Bass fishing reports are supposed to help you determine where and if bass fishing is good. These reports are available for specific areas of the country, individual states, and sometimes even particular lakes. They are provided by guide services, game and fishing state departments, magazine and journal resources, and even by individuals posting on various bass fishing forums. What information should you look for or provide in good reports that are actually helpful to anglers seeking such assistance?

Number 1: Where is the bass? This may seem like a simple enough task, but the reports sometimes forget to include important pieces of information regarding the specific location of the bass. First, you need to find a report for your location - that could be a particular lake or river, a region, or even the entire state. This report should have recently updated information regarding the best bodies of water to fish at that time of the year. However, location should be more specific than that. Are the bass in the shallows near the shore, or have they crept out into the center of the lake where the water is deeper? Are they on their way upstream or suspended in the lakes? It is also important to detail specific areas of the lake that are hopping with bass, such as a large congregation of white bass near a particular dam or several fish on the north end of a lake nestled in a particular type of vegetation.

Number 2: What are they biting? Again, bass fishing reports that do their job well will talk about the types of baits and lures that are effective at the time the report is released. While bass are not picky eaters, they are more partial to certain types of food depending on the season because they are aware of what type of food is abundant during those times. Using live bait can always be a good idea, but lures can vary in effectiveness, so the report should make recommendations on using a crankbait, swimmer, or worm or any other kind of bait. Also, now that you know what kind of bait to use and where the fish are, the reports should address the colors of baits that are working best, depending on water clarity and light levels.

Number 3: What technique is working? The reports should always speak to the best techniques to use in the areas they suggest fishing during the time of year that is at hand. For example, in the dead of winter, it is highly unlikely that you will find bass in the shallows in any great number, so most reports won't suggest fly fishing from the banks. However, if there is a fluke season where the winter is warm and this technique is turning up good results, bass fishing reports should mention it. If bass are only biting on bottom bouncers in a particular lake, this should be noted, and if a boat trolling seems to be spooking the bass in a particular lake and ruining the daily catch, bass fishing reports should definitely provide a warning.