Bass Fishing

For sport anglers, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are two of the most prized catches. Bass spend most of their time in lakes and rivers with plentiful fresh water. They tend to congregate in mossy, sheltered areas to prey on smaller fish, such as minnows.

The best time to fish for bass is May through July, using minnows, crayfish, night crawlers, jigs, crank baits and spinner baits. Both live bait and artificial lures will attract bass, but one may be more attractive to smallmouth bass as opposed to largemouth bass. Early morning and late evening are the best time to catch bass as they tend to take shelter from the sun during the day. They are more active when the climate is cooler and the sun is not as bright.

Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
AKA: Black bass, green trout, bigmouth bass, lineside bass
This species is considered the most popular game fish in the United States. Largemouth bass fishing tournaments have become very popular in recent years.

Distinguishing Markings:
Largemouth bass can be recognized by the lower jaw that extends past the back edge of the eye.
It is dark green above with silvery sides and belly and a dark stripe across its body. . The underside ranges in color from light green to almost white. They have a nearly divided dorsal fin with the anterior portion containing nine spines and the posterior portion containing 12 to 13 soft rays

Size:
Largemouth bass have been known to reach weights of over 20 pounds.

Distribution:
Find largemouth bass in the St. Lawrence, Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River basins; Atlantic drainages from North Carolina to Florida and to northern Mexico. The species has been introduced widely as a game fish and is now cosmopolitan.

Habitat:
Largemouth bass are found in all waters from freshwater to brackish (a mix of fresh and saltwater) waters. They like large, slow moving rivers or streams with soft bottoms.
They especially like clear water. Immature largemouth bass may tend to congregate in schools, but adults are usually solitary. Sometimes several bass will gather in a very small area, but they do not interact. Largemouth bass seek protective cover such as logs, rock ledges, vegetation, and man-made structures. They prefer clear quiet water, but will survive quite well in a variety of habitats.

Food:
Greedy carnivores, largemouth bass feast on minnows, sunfish, gizzard shad, insects, frogs and occasionally snakes. Adult largemouth bass are the top predators in the aquatic ecosystem. Fry feed primarily on zooplankton and insect larvae. At about two inches in length they become active predators. Adults feed almost exclusively on other fish and large invertebrates such as crayfish. Larger fish prey upon smaller bass. Adult fish feed near water plants in shallow waters.

Spawning:
Largemouth bass spawn as early as March or as late as June. The males build saucer shaped nests 20 to 30 inches in diameter and guard the nest and eggs from all intruders. Largemouth bass grow 4 to 6 inches during their first year, 8 to 12 inches in two years, and up to 16 inches in three years. Largemouth bass may live for 13 years.

Bass Fishing Tips:
These fish are an extremely popular sport fish. They are excellent fighters when caught on light spinning tackle. Popular methods of fishing are fly-fishing, bait casting, or bottom fishing, and good baits include live minnows, night crawlers, and worms. For more information, read bass fishing tips written by professional bass fishermen.
Other Types of Bass:
SmallMouth Bass
Rock Bass
Striped Bass
Black Sea Bass

Sometimes it seems like the sport of bass fishing has more terms than a spelling bee! Even lifelong anglers may not know what everything means. And people are often afraid or embarrassed to ask questions about bass fishing. So we’ve gone ahead and tried to outline some of the major terms you will here when fishing for bass as well as bass fishing tips.

Why is bass fishing fun?
Bass fishing is one of the most popular sports in America for many reasons and anglers fish for bass for many reasons. But a few of the most obvious reasons why people love bass fishing are:

Bass can be found all over the country.
Bass can get very big, ranging from 1 to 20 lbs.
Fishing for bass is exciting as they are aggressive fish (especially smallmouth bass!)
Bass fishing is easy to learn with some practice and patience.

What kind of baits or lures do I need to get started with bass fishing?
Bass fishing is a regional and seasonal sport. The types of lures that work best for you will vary based on where you live and what season it is. Here are a few common lure types used to catch bass:

