It is possible and quite easy to catch largemouth bass in lakes, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs. These basic tips will help you reel in America’s most popular freshwater fish.
Locate largemouth bass habitat
The first step in catching bass is to find the right habitat. Largemouth bass like to be in shallower freshwater lakes, ponds and reservoirs.
The best tip for largemouth bass fishing is to find them close to the cover. No matter if you fish from the coastline, a boat or from a dock, look for any vegetation, trees, docks or bridges that are submerged or change in the bottom depth. Finding cover or structures is an important first step in understanding how to fish with other species than bass.
Choose your bait or lure properly
After you find a spot for freshwater fishing that has cover, you should take a look at water conditions. Be aware of any baitfish and forage you see. If you see schools of shad near a boat dock, or crayfish crawling along bottom, this will give you valuable clues about what bait is best for bass.
Try to find a lure or bait that is similar to the prey the bass will likely eat in the area where you fish.
Crankbaits and spoons can be made to mimic shad, shiners or other types. A rattling crankbait can generate vibrations in the water and is a great tip for catching bass in muddy or cloudy water. Bass can sense vibrations in low water visibility and may respond to rattling lures. You might get more bites if you use your lateral line.
Soft plastic frogs, crayfish, and lizards can be used as bait to mimic prey species. Soft plastic baits are often rigged in a way that is weedless. This makes it easier to fish with vegetation.
There are many artificial lures and baits that you can use. However, natural baits are usually the best choice if you’re fishing with children or beginners.
Getting bass to bite
After you’ve chosen the freshwater lure or bait that you believe will work best in the water conditions and prey, you can decide which retrieval method to use and the rod and reel you should use. Technique is simply the action you use to lure or bait your line with to retrieve it.
Bass may be aggressively feeding if they are seen chasing baitfish close to the surface or swimming around structures. You can use bigger lures or baits to try and get them back faster. If you don’t see indications of bass swimming, or chasing bait, it could be that they are holding close to the bottom. A slow introduction or smaller bait may be necessary to get a strike.
Fun and enjoyment is the biggest tip for bass fishing. Spend more time on the water and you’ll learn more about the best baits, as well as techniques that can increase your chances of catching bass. Find out the best times to fish for bass at each time of year and the best day to do it.
Read more about bass fishing here!