General
My idea of an ideal bass mark.
Game
Coarse
Sea
Coverstory
Tackle
Finding the Perfect Bass Conditions As we wait for the water temperatures to rise and the bass to start switching on, Steven Neely has some tips on what to look out for on your next trip.
T
here is a common misconception amongst anglers that bass are hard to catch – this simply isn’t true. The struggle that most people have is locating the fish in the first place. This article should help set out the basic foundation for what to look for next time you go out bassing. My bass fishing is centred round lures, be it throwing shallow diving plugs over reefs or bouncing soft plastics down an estuary. Of course, some of the principles still apply for bait fishing but in this instance I am coming from a lure angler’s perspective. The key to success is to get the right combination of location and conditions. If you can hit a likely spot on perfect conditions then the odds are massively tipped in your favour. Structure and food Like many predatory fish, bass love structure for two main reasons; firstly it provides sanctuary for a variety of food sources and secondly it creates cover for them to ambush their prey. The format and composition of the structure will depend largely on the type of food source present. There are many different types of structure to look out for: Gullies Reefs Boulder fields Rock spits Weed beds Sand gutters, troughs and holes Sandbars Each type of structure will present the bass with a different food type, for example a sand bar will provide shelter for sandeels, sea trout, mullet and so on, whereas a gully or boulder field will provide cover for gobies, blennies, crabs, shrimps and so on. If you begin to understand the correlation between structure and food type then you can tailor your tactics and approach to suit. If I’m going to fish a sandbar or trough in a beach I will consider using soft plastics that best replicate sandeels or use small shads designed to mimic juvenile sea trout or mullet. If I was fishing over the rocks, I would try and replicate small fry, mackerel, pollack and so on, depending on the time of year. It’s always worth exploring the ground you’re about to fish to see what food is present on a mark. This will give you a starting point for your lure choice – think about colour, shape, size and profile. With the exception of beaches and estuaries, bass love rough ground, but I feel this is what puts a lot of people off. This ground can be hard to fish if you’re not prepared. Shallow diving plugs, surface lures and weedless soft plastics are all perfect for fishing shallow, snaggy ground which bass scour for food. Make sure you carry a selection and keep trying various options until you find one that works – think about matching the hatch, so to speak. Tides Now that you have looked for structure and food it is time to look at the tide. This will affect when the fish are present on any given mark. Quite often rising tides produce the best fishing as they bring the fish closer to the shore and therefore
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72 Irish Angler April 2013
April 2013 Irish Angler 73
General
Game
Coarse
Sea
Coverstory
Tackle
Island Ambush point
Direction of current
Shoreline with rocky point
Ambush point
Diagram explaining current flow and ambush points.
within casting range. Pushing tides will also wash baitfish inshore and trap them between the shoreline and the surge of water and where you find baitfish, you will often find feeding bass. Take a series of gullies for example. When the tide is low it is unlikely the fish will be present, whereas when the tide floods it is quite probable that the bass will run up and hunt the gullies for food. The same thing can be said for boulder fields, as the tide floods or rises over the boulders it dislodges food from their hiding spots. Bass will take advantage of this and move in to scoop up a free meal. Do not be restricted though to fishing rising tides, however, as some structures fish better on the drop. Be careful though when fishing rising tides as they can cut you off in certain areas if you are not careful. Always be mindful of your exit point and water depth. You do not want to get stuck on a rock and wait for the tide to drop again – believe me I have! All joking aside, safety takes priority so until you know your marks well, always err on the side of caution. Inshore reefs are a good place to target as the tide recedes as the baitfish often get pulled out from the shore and congregate around the reef systems. The majority of these reefs are maybe 70m offshore but a good distance cast with a plug will often produce a fish cruising the surrounding area. Beaches are another mark which fish well on the drop, especially if they have troughs or gullies which run parallel to the beach itself. These lateral depressions are churned up by the crashing waves ripping up worms, shrimps, sand-eels and trapping other baitfish in the wash. These can be especially deadly when fished at night as the bass gain confidence to come into shallower water. As always, there are places which will fish effectively both on the rise and the fall. Estuaries are classic examples – here the rule is to fish the last two
Weed beds are ideal cover for crabs, shrimps and other small baitfish.