Crank baits: Whether you fish from the bank or a boat, you can bet that tossing a crank bait will result in catching fish. Crank baits are a cast-and-retrieve type lure that help you cover water fast when you search for active bass. However, many people make the mistake of simply casting and reeling it straight back. While you can catch some fish this way, crank baits are most effective when an angler varies his or her retrieve. That means reel it, twitch it, knock it against stumps and rocks, and do anything else to make the crank bait move erratically. For beginners, try a shallow to medium diving crank bait to target the most aggressive bass in the area. Start with natural colors for clear water and chartreuse or dark colors for stained water.
Soft-plastics: It is safe to say that more fish have been caught on soft plastic baits than any other type of bait. Plastic worms, tubes, and creature baits do a great job mimicking natural forage. Starting out, a texas-rigged plastic worm is a great way to fish blown over trees, rocks, and vegetation because it is virtually weedless and snag-resistant.
Top water: While top waters may not always catch the most fish, they produce some of the most memorable, exciting fish strikes! Top water baits like poppers and frogs are an absolute blast to use and they often attract the biggest and meanest bass in the water. Poppers and other top water hard baits work great on main lake points, around standing timber, and along brushy or weedy banks. Frogs are designed to be fished in the thickest, nastiest cover you can find, but can also be effective in open water.

Where can I go bass fishing?
While having a bass boat is sweet, you don’s need to own a boat to catch monster bass! Lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams provide ample opportunities for anglers to hook up with some big bass all across the country. The Internet is a great place to identify bodies of water. One great way to find where fish are is by using Fishidy to scout maps of local waterways. Google maps can also help you locate nearby fishing opportunities in public parks or forest preserves.

Another great option for beginning anglers is private ponds and lakes. However, always, always, ALWAYS make sure to get permission with the landowner and treat the property with respect. Nothing can ruin a fishing trip faster than being arrested for trespassing.

What is a 4/0 hook?
4/0 represents the size of a hook. It’s one of the most common bass fishing hook sizes there are. Manufacturers typically size their hooks on a scale from 1/0 to 6/0. A 4/0 EWG hook is one of the most common hook sizes for bass fishing and is used in many applications.

BASS FISHING HOOK
What does EWG stand for?
EWG stands for “Extra Wide Gap.” And EWG hook has more space between the shank and the point than a standard hook. This type of hook is great for rigging baits weedless when trying to find big bass in heavy cover.

What does “spawn” mean?
Spawning is how bass reproduce. When a largemouth or smallmouth bass spawns, the female bass will find an area to lay her eggs (called a “bed”). The male then fertilizes the eggs. That’s where baby bass come from!

Techniques for bass fishing can differ greatly for pre-spawn (right before bass spawn) post-spawn (right after they spawn) and during the spawn itself.

When should you use a bait caster versus a spinning reel?
Bass anglers use both bait casting and spinning tackle, but each set-up has certain advantages for different applications. Bait casting gear is generally used for heavier line, 10 pound test and up. Bait casters excel when anglers are using heavier baits like crank baits, spinner baits, heavy jigs, top waters, and other similar baits.

Most anglers use spinning tackle when employing such tactics as the drop shot rig, wacky rigging, and other more finesse-style presentations which are popular for both largemouth and smallmouth bass.

What’s a birds nest?
A birds nest (also known as “backlash”) is when the spool spins faster than the line is traveling, causing the fishing line in the reel to get twisted and knotted up
bass fishing reel backlash

What’s the difference between fluorocarbon, monofilament, and braided line?
There are a few ways these three types of line are different.

Fluorocarbon Line: Fluorocarbon sinks, which means it is not great for top water baits, though it is great for reaction baits and soft plastics. It doesn’s stretch as much as monofilament, but it stretches more than braid. It is very clear and difficult for fish to see, making it ideal for finesse presentations.
Monofilament Line: Monofilament (mono) floats, so it is great for top water baits like walk-the-dog baits and poppers. It also stretches a lot more than braid or fluorocarbon, which can be a good thing if you are fishing with reaction baits. The extra stretch allows the fish to get the bait in its mouth better. However, stretch can be a bad thing too, especially on long casts or with baits that require a strong hook set.
Braid Line: Braid has become much more popular in the last decade or so. It has virtually no stretch. Also, it is incredibly strong, much stronger than mono or fluoro with similar diameter size. However, braid is much easier for fish to see. This is why braid is often employed while fishing frogs and jigs in areas where there is a lot of vegetation. Many people also use braid in finesse situations, due to its sensitivity, and tie on a fluorocarbon leader to make it more difficult for fish to detect the line.
What pound test line should I use?
Much like other questions in fishing, the answer to this one is simple and complicated at the same time: it depends.

On bass spinning reels, usually anything over 10-12 lb monofilament or fluorocarbon is too heavy, impacting the performance of the bait and reel. Since spinning reels are generally used for lighter baits and more finesse presentations, a good rule of thumb is line size between 6 and 12 lb monofilament or fluorocarbon and 10 to 30 lb braid is solid for spinning rods.

