Spring has come and the sun will be shinning late into the Autumn this year, and the fish are promising to be jumping in the boats, especially that most desirable of fish, the bass. You need only to assemble a formidable selection of bass fishing lures to entice them.

Now bass fishermen, like any fishermen, differ sharply on which are the best bass fishing lures, the ones sure to get that strike every time a fish comes into sight and smell of that slimy delight. Live swimming grubs or lures imitating grubs have proven effective for snatching those bass 10 to 15 feet deep. Live grubs wag their tails in a subtle manner, which brings attention from those bass below, so if you’re using artificial grub, make sure their tails will wag gently as you fan cast around your boat. Use a steady retrieve, slow and smooth. Shad colored grub lures are especially effective.

Many bass fishermen use spinner baits, but may find these sink too slowly and the action isn’t fooling the bass. Interestingly enough, a one half ounce Sonar has properties that call those bass like a school of shad. The metal blade vibrates and the lure sinks quickly, hitting the bottom with a hard thud. The size of a threadfin shad will catch the eye of any bass. You’re sure to land your max using these.

Switch blades are popular bass fishing lures for catching bass, the , the Reef Runner Cicada, and Wordens Showdown are popular and very effective lures. These lures are normally fished vertically, but many cast them for more extensive coverage. Cast these out about 15 feet, let them fall to 20 feet, then pump it back up to 15, repeating until you’ve completed the retrieve. Aim in another direction and try again. The more area you cover, the greater likelihood you’ll hook that big fish.

Soft plastic bass fishing lures have also produced good results. These are constructed almost like a fly. The hair and feathers are neatly tied to their soft, plastic bodies. Some sparkling flash material is also attached to the body. Nothing beats flash to spark a bass’es interest. These lures may imitate worms, shad or grub. They are more a work of art than a lure, but perhaps there are art loving bass out there too.

An strange bass lure which seems to have considerable success is the coffee tube. It’s a soft plastic tube oiled with coffee oil and, of course, a hook at one end. Apparently, the bass can’t resist it. Chum w/coffee grinds?

In addition to the commercially sold bass fishing lures, you also have the option of making your own lure. You can melt some lead, such as soft-lead sinkers. Construct a mold and set within it the hooks nicely spaced. Then dribble the mold with the lead and close and hold the mold in place. After a minute, open the mold, clear excess lead, and then paint with a bright, intense color. Rub some coffee oil on it and see if that doesn’t make it your favorite bass lure of all. Like some coffee with that, mister bigmouth bass?

There are many must see sites for first time visitors to the Columbia River Gorge National Park, but one of the most remarkable is the breathtaking Multnomah Falls. This natural wonder is not to be missed, and all visitors to the Columbia River Gorge National Park should carve some time out of their schedule to see it.

Standing some 620 feet tall, Multnomah Falls is the second highest waterfall in the United States. This double tiered waterfall is truly remarkable, and well worth the hike. Those who want an up close and personal view of this spectacular waterfall should be sure to visit the Benson Bridge – this bridge lets visitors see the falls from between the upper and lower tier.

Any visitor with an interest in fishing should try his or her luck both above and below Bonneville Dam. The sturgeon fishing is particularly great in the Columbia River, but the waters in the park are also filled with small mouth and large mouth bass, walleye, shad and more. . Salmon fishermen and women should check out the Little White Salmon River, also within the borders of the park.

Washington State has its share of great Columbia River fishing too. A Columbia River Fishing Vacation could be a memorable event for the avid fisherman. There is a nice little guide to catching salmon on the Columbia River and elsewhere HERE.

Hiking enthusiasts will enjoy the park as much as fishermen, and no avid hiker should miss a chance to explore the Eagle Creek Trail. Stretching more than 13 miles, parts of the trail have been carefully carved out of sheer cliffs, while other wider parts of the trail cut through lush forestland. Hikers will find many rewards along the way, including a wonderful view of the Punch Bowl Falls, with is fine strands of water and unique beauty. The Eagle Creek Trail also passes through the aptly named Tunnel Falls – the trail passes right through a tunnel behind the waterfall.

Bird watchers and other nature enthusiasts are sure to love the Columbia River Gorge National Park as well. This wonderful park is home to an astonishing variety of wildlife, making wildlife viewing a very rewarding activity. Nature lovers will also find a remarkable array of plant life, including some breathtaking species of wildflower. Some of these beautiful flowers can even be seen clinging to the sheer basalt cliffs flanking the park’s many waterfalls.

No matter what you choose to do, the beautiful Columbia River Gorge National Park is a wonderful place to enjoy the day or savor a more extended stay. Campers can set up their tents and enjoy many glorious days in the wilderness, while day trippers can visit the beautiful trails and enjoy the beauty of nature. With all it has to offer it is no wonder the Columbia River Gorge National Park is such an Oregon institution.

