Knoware House

Copyright 2006 Karin Manning

In the last 25 years the sport of largemouth bass fishing has grown into a billion dollar industry which shows no signs of slowing down. Their strength and aggression provides a thrill to fishermen who love this unequalled record breaking sport.

The more you understand and know about largemouth bass and the more bass fishing help you get the more successful you will be at catching them and receiving award winning trophies.

Largemouth bass are one of the best fighting fish in the world. What makes them such an extreme adventure for every fisherman is their aggressive nature.

Nearly every swamp, pond, lake and river holds a largemouth bass that’s keen to strike.

The trick is outsmarting them and getting them to strike; pro bass fishermen understand this and make good use of the bass fishing tip I’m about to share with you.

Here are the most common personality traits of expert bass fishermen:

1. Confidence

If you don’t believe in your ability to catch largemouth bass then you probably won’t be catching anything except a cold. They’re a bit like other animals like dogs and horses. They sense your fear, your insecurity, your unsuredness. Bag a bass more often by being confident in your own fishing abilities: your lure, your fishing techniques, your rod and your reel.

2. Patience and tolerance

Expert bass fishermen understand the long hours sitting in wait. Fishing, like no other sport, involves patience and sheer determination. Just because a fishing spot does not product instant fish does not mean it’s not holding fish. Expert bass fishermen have learnt that to snag a largemouth bass they must learn to fish one spot long enough before moving on.

3. Keep your cool

There is absolutely no room for anger in fishing. Pro anglers know that you can never let your temper get the better of you when bass fishing. Fish are very sensitive and it will affect your chances of getting a strike. It will also lessen the enjoyment of others around you. Never let your emotions take over.

4. Be aware of your surroundings and what Mother Nature is trying to teach you

Trophy bass fishermen have learnt to work hand in hand with Mother Nature. Mother Nature tries to show bass fishermen many things to help them bag the catch of their dreams. A pro angler will notice any changes in conditions, fish movement, current breaks, and floating lily pads. They will also be alert to where birds are feeding and where bait fish seem the most active. So stop fishing the hard way and start observing what Mother Nature is trying to reveal to you.

5. Be ready to act quickly

There is a lot of idle time when fishing. Bass fishermen in particular have to be alert and ready to act at a moment’s notice. Bass fish can strike at any time from any location and the only way you’re going to outsmart them and get the strike is when you anticipate their every move.

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The state of Maryland has a river called the Sassafras located in Georgetown, and connects with several other rivers, the Northeast, the Bohemia, and then to the Chesapeake bay. From Wilmington, Delaware, take I-95 south, until you see the Route 1 exit, by the Christina mall,(exit4), follow Route 1 south over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal bridge, and exit at the bottom of the bridge before the toll gate. Follow route 13 south to Boyd’s Corner, and turn right on route 301 south, follow the road 3 miles to the intersection of 301 and 71, Summit Bridge Road, and turn left at the light. Follow 301 south, towards the Bay Bridge. Follow this all the way to exit 290, Chestertown-Galena exit. Turn right on 290, and follow it about 4 miles into the town of Galena. Make a right at the light onto 213 north, by the Citgo gas station. Go about 2 miles down the road, and cross the drawbridge in Georgetown, at the Georgetown Yacht Basin marina. As soon as you cross the drawbridge, make your first left at George Street. Follow George Street past the Marina towards the Granary Restaurant. The launching ramp is open to the public and accommodates about 10-12 vehicles with trailers. It is on the left hand side of Sassafras Street, right before the restaurant. The ramp is good, but shallow at low tide.

Another launching ramp is available, but requires a Maryland launch ramp permit, and it is hard to obtain. Most anglers use the public ramp. There are several marinas with gas located on the river, with a towboat service if you should ever need it. There are no-wake restrictions in the marinas, and a six mile per hour speed limit on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, which are clearly marked in the channel.

