While bass fishing is popular throughout the United States, most people think of fishing as a sport that is mostly enjoyed by people in the far north, the far south, or the Midwest area of the country. Though the state doesn't quite fit any of these categories, Arizona bass fishing is quite an industry, and there are several lakes in the state that offer a fine crop.
Lake Pleasant offers some excellent fishing, with 114 miles of shoreline encompassing 23,662 acres of fishing, camping, and boating. Dammed from the Agua Fria River, this impoundment is fed by both the Agua Fria and the Colorado Rivers, per changes made and a new dam built in 1993 to help redirect water to the central and southern parts of the state. The reinfusement of water into the area has led to a virtual boom of bass in the area, making it a great new location for bass fishing. You'll find striped bass, white bass, and largemouth bass is plentiful, with smaller numbers of smallmouth at times. Lake Pleasant is located about 30 miles from Phoenix, making it a convenient day trip when on vacation in the area.
For another great Arizona bass experience, you can visit Lake Powell, created and named after civil-war veteran Major John Wesley Powell with the building of the Glen Canyon Dam from 1956-1966. This lake is incredible, with around 2,000 miles of shoreline and a depth of nearly 570 feet when full to capacity. It follows the river gorge and is full of fishing opportunity. There are a number of common game fish that are popular among anglers, not the least of which are small- and largemouth bass and striped bass. With several full service marinas as well as dirt access roads and primitive launching sites, the lake covers a land surface of over 160,000 acres and rises to 3,700 feet above sea level. Not only will you find great bass fishing here; you'll also enjoy visiting a unique lake environment.
Theodore Roosevelt Lake, named for the dam that creates it, is a huge reservoir that also yields excellent fishing opportunities. Once the largest manmade lake in the world, Roosevelt covers over 17,000 acres branching from Tonto Creek and the Salt River. There is a wildlife refuge area here, so be sure to observe all rules and regulations. However, you can also enjoy some serious fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass, as well as several other popular game species. Because the water here is warm throughout the year, the fish grow fast, and you'll find some trophies, especially in the shallow brushy bays where spawning is rampant.
Although you can watch others when they are bass fishing and read about various techniques, you really have to try out the techniques for yourself so that you can put your own individual spin on them and make them your own. The bass fishing techniques that work for your fishing buddy may not work for you, even though all the techniques share some similarities. What you need to do is try out the various techniques to find the ones that work best for you and then use them to your advantage. For this reason, it is necessary for you to have an overview of the techniques used by the majority of bass fishers.
First, start thinking like a bass. Research this fish to find out what kind of food it likes to eat and what part of the lake it is most likely to be found. Knowledge of seasonal patterns are of extreme importance. For example, shad is one of the best lures you can use when fishing bass, but it is best used in summer when the shad spend their time at the bottom and a re therefore not very plentiful in the water.
Learn about the feeding habits of the bass and then look for pockets of baitfish in the water. This will likely be where you will find the bass and you won't waste your efforts fishing in other locations on the lake. Use the electronics in your boat to find where the fish are. Even if you are just practicing throwing out the line and happen to get a bite or even catch a fish, take note of the location on the depth finder. Take note of where your lures are to see if they are in the right area. If not, you can make the necessary adjustments.
When the fish are really biting, many anglers get caught up in the moment and forget to retie or decide to wait just a little longer. The next fish could be the big one you have been waiting for and when it catches hold, it will snap your line. As you become more accustomed to the lures and which one works for you in different situations, you will also learn how to make modifications to them. You can do such things as modify a lure to run left or right or something as simple as changing the blades on a spinnerbait.
Practice is the key to successful bass fishing, just as it is with everything else. Plastic baits work best in some water, while wooden baits are better in others. There are few anglers that are experts in the use of both. Even if you prefer using one kind, you should practice using the other so that you can use it when the situation demands. It is important to know your strengths, but it is equally important to work on your weaknesses.
Techniques for successful bass fishing also include being able to recognize patterns in the water. If you see a shad flipping in the water, this could be a sign that there are bass nearby. The same thing applies to noticing ripples in the water that could denote the existence of bass chasing bait.
Both Daniel Eggertsen & Warren Wong are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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