Fishing a lake for the first time may sound intimidating, but if you follow these tips from bass pro Gary Dobyns, you'll have no problem mastering any water that harbors bass.
By Chris Shaffer
Gary Dobyns' eyes were bloodshot. It was 4 a.m. and he hadn't slept. I had challenged Dobyns, one of the top professional bass anglers in America, to an experiment to see how predictable bass are in the spring -- and to see how good of an angler he really is.
And he was nervous. He and I met at a destination two hours from the water we were going to fish. The catch? Dobyns didn't know where I was taking him. It was a lake he'd never fished. In fact, this was a place few folks had heard of, but my research had proven it harbored bass.
It was far from the Columbia River, Lake Shasta, Clear Lake, Oroville or any piece of water where this seasoned pro would have an advantage. It was obvious that no one at this secluded, seldom-fished reservoir in the foothills would recognize the all-time leading money winner among bass anglers in the West, let alone his fancy Ranger boat.
If nothing else, Dobyns is a gamer.
"A bass is a bass, regardless of where it lives," he said, sweat dripping off his forehead. I pointed toward the left as Dobyns following my directions to a boat ramp. "It's not finding the fish that I'm worried about. We'll be able to locate fish without a problem, but they don't always bite. The only fear you have in the springtime is when you get a bad north wind and a cold front. If you get a high pressure front with a north wind, it's trouble."
Otherwise, it's the best time of year to fish. There isn't an easier time to hook bass than in spring. Regardless of the season, new bass lakes are intimidating to many anglers -- young and old, novices and pros. For most folks, it's just an overreaction. "When you fish a new lake, all you need to do is apply the knowledge you've picked up fishing other waters and start shallow," says Dobyns. "This is springtime. Most bass will be shallow."
It's that easy? Well, sort of. If you do your homework and come prepared with proper gear, you can have an epic day even while fishing bass water you don't know.
In spring, Dobyns says, bass are straightforward. They aren't hard to figure out. In fact, spring is the ideal time to fish a new water because that's when bass are most predictable.
"The fish are moving up to feed up and getting ready to spawn, so they are aggressive," added Dobyns. "The water is starting to warm and they are coming shallow. It's by far the best time of the year to fish."
DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
While Dobyns was practically blindfolded prior to fishing the lake we visited, you don't have to be. The more research you do prior to launching your boat, the more likely you are going to be successful.
Take the time to learn about the river, lake, reservoir, pond or canal before you leave your house. In today's times, it's easy to find information about waters on the Internet. Other notable sources are local guides, magazines, bait and tackle shops, maps and government agencies.
Locating information about the lake is vital, but asking questions can be more helpful. While there are hundreds of questions that could pertain to you catching more fish, try to narrow your choices to five. Ask which species of bass are available. Smallmouth, striped, largemouth and spotted bass are common in the West, and each, with the exception of stripers on occasion, can be taken shallow in the spring. It's also a good idea to find out that there are bass available.
"You don't really fish any different for the different species in the spring because they are all on the same program," Dobyns said. "They are moving up to eat and get ready to spawn. All bass do it. No just some of them. They are all after the same kind of feed too."
Discovering main food sources is vital. This allows you to choose ideal colors and lure imitations before you launch. Food may consist of, but is not limited to crawdads, rainbow trout, shad, minnows, panfish, pond smelt, kokanee and others. Each water will have something on which bass feed heavily during spring. (Continued)
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Learning what facilities are available plays a part in how you approach the system. Some waters may only offer shore fishing; others may allow electric motors, float tubes or canoes, but no motorized boats. Check into whether a gravel or dirt launching area is available and the current state of launching conditions. You don't want to haul your boat to a lake only to find out that low water had closed the ramp. In many cases, a bass boat may be too big. It might be necessary to launch a car-top or aluminum boat. Selected waters may not permit launching, whereas you'd be forced to rent a boat.
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Gary Dobyns' eyes were bloodshot. It was 4 a.m. and he hadn't slept. I had challenged Dobyns, one of the top professional bass anglers in America, to an experiment to see how predictable bass are in the spring -- and to see how good of an angler he really is.
BOWHUNTER