ESTABLISHING A PATTERN

Duffy Creek is a good place to start first. It is by the restaurant, and you should quickly work the docks and wood with spinnerbaits and buzzbaits for any active fish. If this doesn’t produce, then go back over the same area with a black and blue jig and a 4 or 5 “Senko, and cast as close to the moored boats and docks as possible, making a quiet entry with the bait. Flipping and pitching are good techniques to know here. Work them well, but don’t waste too much time here if they don’t produce. Try to present the baits at several different angles before moving on.

The next move is up the river about a mile to Hall Creek. Work the wood even in the very shallow areas at all angles with a white/chartreuse 3/8 ounce “Terminator” spinnerbait or a “Rat-L-Trap”. Several six pound bass were caught here on these lures. Check your line frequently for abrasions and nicks, as the cover will fray it easily. If these areas don’t produce, move up to McGill Creek, and work the pads in there with a 1/2 ounce “Tournament Frog” in Black or Brown. First work them slowly, and if you don’t get ant strikes, work them quickly through the pads pausing only once on the way back to the boat. Many times this draws some reaction strikes when they don’t hit it worked slowly.

Just a short distance up the river from McGill Creek, on the left hand side of the river is Freeman Creek. This can be an excellent area. Be sure to work the pads in here with a Tournament Frog and a buzzbait. Many days, we pulled a 15 pound limit right out of here, without ever leaving. If the pads don’t work, move directly across the creek, and flip the docks with a jig, small worm, or a “Senko”. Don’t overlook Turner’s Creek near the beach, or the pads and grass by the point and in the back. These areas have all produced bass at times in excess of 5 pounds. Stripers are also caught in this same area. Use your depth finder to locate the water that is from 4-6 feet deep, and move along slowly, looking for the grass beds and weed edges along the drop-offs and bluffs. Many 4-5 pounders were caught by casting a spinnerbait, small worm, and a buzzbait, while staying in about 4-6 feet of water, and casting to the pockets of thinner grass.

EQUIPMENT

Some of the things you should have are a spinning rod in 6 to 6 1/2 foot, with a medium action for smaller baits, such as grubs, 4″ Senkos, and French Fry worms. I like to use 8-10 pound test Stren line with a good quality reel like a Shimano or Daiwa. You should also have a Heavy-action baitcaster with 20-30 pound test for working the pads. These 5 and 6 pound river fish will really tie you up in here, and you need to be able to muscle them out. I also like to have a good 7 foot rod, such as BPS, or a Lews, or G.Loomis Cranking stick for the buzzbait.

BEST TIMES

The best times to fish is a few days before, and up to a full moon, and the first hour and a half of the incoming tide, and the last 2 hours of the outgoing tide are best. During periods of slack water, move a little off shore and work the grass flats with a small grub, and a 4″ worm, dropped into the pockets.

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS

The Sassafras River can be exciting most of the time, but when it turns off, it really turns off! If this happens, try running back towards the marina, and head up under the drawbridge, and work all the fallen docks with a “Senko” rigged weightless, on 8-10 pound test, try wacky-rigging it if it doesn’t produce any takers the conventional way. Work all the real shallow wood in here also, with a spinnerbait presented repetitiously, from many different angles.

Maps of the Sassafras River are available from “Mare’s Marine” in Fredericktown, Maryland, and at sporting goods stores and marinas in the area. You can also use our MAP SERVICE right here on the site.

Steve vonBrandt

Sponsored by: GYCB (Yamamoto),Okuma, Delaware Tackle, TTI-Blakemore, and Ambush Lures.

Steve is the owner of Reeltime Anglers Guide Service in Wilmington, Delaware, Anglers Radio in Delaware and New Jersey, Reeltimeanglers, Bass Lure Review, and Delaware Tackle in Delaware. He also is a tournament angler and freelance outdoor writer. He has over 40 years of fishing experience in the Northeast, 5 years exp. in California. He has fished freshwater and saltwater since 1962, and has devoted to freshwater only since 1989. http://www.reeltimeanglers.com