74 Irish Angler April 2013
hours of the drop and the first two hours of the push. This helps maximise the chances of covering fish which are dropping back towards the bar mouth and then running back up with the tide. The key is to get out and start exploring your marks at various states of the tide. There is no law to say that a location will not fish during both states, but it requires a certain amount of persistence, time and experimentation to learn when the most productive periods are. Spring lows are probably the best time to go exploring for new marks or to help develop your knowledge of old ones. When the tide is at its lowest you can see the exposed ground and determine where the gullies and ambush points are and where the fish are likely to be feeding. As painful and absurd as this sounds it is worth going out and leaving the rod at home, just for the purpose of exploration – really get to know your marks inside out. Current This is somewhat more complicated than reading the tide and the two must not be confused here. The current will dictate the flow of food on a mark. Baitfish are often helpless in strong currents as they can not fight against them and bass will use this to their advantage and lie up to intercept their free meal washing past. Therefore current will also help you locate the fish’s ambush points (See diagram above). Current can be difficult to interpret – it’s much easier to read in an estuary for example as it often (but not always) flows in the direction of the tide. On a rock mark however, current can come from any direction and you may also be faced with several current rips on one mark. Do not dismiss the importance of understanding current. If you can learn to read current and determine its path, it will pay dividends in the end. A
simple way to track its movement is to cast a floating lure into the water and watch the direction it floats. Try casting at different distances, this will help you locate the strongest flow. Once you have studied the direction and speed of the current you can then begin to look along its path for structure such as rocks, gullies or weed beds. It is in these spots where bass will lie in wait for their next meal. Although bass are predators they will, if possible, exert as little energy as they can when finding food. By utilizing the current, bass can allow the flow of water to bring food to them, thus allowing the fish to feed for longer without expending as many calories. Soft plastic paddle-tails are ideal for casting and drifting along in current, especially with no weight attached. This allows the lure to drift naturally past any ambush points which bass may be lying in. Casting over these areas with hard lures and surface plugs is also effective, trying to draw them to strike.
Rocky gullies provide perfect cover for bass to hunt on the flooding tide.
Wind This is possibly the biggest curse for any angler but what we often fail to realise is that it is vital in creating the perfect bass conditions. Bass love lots of life in the water. Forget flat calm, you need some fizz. An onshore wind is perfect for injecting that required buzz in the water. Not only does it help stir up food it also helps oxygenate the water, allowing the fish to feed for longer without getting tired. Bass are also a lot less cautious when there is life in the water. Turbulent water increases their drive for feeding and decreases their naturally spooky attitude. Everyone has their own opinions about wind direction. Some say that when the wind is in the east the fish bite least. Take Co Waterford for example, it fishes best when there is a southwesterly blowing whereas Co Wexford will fish best when there is a southeasterly. This is because they are onshore winds which kick up the sea and create that life that bass prefer to feed in. It will pay off to learn which wind direction creates the best conditions on your section of coast. Comfort and personal ability Some fishing locations are more demanding than others. You will find marks which you can simply park your car and walk down to the rocks and start fishing. Others may require a hike and then a scramble down a cliff. There is always a location out there to suit your level and ability. I do urge you however to think about safety first – exploring remote marks is a sure way to find fish, but remember to tell someone where you are going and if possible never go exploring on your own. Be wary of tides and if you do intend to try your hand at night fishing be sure you know your mark inside out before venturing out. Of course those who push the boundaries and step into the unknown are sometimes rewarded with that dream fish, but it’s not worth risking your safety. Use your judgement wisely and get out and start analysing your marks. Setting yourself apart from the crowd Next time you go out plugging for bass be sure to think about the various
Boulder fields provide in an interesting contrast to a sandy shoreline.
factors which effect when, where and how bass will feed. Exploring and developing your knowledge of your mark will set you apart from the rest of your angling buddies. Of course there is a lot to do with lure choice and presentation but that only comes into play once you have found the Bass in the first place. This time of the year is perfect to leave the gear at home and go for a scout around before things start to heat up and the season starts in full flow – get out there and get a head start on your fishing mates. Useful tools For access routes acquire a good OS map of your chosen area. It will also help you determine which direction your mark faces. More detailed information on the terrain can be found by consulting one of the many satellite imaging programmes on the internet.
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