The key to bass fishing is realizing that you simply need to outsmart the fish by thinking like one
Published: June 9, 2022
By: Coty Perry
If you want to learn more about bass fishing, you’ve come to the right place. When I first started, I would get frustrated by how long I would go without even getting a nibble. Whether you’re teaching kids or adults, getting them started off on the right foot is important.
The key to bass fishing is realizing that you simply need to outsmart the fish by thinking like one.
This guide should help you get started.
How to Catch Largemouth
Finding largemouth bass isn’t hard as long as you move along the shore and cast parallel with the land. If you’re fishing from a boat, you want to stand in the boat and cast parallel with the shoreline.
Look for patches of weeds, stumps, or other areas where bass can hide.
They’ll hide along docks, buoy, bridges and dams as well. Baits that replicate something are usually preferred for beginner largemouth fishing.
Lures like soft plastic worms, swimbaits and jigs help replicate what a bass would naturally eat.
How to Catch Smallmouth
Smallmouth bass behave a little differently and prefer hard bottoms like rocks and gravel. Gravel flats are the best areas to find smallmouth. They hold to 10-15 feet and tend to occupy moving water in creeks and rivers.
Soft plastics, jerkbaits and various topwater lures are great choices for smallmouth bass fishing especially when the weather is warm.
Some great tips for catching smallmouth is to look for baitfish in the water, go with lighter tackle, and consider using a wacky rig if you’re fishing smallies in standing water.
Top Bass Fishing Rigs
One thing that can take a mediocre angler and turn them into a great one is learning how to rig certain lures properly to get the desired presentation you want.
There are a million different ways to rig lures but learning how to properly tie knots and set up your lures to move naturally will really step up your game.
The Carolina Rig is one of the most popular choices for bass fishing when using soft plastics. One of my personal favorites is the Drop Shot rig and this one is used by a lot of professional bass anglers.
A weight sits on the bottom while the natural looking lure is suspended and moves with the motion of the water. This realistic presentation is something bass cannot resist.
The Neko Rig is another popular option for soft plastic bass fishing. The nail helps weigh down the top of the worm while the wacky rigging helps the tail wiggle.
Lastly, the Chicken Rig is great for fishing worms as well. It’s a weedless presentation with a nail on top that allows you to fish deep vegetation without getting hung up.
Choosing the Right Lures
Choosing bass lures is important because it’s incredibly intimidating to look at all the options available at pro shops and online. You need to know what is best for the beginner angler and what you might want to stay away from. Let’s take a look at the best lures for bass fishing for beginners.
Soft Plastics
Soft plastic worms and tubes and the best option for bass fishing when you’re just starting out. They’re natural looking, they don’t require any unique presentation, and they’re active which means you can work them a lot and cast a lot so you don’t get bored. These baits are also great at getting bass to hold onto the hook once they strike because they’re soft and have a more natural feeling than some hard baits.
Swimbaits
Swimbaits are similar to soft plastics but they’re designed to look exactly like a baitfish. They usually have realistic eyes and a tail that swims naturally with the motion of the water. This presentation combined is a bit difficult for bass to resist and as long as you’re fishing in the right place and using the correct sized lure, you have a great chance of catching whatever you want.
Choosing the Right Rod and Reel
I highly recommend going with a spinning rod and reel combo as your choice because you don’t have to worry about aligning the rod and reel with each other and you can buy everything all at once. Spinning gear is the best choice for beginners because it’s easier to prevent tangling and it’s lighter which will reduce angler’s fatigue.
Conclusion
Bass fishing is some of the most exciting fishing out there. There is something amazing about dropping a line in a lake and pulling out a lunker. I highly recommend introducing bass fishing to kids and the entire family.
To read more about my bass fishing tips, click here to check out the complete bass fishing guide from Anglers.com. For Coty, he didn’t love bass fishing at first cast. It took a few (thousand) throws for him to become obsessed with mastering every possible fishing style, technique, and lure. As a third-generation angler, he has a plethora of knowledge and experience on the water and loves sharing what he knows.