Lure Fishing - Lake Fishing

Lake fishing can be a daunting task, depending on the size of the lake. If the lake is very large it is sometimes difficult to know where to start fishing. Generally if you are a bass fishing beginner you should stick to smaller lakes and ponds where there is not so much scope for failure. Fishing in smaller dams and lakes will generally hook you smaller fish, but not always. It will give you an opportunity to gain experience about where the fish might be hiding, how to read the conditions, how to manage and use your fishing gear and tackle.

The thing to remember when approaching a lake, is that while the lake might look flat and uninteresting there are often unseen places where the bass will lurk. This is because the structure of the lake bottom, the contour of the lake, is quite different to how the lake might appear on the surface. If there is nothing else on the bottom of the lake (highly unlikely) the humps and bumps in the sand will create preferred hiding places for the small and largemouth bass. Look for a spit of land that pokes out into the water like a point. This might create the sort of underwater terrain that the bass might frequent. Can you see a place in the water where it is a lighter shade? This might mean that the water is shallower at this point and might be productive.

The next thing to look out for is whether there is any sort of cover for the fish. Are there any boat docks on the lake? Bass love to lurk near to (and often under) docks and use these as an ambush point. Are there any dead tree trunks in the water? Look for places where there are rocks that protrude above the surface of the water. Aim to fish around these obstructions from different angles. Look for weeds that give way to sand or rocks. Perhaps there is some sort of overhanging tree that creates a bit of shade – often shade is all the cover a bass will need.

If all else fails just fish anywhere. This may sound stupid, but often with a bit of luck you might catch a fish without really having had any real plan – remember the more chances you give yourself the more fish you will catch.

When starting out fish with lighter tackle. Remember, with light fishing gear, lure fishing for even the smaller fish in the lakes will be exhilarating.