I live in North America, where bass is the most popular game fish. Since I knew I would be out on the lake a ton this summer, I wanted to know how difficult it really was to catch some bass. So, I dove deep into my research and reeled out the real answers.
So, are bass easy to catch? The answer is that it can be, and this depends on a wide range of variables. You should take into consideration where you’re fishing, what time of year it is, what bait you’re using, and what size of bass you’re looking for. Relatively speaking though, because bass are so predatory, it does make them easier to catch. Continue reading to increase your chances of catching one.
Bass photo by @Andrew Lindsey Fishing Spots App
Fishing for bass is surprisingly a much more intricate and strategic affair that I had initially thought. While a lot of it is within our control, there is a strong element of luck involved.
The Level of Difficulty in Catching Bass
Let’s face it: catching bass can be tough. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, there are a multitude of factors to be considered and techniques that can be utilized to maximize your chances of finding bass. Firstly, if you find cover, you’ll likely find bass. Bass love to roam in cover since it helps them to easier ambush their prey – this includes rock, wood, boat docks, grass, lily pads and more.
Secondly, bass eat different live prey depending on their ecosystem. Make sure your lure imitates the type of forage that the bass in your local waters are feeding on. This means that you need to do your homework beforehand.
To be effective in catching bass, you need to be versatile. Depending on the season and the location, your circumstances when fishing can vary greatly, so you shouldn’t get too comfortable with one technique. Keep changing your locations and getting accustomed to different fishing conditions, and you will be more skilled in catching bass easily.
You also need to understand how the weather plays a part in fishing for bass. Weather conditions have a dramatic effect on bass behavior, and it’s a key factor in becoming a great bass angler. Cloudy days are ideal for bass fishing, since bass tend to be more active and willing to hunt for prey, thus exposing themselves. Also, windy days stimulate bass to bite, which can help you in your endeavor.
Finding the Right Equipment
The first thing you should make sure you have is the right lure. The three main types of lures that are best for catching bass are crank baits, spinner baits, and plastic worms. You can use any of these successfully at any time of the year, but one conscious choice you will have to make is the choice in color. Usually, you should have two of each lure in your tackle box: one in a natural color, and one in a vibrant color.
Crank bait are tiny lures that look like small, live fish. There are two hooks, with three points each for each lure – one at the tail, and one under the belly. They also have a flat plastic area on the lip of the fish. Spinner baits have two main parts – one arm that has large, curved metal blades, while the other arm is the same length, but with a hook on the end. Sometimes, the hook is covered in a plastic wig that hides the hook or hooks. The spinner arms are often also shaped like a fish, making them look like the crank fish. If you want to fool the fish into thinking the bait is injured, be sure to use a spinner bait with a red or pink head. This works particularly well in shallow cover, around wood, stumps or clumps of grass.
Plastic worms look like large earthworms and have a hook embedded into them. They’re effective, as the fish is hooked as soon as they try to eat the worm, but requires more patience. A pro tip from professional anglers is to save the plastic worms that have gotten torn up from prior fishing trips. Bass like to ambush wounded prey, so a beaten worm is perfect to attract bass, especially in shallow water.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to use lures, you can also use live bait to trap your bass. Some common types of live bait to use are worms, minnows or crawfish. Worms are easiest, since you can keep them refrigerated in dirt if you don’t use them all in one trip. They’re also easy to keep and carry around. Crawfish and minnows are harder to handle because you must keep them in a water bucket while you fish. If you’re going to use minnows, bass prefer the shinier ones, and ones of the creek variety. Alternatively, you can use frogs, insects or salamanders.
Next, you can pick from two preferred reels for bass fishing. The main difference between the two is the level of experience needed by the person doing the fishing. A more experienced fisherman can use a spinning reel, also known as an open-faced reel, since it requires more dexterity to maneuver. A spin cast reel, also known as a closed face reel can be used by a beginner, since it doesn’t demand any advanced moves.
The power of a rod is its weight capacity, and it’s usually indicated on the side of the rod. If you plan on catching larger bass, you need to rod with medium to medium light power. If you’re catching smaller bass, you just need a rod with lighter power.
Choosing When and Where to Fish
It’s widely agreed among the fishing community that the best time to fish for bass is during the pre-spawn. This is when fish are waking up from the winter inactivity to start the mating cycle. To start, the water temperature will begin to rise to about 55 or 60 degrees, and the males and females will rise within the waters to interact with each other. Due to them being dormant for so many of the colder months, they generally emerge quite angry and aggressive during the pre-spawn. This pre-spawn period usually falls around the early spring, and lasts the whole season.
During pre-spawn, you can catch bass closer to the shore, and closer to the surface of the water. However, remember that if you catch a female during this period, you should let her go so she can next and populate the water with more bass.
No matter the season you end up fishing for bass in, be sure to use a map to strategically plan where you’ll be fishing. Proper maps will show you the depths of waters in different areas, and will point out drop-offs under the surface of the water. Since bass typically lurk near the bottom during non-peak times, it’s good to linger in these areas, especially during pre-spawn.
