• Fishing is a great way for kids to have fun in the outdoors.female fishing image by JulianMay.co.uk from Fotolia.com
  
  Bass are one of the most popular gamefish in America and can be found in rivers, lakes, and even farm ponds from Maine to California. Inhabiting a variety of environments, bass can be caught using several different methods, and each requires a distinct approach. Fishing for bass can sometimes be challenging but with the right information anyone can catch this fierce gamefish.
  
  

Top Water

• Using topwater lures is probably the most exhilarating way to catch bass. After casting the lure, allow it to sit on the surface for a few seconds before reeling. Bass will often strike the lure as it sits still. When you begin to retrieve the lure, give it a jerk to create commotion on the surface. Keep using a jerk-and-reel technique as you retrieve the lure. Bass are attracted to any type of commotion and this will look like injured prey to them. Buzzbaits are great way to create commotion while quickly covering a large area, as you have to keep reeling to keep the lure on the surface. However, if this technique does not produce fish, try something different, such as slowly reeling the lure. If this doesn't work, rapidly reel the lure. Flexibility is important as bass may be attracted to one approach on one day and another the next.
  
  

Fishing Around Structure

• Bass will often be found in close proximity to structure. They will wait around logs, rocks, ledges or weed beds, waiting for prey they can attack. Largemouth bass are particularly fond of weeds, while smallmouth prefer rocky bottoms. However, fishing these obstacles creates the risk of your hook getting caught. A great way to avoid this is to use weedless hooks. These hooks have flexible plastic rods that prevent the hook from catching a log or rock but allow a fish to bite down. When fishing structure get the lure as close to it as possible. Bass are not only hungry eaters, they are also territorial and will attack other creatures who enter their home.
  
  

Fishing the Bottom

• Often, bass will migrate to greater depths when the weather turns cold. They are also less likely to travel far to attack prey. This means fishing the bottom of a lake, pond or river requires a slow approach. Use a plastic worm to slowly cover the bottom. Do this by casting out and letting worm sink. After the worm is on the bottom raise the rod to pull the worm up, and then let it drop. Reel up any slack in the line as the worm sinks again. It is important to keep the line tight to detect strikes, which usually occur as the worm falls. If you feel a strike or see the line moving, pull up on the rod fast and hard to set the hook.
  
  

River Fishing for Bass

• The flowing water of a river creates unique fishing opportunities and additional considerations for bass fishing. First, you should almost always cast upstream and retrieve the lure reeling it down at about the speed of the current. Bass will wait facing upstream to see what the current is bringing to them. Also, if the water is moving quickly look for calm areas along the bank or behind boulders. These places also provide bass the opportunity to sit and wait for prey without expending too much energy swimming against the current.