Duckett: Confidence In Lures
Like a toddler clutching a tattered piece of fabric, bass anglers have their own versions of security blankets. They're called "confidence baits." These go-to baits migrate toward the front of the tacklebox and find their way into the daily fishing arsenal time after time.
Sharing Water
You've worked hard all week just to make it to Saturday, the one day you can forget about work and other obligations and enjoy a little time on the water. It's a glass calm morning, and as you zip up the lake, you anticipate getting to the honey hole that you're sure has never seen another angler. But as you round the corner, feeling the anticipation, your heart sinks as another fisherman approaches from the other direction.
Success in Fast-Rising Water
Have you ever had a weekend bass fishing trip in which everything seemed to be coming together as you envisioned it, only to see the beautiful pattern you had pieced together evaporate overnight due to an unforeseen rise in water levels? How did you adapt?
When to Put Down the Topwater
Many bass anglers have a strong affinity for topwater lures. There's something addictive about watching a bait that is gurgling, sashaying, and spitting across the water's surface disappear in an angry boil. The thrill of the strike may be enough to entice the weekend bass angler to throw a topwater lure even when conditions are no longer prime.
Lessons Learned the Hard Way
Every angler who has fished a bass tournament surely remembers that first morning. You were nervous and anxious about the unknown that lay just around the bend uncertain of the outcome but convinced that you were living in the moment. Then, of course, there are the mistakes that were made that first time the things that can only be appreciated in hindsight.
Terry Butcher: Spinnerbait Bass on Braided Line
Bassmaster Elite Series has seen the resurgence of the braided line.
Beaten From The Back Of The Boat
It can be a true test of character when a day of fishing turns into a day of watching as the angler you are sharing a boat with sets the hook time and again while you remain fishless. At some point, all bass anglers experience this frustration. How you deal with it can be the difference between a depressing day on the water and a successful trip for both anglers.
Following Your Instincts
Every human is born with survival instincts that are heightened and developed over time. For the professional bass angler, it's no different. While the bass pro's fishing instincts may not spell the difference between life and death, it can spell the difference between cashing a check and going home empty handed at the conclusion of a tournament.
