This is a perfect time to take your boat out of storage, look it over, and make sure you have the proper amount of PFDs and other accessories on your boat.
Clean out each of your bass boat compartments and replace latches and locks.
Whether this is your second or seventeenth season, you may need some tips to change your game. Or you want to make it a family affair with your spouse and children. Whatever the reason, here are some great tips to keep in mind.
Find a Place to Fish
Start googling to find a public area that has public boat launches. Start by searching your county or city + public fishing access. For example, since we are based in Cuyahoga County, the Cleveland Metroparks is a great place to start.
Suppose you want to fish off the beaten path. In that case, you should focus on finding a location with public restrooms, waterways that are a short distance from your home, and other things that may interest your family (i.e., kayaking, swimming, camping).
Here are the Ohio sites identified for the best bass fishing by USA Today. Largemouth bass fishing areas in the northern part of the state are Portage Lakes and Pleasant Hill. In the south, go to Acton Lake and Burr Oak. Big Darby Creek, Kokosing River, and Scioto River in central Ohio contain healthy bass populations for smallmouth bass fishing.
Rig it Right
No beginner fishing tips can be complete without some discussion of rigging. There are two reasons why rigging is essential. First, a robust and well-tied fishing knot doesn’t break when you set the hook. Second, specific knots swim your lure to mimic natural bait.
Properly Swim Your Lure
Please think of how your bait naturally moves through the water and try to mimic it with your rod tip and reel speed. Pull up on your rod tip and reel down to gather the slack while keeping in contact with your lure. If you cast and reel as fast as possible, your lure will not look natural, and you’ll be lucky if you get a tug. Instead, swim your lure as the fishing spot dictates, and you’ll have more takes.
How to Tell if You Have a Bite
You will notice that you are getting a bite when your bobber moves up and down or drives to one side. Let the fish take the bait. Give the bite a 5-10 second count if your bobber is not entirely submerged. You likely have a fish hooked if the bobber moves erratically for over 5 seconds. If you do not give it 5 seconds, you risk pulling the bait out of the fish’s mouth while it exhales. The feeling for when to set the hook will develop over time.
Change Tactics if the Fish aren’t Biting
For beginners, topwater is fun as they can see both the bait and the bite. But if it’s not happening, a vital fishing tip for beginners is to know when to change tactics. One tactical change is to cast your bait deeper until you discover where the fish are. Add or subtract weight, use a jig or a spoon, or a metal-lipped jerk bait. Cover the water with a fan cast. Make a few casts in the area to your left. Make some out in front. Then make more to your right. If you’ve covered the area, different depths, and used a different lure and nothing hit, it’s time to find a new fishing spot.
Have Patience
Finding out where the fish are is rarely as easy as casting a baited hook near a mass of underwater weeds. So prepare to change lures, hooks, weights, knots, and even techniques throughout the day.
Remember, fishing is a process, and the better your technique, the more you’ll catch.
We Wish You Great Fishing Success This Year
Sarasota Quality Products produces marine and other industrial hardware, locks, marine latches, and stainless-steel hinges since 1983.
Our boat products are found on many recreational boats built in the United States, including bass boats, pontoon boats, runabouts, ski boats, deck boats, offshore fishing boats, flats boats, aluminum fishing boats, and center console boats.
Our boat locks, lift rings, and latches are unique in the industry; many have been granted U.S. Patents. We manufacture stainless steel access hardware and plastic lifts for boats, ships, marine crafts, and other industries. We are headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, and sell our products all over the United States.