed to get into a few more bass and walleye before we were done. Time passes quickly when you’re catching fish!

Today proved to be a great success with several techniques being used. I only hope now that they have a better understanding of what to do when they get back on their private lake up north. I’m sure that if they practice some of these presentations, they will have success in capturing the better bass that inhabit their lake. I guess only time will tell!