Preparation and flexibility are two keys to success when bass fishing. Being prepared by checking the weather forecast and prevailing water conditions on the lake, and the seasonal behavior of the bass are first steps. Keeping an open mind by making subtle changes to your lure arsenal is another key to success, once you are on the water.

A rule of thumb is to have lures tied on your rigs that are capable of covering the entire water column, from top to bottom. The angler in this video prefers a jerkbait to cover water ranging from 6 inches to 2 feet, a crankbait and spinnerbait for mid-range depths, and a jig and plastic worm for reaching the bottom.

Subtle changes in the weather can dictate minor adjustments to your existing lure choices. For example, if clouds appear during your trip, changing a spinnerbait blade to chrome and adding a white skirt can be a subtle, yet significant adjustment that will attract strikes. If you encounter muddy water flowing into a creek where the water is clear elsewhere in the lake, consider tying on a large, wobbling crankbait.

As the video points out, another subtle change is adding a red bead to a Texas-rigged worm. Doing so adds a subtle, yet noticeable difference to the bait that other anglers might have avoided making to the lure.

Preparation and an open mind, combined can add up to success when bass fishing on pressured impoundments.