Further, it’s important to consider the time of day when it comes to searching for bass. The best time of day to catch bass is in the early hours of the morning and the last few hours of the day. The bass is more at ease with biting when the sun isn’t overhead, so getting to it either an hour before sunrise or after sunset is always a good idea. Bass don’t like direct sunlight, so look for shaded areas if you’re there during the day – anywhere away from extreme light and heat. They also like to be near areas that are covered, so you can fish near objects, vegetation or obstructions in the water, like a fallen stump or tree in the water. Of course, you’ll have to be more careful that your lures or hooks don’t get stuck on these objects.
A trick to getting under docks and other structures is to stop halfway instead of following through when casting your bait. This makes the lure hit the surface of the water a few feet ahead of your target, sending the lure skittering across the water.
The ideal weather condition is a cloudy day with a light breeze as this allows fish to roam and get comfortable cruising up to shallower depths, and feeding on anything in their paths. These conditions are ideal for fishing top water baits over vegetation, rocky points, or a big sand flat. This could very well be one of the most exciting ways to catch bass, since you can see everything as it happens.
If the sun gets high on a warm day, the smallmouth bass will push down to deeper water. In this case, the best thing to do is to toss a tube out and let it sink to the bottom, slowly dragging it back to the boat. If you get a bite and the tube slows down, you can use the drop shot technique to put more fish in the boat. However, it’s important to remember that smallmouth can still be in shallow water, and a wacky rigged bait placed near a dock, tree, or vegetation will entice anything nearby to come out and eat. In short, this technique catches fish…not necessarily bass.
Now on the other hand, largemouth bass can be easier to track at times, with a high sun. They become easier to pattern as they gravitate towards vegetation with overhanging cover like lily pads, eel grass, arrowheads, and the like. You can bait it up close and personal, by putting your bait in the fish’s face. If you drop it near them, a bite will come quickly, so you’ll have to be ready to set the hook and get your fish out.
On windy days where boat control can be difficult, head over to a wind-blown point, shoreline, or shoal and set yourself up facing into the wind. The wind acts like a current, delivering bait to the fish who are waiting for an easy meal. Your aim should be to bring your bait right into their faces.
Another thing to consider is how to find the right location to fish, having considered what size bass you’re tracking. If you want to learn how to catch bass, the first thing you need to know is how to locate the ideal habitat for this warm water fish species. Largemouth bass will more likely be found in shallower areas of freshwater ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and slow-moving rivers that contain some type of cover in the form of vegetation, brush, trees, or structure. One of the key largemouth bass fishing tips to remember is that you’re more likely to find these fish close to cover. Regardless of whether you are fishing from the shoreline or from a boat, you should gravitate towards any submerged trees, vegetation, docks, bridges, or changes in bottom depth. Just as when learning how to fish for any other species, finding spots that offer cover or structure is a good first step.
Learning the Proper Techniques
If you decide to catch bass with crank bait, you’re tricking the bass into striking, since your bait holds the appearance of injured, weak fish in the water. To use the crank bait, decorate your line with lure and cast your pole into the lake. If you are fishing in a calmer body of water, make sure you’re using steady, even pulls and reels with the bait to mimic a live fish. If it’s windy or the waters are choppy, switch between fast and slow reeling.
Spinner baits have bright, spinning blades that attract the attentions of bass and pulls them close, since the movement bothers them. The problem with spinner baits is that bass often bite at the blades instead of the hook, making it more difficult and time-consuming to hook a bass.
Using a worm for bait is probably the easiest of all methods, since all you need to do is cast your worm-adorned line into the water, and let it sink to the bottom while you wait. You don’t need to do anything else, except be sure to add weight to your worm to ensure it sinks down to the bottom.
Bass are extremely attracted to live prey. If you want to hook the fish with live bait, the best technique is to constantly move around your line to mimic the live fish, worm or frog. Since your bait is either completely dead or almost there, you need to either keep reeling your pole either in and out or back and forth.
Bass have boney jaws, so be sure to sharpen your hooks, to better penetrate the fish. Also, once you catch your first bass and put it in the livewell, you can see what it was feeding on. Bass are known for spitting up what they were eating, which will help you to decide which lure to cast for the rest of the day.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a complete article on how to catch bass without discussing the drop shot rig. You can fish drop shot rigs in any type of water, including deep waters, shallow waters, and all in between. A drop shot rig consists of line tied to a hook with a trailing leader that comes to an end with a weight, so that the weight is at the bottom and the hook and bait are above it. While you have the option to choose from many hooks, weights, and bait options for your drop shot rig, we’ll only be discussing a general set-up.
Since the drop shot rig is a delicate technique, you’ll need to choose a light line with low visibility. You can use fluorocarbon in 6-8 lbs., or a lighter braided light with a 2-foot fluorocarbon leader – both are great choices. Next, you need to a split shot or drop shot hook, preferably size 1-1/O. These are perfect for finesse fishing and most companies have good drop shot hooks to choose from. These are generally great for close range baiting, providing the most action and natural motion. Most drop shot weights possess a crimped swivel that makes it easy to clip onto your line, but weights from 1/8 oz. to ¼ oz. that you can tie on will also work, but use your own discretion. It depends on the roughness of the water and other variables.
