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Bass Fishing

How to Fish for Bass in the Fall

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The days are shorter and colder. However, there will still be days full of sunshine where you are just itching to get your boat in the water one more time.

It turns out autumn is still a good time to bass fish. Here are the five most common questions about it, as it’s different than spring or summer fishing.

 

Is fall a good time to bass fish?

Yes, however, you have to think like a fish to be the most successful. First, remember they are feeding all the time, filling up their bellies for a long winter. Second, they are continually moving, so you have to as well.

 

How do you fish for bass in the fall?

Use spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and top-water baits.  Vibrating, rattling lures like a crankbait are productive when water temperatures are falling. Spinnerbaits work well in the wind. Top-water baits work when you are fishing along the shoreline without a boat.

For more the lures, check out this YouTube video.

Provided by Wired2Fish

What do bass feed on in the fall?

 

They feed on anything that resembles a shad or shiner.

 

Where do bass go in the fall?

Boat docks can also be a great place to target bass this time of year. Look for wood docks, on which algae grows below the waterline. Other areas include coves, bays, and creek arms. But remember, they are continually moving, so you must do so as well.

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What is the best tip?

Autumn is a time when patience wins out. You will have to try several baits. What works one day might not work the next. Be ready to fish fast, and by all means, please be versatile!

 

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Your boat is more than a hobby. It’s an expression of who you are. And you want to keep it secure. We understand. We’ve been helping boaters keep their boats safe and achieve greater peace of mind for 35+ years.  Let us know how we can help you by calling us at 440-899-9820, Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm EST.

 

 

The 4 Best Bass Boats of the Year

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Now is the best time to start shopping for bass boats as the 2020 models are being retired, and the 2021 ones are making their introductions. Here are the four bass boats in 2020, as ranked by TripSavvy.

Please remember if you want to install The Key Captain remote locking system on your boat while at the dealership, we’ll coordinate your installation with your dealer.

Here are the best bass boats.

 

 

Best Overall: The Puma FTD

The Puma FTD continues its legacy as one of the most popular models in the Bass Cat Premium category. At 20’4″ in length, it carries the necessary footprint for maneuverability in tight areas. The forward recessed foot pedal positions anglers for pinpoint accuracy and efficiency at all times. When it’s time to head offshore, the 94″ beam will give you the confidence to span waves without sacrificing stability. Twin 26-gallon fuel tanks provide the range to make it out there and back with no worries.

Price: $69,000

 

 

Runner Up: Nitro Z21

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Bred to be a champion, the NITRO® Z21 is our most advanced bass boat, designed with Bassmaster Classic Champions Kevin VanDam and Edwin Evers. The Z21 is our biggest performance bass boat, but doesn’t it doesn’t sacrifice speed and performance for size. It’s got room at the console and the bow for flush-mounting 12″ fishfinders, plus a heavily-insulated cooler under the step up to the bow deck. Low-profile gunnels feature integrated nav lights, and advanced deck drainage keeps your gear dry in the roughest conditions.

Price: $45,600

 

 

Best Under $30,000: Ranger Z175

The Z175’s tournament-inspired design is evident from bow to stern and is complemented by spirited, economic performance. An 8-foot rod box and gel-coat-lined, insulated step cooler, massive starboard storage, and integrated tool holders highlight the front deck. At the same time, power is provided by 115 horses hung on an integrated setback for peak performance. The cockpit features premium seats covered in marine-grade vinyl for sharp looks and all-around comfort, while the cantilevered console delivers more space and houses standard Lowrance® electronics. The timed, aerated livewell is flanked by a pair of oversized storage boxes in front of easy-to-reach battery access. Complementing the on-water performance of the Z175 is a hand-built Ranger Trail® trailer that’s custom made for years of peace of mind off the water. The swing-away trailer tongue makes this compact rig even shorter for more storage options. Each time you back it down the ramp, the Z175 boasts prominent features and a big attitude.

Price: $30, 500

 

 

Best Aluminum: Crestliner 1750 Bass Hawk

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Whether you’re angling walleye, muskie, or bass, this multispecies Deep-V hull fishing boat can take you where you want to go. You can easily navigate from the dock to the main lake basin, and then over to your favorite shallow water fishing hole from the new, premium console, which features multifunction chrome gauges, space for 12″ flush mount electronics, and much more.

The all-welded wide beam hull adds extra stability, and the variable degree deadrise allows you to make tighter turns and still feel in control. In addition to massive casting decks at the bow and stern, the amount of accessible storage is incredible. The 1750 Bass Hawk comes standard with a large 28-gallon livewell and an illuminated center rod locker that can hold up to 15 rods up to 8′. It all adds up to a zero-compromise, multispecies-catching machine.

Price: $30,700

 

 

About Sarasota Quality Products

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Your boat is more than a hobby. It’s an expression of who you are. And you want to keep it secure. We understand. We’ve been helping boaters achieve greater peace of mind for 35+ years.  Let us know how we can help you by calling 440-899-9820 today!

 

The Differences Between Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass

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When anglers head for their respective tournaments, it is essential to know what type of bass they will likely run into in the waterways. It turns out, even though smallmouth and largemouth bass can live in the same freshwater waterway and they can often be the same size, they are quite different species.

Let us take a closer look at each.

 

Smallmouth Bass

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The smallmouth bass is in the sunfish family. They are often known as “Brown Bass.” It is a popular game fish sought by anglers throughout the temperate zones of North America.

Smallmouth does not get large, often topping out around ten pounds.

They are usually more acrobatic in the water, often seen trying to throw a hook when caught.

You can find smallmouth bass in cold, northern waters like the Great Lakes. They like the cover, hunting around it. However, they swim in clear waters and are found in challenging currents.

