This article will outline some of the most effective bass fishing lures available to fishermen. Are these the only options available? Of course not, but they are some of the best bass lures on the market as far as effectiveness is concerned. All of these bass lures are in my tackle bag and get used heavily in various bass fishing situations.

In various situations is a key phrase when it comes to bass fishing lures and tips. There aren’t bass lures that are the “be all end all” and will be effective in every situation. There are however bass lures that work very well in certain situations. The same rule goes for bass fishing tips. One tip isn’t going to make you catch bass like a professional, but good tips implemented in your own way can be extremely helpful.

The bass lures listed below are very effective, and any one of them could become your “best” for given fishing situations. The lures are being listed in no particular order.

1. Shad Imitations – In many fishing hotspots shad are the main food source and shad imitations can be very effective bass lures. The key with shad imitations is that they look as natural as possible. That means that your lure looks as much like a live shad as possible. You can then imitate a wounded shad by jerking your rod tip and varying the speed of the retrieve. Shad Imitations are a great bass bait.
2. Berkley Sinking Minnows – Berkley sinking minnows could easily be considered one of the best bass lures simply because of their versatility. These bass baits can be fished on a Texas rig or wacky style. Plus these baits are a “Gulp” product which means they’ve been impregnated with bass catching scents, which makes them much more effective than traditional soft plastics. Sinking minnows are great in certain bass fishing situations.
3. Jointed Jitterbugs – Every bass angler worth his or her salt knows how effective top water fishing can be in the early mornings when the water is like glass. Well, jointed jitterbugs are an extremely effective top water bass fishing lure. When it comes to bass fishing tips, fishing jointed Jitterbugs in the early morning is a great one. This is especially true in lakes and ponds with a healthy frog population. The traditional Jitterbug has long been recognized as one of the best bass lures available and the jointed Jitterbug is no different.

Again, these aren’t the only choices available when it comes to fishing lures; they are just some of the most effective. I have all of them available to me for various bass fishing situations. For given bass fishing situations these bass lures are undoubtedly the best. Having one or all of them available is a good idea for anyone who is serious about fishing for bass.

Source by Trevor Kugler

As residents of Grayson County, we are fortunate to have one of the most unique fisheries in the state of Texas in our own backyard. The body of water that I am referring to of course is Lake Texoma. What sets this lake apart from other Lone Star lakes is the abundance of smallmouth bass living in its water.

When people talk about fishing in Texas, visions of shallow, stump filled reservoirs with ten plus pound largemouth come to mind. However, Lake Texoma offers anglers the chance to catch what many consider to be hardest fighting fish in freshwater.

So what makes this species of bass so interesting? Smallmouth bass are indigenous to the Eastern United States and Canada and prefer a cool, rocky and clear water environment. The Texas heat will not allow smallmouth to survive in the numerous ponds and stock tanks that most of us fished as children. Therefore, most Texans have never had the opportunity to hook into one of these brown bass. Plus, a two pound smallmouth will pull as hard as a five pound largemouth, and I promise that I’ve hooked into one that leaped five feet out of the water.

In the years of 1981-1987 Texas Parks and Wildlife stocked smallmouth bass fry and fingerlings into Lake Texoma. Because of its deep, cool water and miles of rocky shoreline, smallmouth bass have thrived. Since this time, there have been several trophy smallies taken from its water.

So what makes a trophy smallmouth? Unlike their largemouth cousin, smallmouth bass typically do not reach the same size. While the ten pound mark signifies a trophy largemouth, a six pound smallie is considered a prize. Lake Texoma offers anglers an exclusive chance at one of these treasures. Plus, three, four and five pound smallmouth are becoming common.

The two lake records came within the last decade. The Oklahoma record, 7.80 pounds, was caught by Aaron Fidrich on March 22, 2003. The fish was taken on crank-bait in the mid-lake region of Texoma. The Texas record, 7.06 pounds, was caught by Jay Fuller on January 29, 2006. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife report this smallmouth was caught with a jig in 20 feet of water on the bluff banks outside of Eisenhower Marina.

Winter and early spring seem to be the best times to target trophy smallmouth on Lake Texoma. Because they spawn in cooler water than largemouth, the colder months are preferred by smallmouth enthusiasts. Prime areas include the lower end of the lake around Eisenhower State Park and Ross Perot’s property. Butterfly Cove features some of the deepest water in the lake and is also an excellent location. On the Oklahoma side, the rocky banks from Washita Point to Caney Creek offer great smallmouth habitat.

Jigging spoons and bass jigs fished around boulders and bluff-wall drop-offs are best utilized in the winter. As spring arrives and the smallmouth move up to spawn, one of the best techniques is swimming a weightless Zoom Super Fluke in and around the shoreline rock and gravel.

Though January through March is best for trophy smallies, one of the most consistent patterns on the lake occurs in the summer time. As the sunsets and night falls, the crawfish come out from under their shallow-water rocks and the smallmouth follow. A black and blue jig or a black spinner-bait worked along the bank will produce some vicious strikes. If you think smallies jump high in the day time, their night-time leaps can be almost frightening. Lake Texoma has few under-water obstructions so navigation at night is easier than on most lakes.

Though there are a few other lakes in our state that contain smallmouth bass, Lake Texoma might just offer the best chance in catching one. The excellent habitat and forage base of crawfish and shad allow for a large population of these fish to be sustained.

Source by Shane Allison