By Michelle Nesbit
Alabama provides great bass fishing opportunities. In fact, many bass fishermen consider the state the bass capital of the country. Not only do they have some record largemouth bass, but you can catch striped hybrid bass, too. It also offers lake, creek and river fishing, and there are different techniques needed to be successful at each one. Time of year and weather are factors, as are the time of day and location. Lure and bait selections will vary based on all of these conditions.
Weather
In the cooler weather of spring and fall, Alabama bass are crazy about top water lures. They will also gather in shallow areas, either along the shore or under overhanging trees. In summer, you will tend to find them in deeper water and you might need to bottom fish using plastic worms or other sinking baits to find them. Also, they may tend to hang out under docks that have a drop-off or are situated along the edge of a channel.
Time of Day
Alabama bass, especially the big bass, are most active at dawn and dusk. When the water is warmer than 50 degrees, the baitfish are most active during that time, so using natural baitfish lures can be highly effective, especially when fishing near docks, brush piles and other natural cover. Alabama bass like to lie in wait and pounce on the baitfish as they swim by.
Water Color and Clarity
In clear water, you will want to use light line, black spinner blades and natural-looking lures or bait. In normal water quality, the algae will filter out some light so you can use most lures and regular spinners. In muddy water, it is best to use something like a rattletrap or another vibrating type of lure, since the bass will be feeding by sound versus sight.
Best Baits
Alabama bass love shad and worms, which are found in almost all bodies of water. If you have a cast net, it is easy to catch your own bait as you follow schools of shad. Bass will follow schools of shad, too. Late spring and early fall is a good time to catch some largemouth bass, and you will probably catch a few stripers. Plastic worms on the bottom work well in the summer months, and real worms are effective any time of year. Any type of lure that resembles either is sure to work when it comes to catching Alabama bass.
Creeks, Rivers and Lakes
Many of the creeks and rivers are best in spring and fall, while lakes produce some large Alabama fish in the deeper water during summer. Since the largemouths, white bass and hybrid stripers tend to spawn up the tributaries, the creeks and rivers hold them during pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn periods, when the water is cooler and the baitfish plentiful.
Conclusion
Alabama can produce some lunker bass because the weather is fairly moderate most of the year. It's a great place to try some of these bass fishing tips for a successful fishing trip.
Resources
About the Author:
Michelle Nesbit started her writing career in 1999, when she wrote "The Title Searcher's Handbook." Nesbit has written for The Chattanoogan, Healthmad and several clients who secure her services as a ghostwriter. Nesbit's background includes licenses in Insurance, certification as a Rescue and Technical Scuba Diver, Underwater Photographer, and a clinical hypnotherapist. Nesbit is currently completing studies as a clinical nutritionist.
