It's 5:30am and you're already on the water. The water is like glass and all is quiet around you. Next to you in the boat is a cooler filled with your favorite beverage (whether it's beer or Pepsi is up to you!). As you approach your favorite hole, you pick up your rod and tie on a surface lure. You cast your line toward the shore and present your topwater offering.

All of a sudden, the water explodes and you are in the battle of your life with a lunker largemouth! He feels like he goes maybe 3 or 4 pounds. As you get him boat side, you reach down and lift him out of the water. Larger than you expected, around 5 pounds! You turn and drop your prize into the live well and prepare for the next cast...

The thrill of topwater bass fishing is addictive. There is a BIG difference between catching that elusive largemouth off the bottom, from the middle or from the surface. Topwater bass fishing is a more visual experience than other types of fishing. There are specific types of rods and lures for topwater bass fishing.

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Smallmouth bass are probably my favorite fish to catch. Many anglers argue that these fish are the strongest fresh water fish pound for pound. I think I would have to agree with that statement, especially if you are fishing in a river. These fish are so strong and they put up some amazing fights. Watching them jump can be very exciting, however, this is the time that they spit out your lure, swim away and laugh at you. I can not prove that they actually laugh, but if I were them, I would be laughing. Experienced anglers know how to fight these fish to keep them from jumping, but sometimes, they will get in the air on the best anglers and after a couple of head shakes, the fishermen will get his bait back with a sick feeling in his or her stomach. Let's go ahead and take a deeper look into smallmouth bass.

These fish provide anglers with some exciting action and it starts earlier in the year than largemouths. Many fishermen start having success catching smallmouths when water temperatures are still in the 40s. Fish will be deeper, but they are still catchable. As the water warms in the spring, fish will move into the shallows to spawn. Deep, clear water lakes usually provide a good habitat for these fish and during the spring, you can see them all over the shallows spawning in the clear water. Some states prohibit fishing for smallmouth during this time of year, but if you are allowed to fish for them, you can have a blast. Jigs work well during this time of year, but you can also catch them on soft plastics, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. Live worms, minnows and leeches also work well. Catch and release is recommended during the spawn.

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Bass fishing in tournaments doesn't seem like a sport in which "proper etiquette" really means much. I've fished many bass tournaments in Florida and found out through experience that it is very important.

Let's look at this bass tournament scenario. You get up early in the morning preparing for your fishing trip. You then drink a couple cups of coffee, light up a cigarette and take care the 3 s's before you hitch up your boat. Once on the road you have a nice conversation with your "draw" partner on where you're going to start and what you're gonna throw so you guys can catch loads of fish in your favorite honey hole.

By the end of the tournament, you weigh in your fish and manage to get 5th place! Lucky for you, the tournament had enough entries to pay all the way to 7th place. You are real happy until a few of the guys give you the "bird" and say some unpleasant things to you. Then you think, "What's their problem?"

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A whole lot of advice can be said about fishing for bass in a river, but I speed through all of the best tips and tricks here in this article.

Before taking into consideration anything else, keep in mind that bass do not do very well at all in very rapid waters and need to have a way to hide in a break from the full blunt of the current. Very fast rivers are usually not great spots, but anywhere has potential. Just keep an eye out with the following advice in mind:

A river offers many possibilities for food for the bass, as well as many possibilities for danger. Shallower water can spell disaster in extreme temperatures for the bass, and there are many predators that feed on bass who also camp out prime river spots.

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Many a good angler has learnt a lot by keeping his eyes and ears peeled during his amateur days of fishing. A lot can be learnt just by observing and listening to the "gurus" talk about a sport or pastime that you are interested in. In the sport of bass fishing many good catches have been the result of a good Bass Fishing tip from the experts in their field.

Let us take for instance, a sea bass fishing expedition. An amateur will not know that the kid of tackle he is using is not suited for the kind of fish he is trying to lure. An experienced fisherman will tip him on the mistake he is making and this could lead to him making a catch where he would never have been able to without the tip. Something as simple as changing tackle can make a big difference.

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Bass fish, including the largemouth are notorious for feeding in shallow waters. For this reason novice anglers will use contour maps, or depth finders to locate areas where bass flock together. Since bass will scatter in shallow waters, it is important to find structures where fish group. Novice anglers will avoid frightening bass in shallow water as well. The fish tend to fright easily. Moreover, anglers will move around the waters, scouting the areas. As well, novice anglers will use a variety of lures, particular the presentations (Lures) that retract swiftly. NOTE: When bass join in schools, it is easiest to catch more than one fish.

Anglers who hunt bass often return to locations where they had previously caught fish. For this reason, bass anglers will mark areas to reduce confusion. Take markers with you if you intend to head off on a Bass Fishing trip. Novice anglers also recommend that you avoid making noises that scare the fish. If you use a boat while fishing, make sure that you avoid running the overboard. In addition, cast your line in areas that do not shadow the fish. Furthermore, when you cast your line, make sure that you extend it away from the boat. The distance you cast often brings good results.

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