If what you want from your bass fishing is a nice day spent on the lake, then more power to you. Bass fishing for the unadulterated relaxation of it is one of the best and purest reasons to drop a line; however, if you're angling day isn't complete until you've caught and released a boatload or you're looking to haul in a few trophies then you are going to need a more head on approach. You are going to need to know your enemy and plan your assault. Be the bass.

Before deciding what direction to turn your boat for the day, consider the day itself. If you were a big, aggressive but somewhat lazy bass, where would you be in the early morning hours when the deep water might be cold and the day has just begun? Why in the shallows, sitting in the cover of the undergrowth watching the lake come to life. Same is true of the evening as the day winds down and the water starts to cool off. During these times, quietly reconnoiter the tall grass, the fallen logs, the underbelly of the lake world. Many bass may be starting and ending their days here, visible to the naked eye.

As the sun traverses the sky, the fish will start to migrate to and from deeper water; you can often catch them in transit. Cast sinkers that drift into the edges of the grassy interface. Be patient, don't bob the bait. This approach can be mighty fruitful on overcast days when the bass haven't quite decided to go deep.

Now that you're thinking like a fish, consider your bait. Lots of bass fishing is done with big bait because bass are fierce fighting fish and big bait just seems the way to go. Truth be told, bass are hungry and hostile. They will strike on a large variety of lures. Think smaller lures, spinners and don't forget the lowly plastic worm. Properly cast brightly colored worms are the number one bait for a reason. They catch bass. Shallow water is a good place to try a float worm. Straight worms get lots of bites in undergrowth.

Once you have knocked down few ways to think like a bass, it's important to write your discoveries down. Keep a detailed written record of the most productive and, unfortunately, the least productive ways you have developed for bass fishing. Make a log book part of your bass fishing equipment. Note the day and date of each excursion, the weather, the vegetation, the distance from the bank, the bait used. When you pull in that trophy, mark down the time; when you pull in that minnow, mark down the time. No detail is too small when developing your bass book.

Bass are strong fish who put up a good fight; that's the reason most bass fishermen go after them. Study them and their habits and document your findings. You will find that your effort will ultimately pay off with larger and more consistent catches. After all, in order to land them you have to understand them.