Fishing Tips for Bass

According to the U.S. Wildlife Service's 2006 national fishing survey, approximately 10 million anglers try to catch bass every year, making bass the most popular fish species in the United States. Don't rely on luck on your next bass fishing expedition. Several fishing tips and strategies can help increase your chances of landing a bass.

Timing

Start fishing for bass when they're most ready to feed to increase your chances of landing a strike. Professional angler Roland Martin, author of "101 Bass-Catching Secrets," says 35 percent of strikes occur at dawn or dusk. The fish also starts feeding whenever there's a major change in weather. Martin recommends looking for changes in cloud cover or an approaching storm.

Environment

Focus on a specific area of the water if you're targeting a specific type of bass. Smallmouth bass prefer clear, cooler water, especially water over a bed of rock or gravel, and are common in moving waterways comprised of a succession of pools and runs, according to the University of Massachusetts. In contrast, largemouth bass prefer warmer, calmer water and are common in swamps, ponds, marshes and similar environments.

Bait

Bass will strike both live bait and artificial lures. If you choose live baits, Ohio State University recommends using crayfish or frogs for bass, and advises against using the common minnow to avoid introducing foreign fish into a native waterway. If you're using lures, Roland Martin says spinnerbaits and crank baits are ideal.

Weeds

Bass love swimming under surface weeds, as the aquatic vegetation lends both cover from predators and a habitat for smaller fish and insects upon which the bass feed. Use the weeds to help pinpoint bass habitats and increase your chances of landing a catch. John Weiss' "Bass Angler's Almanac" recommends focusing on coin-sized floating plants in murky water and the largest weeds in clearer water.

Sunglasses

Wear polarized sunglasses while fishing for bass. This helps filter out the sun's reflection on the water to quickly spot the moving shapes of fish below the surface of the water.