Nose hooking the bait is a good way to start, but you can also do wacky rigging or Texas rigging with a straight shank or wide gap hook. Firstly, you’ll need to take the drop shot hook in between your fingers and put the line through the top of the hook eyelet, and then pull it through enough that you will have at least a foot or more tag end to make a leader. After you have enough line, you should make a loop with it and thread the line back through the bottom of the hook. While holding the loop on the bottom side of the hook and leaving a longer tag end on the top side, you should make a single knot with the loop and take it over the front of the hook, giving you the makings of a knot. Next, you should wet the line with saliva and cinch it tight, leaving you with a tag end. With that end, you will next take it through the top of the hook and pull it tight to cinch the hook straight on the line. Then, just put your weight on the line by clipping it on the tag end or tie it if necessary. Once you’ve done all that, you have a drop shot rig!
If you pair the best early season bass lures with the best fishing techniques, you can hook a bass no matter where they are hiding. If you’re heading out to do some bass fishing, a little extra help never hurt. Here are a few more early spring bass fishing tips to set you up for success this season:
- Cast for repeat results: One of the best tips for early spring bass fishing success is to keep note and pay close attention to what is working for you and what is not. Since bass behavior changes often with the fluctuating weather and temperature in spring, each day on the water may call for a different approach. Once you find a technique that wins you a bite, repeat the same cast and retrieve to catch a few more – but never get too comfortable, as there are many factors at play.
- Fish out the area: Bass usually congregate in the same areas in spring — meaning if you catch one, you may catch a dozen more in the same spot. After your first catch, continue casting in the same area. If you do not get a second bite, try different angles in the same area before moving to a new spot.
- Pay attention to water conditions: The constant change in spring weather can make it a challenge to locate bass. However, by paying close attention to the water conditions, you can find bass more quickly on each subsequent spring fishing trip. Once you find an area where bass is congregating, take a mental note of the water color, depth, temperature and bottom conditions. Consider the location of the ridge or point relative to channels and flats. This information and data will help you track down bass more quickly next time!
- Watch for birds: When fishing with jerkbaits or crankbaits, watch for areas where birds are diving to catch dying baitfish. These will often be spots where hungry bass are also congregating and where jerkbaits and crankbaits will be most effective.
- Use the wind to your advantage: On spring days when the water is clear, bass can see your bait more clearly and be more cautious with regards to biting. On the positive side, wind can help to disturb the surface of the water to attract bass better. If you are not getting any bites on a clear lake, try again when the wind picks up.
- Fish the mudlines: If you are having trouble locating bass on a spring day, you should look for mudlines created by wind and waves. Bass will often hide along the edges of mudlines where they have the advantage over baitfish which are drawn there to feed on plankton. You can benefit from using brightly colored lures, drag your line across a mudline from the muddy water into the clear water. Bass will usually strike just as the bait emerges.
With the right techniques and a little bit of luck, you can reel in a big bass to start the season right.
At the end of the day, fishing is like any other sport – the more you practice, the better you get. Keep learning and keep fishing!
Related Questions
Where should I hook the live bait? The most popular place to hook them is in the middle of the side, towards the top. This allows them to swim around more easily when submerged. Keep in mind that you should be careful not to puncture the swim bladder.
What pound of line do I need to catch bass? For larger fish, I will usually try and hit 10 lbs. Since in bass habitat you’ll generally find a ton of lily pads or other vegetation, so you need to make sure that your line is strong enough to get the fish through those weed structures.
How much of it is attributable to luck? In an investigation which spanned more than 20 years, researchers at the University of Illinois offered an explanation as to why fishing success in certain lakes varies from year to year. The simplest explanation of the results of the investigation is that some bass is just easier to catch than others, and that there is a vulnerability trait can be passed onto their offspring. In short, once all the easy fish are caught, only the tougher fish and/or their progeny remain.
Four years after the start of the research project, the lake was drained and approximately 1,700 fish were collected – 200 of which had never been caught before. The bass was then sorted, and the 200 were designated as Low Vulnerability (LV) bass and released, since they were not prone to being caught. Those caught four or more times were designated as High Vulnerability (HV) fish and released into different ponds to spawn. The progeny of the two lines were then marked and released into common ponds; this process was repeated for several generations over 20 years.
It was found that the offspring of HV fish were easier to catch than the offspring of LV bass, even after generations of breeding. With bass, females lay the eggs but leave the caregiving to the males, which guard the nest and stay with the offspring for 8 to 10 days after they hatch. If a male happens to be an HV parent, it’s not surprising if they take off from the nest site, leaving offspring vulnerable to predators. Meanwhile, nests guarded by LV males, which are better at resisting lures, remain intact, and their progeny maturing into fish that are good at resisting baits. That’s the luck factor that plays a part in bass fishing, so be sure to keep track of where the HV bass are!