The versatility of bass fishing lures is rivaled only by their variety - walk into any outdoor store, and you’ll see aisle upon aisle of packaging. Dark colors, light colors, sparkly colors, black, white - a neverending spectrum that, if approached without a plan, can be disastrous to your sanity.

Lucky for you, it’s not hard to hone in on the perfect color for your situation. There’s just a few things you need to know first.

What Condition Is the Water In?

When it comes to color selection, water clarity is everything. Catching a fish relies on visually triggering a reaction - and if the bass can’t see your bait, the game is up already!

It’s super easy to put visibility on a scale. 0-2 feet of visibility can be classified as “murky” water. 4-6 feet of visibility is relatively clear, but nothing to get excited about. If you can see 8 feet or more into the water, then you definitely find yourself on the upper end of the spectrum.

What’s the Sun Doing?

Believe it or not, the sun plays a huge role in choosing the color of your plastics. Sunny days mean better visibility - and the fish have a little clearer idea of what they’re seeing. When conditions are like this, it’s best to try and mimic natural colors and forage. Find out the bass in that lake are feeding on, and pick a similar color pattern. Lighter colors tend to prevail in sunny situations.

When it’s cloudy, or the sun is rising/setting, sometimes the bass can’t see as well. You can play it two ways in this situation. Go super bright, and try to cut through the gloom of the water - sometimes the color mixed with some sparkle is just enough to produce a strike. Alternatively, you can pick a darker color - the idea here being, you present a stronger silhouette for the fish to notice, and track. Both can produce success - just know the lake, and adjust accordingly!

Know the Forage, and Exploit It

Knowing what the fish are eating is absolutely key. When all else fails, you can always come back to rely on the natural hierarchy of the lake. If bass are eating the live version of it, then it’s pretty fair to assume you can produce strikes by artificially replicating it. Bluegill, shad, crawfish, and frogs are all examples of popular forage foods. Just observe, do some research, and apply that knowledge on the day.

Mix It Up

Never go to the lake without a backup option. Inevitably, you’ll plan for a sunny day and it’ll end up cloudy, or vice versa. Being able to adapt is the only way to keep fishing. Sometimes, your ability to adapt to a split second change in weather might be the difference between a trophy fish - or going home empty handed.

And when it seems like nothing is working, and all else has failed - go crazy. Use something you’d never use. Throw a bizarre pattern. Pick some strange profiles. If you’re not catching fish anyways, there’s really nothing to lose - and you might just end up finding your new favorite color!

Just like anything else in life, fishing is about preparation. If you come prepared, and ready to adapt, you’re in a great position to catch more fish.

When you witness an angler out on the water, it’s easy to see how happy they are. Doing something you love tends to have that effect on you - but what if there was something deeper to the joy fishing can provide? Here are 5 ways that bass fishing can improve your health in the long run.

Blue Space

You might be surprised to find that the biggest benefit is, in fact, the water itself. It’s long been understood that the human brain responds favorably to aquatic scenes, or “blue space”. Studies have found that people are drawn to the color blue, and being near the coast leads to perceivably higher levels of restoration.

Heroes on the Water, a non-profit organization, introduces Kayak Fishing to veterans as a way to treat PTSD - and incorporate them back into civilian life. Similar programs across the world are taking the healing power of being around water, and using it to change lives.

Stay Fit

Fishing is an activity that requires a decent amount of coordination, and fine motor skills. Tying knots, casting, putting boats in/out of the water are all tasks that require you to call upon your body to perform. Just standing up on a boat all day requires balance, leg strength, and laser focus.

If you’re looking for more of a workout, pick your favorite spot that requires a hike. Or, pull out the kayak instead of the boat, and build some strength by paddling. Honestly, just being outside is good for your body, and brain. Anyone can pick up a fishing rod, with any level of activity - but that doesn’t mean you can’t challenge yourself!

Angler’s Diet

It’s no surprise that people who fish, tend to eat a lot of fish. You might be surprised to find that this culinary habit could actually be profoundly extending your life. Women from Japan, one of the largest consumers of fish, have a life expectancy of 87 years - the longest in the world.

Fish are one of the healthiest sources of protein on the planet. The high Omega 3 content can lead to reduced blood pressure, and a lower risk of stroke and heart failure. Some research has also found eating fish can reduce the risk of breast cancer, asthma, and safeguard your eyesight.

Reduce Stress

Nearly 40% of people looking to take up fishing want to do so as a stress-relieving activity. Part of this we can attribute to the “blue space” effect, but there are other things in play here. A lot of it comes from the act itself.

Fishing is a mindful activity. To be successful, you need to aware of your surroundings, and your actions - all of which promote a stress release. This mental presence can serve as a way to declutter your mind, and put new perspective on problems in your life. In the US, 80% or more of people report feelings of stress. Maybe the solution is to just put a fishing rod in their hands.

Get On The Water!

 Have you decided it’s time to make fishing your stress relief? It’s not hard, or expensive to get into fishing. It can seem overwhelming - but all you need is a little guidance. In fact, a monthly subscription box like eBaits Tackle Box is perfect for the beginning bass fisherman. It can save you the confusion of going through hundreds of lures and baits. With a fresh box of personalized lures every month, you’ll always be learning something new - and finding an excuse to get on the water. Now go out, stay healthy - and keep fishing!