Bass are among the most popular of game fish in the United States and with good reason. Whether smallmouth, spotted, redeye or largemouth bass, these large predatory fish are strong fighters, hitting lures with ferocity, running hard and doing everything they can to keep from getting caught. Having the right gear, practicing good technique and understanding bass behavior will help make your fishing trips successful ones.
Gear
There's nothing better than a bait caster for going after lunker bass. Choose a bait casting rod between 6 1/2 and 7 1/2 feet long that is strong, yet sensitive and flexible. Bait casting reels should be all metal with a 5-to-1-to-1 or 5-to-3-to-1 gear ratio. These rods and reels provide the highest level of casting accuracy, the best retrieve speeds and the most power when handling larger fish.
Baits and Hooks
Bass can be particular, and often what will work on one day will fail miserably on another. Have a good selection of crank baits, spinnerbaits, plastic worms and jigs to make up the foundation of your lure arsenal. Also, make sure your hooks are good and sharp before you start fishing.
Colors
Have a range of colors in your lure selection. Bass often strike colorful lures more frequently, especially in murky water. Color can include white, chartreuse, orange and red. Work more natural colored lures, such as brown, blue, purple or black, when waters are clearer.
Bait Scent
Skin oils, sunscreen, insect repellent and other contaminants can inadvertently alter the odor of the lures you are casting. Using a bait scent will help to mask these odors and make your artificial lures smell more like the real thing to hungry bass. A couple of sprays of scent should do the trick.
Retrieve
Using the same cast and retrieve over and over again can be unproductive. When working crank baits and spinners, try slowing your retrieve down or using a twitching motion to get more action from the bait. When traditional twitch and retrieve methods of working plastic lures fails, try speed retrieves to draw bass out from cover. Feel free to experiment with how you retrieve your bait, working out the best lure action for that day's fishing conditions.
Where to Fish
When fishing for bass, try using top-water lures and work the shallows first. Use a good casting pattern to cover a lot of territory. If you get no response, switch to a crank bait, spinner or plastic worm and work deeper in shallow areas. If the bass are still not striking, make your way toward deeper waters, working your baits to find where bass are holding.
Fish Finder
Electronic fish finders can help visualize the contours and depth of the waters you are fishing. These instruments can also indicate cover, such as submerged logs, overhangs and drop-offs where bass may be lurking. Scan the water, looking for images of bass. Determine the depth they are at and adjust your bait and fishing technique to target them.
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