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Bass Fishing the Reeds
Author: Nic Di Gravio
Article:
When it comes to finding Bass I never, and I mean never pass up a good old reed bed. Reeds are Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass magnets! A good quality reed bed has me bursting with excitement especially when they are in 3 to 6 feet of water.
There are a few simple key issues to bear in mind when fishing the reeds. The most valuable one I have learned is the importance of a cast with good distance. I know you're probably thinking a good many fish could be lost because of the distance casts, but have you thought of the hook ratio compared to not fishing this way at all? We have to keep in mind that reed beds do not have much between the fish and you as far as cover goes. It makes sense that the farther away we are, the less sensitive the Bass are. The more natural their surrounding is the more prone they are to pursue their prime target; the bait!
Another key issue is the trajectory of the cast itself. A thick reed bed will not allow flipping or pitching because of its height above the surface of the water, normally in its full summer growth. The trajectory I like to achieve is high and long. Basically I aim for the sky! You can use any method you like for getting it up there, but the result will be the same. The bait falling from the sky will get in between the reeds better than a bait thrown horizontal.
I have fished countless hours in reeds and watched other anglers perform the normal casting routine. I would wonder how long or how many Bass hook ups it would take before they would finally ask, "I don't get it! We are using the same bait!" When I would mention the distance and falling from the ‘sky' cast they were quickly convinced because of the hook ratio and now I was on the net! By all means!
Sparse reed growth is a very different scenario altogether. The traditional ways of catching Bass still produced, but I found the distance ‘sky' casts would accomplish far more hook sets. We may wonder why this is but if you think about it the less dense the weed growth, the fewer sound waves it will absorb, so dense matted weed growth will absorb more sound making the Bass less weary. Therefore, when bait is put in the ‘less dense' reed bed environment from a distance the Bass strike because they have nothing to fear.
If at first you don't get a hit, ‘dead stick it', leave it there for just a few minutes just in case the Bass is thinking about it! After you are convinced there is nothing there, work it back slowly, letting the bait slide across and around the reeds. Do not horse it back or you will get hung up no doubt! It can be frustrating at times so rigging weed less is a definite must. Finessing a bait Texas with the hook embedded is the way to go in reed fishing
Bass fishing in the reeds can be rewarding! With this type of, you might say, ‘unorthodox' method of fishing you might not get every Bass into the well, but the hook ratio itself is proof they are in there! And when you do get one to the boat, it's a dandy!
Born In Guelph, Ontario, Nic, his wife Lawney and their son Lorenzo now call Kitchener, Ontario their home. Nic feels very lucky having a family that supports him in all his fishing endeavors.
Even though Nic has thirty years of fishing experience, he still feels that you can never stop learning. His love for Bass fishing has brought him to the Pro Bass Tournament trail. In his first year going professional, Nic has two top ten finishes and was a Classic Qualifier in the C.S.F.L Bassmania Pro Bass circuit, placing eighteenth over all.
But Bass fishing is not Nic’s only love. In the Spring his passion turns to downrigging for salmon, where he competes in Salmon Derbies. Already, he has a first place win under his belt. And if that’s not enough to keep him busy, you can find him chasing Walleye, Pike, and even Muskie. You name it, Nic will fish for it.
http://www.probassfishing.ca has fulfilled a life long dream for Nic. Not only because of his active tournament angling and multi species fishing, but because he gets to share t
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