It doesn’t matter how many times you step out of your car, into the clear, crisp, refreshing morning: the exhilaration, inspiration and joy of dawn fills your soul just as freshly and liberally as on your very first experience. It’s wonderful to rise early and be invigorated by the birth of a new day. Of course, if it’s the first day of bass season that doesn’t hurt either.
My wife and I slipped the canoe into the glass still waters as countless tendrils of fog rose twisting from its dark green surface, the trees silhouetted clearly on the mirror-like surface. A great blue heron squawked loudly, voicing his displeasure as we disturbed his fishing, leaping into the air, his great wings beating furiously, the long dangling legs dragging in the water until he rose and disappeared into the low hanging fog with a final annoyed squawk.
Jane pointed at a muskrat sitting pretty as a picture on a log with a long stem of grass in his mouth. He quickly slipped into the water, his head making a rippling V in the water. The trees above us were filled with bird song and the flapping of wings as they flitted from branch to branch, drops of water falling as they disturbed the dew on the leaves of the branches.
Canoes are silent as they glide smoothly across the water and all the sounds of the animals, birds and singing waters serenade you as you paddle. Nearing a steep bank, several sunken trees were visible under the water. I fired spinner bait to them, letting it sink, and then started the retrieve. A smallmouth blasted the lure as only they can, jarring the rod in my hands and then catapulting out of the water in a shower of spray. What a sight and what a first cast!
With bass season knocking on the door, it’s time to get ready and perhaps review what we know about catching this great game fish. If you are just learning to fish for bass, I hope some of this information will help you.
Bass have tough mouths; it takes a rod with some backbone in it to set the hook. The minimum rod strength I would even consider is a pole with a maximum lure weight of 5/8th of an ounce. I wouldn’t hesitate to use a rod of 3/4 ounce to 1-ounce lure weight either. I prefer rods with a fast tip that stack quickly.  

The tip allows you to easily cast your lure; the fast stack means the rod becomes rapidly stiffer as it bends. You can test a rod by pushing the tip against the floor, the rod at a 45 degree angle. The first 12 inches should flex easily and rapidly, and then the rod should quickly become stiffer and stiffer until it quits bending just over half way back.
Another way to test your rod’s backbone is to use a reel and tie your line to an immovable object. When you snap the rod back, just as you would set the hook, the rod will bend quickly, then come to an abrupt, hard halt. You don’t want a rod that is soft and continues to bend. It’s the snap, the abrupt force that allows the hook to drive home.
A 20-inch bass that’s inhaled your spinner bait and closed his mouth has a firm grip on the lure. You are not going to move it easily. The line may slide sideways in his mouth, your line may have a slight belly in it and the fish will move sideways in the water when you pull. All this slack and give has to be removed before the hook even begins to penetrate. Fishermen have to set the hook very hard and often to insure you get a solid hookup.
Today’s no stretch braided lines really help you bury the hook. As long as we are on the subject, the minimum test I would recommend for lighter 1/4 ounce lures or live bait is 10 lb. monofilament. Throwing heavier lures 17 lb. mono is a good choice. If you are using a super braid don’t hesitate to use 50 lb. as the new lines are so thin and cast so easily the heavier weight is no handicap. Some brands knick and weaken easily so if in doubt, go heavy.
There are so many new, effective lures on the market today if baffles your mind. It is hard to go wrong with quality spinnerbait, though 1/4 ounce is a good all-around size. The trusty Rapala is still a killer in its various models as are Rooster Tails and Mepps. Plastic baits in a bewildering variety of shapes and sizes all produce fish as well as crawfish imitations and the dependable tube jig in smoke, pumpkin and darker greens. In the right conditions buzz baits and other surface baits can produce explosive strikes.
Live bait is an excellent producer. Soft shell crabs are terrific for bass. Hard shell crabs catch fish also. Leeches, night crawlers and minnows are deadly as well. Smallmouths are line shy in clear water, but so strong it’s hard to go below 10 pound test. A quality fluorocarbon line really helps here. A razor sharp quality hook about size 4 or 2 depending on bait size is a good choice.
So there you have it. A stiffer rod, quality reel, line matched to conditions and lure size with the right bait artificial or natural should get the job done.
Good luck and catch a big one!