A Complete Guide to Bass Fishing

Whether you are new to fishing or it's been a while since you were on the water, it's become far more complicated than when kids dunked a worm & waited for something to bite. It can be overwhelming. From the rows of lures, miles of line, and enough rod choices to look like a forest, modern fishing is complicated, but it still comes down to the same basic elements. We will walk you through the basics and, since bass are one of the most popular species in America, we will focus on getting you your first one.

• Where to Fish Bass
• When to Fish Bass
• Gear Selection
• Bass Fishing Techniques
• Lures or Bait for Bass Fishing
• Pro-Tips for Bass Fishing

Where to Fish Bass

The first step in catching a bass is fishing where they might be. Sounds easy, right? Find some water and start casting. Not quite; each species has specific habitat requirements. Learning what those requirements are and how to locate them is necessary if you even want a chance of a bass seeing your lure.

You might have heard the phrase 80% of bass are found in 10% of the water. This means only about 10% of a body of water contains the conditions bass desire; therefore, about 80% of the bass will be in those locations. Unfortunately, 10% isn't concentrated in one spot. It is spread out among numerous points depending on structure, cover, food availability, water conditions, and changes throughout the year.

The first three things bass look for are the holy trifecta of cover, structure, and food.

Cover & Structure

Cover is necessary because it allows bass to hide from larger predators and ambush smaller prey. Examples of cover include lily pads, weed lines, sunken trees, or a lone log. Structure is a change in the terrain such as a drop-off, underwater rock pile, or a dock. When bass are feeding, they will position near cover, waiting in ambush for prey that pass their way. Other times, they will position themselves near structure; something that hides them from predators, allows them to relax, and provides the best water temperature.

Ideally, look for a spot that offers both cover and structure, such as a dock extending over a drop-off. Bass are most likely to be there, regardless of their activity phase. Because these ideal conditions are uncommon, you’ll need to adapt by positioning yourself between cover and structure. This lets you cast to either area or intercept bass as they move between the two.

When to Fish Bass

Although I tend to believe any day fishing is better than a day at work, that does not mean that simply fishing whenever you can is a recipe for success. As with anything you do, there are times when fishing is better than others, and major factors that determine these best times are temperature and light conditions.

Every species of fish has a preferred water-temperature range. For bass, this range is 65-75 degrees, during which bass thrive in terms of growth and activity. If the temperature is too cold, bass will slow their metabolism, feed less, and conserve energy. This means they are less likely to chase a lure or strike unless hungry. If the temperature is too high, oxygen levels decrease, so bass conserve energy and movement to increase survival. Catching a bass when water temperatures are below 60 degrees or higher than 80 degrees is not impossible; they are still out there and still need to feed. But your chances are greatly decreased, so why not give yourself every advantage by fishing when conditions are right?

Light Conditions

Now we come to light conditions. Light affects bass in two ways – temperature and ability to see. We will discuss the latter when we get to lure selection; for now, we will focus on temperature. When light is low, such as overnight, early morning, and early evening, bass tend to move to shallow areas to feed because, during most periods of the season, shallow-water temperatures are more favorable when the sun is low or set. During the colder months, shallow areas do not automatically become more suitable, as temperatures tend to be less stable. During this time, bass will spend more time in deep channels, basins, or holes and make small adjustments in water column position to maintain temperature.

During the Spawn

The spawn, or breeding period, changes all the rules. As water temperatures approach or reach 65 degrees, bass will move into extremely shallow water (3-5 ft) surrounded by sand or exposed gravel. This is likely an area where bass are rarely seen during the rest of the season. For much of the country, this will occur in mid or late spring, with some regional variation depending on weather conditions and spring runoff.

As the spawn approaches, the male will build beds and try to attract females. The females will lay their eggs and quickly move off to lay more eggs in additional beds before eventually relocating to deeper water to recover. The males will remain at the now fertilized eggs, guarding them against predators. During this time neither will be actively feeding, although males can be enticed to strike out of aggression while females will often do so out of curiosity.

Therefore, anglers targeting spawning bass should focus on shallow spawning areas and adjust their presentation based on the fish's behavior rather than assuming every strike is feeding-related.

Gear Selection

Now it is time to talk about what you will use to catch your first bass. As stated earlier, the days of dunking a worm with a cane pole and some string are a thing of the past. Today’s anglers use some of the highest-tech gear in the sporting world, from composite rods to line spun from space-age materials. Let’s look at what some of your options are.

You can use a spinning rod & reel combination or a baitcasting rod & reel combination for both smallmouth and largemouth bass. If you are a new or inexperienced angler, we suggest you start with a spinning setup. This setup is a little easier to learn and faster to master.

