Bass Fishing Tip of the Week 11/02/10: High Pressure Blues

"Blue skies smilin' at me, nothin' but blue skies do I see" a song by Irving Berlin and made more famous by Willie Nelson paints a picture of harmony and self content. Unfortunately for the serious bass angler, blue skies paints a picture of difficult fishing and bites being few and far between.

A very bright and clear sky often follows the wake of a high pressure system moving in. For the largemouth angler, the fall and winter months are filled with these transitional weather systems and the blue sky syndrome is often associated with cool to cold weather. The drop in surface temperature and the additional high pressure effects the bass like no other weather system, unfortunately the bass lose their appetite.

What can be done to improve your chances of success when mother nature invokes the "blue sky spell"? Bass often move to deeper water or heavy vegetation when this happens. A slow methodical approach using downsized baits in the deep water or using heavy flippin equipment in thick vegetation is often the key to unlock the basses jaw.

In deep water, especially reservoir systems probe the deeper side of the river channel drop instead of the shallow side. Be patient and work the drop until a bite is encountered then toss a marker buoy. Work the area thoroughly as bass often bunch up in these cold conditions. A slow retrieve on a Carolina rig can be very good!

In shallow waters, look for the thickest weeds you can find. Floating vegetation covering these weedbeds can draw fish while they attempt to escape the effects of the high pressure system. Heavy bullet weights in the 3/4 to 1 1/2 ounce rigged with a 5/0 to 6/0 heavy gage wire hook are a must for the flippin rig. Try a crawdad imitation like a Sweet Beaver or Brush Hog and work the pockets as well as trying to get through the thick stuff. If quick hookset and high lift is a must to get the fish from burrowing in the weeds.

So the next time you see nothin' but blue skies, give these tactics a try and you may be getting a few fish in your livewells.

The Largemouth Herald