Bait casting reels are used for more heavy or reaction-strike applications. You can use line anywhere from 10 to 25 lb monofilament or fluorocarbon, and 30 to 80 lb braid.

Here is a quick rundown of which line to use for which baits. You will notice that there are a lot of overlapping baits. For example, you can use a crank bait on fluorocarbon or monofilament line, it has more to do with preference. Also, these pairings are just suggestions of what traditionally works best. If you like to fish spinner baits on braid because it helps you rip it free from the grass, do it. Its all about confidence.

Monofilament: Top waters, Texas-rigged soft plastics, jigs, crank baits, spinner baits, swim baits.
Flurocarbon: Texas-rigs, Carolina-rigs, wacky-rigs, shaky head, jigs, tubes, buzz baits, crank baits, spinner baits, jerk baits, swim baits.
Braid: Frogs, toads, buzz baits, top waters, jigs, Texas-rigs, Alabama-rigs, flipping jigs.
What knots should I use for bass fishing?
There seem to be as many knots out there as there are baits. There are three times you will need to tie a knot in fishing, and here is a list of the top knots in each of the categories.

Loop knots: Many people use loop knots on top waters and reaction baits because they give the bait more action. The King Sling is the best of these knots, with high ratings for braid, monofilament and flurocarbon.

Line to line knots: These knots are great when you are tying a leader. The two best knots of this kind are the Blood Knot and the Modified Albright.

Line to lure knots: These are the most common types of knots anglers must master. The Palomar Knot, the Improved Reverse Clinch Knot, and the Triple Loop Knot are some great ones to learn, with the Palomar Knot being the most universal.

You can learn how to tie all these knots and more by visiting this website or by downloading the Knot Wars app from North American Fisherman on your smart phone.

What is a Texas rig?
A Texas rig is one of the most common and universally effective types of bass fishing rigs. It is also one of the simplest to tie and use.

Step One: Slide on a bullet sinker, like the one shown here, to your main line.

Step Two: Tie a worm hook, such as an EWG or straight shank hook, to your main line using a Palomar knot or the knot of your choice.

Step Three: Thread the hook point through the tip of the soft plastic you choose and out about one quarter of an inch down the bait. Then, rotate the bait and insert the hook back into the plastic and out the other side. You can then skin-hook (insert just the point of the hook barely into the plastic) to make the rig weedless.

What is a bullet weight?
A bullet weight is as free-sliding weight that you thread onto your line. They are most often used for Texas-rigs and sometimes Carolina-rigs.

What is a limit?
If you have ever watched a bass fishing tournament on TV, you have constantly heard phrases like, “I am just looking for a limit,” or “I need to get a limit early in the morning.” An angler catches a limit when he or she has caught the maximum number of fish he or she is allowed to weigh in at the scales. In the vast majority of tournaments, a limit is 5 fish.

What does “cull” mean?
Again, if you have ever watched a bass fishing tournament on TV, you have heard the word “cull,” as in, “I have limit, I just need to catch a big one so I can cull that little one.” Culling is the act of releasing your smallest fish from your live well and replacing it with a bigger fish you have just caught.

What’s a live well?
A live well is a compartment inside a bass boat that can be filled with water to hold fish. As the name suggests, the live well keeps fish alive by circulating fresh water.

Why should I practice “catch and release?”
Bass fishing is a fun and exciting sport. But if everyone kept every fish they caught the fish population would decrease and it would hurt the sport. Catch and release allows other anglers (and you) to catch more and bigger fish.

What’s the difference between largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass?
Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass are three distinct species with their own characteristics.

Largemouth and spotted bass are mostly green with whitish bellies. Smallmouth are usually brown or bronze with whitish bellies.

Another distinction is the size of the mouths, as their names suggest. Smallmouth and spotted bass have smaller mouths than largemouth.

How can I tell if I have a bite?
If you are using a cast-and-retrieve type lure such as a crank bait or spinner bait, oftentimes a bite will just feel like “mushy” weight on the line. When bass are extra-aggressive, they will really smack your bait, making it easy to tell you have a bite. Big bass sometimes “knock slack” in your line. This bite is more difficult to detect, but the telltale sign occurs when you are retrieving your bait and it suddenly feels weightless, like your line has been cut.

