Bass Fishing Tip of the Week 03/7/2010: Lighter Weights Equal More Bites

Lighter weights can often lead to more bites in the world of bass fishing. This is especially effective after a cold front or high pressure system moves in. Largemouth bass are cold blooded and their metabolism is slowed after a dramatic change in temperature and pressure. A slow descending lure due to a lighter weight can often make the difference between getting a bite versus El Skunko!

When I discuss moving to a lighter weight I'm primarily talking about Texas rigged soft plastics. Moving from a 1/4 ounce weight to an 1/8 or even 1/16 ounce weight will greatly slow the descent of the lure. Casting to visible cover often requires casting either parallel to the weed line or if possible casting beyond the target and retrieving the bait into the cover. The reason for this is that the lightly weighted bait will often hang up and not fall at all if cast or pitched smack dab into the cover.

The lighter bullet weight should also be pegged to get the most effective presentation. An unpegged lure can mean that the lure doesn't effectively probe the deeper strike zones.

So the next time your on the water after a high pressure system moves in, try using a lighter weight on your Texas rig and you maybe surprised at how many more bites you'll get!

Until Next Week, Tight Lines!

The Largemouth Herald