For a versatile spinning setup, start with a 6'6" to 7' medium-power, fast-action rod paired with a 2500 or 3000-size spinning reel. A setup such as the Piscifun Carbon R1 Spinning Rod paired with the Piscifun Carbon Series Spinning Reel offers a good balance of versatility and ease of use for beginners. A 2500-size reel works well for finesse techniques and lighter line, while a 3000-size reel provides a little more line capacity and versatility for general-purpose bass fishing.  

For beginners who prefer a ready-to-use setup, consider one of Piscifun’s Carbon X Spinning Combos, which pair a compatible rod and reel for a convenient bass fishing setup.

Of course, you will also need some quality line, and your choices are once again vast. Monofilament offers a versatile, budget-friendly option that is easy to tie and stretches enough to cushion strong strikes. Fluorocarbons provide increased abrasion resistance and low visibility, even in clear water. Braided line, the newest option, combines extreme strength with greatly reduced diameter.

Generally, 10-12 lb. test monofilament on a spinning reel is a good starting point for beginner anglers. As your experience increases, upgrading to a 20-30 lb. braided line paired with an 8-12 lb. fluorocarbon leader offers a nice combination of sensitivity and power.

Bass Fishing Techniques

You can bass fish from the shore, boat, or kayak. Many of the following techniques can be used in either situation, but some will be more effective or easier in specific situations.

Bottom fishing is a popular method for almost any fishing species, including bass. Bouncing a jig, or a jig tipped with soft plastic, can be a very effective technique if conditions are right. The easy way to do so is to let your lure sink to the bottom and alternate between dragging it across the bottom, lifting the bait slightly, and letting it drop again.

If the bottom includes covers such as boulders or stumps, switch to a snagless setup. Cast as close as possible to the cover and make sure your path allows the lure to bump the cover when retrieved. You can use a similar technique when fishing thick cover by focusing on the edge and adjusting the weight to slowly sink through the entire water column.

When fishing near overhanging cover, such as docks or even trees, some of the biggest bass will be underneath the cover where there is protection and shade. Getting your lure under a dock or into a similarly confined space is almost impossible with a traditional cast. Luckily, two techniques are available: pitching and flipping. To pitch your lure, try 6-7 ft. of line out and hold it with your nondominant hand. Now you will pull back on the line, loading your rod tip, and release as you swing the lure towards your target. Flipping is similar but focuses on heavier lures, such as larger plastic swimbaits. To do this, you will pull 10-15 ft of line out to the side from between the reel and first guide. Swing the lure like a pendulum while aiming towards the target and release the line.

Lures or Bait for Bass Fishing

What lures or bait are you going to jig, pitch, or flip?

In most situations, the first choice is natural bait: minnows, bugs, frogs, or even worms that bass naturally feed on. When selecting bait, remember the phrase “match the hatch.” This means using bait that is found locally and swimming in the waters you will be in. Just like you, bass are more likely to eat something they are familiar with rather than trying something new. But natural bait can be expensive, difficult to find, and requires a way to keep it alive and fresh, so plenty of anglers choose to go with artificial lures.

Some artificial lures are designed to imitate natural bait. They look, act, and even feel like the real thing, fooling fish until the very last minute. By then it is too late, and the hook is set. Others resemble nothing else you will ever find in any American water but are designed to entice a strike through curiosity or aggression. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Each can be very successful if applied in the right situation and with the correct amount of finesse.

Here are some of the most common bass lures and when to use them.

Finally, we need to address color. Anyone who has walked the aisles of a tackle shop has been assaulted by every color of the rainbow and some that you didn’t know even existed. So, what one do you use? As with bait, try to start with natural colors such as green, brown, black, white, or combinations of each. Silver and gold also work well because many baitfish species are naturally these colors. Save the hot pink, chartreuse, blue, or purple for stained or deep water where visibility is decreased, or you are trying to entice an aggressive strike.

Pro-Tips for Bass Fishing

1. Learn to vary your retrieval speed.

Many times, it is not your location or lure that keeps you from filling the cooler; it is the speed at which that lure is swimming. Slowing or increasing the speed of a lure can give a looking fish extra time or an inactive fish a reason to strike.

2. Learn to spot what is in plain sight.

The crowd will migrate to the obvious structure such as fallen trees or broad grass flats. By learning to locate the less obvious targets, you can increase your chances while decreasing the competition. Keep an eye out for subtle changes in contour, isolate patches of vegetation, or tiny unmarked rock piles others are driving past.

3. Keep it simple.

Don't get caught up in the hype around every new lure or piece of gear. Learn the basics and then perfect them. It’s okay to try new techniques or lures, but do not forget what has worked in the past. If you watch pro anglers, they will always have their tried-and-true setup on deck waiting.

The most important advice we can give you is to get out and fish. Learn through experience and find out what works best for you, where you fish.