When you are using slower-moving baits like soft plastics or jigs, bites feel more like a ‘shump thump” on your line. Sometimes, you may not feel anything at all! In this case, it helps to be a “line watcher.” If you see your line jump or start moving off to the side, then you can bet you probably have a fish on.

What is a “hook set?”
A “hook set” is one of the most essential techniques in bass fishing. Setting the hook is when you ensure your bait properly hooks the fish so it does not get away when you are reeling in your line.

How do I set the hook?
With a crank bait, it is not necessary to jerk the rod hard when you detect a bite. Instead, simple “lean” into the fish by pulling the rod further in the direction you are already reeling. You can use the same technique with spinner baits, but jerk slightly harder to get greater penetration.

Soft plastics and slow moving baits like jigs require a more aggressive hook set than cast-and-retrieve lures. After you have detected a bite, reel in any slack that you may have in your line, lower your rod tip to about a 3 o”clock position, and quickly jerk the rod upward toward a 12 o”clock position.

While top water bites are the easiest to see, setting the hook can be the most challenging in all of bass fishing. When a bass attacks a top water bait, oftentimes they strike it to kill it first, not necessarily to eat it. For that reason, you have to be more patient when setting the hook. The first rule of thumb is to wait until you actually feel the weight of the fish on the end of your line. The second is to count two seconds in your head before setting the hook. Even if a bass misses it the first time, the will often strike multiple times on a top water bait!

A wise man once told me that if I was ever unsure whether I had a bite, or something just felt different, go ahead and set the hook. His explanation? “Hook sets are free!”

How do I land a bass once I’ve hooked one?
So your hooked up with a bass, what now?! Here are just a few tips for getting the bass to the boat or the bank.

Never “horse” it in – There is no time limit or shot clock. Allow the fish to wear itself out instead of just cranking it in as fast as possible.
Prevent the fish from jumping – Bass jump out of the water when they are hooked. While this is an exciting spectacle, it is also the most dangerous part of the battle. Bass jump because they have more leverage to “throw” the hook out of the water than they do in the water. For this reason, keep your rod tip low and so that the fish is less likely to jump.
Releasing the Fish – Here at Mystery Tackle Box, we like to support the catch-and-release of bass. This helps ensure the continued success and enjoyment of the sport of bass fishing. Simply snap a few pictures (for bragging purposes and evidence) and release the fish as quickly as possible.
And even if you follow all these steps, you still may lose the fish. That’s OK, even the pros lose fish every once in awhile.

What’s the biggest bass ever caught?
biggest largemouth bass
There is a tie at the top of the bass fishing world for who has the biggest largemouth bass. The longstanding record has been help by a man named George Perry. His legendary catch, a 22-4 pounds largemouth in 1932, was caught in a small oxbow lake in Georgia. In 2009, Manuba Kurita caught a bass in Japan’s famed Lake Biwa that bested Perry’s record and weighed closer to 22-5 pounds. However, they are officially considered tied because the IGFA requires a fish to be a full 2 ounces larger for game fish under 25 pounds to be considered the sole record holder. You can read more about it here.

Can I catch big bass from shore?
Absolutely! Big bass can definitely be caught from shore. Spring and fall months are the best months to catch lunkers in the shallows, but you can catch them among cover near the bank throughout the year!

How does a depth finder/fish finder work?
Depth finders, fish finders, graphs, electronics, are all names for the same thing. These devices work the same way dolphins or bats find prey. The fish finder sends out a sound wave, and the sound wave bounces back. If there is a fish between the boat and the bottom, then the sound wave looks different and you “mark” a fish. Fish usually look like arcs on a fish finder.

What is structure?
Bass are ambush predators, so they like to hide in waiting for prey to come by. Bass use ‘structure” as their hiding place. Good bass fishing structure includes, but is not limited to, brush, docks, lay downs, weeds, rock piles, etc.
bass fishing structure map

What is a point?
A point is a feature on a lake characterized by a tapering slope surrounded by two drop-offs on either side. Bass relate to points throughout the year, but especially in the early months before the spawn and during the summer. Points are must-find spots for bass fishing many times during the year.

What is a flat?
Active bass can often be found on flats, which are basically just large areas where the water is shallower than the surrounding areas. These areas are the first to warm up and attract bait fish, so the bass naturally feed there.

What is a swivel?
A swivel is a small, usually metal piece of equipment that can be used to keep line your fishing line from twisting. You can also use swivels in a number of rigs such as a Carolina Rig.

