Being a step ahead in any sport brings you closer to your goal. When fishing for bass you need to think like them. Keeping the right lures in front of bass bring your chances of making the catch much higher. Knowing bass' behavior, appetite patterns and movement will bring you closer to the big catch!
There are factors you can't control, such as weather, water clarity and season. Warm, overcast days are prime for bass fishing. Mosquitoes and other bugs are commonly out in a stronger force when it's cloudy, and they attract bass to the water's surface for feeding.
It may be common sense, but in high visibility water bass have a better vision of their prey. Use lures that have muted colors. In brackish water, stick to brightly colored and neon lures, particularly ones that create the most movement as bass will rely more on water vibrations when they can't see their next meal. Muddy water works well in concealing the hook as well!
Fish, like all cold-blooded animals, move slower in cold weather and their metabolisms become sluggish. Your chances of luring in a hungry, active bass are best on more temperate days (especially a warm day just after a cold spell!). Keeping in mind that bass prefer warmer water, they typically hang about in water that is ten feet or shallower as the sun's rays keep this area warmest. Also, like many wild animals, bass are inclined to feed in early morning and at dusk.
If you're fishing from a boat, try to hug the edges of the shoreline that have reeds, waterlogged decaying trees and lily pads. Bass camp out in these areas to avoid larger predators and to feed. Also, kill your motor just before you get to the area you want to fish in. Drift into the area instead as the motor noise will sound like a huge predator and the biggest bass will feel threatened and move off to a calmer area.
Typically fishermen and fisherwomen are looking for the big one. A big bass has a big appetite. If you want to catch a large bass then you need to use large bait. Live or fake frog lures and large minnows in lily padded areas will attract the size of bass you're hoping for.
Thinking like bass is pretty simple. Grab your rod and get out there! They won't see you coming!