Large Mouth Bass courtesy of sabareq on Flickr!

The large mouth bass covers a bigger percentage of the country than the small mouth, being found from the tip of Florida all the way to the Canadian border. In the southern states it grows to a size of from five to fifteen pounds, averag­ing in the north country to from three to seven pounds. It is distinguished technically from the smallmouth by the fact that the upper jaw extends to behind the eye. The markings and coloration are similar to the smallmouth, except that it has a pronounced grouping of green splotches along the lateral line. The shape is broader and fatter also.
The largemouth is found mostly in lakes and slow back­water meadow streams, feeding on crayfish, minnows, flies, bugs, frogs and mice. It is a voracious feeder, guarding its nest or locale with devilish killing instinct. Best lures are sur­face plugs, bugs and flies when the water is calm and under­water wounded minnow plugs when trolled or cast underwater. Spinning, bait casting and fly gear are used for lure as well as bait fishing.
Both species spawn in the late spring and at that time they are most easily provoked by surface lures cast over the spawning beds. In some states, fishing for them at this season is illegal for conservation reasons. They are great fun to cast for at night either from the shore of the lake or from a boat drifted quietly along the coves and stream inlets.

Smallmouth Bass

The smallmouth bass can be readily distinguished from the largemouth by the fact that the upper lip does not extend back of the eye. It is generally a slimmer fish than the large-mouth and of a bronzier coloration, though quite often the two fish cannot be distinguished from one another from the color standpoint. The smallmouth is found in rivers and lakes in the northern states where the largemouth cannot live, although they overlap in most central state areas. While the smallmouth does not grow to as big a size as the largemouth, averaging from two to eight pounds, it makes up the difference in fighting ability, pound for pound putting up a more fero­cious fight than any of the trouts. Both species take surface fly rod bugs, spinning and bait casting plugs both underwater and surface depending on the conditions.

Depending on the location, bass are hooked from late spring to late fall. They are not a migrating fish like some of the trout, but hold to a specific location in a lake or stream and will guard their domain against all comers, including your lures. They can be easily provoked at times into striking almost any kind of lure that makes a disturbance in the water, coming out in a savage rush, hitting the lure and tail dancing with it across the water. More often than not they will throw even the treble hooks unless the angler keeps just the right amount of tension on the line. The smallmouth black bass is judged to be co-partner with the large­mouth as America's favorite game fish.

Photo courtesy of mthaeg on Flickr!

Fishing is a fun and tranquil sport that lets you spend quiet time with your friends, family and with Mother Nature.

Fresh water fishing is a sport involving the catching of fish in lakes, rivers and streams. It involves a lot of patience, challenge and a lot of acquired skill over time. Anyone can participate in this fun activity, including the kids.

To start, you have to check your State's fishing requirements and make sure if a license is needed for you to fish. If it is required, you must acquire one by checking with a sporting goods store. They will help you how to get it, and some will even provide it for you.

During the time that you are in your favorite sporting goods store, you can look around and buy the right fishing equipment that you will be need for your trip. Considering that you are a beginner, make sure that you budget well the cost and your spending on the equipment, not deciding on expensive equipments; buy only the basic things you will need.

When in doubt as to what is needed, ask the help of the store keeper, but do keep in mind that you need to stick to a budget. Take your time and don't hesitate to ask how to use each piece of equipment that is offered to you. Artificial lures for bait can be used or you can simply look for worms from your back yard.

An inexpensive fishing rod and reel will be enough along with a fishing line, hooks, weights, a bobber (this keeps your line afloat), fishing lures and net. A polarized sunglass is also essential, as it will help to see clearly through the water and lessen the glare.

Then if you don't know the good locations to fish, ask about local “hot” spots, or check your State's fishing regulations for information about fishing locations around your State.

The time will surely come when you will be a better fisherman; then you may decide on upgrading your equipment. In the meantime, keep things simple.

It is always advised that you avoid fishing alone. Always be with a friend, as when emergency strikes, there can be someone who can call for help.

It is wise to start fishing in shallow waters. Aim your cast in shady or rocky areas where the water is deep, as this is where the fish is expected to be found. Keep in mind that this is all practice first.

As your skill level develops and increases, you can then attempt into deeper waters. But before going, take the time to practice casting to familiarize yourself with your rod and your reel.

What better place to practice than your back yard. To do so, mark off an area using a rope and use this as your guide in aiming your cast. Rehearse and study your movements to discover a method that will work for you. Bear in mind, cast with your wrist, and not with your arm.

Fishing hooks are very sharp and needed to be handled with care to avoid injury. Before casting, it is important that you should look around you and stay unobstructed to avoid hurting other people with your hook.

When the right time has come and you go fishing for real, keep in mind to cast your line always ahead of the fish, making your bait land slowly, with as little splash as possible. The fish will see well at a close point, but cannot see behind.

If your casts are going in a disorganized manner, move closer to the water so you can gain better accuracy.

Watch the bobber closely for any movement. If and when a fish grabs the bait, the bobber will be pulled under water. This signals that you got a fish on the line. Don't get too excited. Remain calm.

Keeping your line tight, slowly reel in your catch. Place the net near and use it to bring the fish out. Remove the hook from the fish with great care.

If you got an undersized fish (as noted in the state's regulation book), quickly return it to the water. Likewise, if you have no intention in eating your catch, do not waste it and return it to the water. Releasing the fish will supply the water with more fish, giving future fishermen the thrill to experience a catch.

Lastly, look around you and feel the calm, restful and serene view of the river.

Have fun!

There are thousands of live-bait anglers, excellent sportsmen all, and the fly fisherman can practice better conservation right from the start.

Fly fishing is one of the fastest growing sports; it is one of the foremost forms of conserving natural resources as well as providing aquatic recreation.

Fly fishing involves three simple things: you must have a suitable rod; the fishing line must match the rod; and you must learn correct casting technique.

Here is a list of pointers for fly fishing to help you:

1. Composition of the rod

Before spending a fortune, and especially for the beginners, a hollow glass rod is recommended since it will require less care than bamboo and is not so vulnerable to improper handling or storage.

2. Line

To make progress in your fly casting skills make sure your fishing line is appropriate for the type of rod you have. In 99 cases out of 100, a fly caster having problems it is because the line is too light to bring out the action of the rod.

It turns out that the line should match the rod, not the size of the fish. The right line can bring in small and large fish if it is matched to the rod. So for bass fishing, be sure that the line matches the rod.

In choosing the size line, a good choice is a C level, an HCH double-taper, or a GBF three-diameter. This choice is based on the fact that a high percentage of today's fly rods are hollow glass, and that most of these work best with lines of those sizes, almost regardless of lengths or weights. Your tackle shop will advise you in this.

3. The correct casting technique

In casting, it is important to get about 20 feet of line out front. Anglers should always remember to cast a straight line, avoiding jerky movements.

Most importantly, the angler should be relaxed because taunt muscles will ruin his casting.

With a little practice, you too will learn to be successful with fly fishing.

Probably, the best and surest way to learn to cast successfully is to spend a day on the stream with an experienced fisherman.

Lessons learned on the stream are the best in your quest for learning fly fishing.