What is a leader?
A leader is the last bit of line in front of your bait. Bass fishing anglers tie leaders to their main line if they want reduce the likelihood that a fish will see their line.

1. Find Cover, Find Bass
The most important factor, and most relevant of all the bass fishing tips, is putting your lure where the fish are. To do that, you have to find cover on the body of water you are fishing. Cover comes in many different forms including rock, wood, boat docks, grass, lily pads, and a whole lot more. Bass love to hang around cover because it helps conceal them so they can easily ambush their prey. There are times when bass are roaming in open water, but they can be much harder to locate than fish holding on cover.
2. “Match the Diet”
Bass are savages. Across the country bass have a very broad diet ranging from baitfish like shad and bluegill. It’s important to “Match the Diet” so that your lure imitates the type of forage that the bass in your local waters are feeding on. If bass are feeding on shad, throw a silver colored crankbait or swimbait. If small minnows are the main forage where you are fishing, a dropshot rig with a small plastic may be your best option.
3. Be a Versatile Angler
One of the worst downfalls for bass fisherman is being “one dimensional.” To prevent your bass fishing success from living and dying by one technique, you have to become a versatile angler. The best way to be a well-rounded angler is to fish at new places and to continually learn and practice new techniques. Fish bodies of water that are different from your home waters and force yourself to adapt to the fishing conditions there. If you are used to fishing dirty water with jigs and spinnerbaits, go to a lake with clear water and try to master the dropshot or a similar finesse tactic. Go outside of your bass fishing comfort zone and you will become a more versatile and better angler for it.
4. Understand How Weather Impacts Bass
Weather conditions can have a dramatic effect on bass behavior from day to day. Getting to know how bass behave under different weather conditions is vital to being a successful bass angler. On cloudy days bass tend to be much more active and willing to expose themselves to feed. Bass fishing tips can vary depending on how the weather varies. Opt for moving baits like spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and topwater plugs on overcast days to draw big strikes from active bass. When the fishing weather gives you a shining sun, bass like to hold tight to cover and wait for meals to come to them. To catch these lazy bass on sunny days, go with a bottom bouncing bait like a jig or Texas rigged soft plastic. Flip and pitch your bait to the base of cover and be ready for a bass to hammer it.
5. Watch The Water Temperature
Depending on the time of year and location, water temperatures can vary drastically. Water temperature greatly affects the activity level and feeding patterns of bass. As a general rule of thumb it’s best to throw slower moving baits in cooler water temps and faster, more aggressive lures in warmer water. However, there are many techniques that will catch bass in warm and cool water, but always be mindful of the water temp because it may lead you to make a change that will put more fish in your boat!
6. Wind Can Be Your Friend When Bass Fishing
Days when the wind is gassing over 15mph can make fishing difficult and aggravating. Even though it can be tough to cast and hold boat position, never give up fishing on windy days (unless there is a tornado or hurricane of course). Wind will often stimulate bass and the bite will pick up. The water’s surface is also disturbed by wind, making it less likely for bass to become spooked by boat movement. So the next time you’re on the water and the wind starts gusting, don’t call it quits. Throw those other bass fishing tips out the window, start chucking a moving bait into the wind, and prepare to get smoked!
7. Become A Knot Tying Pro
Tying knots on the water can be a pain, and losing a fish because of a bad knot is even worse. To save precious fishing time and to land more fish, pick your favorite versatile knot and practice it until it’s second nature. How to tie fishing knots is one of the most sought after of all bass fishing tips on the internet, and for good reason. Simple knots like the Palomar and Clinch knots are great options for nearly every technique. There are plenty of great knot tying how-to videos and diagrams online to help you become a knot tying pro.
8. Do Your Research
We fish in an age where technology can be an angler’s best friend. Technology has revolutionized the way many anglers approach a day of fishing. Take advantage of services like Google Earth and Fishidy to get a better understanding of the places you will be fishing. You can identify key areas of a body of water that might hold fish and start to develop a plan for a day of fishing before you’ve even hit the water. When looking at lake or river maps online, try to identify points, creeks, ledges and other features where bass like to hang out. With enough reasearch, you’ll soon be the one giving out the bass fishing tips instead of reading about them!
9. Be Persistent
Don’t give up on an area or pattern too quickly. Sometimes the bite is tough and it is best to thoroughly fish an area in which you have confidence in, rather than running all over the lake like a chicken with its head cut off. So grab your go-to technique or lucky tackle and pick apart every piece of cover where a bass could be lurking. More often than not you will be rewarded with some key bites.