Bass Strike Zone
When it comes to bass fishing, there are days when you can fish for hours and not get a single bite. You change lures, you change spots, you do everything like you are supposed to, but nothing seems to be working. You sit in the boat (or on the bank), trying to wrap your mind around why you can’t seem to catch a fish. Well, the secret to catching bass is getting your lure in the strike zone. What is the strike zone? Keep reading for the answer to this question and how it will affect your bass fishing.

The strike zone is a key concept in bass fishing. Basically, the strike zone is the area of the water that a bass can see. It is well-known that in optimal conditions, bass can see about 50 feet. However, just because they can see 50 feet away does not mean they are going to bite any lure they see within that 50-foot radius. For starters, bass see best and prefer to strike something in front of them. Without getting your lure in front of the bass, you are going to have a hard time convincing it. This is because they can’t see as well to the side and would have to waste energy turning to see the lure, and then chase after it. Doing stuff like that all day sounds like a lot of work, so most bass will sit and wait until they see something that is placed in an optimal position for them to make it as easy as possible to get their next meal.

Now we know the strike zone is in front of the bass. You can’t just throw anything out in front of them though, because the strike zone isn’t the entire water column in front of the fish. You see, bass like to attack from underneath their prey, so in order to get your lure in the optimal position for a strike, you should aim to cast so your lure is in front of the bass and also above them a bit. How much above them is harder to say because there are a lot of variables, but just know that a bass is less likely to attack your lure and give you a chance at catching them if your presentation is happening beneath them.

So, how can you utilize this knowledge when you are out on the water? One thing you can try is to fish a few different baits that fish in different areas of the water column. Think top water, mid water, and bottom. Some examples of these lures could be a frog, a spinnerbait, and a Texas rig. By fishing lures that work their magic in different parts of the water column, you will increase your chances that your presentation happens to be in a hungry bass’s strike zone and maximize your odds of getting a bite.

The next time you are on the water, try to remember these tips to put a few extra fish in the boat. Good luck, and tight lines.