Fred Raby
Volbasser@att.net
Pensacola
Blue
Angels
Bass Page
hook.
com
"FISHING WITH FRED"
covering tidal waters and impoundments
LOW PRESSURE…WHERE'S THE FISH
Summertime the fish have been active, reports of big stringers are everywhere. You pack your tackle, load your boat and go to your favorite river…but you can't boat a keeper…sound familiar?
All too often the fish are affected by the frontal systems that slip in and create those afternoon thunderstorms that keep the summertime temperatures just bearable. The question is where do the fish go, or a better question is what does it take to catch them in these conditions.
The bass will stay in their own favorite places, possibly moving a little deeper but still in the same general area as before the front. You can count on them being tighter to the structure and with jaws tight.
They can be taken with the right baits and a lot of patience. Small finesse worms, lizards and craws are good choices. I like the Crawdude by Zetabait in a natural color, pumpkinseed, or crawfish colors are harder for bass to resist. Select a bait you are confident with and wear out the spot where the bass should be, make repeated casts until something is different. You may not feel the strike, but you notice your line 'tick' or start to move against the current…set the hook. All too often the fishermen miss the hit and feel the bass spit the bait and set air.
Another technique in these conditions is go to a smaller crank bait, crank and pause, bump the stump and pause, do anything that will make the bait a little easier for the bass to take. Again set the hook anytime you think something is different.
It's not always easy to remember what to do on the water, but if you can remember with a low pressure system to use the above techniques you will catch more fish.
Good luck and let me know if this works for you.
Fred Raby