They stick to shallow water during the spring and fall. When the weather turns hot, they migrate to deeper waters. They are rarely in groups.

 

Largemouth Bass

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The largemouth bass is a carnivorous freshwater gamefish in the sunfish family, generally native to eastern and central United States and northern Mexico. They are often referred to as a “Green Bass.”

They have a large mouth with an upper jaw that extends past the eye and can weigh in at twice the poundage of their smallmouth cousin.

They are not jumpers and prefer warmer waters, like Lake Okeechobee.

Largemouth bass loves the thick cover, making it optimal to fish for them in murky water. They avoid strong currents.

Largemouthers spend their summers in shallow bays and creeks.

 

Brought to You by Sarasota Quality Products

 

Whether you are fishing for smallmouth or largemouth bass, it’s essential to have the right reels, rods, and lures on board. And of course, you want to make sure everything is locked and secure in your boat. For the best remote locking system around, order the Key Captain!

High Speed Reel versus Low-Speed Reel: What’s the Difference?

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Pro Angler Gary Klein recently used a high-speed reel at a tournament on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, and he loved it. “My whole key that week at Heavy Hitters was to fish as far away from the boat as I could, so I made long casts and speed reeled as fast as I could,” said Klein.

He did two casts per minute, physically working as hard as he could.

The results? He put 22 fish for almost 68 pounds on SCORETRACKER to advance to the Championship Round.

“Speed reeling is something I’ve always really loved to do. You have to have relatively clear water – you can’t pull the fish to you in dirty water,” Klein noted.

With his success, doesn’t it make sense that every bass fisher should go to a faster reel?

The answer is it depends on the fisherman’s goals and the conditions they are fishing in. The speed of the reel is all about gear ratio; in other words, how many times a spool will spin per crank of the handle.

Here’s a good comparison of high- versus low-speed reels.

High-Speed Reel

Anything above 5-to-1 is considered high speed for spinning reels. There are reels on the market that offer faster gears, up to 8-to-1, but most of those high-gear reels have a smaller spool.

This is an excellent reel when the water is clear, and you want to:

  • Cast quickly and far away from your boat
  • Retrieve your lure fast
  • Hook into a fish close to a structure; you can get them away from it quicker

Low-Speed Reel

Low-speed reels lend themselves towards heavy jigging, surface casting, or where pulling power comes as a priority to line retrieval.

If you want to retrieve your lure slowly and the water conditions are not excellent, slow reeling is a better option, especially if you are not in a tournament or are teaching your family members to fish.

 

Brought to you by Sarasota Quality Products

Your boat is more than a hobby. It’s an expression of who you are. And you want to keep it secure. We understand. We’ve been helping boaters keep their boats safe and achieve greater peace of mind for 35+ years.  Let us know how we can help you.

How Each Bass Fish Pro Angler Is Ramping Up for Tournament Season

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For the last three months, all Major League Fishing (MLF) tournaments shut down due to the coronavirus. That has left all pro anglers’ home during an ordinarily busy season.

The good news is the tournament season is starting back up on June 10, 2020.

Here is a snapshot of how four pros have been spending their time.

 

Pro Angler Kevin VanDam

 

Kevin has spent much of the last two months fishing with his family and focusing on ways to reduce hunger, especially with school-aged children.

“I’m an outdoors person by nature, and that’s the one safe place you can actually spend time. I’m never [usually] home this time of year. I’ve fished with my boys quite a bit. Nationally, fishing license sales are at an all-time high,” VanDam, a Michigan native, shared with WOOD-TV.

Kevin, fellow angler Boyd Duckett, and NASCAR driver Martin Truex, Jr. helped raise $30,000 to support the ALL IN Challenge to provide food for those in need.

To learn more about how Kevin has been using his time off, click this video: https://www.woodtv.com/sports/pro-fisherman-vandam-social-distances-outdoors/

 

Pro Angler Greg Hackney

 

With all the rain we’ve had over the last two months, Greg has been working on catching bass in muddy waters.

“Whether you’re fishing in dirty or clear water, a largemouth is a sight-oriented feeder. He’ll only be as deep as the light is penetrating…within 10 inches of the surface,” Hackney told the Louisiana Sportsman.

He reminds all sportsmen to be persistent when the waters are cloudy. He often uses a spinnerbait or a half-ounce jig during these times.

He has spent much time on the Mississippi River, tagging many of his social media entries #quarantine.

 

Pro Angler Edwin Evers

 

“I’d never trade this time that I’ve had at home. The month of April, we’re never home. I’ll always remember this. It’s a bad, bad thing that’s going on [COVID-19], but man, I sure have enjoyed my time here at the house and with my family,” Evers shared with Tulsa station News on 6.

He’s noticed many people fishing to fill up their free time.

 

Pro Angler Alton Jones, Jr.

 

“It’s about never stop practicing. In every event, I’ve noticed it more that you have had to develop something [new] every day,” Jones shared with BassFan.com.

During this time, he’s studied the fishing techniques of Jacob Wheeler and Edwin Evers via their YouTube channels and the Outdoor channel.

“I notice in all my best finishes…they came up with on-the-fly adjustments. I have to speed up my game. Personally, the break has not been super difficult. It’s been nice to spend time at home. Usually, at this time of year, we hardly know where home is,” Jones continued.

 

Sarasota Quality Products Wishes All Fishermen the Best with Their Tournaments

Your boat is more than a hobby. It’s an expression of who you are. And you want to keep it secure. We understand. We’ve been helping boaters keep their boats safe and achieve greater peace of mind for 35+ years.  Let us know how we can help you.

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