Bass

Derek Strub is one of Canada’s foremost authorities on all things smallmouth.  Through years of experience, he’s identified a period in the fall when smallmouths will only key in on blade baits and jigging spoons.  Once you dial them in, they’ll just about rip the rod out of your hands.

Much like spring, a prime feeding window opens once water temps delve into the low 40’s and low 50’ as fish will school up.  As the water gets colder, the metabolism of smallmouth slow down considerably, yet they begin to attack fast moving reaction baits.

by Pros4- 1Source's Dave Landahl

While many tournament anglers are still pitching and flipping throughout the country, professional bass anglers like Mercury pro Jimmy Houston are done for the season, at least as far as the professional tournaments go.

While driving to film a television show, Jimmy took a few moments to steel himself and to step up to the plate and take his best swings at Three Questions.

DL - Would you rather live in Mexico or Alaska?

In the fall, fresh off their summer laziness and in anticipation of their winter chill, bass want to get fat. They are the finned equivalent of the offensive linemen who strike fear into the heart of buffet restaurant owners. These bass have big mouths, big eyes, and big appetites.

Mark Zona doesn't have the time or tolerance to mess with small fish.  He’s got a deal pinned down that involves big bass jigs, stout rods, offshore vegetation, and monster largemouth.

Underspins are one of the most underutilized lures in bass fishing today. Learn Nitro Pro Jason Williamson's strategy for using this bait year-round.

Many experienced or seasoned bass anglers will tell you that there is a special thrill that comes with watching a bass practically pop up to the surface behind your topwater bait.

Both for professional bass anglers and those who engage in crankbait fishing for recreational purposes, summertime is unarguably the best time to go bass fishing for obvious reasons. For starters, this period  marks the end of the bass spawning season.

Spinnerbait, spinnerbait. Where for art thou, spinnerbait? Ahem, the "Bard" I ain't, but I do so long for the spinnerbait to become a top-of-mind choice for bass fishing fans once again. Sure, walk into your local tackle outlet and you'll see walls and walls of them. They must be a great bait, right?

There's no better way to beat the late-summer heat than tangling with smallmouth on your local river or stream. Don't forget to pack these essential lures before heading down to the water

Shade fishing is important for catching bass on hot summer days usually in July and August. And, catching big bass in the late summer is not as difficult as you might think.