Bass'ken Filtering Guide!!!
Bass'ken Lake is considered to be the Beginner/easiest lake when difficulty is considered.
In this lake, as in every other, you have small sized, medium sized and large sized fish.
Small Sized Fish:
Yellow Guppy:
Movement: This fish is the mixture between the Orange and the Red guppies. It will zig-zag slowly, with wide open turns. Be careful not to confuse it with junk! Sometimes it may seem they move alike.
Orange Guppy:
Movement: This fish is the easiest fish to spot in Bass'ken. It is known for short zig-zag movements and barely pulls.
Red Guppy:
Movement: This fish tricks even the best of filter fishers with similar movements to Blue Bass. It moves at a moderate speed left and right. This fish will never pull as hard as a Blue Bass.
Medium Size Fish:
Blue Bass:
Movement: Much like the red guppy, turning left and right at a moderate speed, however this one pulls a little harder than the Red Guppy.
Brown Bass:
Movement: This Bass, moves a little like red guppy, but it pulls longer and its a bit faster.
Green Bass:
Movement: This bass like the other two bass, has similar movement to the red guppy, even pulls alike; yet moves and turns a bit faster than the rest of the bass.
Large Size Fish:
Gray Striper:
Movement: Stripers are the fastest fish in Bass'ken Lake. The general movement is the same for them all, turning faster than bass. The Gray Striper is moves fast but in a predictable "side to side" pattern, yet its pull is not a strong one.
Blue Striper:
Movement: The Blue striper moves like the gray striper, but its only a little slower and pulls harder than any other. The general movement still remains the same.
Green Striper:
Movement: Alike the Blue striper, the movement once again is the same. Only difference is that this one is the fastest in the lake. Pull is somewhat like the one of the bass.
Junk
There are 3 types of junk.
Old Boots:
Old Cans:
Big Old Tires:
Luckily, in Bass'ken, Junk (And the infamous Yellow Guppy) always move the same way. After a bucket or two, its obvious that Junk doesn't pull or move around much. This means that if you hook something that is really slow and won't turn hard or pull hard at all, it is junk.
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Filtering
After getting the basic movements out of the way, we can now focus on filtering. Some people filter by feeling the fish, this takes large amounts of practice, until you are completely used to the game, the lake and the fish in that lake. "Feeling" is something that cannot be explained, so we will focus on counting:
Some basics about counting are:
- Try to always keep the same speed when counting, since if you count fast on one fish and slow on the next one, you won't have a good reference point.
The faster you count, the more accurately you will be able to tell fish apart, since it creates larger differences among them
Never start counting as soon as you've hooked the fish, start counting when the fish has turned for the first time.
Since all fish have a pattern, you'll start counting when the fish has turned for the first time. You'll stop counting when the fish turns again, and you may start counting again, from the start on this new turn.
Quote:
For example:
We hook a fish, it turns for the first time, and upon that turn we start counting, we managed to count up to 5 and then it turned. We can start from one again, using the same speed and the fish should turn once again on 5.
We hook a fish, it turns for the first time, and upon that turn we start counting, we managed to count up to 5 and then it turned. We can start from one again, using the same speed and the fish should turn once again on 5.
If you count at the same speed on the same lake, you'll end up noticing that all fish turn on different numbers. This makes it easy to realize what kind of fish you are reeling in, allowing you to decide if you want it or if you'd let it go to get a better one.
Some fish will turn on the same number, even though they are of different kinds. This is when the basic movements come into play, since if you pay enough attention, you'll notice that the pull is different, or they are faster. This will allow you to, for example, distinguish Frozen Trouts from Pink Seedkins.
Another positive aspect of counting, is that it will help you be ready for the next turn. Taking our previous example, lets say this fish is a fast one, and our rod won't give us enough room, so slow reactions would equal it going away. If we know the fish turns on 5 on our count, if we keep counting, we will be ready for the next turn, that will be once again on the same number. This gives us some advantage, allowing us to be more prepared for the turn, instead of it being unexpected.
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Okay, I know all of this, now how do I test it??
Once you've gotten the theory down, its time for the most important thing, PRACTICE! What I'd recommend doing, is to start fishing; while counting (always keeping the same pace) and catch everything you hook (even Junk if you are not aware or sure about its movement). While doing this, pay close attention to the fish's movements and the time they turn. Even take notes if needed, with the count number and what fish you ended up getting. Once you've got the counting and numbers down, do another couple of buckets, counting and paying attention, but this time, try to call the name of the fish (according to your notes if needed) that you are reeling in. Then, once you get it, verify if the fish you thought you were reeling in was the one that shows up when you get it.
Remember to start easy, trying to guess what kind of fish (Guppy, Bass, Striper or Junk) Once you are able to name the kind, you can step your game up a bit and try to name the colour of the fish (Red Guppy, Blue Bass, Gray Striper, etc. . .).
Once you feel you are doing a good job at guessing, it's time to really start filtering, letting go the fish you don't want, the junk and getting some really great buckets!! smile
