Learning how to catch bass is one of the greatest experiences a person can have in their life – just one bite as a kid has changed people’s lives and directed them into a life of outdoors and pursuit of this amazing freshwater fish. They fight hard, feed readily and look awesome.
But the best part about the largemouth bass – the most common type of bass – is that they live all over North America. If there is freshwater present, a bass is probably living in it.
This makes amongst them the most versatile fish around as they can be enjoyed by everyone from kids to grandparents and in all sorts of waters – from small ponds and streams, to the Great Lakes and huge rivers.
So, if you want to know how to catch big bass, this expert guide covering the best bass baits, rigs, tips, tackle and tactics will help you get your own lunker on the bank in double–quick time.
How to catch bass: the best bass fishing tackle and line for beginners
Depending on where you live, your approach will be different so it’ll require a different combination of tackle, but one of the best ways to speed up your learning curve is to call into your local tackle store and speak with an expert in your area. I worked in the tackle industry for ten years and putting anglers onto fish was one of the most satisfying parts of the job. People are happy to help.
Having a decent idea about what you want and doing some research is important before you head in to the shop to spend money. If you know roughly what you’re looking for, it will make the process easier and more enjoyable.
Consider your local bass fishing and the best fishing spots where you’re most likely to fish regularly. If you’re new to fishing, you’ll want to start with a light–rated 6-8ft / 1.8m–2.4m spinning rod and reel outfit (often known as a combo if sold as a package) loaded with light, clear mono main line matched to the type of bait you're likely to be throwing (check out our guide to choosing the best fishing bait for bass). This would normally be in the 6-12lb range of breaking strain line mono and it's a good idea to get the fishing line loaded professionally at a tackle shop.
Spinning rods and reels are the best type of tackle for beginners learning how to catch bass because they're easy to learn with and anybody can use them, young or old. They are relatively tangle-free, easy to cast with, easy to maintain, inexpensive and make for the best beginner bass fishing experience experience from the bank, dock or boat.
How to catch bass: the best rig, bait and colors for bass fishing beginners
The next and most important factor to consider when thinking about how to catch bass is your lure or bait selection – and my best advice here, if you’re new to the sport, is to keep it simple. Don't be distracted by the mass of different lure types and rigs just yet, there are lots of baits that are simple to use and will win bass fishing tournaments.
When you're learning how to catch bass, you want a bait or lure that won’t get hung up or be covered in grass and slime each and every cast – so when it comes to your first lure choice it needs to be rigged in a weedless, snag-proof style. This means the hook is rigged by just tucking the point into the plastic bait so that it can’t snag on weeds or branches, but comes free when a bass bites and releases the hook. Any soft plastic bait that can be Texas-rigged is a great choice for this style of rig.
You set up a Texas rig by simply threading a small sinker – check out our guide to the best fishing weights) with a hole (called a bullet weight) onto the line and then tying on the hook, usually a specialist worm hook matched to your bait size and type. The stick bait, a basic soft plastic worm, is by far the most fish-catching bait on the market. You can throw it around any structure; from docks, laydowns, brush piles, grass lines to just open water, bass will eat them.
Simply casting a stick bait out and letting it sink is all that is required - once the bait is on the bottom, move it along slowly, or lifting it and letting it fall will also create bites. Color is also important and you can’t beat either green pumpkin or black and blue – these two colors catch bass all over the country. This is a slow way of fishing but can be relaxing and enjoyable at the same time.
So, to summarize, a Texas–rigged weedless soft plastic worm (or stickbait) is a great choice of rig and bait if you're learning how to catch bass.
How to catch bass: the best bass fishing tips for beginners
Another option for a more active style of bass fishing is to use a lure called a spinnerbait – this lure is built to come through all sorts of structure and will work all year round. The spinnerbait is made to mimic fleeing bait fish, with one or more spinning blades and a skirt plus other garish enticements that work to create vibration so that bass can find the bait in colored water.
If the water color is dirty in your area, you need brighter colors and to slow your retrieve down as slow as possible, giving the bass more time to find the lure. If the water is clear, you want a more subtle, transparent color and you can speed your retrieve up to almost as fast as the lure will allow. I use Bassman Spinnerbaits, these are a custom-style bait and will have an option to suit your needs wherever you might be fishing.
Rig both the Spinnerbait and Texas rig on 15lb fluorocarbon line – I prefer Sunline FC as it has the perfect amount of stretch and toughness around cover and structure, which is a good starting place to find bass. You can also add a soft plastic trailer addition to the spinnerbait to enhance the look and create more bites – this can be a small swimbait or fluke, and match the colors as best you can.
The best part about learning how to go bass fishing is figuring out what they want to bite and making adjustments and then getting one to eat your presentation. Start small in terms of your bait selection and build your lure and tackle collection slowly so you have a range of baits and lures for every different scenario.
I hope this how to catch bass guide helps you to get out on the water and enjoy the amazing sport bass fishing has to offer. Fishing is an amazing sport that you can take to any level – from the backyard pond to tour pro. You never know what that one bite will do!