Located on the Otay River in San Diego County, the lake was created on the completion of the Savage Dam. Typical lake information includes its size which is around 1,100 acres and its average depth which is approximately 125 feet. The lake is considered one of the best bass fishing spots on the west coast as the many old dead trees and rock piles provide perfect habitat.

The other primary fish species in the lake include catfish, bluegill, crappie and bullhead. Fish limits are 5 catfish, 5 bass and 25 crappie with no limit on other fish species. The lake is a Bassmaster Tournament location and is a popular spot in California during the fishing season.

Other lake information includes that it is open for fishing on Wednesday and the weekend and this can be done by boat, from the shoreline or using a float tube. No overnight camping is allowed around the lake with the nearest campground facilities being 2 miles away. The nearest city is Chula Vista which is around 8 miles west of the lake with downtown San Diego being a 30 minute drive away.

The weather is generally fine throughout the year with little rain. The high temperature in the summer months reaches into the 80’s with temperatures in the 60’s more typical during the winter. Other local attractions include boating and hiking.

What sort of experience are you looking to have?

The answer to this question has a lot to do with which charter co. you’ll want to choose. Some deep sea fishing charter companies focus specifically on reef and/or wreck fishing while others focus more on inshore fishing. Then you’re also going to have to determine which fish you’d like to target. Of course, this is going to need to be something you decide before you even take your vacation because each area is going to have its own unique fish.

What’s your level of experience?

If you’re an expert fisherman you’re going to get bored on a boat that’s catering to beginners. If you’re a beginner you’re going to have a hard time succeeding on a boat full of experts. Factoring your level into what charter company you choose is extremely important because it will determine how much fun you have and your chances of having a successful fishing trip.

Some charter companies also specialize in trips designed around families, so find the one that best suits your needs.

What does the charter offer?

The best way to find out what charters offer is to ask the captain. The captain will always be willing to tell you what you need to know so you don’t waste time or money on a charter boat that isn’t going to give you exactly what you’re looking for.

Part of understanding what you want and what the charter offers is to understand how much a charter is going to cost you. That’s certainly something to consider: your budget. Smaller charter boats are going to run from around $200 to nearly $400 for a 2 to 4 person boat. The larger boats that you could use for an entire day are going to cost a lot more (nearly $1200) depending on many factors (including the company’s reputation). Be sure to ask for a price breakdown so you know exactly how much you’re going to spend.

How do I know if a charter is legitimate?

How do you know if a charter company is experienced and how well they serve their customers? Look for references. Ask people around the area. Locals, other tourists at your hotel or the concierge, your travel agent are all people that should be able to steer you in the right direction.

As long as you carefully plan your trip you can have great fun while you deep sea fish either alone or with your family. Make this an experience everyone can enjoy by getting the right package for you and your family which can be done by figuring out exactly what each charter company offers.

The new Yo-Zuri Sashimi Minnow is a groundbreaking, highly detailed lure that actually changes color, mimicking the color changing behavior of many baitfish. These new lures attract inshore and offshore gamefish such as Stripers, Bluefish, Wahoo, Tuna, and more.

The Sashimi Minnow is available in 7 different patterns and features an internal rattle chamber.

Macks Lure has introduced a new ‘hybrid spinner’ call hummbait. The unique lure is designed to attract fish with noise, vibration & appearance. This lure can be used for several different fishing techniques from casting, to buzzbait or even trolling.

HummBaits comes in three different sizes: 1/4 oz. (Minnow), 3/8 oz. (Smelts), and 1/2 oz. (Shad). Prices range from $3.29 to $3.99. You can pick them up at MacksLure.com or perhaps even find a deal at ebay

The Charlie Lure features the best properties of soft and hard plastic lures. Soft plastic on the outside gives it a realistic look and feel along with realistic swmming action that fish won’t be able to resist. Read more reviews of this ICAST Award Winning Swimbait: Charlie Lure Here

This is the second soft shell crab lure we’ve reviewed here at Lure of the Day. The first one was a Storm Lures Swimming Crab. The Softshell Crab by D.O.A. is another very nice soft crab lure.

This lure came about because fishermen kept finding small crabs inside so many of the fish that we cleaned. Other fishermen confirmed the findings and D.O.A. knew that if the fish were feeding on real crabs, they would feed on our Softshell Crab.

D.O.A. Crab Lures have caught everything from red drum to permit, tarpon, snook and even bass. Try one. Walk it sideways across the bottom or swim it slowly in the current. This lure can be crept slowly across potholes or slid right across the surface for that topwater strike.

You’ll be pleased with it’s lifelike swimming and feeding action and you’ll be in for some great fishing fun.

Price at $3.79 a piece.