By Pat Camuso

Photo by Pat Camuso Shohola Lake - Can you find the bass in this picture? You'll never do it unless you grab a fishing rod and try. PA's next Fish for Free Day is June 7

PIKE COUNTY – Memorial Day weekend 2009 is now fading into a pleasant memory – that means its time to get away from the trout for awhile, break out the plastic baits and hit one of Pike County’s many lakes and impoundments for largemouth bass.

Many styles of plastic baits are available on the market and new ones are coming along all the time but the “worm” is still the most versatile and the best. And there is no better time to tie on a plastic worm than right now as we enter the largemouth’s “post-spawn” period.

To choose the best worm for any given day you may have to be a bit of a weather watcher. On cooler day or in the wake of a cold front you may want to use a smaller worm; 4 or 5 inches, Texas or Carolina rigged. You can throw increasingly larger baits as the season progresses and the weather warms. You can count on the warming water to increase the metabolism of the bass making them more active and aggressive to larger prey.

Early on in the June bass season, bass fans may want to prospect deeper waters. Rig a four-to-six-inch worm Carolina style in order to cover more water (Carolina fishing can be much faster than the slow but deadly Texas style).

Spring bassmen may consider flipping worms into the “thick stuff” when things get tough. When the water temps are still cool, unstable and springtime cold fronts begin to assault the lake with some regularity, bass may again get a bit more lethargic – sending them for cover. At these times you want to flip that worm right on their lazy nose.

Consider the cover available compared with the color of the water when selecting the size of line you’ll fish. For example, downsize your line when fishing clear waters. Smaller, limber lines in either four or six pound test will let you cast further, give your bait more action, and make the line less visible to the bass holding in these clearer waters.

If you’re fishing in heavy cover or in the stream-fed lakes holding stained water, use heavier line like Trilene XT in 10 to 15-pound test for more of an advantage when trying to wrestle them out of the cover.

Later, once spring has a solid grip, cast as far back in the new vegetation as possible with a Texas-rigged, 7-inch floating worm. Swim the worm across the surface in or above the cover. Stop the bait in open water and the edges of patches or breaks and let it sit good and long – add a few twitches before you swim it again. Expect the strike when the lure lies motionless – begging for a hit. This same technique works great with plastic lizards.

Great early season largemouth bass fishing can be found in many of Pike County’s private as well as public lakes such as Shohola Lake on Route 6, White Deer Lake of off route 402 and of course Lake Wallenpaupack.