[phpzon]fishing accessories, 30, SportingGoods[/phpzon] Summer and spring fishing is no doubt uppermost on the minds of most anglers but don't dismiss the productive nature of bass fishing during the winter months. Bass fishing techniques should be honed year round and if you are half serious of becoming an efficient angler then you should include the winter months as part of your fishing itinerary. Winter months generally see a drop off in bass numbers but not to worry, in many cases, what's lacking in quantity can be made up with quality using the proper bass fishing techniques. Smallmouth Bass Astute anglers have long known for a long time the winter months can produce improved odds in catching smallmouth bass. They are a challenging fish to catch at any time of the year but you can increase your chances during the winter months with some basic bass fishing techniques. What are they? Well, how about patience for starters. Water depth and a good understanding of the landscape are others. The right technique combined with the right equipment and the right bait forms a pretty powerful combination. Now the bass is well known for its voracious appetite but few know that it is extremely attracted to jigs. If you want to catch smallmouth bass, forget about what type of bait you use, it is not so important. Rather learn to use jigs well and you will never fail catching a smallmouth. Getting The Location Right Depth is usually the key with smallmouth and they usually appreciate it. However, winter gives anglers the chance to exploit smallmouth in their own backyards as they don't usually go below 25-30 feet at this time. You will need to find a structure which has to be quite away from the shore, at a depth of 20-40 feet and the place has to have sudden drop of areas (the favorite way of hiding for smallmouth bass). The boat should be stationed quite still (anchor it on both ends) and the distance from the chosen structure should be sufficient to allow you to cast a line freely. Here, you’d cast your jig and bobbing retrieve it in the water. The trick is to learn to differentiate between a strike by a rock or weed and a fish, so you can set the hook. Practice Bass Fishing Techniques For inexperienced anglers, practice and braving the conditions is the only way to master good bass fishing techniques. Casting a jig, retrieval, knowing where to park the boat, whether the bite you felt was a fish, current or a snag or whether to try something different when things are not happening... it's all about mastering techniques and the interesting thing about this game is you never stop learning.