Black Bass
|
Mike Kennedy |
There are three types of black bass in Colorado; large mouth bass; small mouth bass; and Kentucky Bass (or spotted bass). Small mouth bass are the most common bass because of the colder water and rocky structure. Kentucky Bass, which they just introduced a few years ago also do well in cold water. In the past the problem with black bass in Colorado was that it was hard to get a keeper (15" on most lakes). I thought that was because the lakes only had small bass; however, during a week of intense fishing in September 2000; and, by changing techniques, I discovered that there are a lot of decent sized black bass here in Colorado, especially at Pueblo, Reservoir. I've been catching consistantly larger fish and more keepers since then. NOTE: I nearly always release the bass I catch unless I have someone with me that really wants bass for supper. I'm convinced that the secret to catching larger bass is to fish deeper and slower. The S-L-O-W technique I experimented with and developed that week in Sep 2000 has really turned my fishing success around. Most of us with our bass boats and trolling motors cruise along the bank rapid casting and only catching the smaller fish in shallow water. Even when we think we are going slow, we are going too fast to fish a 1/8 oz or 1/4 oz jig effectively on the bottom at 20 feet deep. I've found that anchoring off a main, or secondary point, or any broken rock with a good slope, and letting my bait sink to the bottom, working it back to the boat like a crawdad or worm produces more and larger bass. In 2 1/2 days of intense fishing just before Labor Day (Sep 2000) I caught 2 - 15" small mouth, scores of 13 AND 14" small mouth, and over 100 fish all total. This technique works even better later in the year when the lake cools. In November of 2000 I caught several keeper bass including a 4# 4oz Kentucky Bass. All year 2001 I've caught keeper bass on nearly every outing. I'm convinced being anchored, or sitting without moving, on a prime fishing spot and working it deep and slow is the answer. I also look for places along the bank that are tapered, versues sheer rock walls, and where it's made up of broken rather than solid rock. This broken rock structure can hold a lot of fish especially in summer and fall. My favorite bass lure is the Yamamoto grub in either the 4 or 5 inch with a 1/8th OZ, or 1/4 oz jig head. Later in the season Oct/Nov I fish mostly the 1/4 oz so I can get down and stay down on the bottom. High Country Bass Shop on Sheridan sells some pretty good jig heads which have larger hooks, which I like. I like the green and brown colors (green for baby bass and brown for crawfish). The double tail cinnamon and green, and cinnamon and black have really been effective this fall. White used to be a good color but has slacked off with the increased shad in the lakes. I still will throw white if there are wiper in the area. Louise Maddox of Country Valley tackle near Cherry Creek sells Yamamoto, but the Milehigh Bass Pro shop on Sheridan has a much larger selection and the colors I like. Louise does have a large selection of Berkley Power Bait and I've done very well with the camo color. I used to use Cabella's 6# pro line green on my spinning tackle with light Ugly Sticks, this year I've switched to Cabella's florocarbon line in 6#, with a Cabela's Fish Eagle II medium rod with Fish Eagle FD1000 reels. There is less memory and stretch, with the floral carbon line and seems to be stronger. The stronger, more sensitive rods gives me better feel and I can set the hook better. I go up to 8# test on my bait casting rods. My new secret lately is to squirt a little Crawfish Smelly Jelly on my Yamamotos. Seems to really make a difference, especially when fishing slow. SPAWN: In the spring with the water approaches 62-64 degrees look for small mouth and spotted bass to spawn in the sheltered coves, mostly on the north side of the lake but well sheltered spots on the south side will also hold spawning bass. Large mouth won't start spawning until the water gets closer to 68%. If you're catching smaller males in the spawning area don't let down your guard, you could hook into a monster female and you have to be ready. |
