So I got the Daiwa Viento reel I have been wanting for awhile. If your not familiar with this reel its the bass fishing reel that has the trick onto of the spool which allows you to twitch the bait with ease. The “twitch” bar seems like its going to be great for all types of bass lures, whether is be a plastic work or a jerk bait. I cannot wait to fish a jerk bait with this thing this spring.

I did not really get a chance to actually fish with it today, with it being Christmas in everything, but I tried out some lures in my pool and wow the twitch bar gives everything lure I tested it with some great action. Bass fishing is going to be really fun with this reel. Once the weather warms up later on this week I am going to put it to the true test.

Overall, I have been please with every Daiwa reel I have ever owned. There breaking systems are great for not back lashing and they seem to last a very long time. I highly recommend Daiwa reels for all anglers that bass fish.

Although, I’m happy with Daiwa Reels, I cannot say the same for their rods. Two years ago when I was bass fishing Lake Fork, I broke two Daiwa reels on the hook set and have not used them since. Instead I have been using the Johnny Morris Elite Series by BassPro. The great thing about Bass Pro rods (or any Bass Pro item at that matter) is that if they break for any reason you can take them back and they will replace them absolutely free!

Well I will let everyone know how the Daiwa Viento preforms during it’s real test when I hit up a local pond or lake later on this week and do some bass fishing!

When fishing for bass in the winter time use large baits like mentioned above, but also remember to fish very slow. Remember winter, bigger and slower - summer, smaller and faster. Also try and keep your baits warm, for example place them in your back pocket or in your coat. A warmer bait will work better in the cold waters.

Always remember to bundle up when bass fishing in the winter you never know when unexpected weather could come your way!

How do you rig up your plastic bait when bass fishing?
There are many different ways to rig a plastic bait when bass fishing. Once the most common is the Texas Rig. The Texas Rig is a great rig and my personal favorite. When fishing for bass with a texas rig I like to use a 1/8 oz wieght and 12lb test. With lighter line and a lighter wieght you can get some great action with your plastic when bass fishing that will look natural to the fish. The only bad thing about bass fishing with lighter line is that if you hook up with a big black bass you may break the line. However, use good bass fishing line like Triliene Big Game and you should be on the safe side. The only time I would suggest using heavy line when bass fishing with plastics is when you are fishing in really heavy cover. You may want to use braided line in this case.

Another common rig to use when bass fishing with plastics is the Carolina Rig. This rig is a little hard to rig up then the Texas Rig but it is a great rig to use when bass fishing because you can feel the bottom easier. The plastic bait will actually suspend on the bottom longer giving is a much more realistic look to the bass. For more information on bass fishing with a Carolina Rig please read this excellent article.

When using smaller bait fish while fishing for bass, your rigging style may be a bit different. Smaller bait fish do not swim around as much as large one so you may want to fish deeper it really depends on the conditions. Just because you are using minnows or small shad it does not mean you will not catch large bass. I have caught many large fish while bass fishing with small shinners. Experiment with different rigs when bass fishing with live bait to see what works best for you.

Bass will not only hit top water lures in shallow water. You can just as easily catch bass on top water in deep water. Bass fishing is excellent in deep water when shad are schooling near the surface. A good tip is to size up the bait fish and match the hatch with a lure the same size as them. If the bass are chasing large perch or shad, throw them Zara Spook or a large Chug Bug. Whether or not you should work the lure fast or slow really depends on how many bait fish there are. If the bait fish are on a run, you would want to work the lure fast. If they are pooled up you can work your lure more slowly.

