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Trying to land that big trophy bass? You’ll need five percent luck and ninety five percent smarts. You’ve got a lot to learn before you can fish for bass, including where to locate them and how to handle their habitat.

Many anglers (both pro and recreational) hit a new body of water, drop their lines and wonder why the bass just aren’t striking. This is because they haven’t taken the time to familiarize themselves with the water — both above and below the surface.

There’s no luck involved in locating the best bass fishing spots. It really is a science, and you’ll need to do some homework. Understand the water, the climate and the season.

There are several important factors to keep in mind while searching for those sweet spots swimming with hungry bass:

1. Seasonal patterns will naturally affect the success of your fishing expedition. Know where bass travel after spawning, and how they naturally migrate throughout the season. Government resource ministries reflect the natural spawning patterns when they set bass seasons, and every responsible angler will respect their seasonal limits.

2. Understand the seasons. Weather conditions are particularly important for successful bass fishing. Bass are most active just after cold fronts and during early spring and late fall periods. Know where to fish, and when to fish.

3. Know the depth of the water. This factor is naturally combined with the type of bass you’re fishing, as well as other considerations such as lakebed materials, natural covers or nearby weed beds. You will find bass in shallow water, if there are sufficient natural covers in place. However, shallow water should be avoided on hot, sunny days. Knowing the depth of the water will also determine your choice of bait.

4. Fish love clear water, so avoid murky, swampy areas. Everyone prefers clean water; particularly fish that need to live and breathe in it.

5. Water temperature is important. When water drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the natural food chain will be affected. If it’s too warm, on the other hand, the fish simply won’t bite.

6. Find sunken treasure. Bass love to seek shelter among submerged branches and structures. Look for trees that have fallen into the water, old building foundations and even boat docks. Some bass species love to hide out in rock beds and under ledges, so try those areas as well. If you can find a structure hidden beneath the surface of the water, you’ll like be able to lure out a big bass.

7. Look for vegetation. Bass are predators, and will naturally stay close to their prey. Weed beds are filled with frogs, insects and other bass treats. Use live bait or choose a lure made for weed beds, such as plugs or small floating minnows. Anchor your boat near the edge of the weed bed and cast alongside the weeds. As the name suggests, the right tackle will “lure” a fish out of hiding.

8. Mind your map. You won’t find the bass in the lake if you can’t find the lake on a map. If you’re fishing foreign territory, the ability to read a map is crucial to your bass fishing success. Sometimes, local tackle shops will have maps available with prime fishing spots marked right on them. Hot spot and topographical maps are two popular choices for anglers. Hot spot maps are made to show anglers where fish can be found, but the natural migration trends prevent accuracy. Topographical maps show the lakes in more detail, with rocks, water depth and other features clearly shown.

Knowing how to sector a map is the key to using it correctly. Study your map carefully and look for areas where fish are most likely to be found. Divide the map into sections with a colored pen or highlighter. An experienced angler will use the sections to determine where to fish, depending on the amount of time they have to spend on the water. The size of the sections can also vary depending on structures, contours and how many different areas will be fished. It’s important to take your time, and don’t give up too quickly on your chosen spot.

There is much more to being a consistent bass angler than just dropping your anchor and casting the line. That’s what makes a bass tournament so competitive and exciting. You need to think like a bass and find the spots that other anglers have missed.

Always remember those important factors in finding sweet spots for bass:

* Weed beds and other vegetation areas

* Fish shallow water adjacent to deeper spots

* Seek shoreline and lakebed contours

* Shore points and point drops

* Search out artificial and natural structures

Understanding the water is the first step to locating bass. Once you’ve found a spot that you think is a prime bass fishing area, don’t be too quick to give up. Bass are known to be slow to strike, and it may take repetitive action to lure them out of hiding. Be prepared to try several different types of bait and a variety of techniques. You’ll soon establish a working pattern and land those big bass.

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Tags: fishing