Bass fishing with top water lures during the wee hours of the night is some of the best fishing there is! Scum frogs have shown to be true bass assassins at night for me. Your retrieval needs to be more slow at night. Work your lure slow with sudden fast jerks, this will drive big bass insane! Once you do get a huge hit on top water, do not set the hook! A lot of bass fishermen will set the hook when they hear the strike. When you are fishing top water lures your line is usually very tight and by setting the hook you could yank the lure out of the bass’ mouth very easily. Wait until you can actually feel the bass on your line then set the hook. Also, sometimes bass will hit the top water lure a little late, to make sure you do not miss a bass due to a late hit I highly suggest that you use a trailer hook if you are using a top water lure that supports them. I never fish a buzz bait without a trailer hook for this reason. Like fishing with every other type of lure, remember to try different retrieval methods when top water bass fishing and your surely catch some great fish!

What makes Lake Fork so good for bass?

Lake Fork Fishing Guide: Richie White

The wonderful structure this lake offers is a perfect environment for bass. Bass can easily sneak up on bait fish with the help of cover everywhere. The lake provides more than just a lot of timber. Hydrilla is present doing some months, along with miloil and other great vegetation. The main food source for bass on lake fork is gizzard shad, perch (sunfish), craw fish and smaller bass.

Another reason fork holds some of the big bass in the nation is because of their strict regulations the Texas Parks and Wildlife has put on the lake for bass fishing. All bass you catch between 16 - 24 inches must be released. There is a 5 limit bass a day limit. Each bass angler is allowed to keep a single bass that is longer than 24 in. All other bass must be under 16 in. to keep.

Another factor that adds to lake forks premier bass fishing would be that during the 1980’s the state released over 700,000 Florida strain largemouth bass! Florida strain bass are considered to be the “perfect bass”. They are known for their successful spawns and they consistently show to grow bigger than other strains of largemouth bass.

Best Fishing Months

Many of the pro fishing guides who know Lake fork from shore to shore claim that any time between January and March are the best times to catch monster bass. This is because the bass are in pre-spawn mode and are moving up to the shallows. Bass fishing on any lake in Texas during these months is the best.

Once you have you rig all set up, chunk your heavy rig out into the middle of the mat, work the worm across the top untill you find a pocket. Slowly reel your plastic over the pocket and lit it fall. If the hydrilla is extremely thick, your worm will not fall to far. This is okay, bass will still see it and feel the vibrations. Continue this pattern and you will get bite if the hydrilla is holding bass.

If you find your self fishing a break of hydrilla. A break is where you have a huge mat and then a big clearing space. You will more than likely find a lot of bass in an area like this. What I like to do is through my plastic on the mat and slow reel it to the break letting it fall into the clear opening. You will be surprise how quickly a bass will take the bait once it has fallen, if the spot is holding some bass. You can also get parralel to the break and through along the break. If you choose this technique you do not have to use a lure. Burning a spinner bait along the side of the hydrilla will get bass’ attention! Experiment with different lures on the when bass fishing on a break of hydrilla. Breaks in hydrilla are well known for holding lots of bass!

Once you have your rigged set up, it’s time to for the presentation. There are many different ways to fish a Texas Rig…I myself find working the plastic slowly to be the most effective. Especially in the winter months. Bass move slower in the winter and are less likely to chase something moving fast. Bass want get the same amount of energy in a meal as it takes to catch the meal. Okay back to working the rig. I cast it out, let it sit for roughly 20 seconds. This is the time where I usually get a hit, when the worm is falling to the bottom. If you do not get a hit on the fall, after 20 or so seconds is up tighten up your slack and slowly lift the rod up 3 to 4 times and then let it sit again, and repeat. This is rather slow way of bass fishing but it’s well worth it when you get that big hit.

How do you know when you have a bite? Well, a bass will usually tap the worm a time or two before actually taking the bait. You will feel a “tap tap” and then usually a strong hard pull. This is when you want to set the hook. Set the hook hard and quick so you get the barb through the bass’ mouth. Make sure you yank the rod in upper motion, and not to the side. Some people will yank the rod to the side and rip the hook out of the bass’ mouth. Setting in a upper quick motion will give you a better chance of getting a good hook set. Once you feel the bass is on there, keep the line tight and reel the bass in. You will get hooked on Texas Rigs after a few successful bass fishing trips with them.