Bass Fishing Techniques And Tips For Novices
Beginner’s Guide to Bass Fishing Techniques and Strategies
“Bass fishing is a complex topic with a wealth of knowledge, which is part of what makes it so enjoyable and exciting. You will constantly be learning and experimenting with new things.” –Joseph Bailey, in his own words
Also with a fresh nightcrawler on a bait that was hanging underneath a huge bobber that I caught my very first largemouth bass in the wild. It didn’t take long before I became obsessed with finding out more about how to capture these bass and diving deeper into the water.
On my subsequent fishing excursion to the same pond here in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, I caught the next largemouth bass I had ever caught.
Another little Rapala that resembled very convincingly like a crayfish was used to catch the fish this time. I caught the bass very close to the beach, in an area of cattails near the boat pier, and released it.
Throughout the years, I’ve been successful in catching both largemouth and smallmouth fish. Both are tremendously entertaining to catch and are capable of putting up a fantastic fight.
Beginning Bass Fishing Instructions
Bass fishing is one of those activities that helps you recall how you were and who you were with at a certain time in your lifetime. I can remember which childhood buddy I was with on those early childhood bass fishing outings to that tiny pond, and I can even remember what color and style of Rapala lure I was using at the time! The reason for this is unclear.
For the simple reason that bass fishing is a thrilling experience! Anybody, regardless of ability level, may do this activity. You may learn how to fish for bass at a young age, and as you may have seen, you can even go into professional bass fishing, which has become a significant component of the $115 billion dollar recreational fishing business in the United States!
However, unlike many other sorts of fishing, bass fishing is not out of reach for everybody, which makes it even more fantastic! Every individual, regardless of financial resources, skill level, or even physical capacity, may begin learning how to fish for bass…and catch them.
So, I’m delighted that you’ve found your way to this page.
Depending on your level of expertise, you may be completely new to the sport of bass fishing or you may be a seasoned pro. If you’re here, it’s probably because you like bass fishing and want to learn more about how to become a better fisherman.
Introduction to bass fishing for novices
May you tell me how I can improve my bass fishing technique?
Because I created this bass fishing guide, you will only have to search in one spot to discover the most effective methods for catching bass and improving your skills at bass fishing. During my internet investigation into how I might further enhance my bass fishing, I kept coming across postings that would offer 5 or 10 pointers on how to cast and retrieve a crankbait or how to Texas rig a rubberworm.
What I didn’t find was a comprehensive guide that explained exactly what I needed to do and how to do it…all while keeping things as simple as possible for the reader.
The information included in this article is simply that. The absolute basics of bass fishing will be covered in this section. To get you started, I’ll share with you the basic bones equipment and gear that I feel you’ll need to capture largemouth and smallmouth bass. And I’ll show you the most effective bass fishing approach, which also happens to be the most simple to learn and use.
You may come back and learn about other bass fishing strategies when you start catching fish since I’ll be updating this site on a regular basis and adding further information. So make a note of this page and/or subscribe to my email list to be the first to know when new content is published!
Professional bass fishing will not be covered in this article. Some of my approaches will be criticized by professional anglers who read this text; but, my techniques will assist you in catching more fish than you would otherwise.
Remember that there’s a lot of material in this section, so refer to it often in order to skip around or get right to a certain subject.
Let’s get this show going…
I’m looking for tips on how to improve my bass fishing skills.
The Fundamentals of Bass Fishing for Beginners:
Fisherman’s espionage was a childhood obsession of mine. In the evenings, I’d fantasize about it and daydream about it in the mornings. Several of the remarks on my early report cards can attest to this, I believe.
Also, going to outdoor performances with my father and brother was one of my favorite activities as a youngster. Those fishing programs are a kid’s Mecca if he or she is a fan of fishing.
Investing a little amount of money may be quite rewarding.
But it was the amount of money that individuals could (and did) spend on the sport of bass fishing that I remember the most about the fishing and outdoor exhibitions I attended. No way in the world could it be true! Bass fishing rods, bass fishing reels, bass boats, bass lures, bass baits, and even bass fishing sunglasses are all available for purchase..
Likewise, if you’ve ever tuned in to one of the Sunday morning bass programs, you’ve probably seen all of the great gear the pros are sporting, as well as all of the fancy sponsor patches on their jerseys. This seems to be a prohibitively costly pastime, as you would imagine.
Nevertheless, it is not necessary to spend a lot of money.
Starting with whatever fishing equipment you have on hand, you may begin bass fishing right away! In fact, Joseph Bailey authored an essay titled, Get Started in Bass Fishing for Under $125, which may be seen here. And I wholeheartedly agree with Joseph. And, with a little imagination and smart shopping, you can get started bass fishing for much less money than that!
Introduction to bass fishing for novices
Maintain Simplicity.
Make no effort to go out and get the newest and best items. Keep your money in your bank account instead. Learn the sport on a budget, then upgrade as your skills improve. Fortunately, there is an abundance of bass fishing gear and tackle available. Take a walk down the fishing aisle at Walmart, for instance. Take a field trip to Cabela’s if you’re feeling really daring! Yes, it may get really overwhelming very quickly..
In order to save you time, I’m going to exclude all of those items from consideration and provide you with a very simplified and concise list of the items you’ll need to get started as a serious bass fisherman.
Bass Fishing Equipment for Novices Rod and Reel.
Once again, there is no need to be extravagant. It should be possible to use any medium-length spinning rod (about 7 feet). My stik spinning rod, despite its ugliness, is a favorite of mine! A great number of largemouth and smallmouth fish have been caught with it.
I’m not claiming that the ugly stik is the greatest bass fishing rod, but it is, in my view, the most appropriate pick for novices. It’s really reasonable for the level of quality you get. The bass fishing rod in question was really purchased for my kid when he was eight years old. In the same way, I want to do the same for my daughter.
The ugly stik spinning rods offer excellent sensitivity and backbone, allowing you to truly set the hook when the situation calls for it. More information about the ugly stik may be found in my post, The Best Spinning Rod Under $50, which has a plethora of other data.
If I had to choose a second favorite bass fishing rod, it would be the Okuma Ceymar spinning rod, which I have for some years now. You may learn all you need to know about that fishing rod in the same article.
Reel
When it comes to purchasing the finest bass fishing reel for beginners, it’s important not to go overboard on the price. Prices for fishing reels may quickly spiral out of control, reaching hundreds of dollars. When it comes to bass fishing, that is not something we intend to do when we first begin.
Instead, look for a spinning reel manufactured by one of the following companies: Plueger, Okuma Ceymar, or Abu Garcia. Any fishing reels produced by these companies will be of high quality and will last you for a very long time if they are properly maintained and cared for.
Either the Pflueger President Spinning Reel or the Okuma Ceymar spinning reel are my go-to reels when it comes to fishing for largemouth bass. I really picked the Okuma Ceymar spinning reel as the best spinning reel under $100, and that is the reel that I use on my bass rod to this day.
Bait and tackle for striped bass fishing
For those of you who are just starting started with bass fishing, I strongly advise you to follow the instructions offered by Joseph Bailey in his blog article, which I previously mentioned. Save your money by skipping all of the glitzy baits and lures that are displayed on the walls of your local bait store. Instead, take his suggestion and purchase just a few essentials from his list.
Not only will you catch both largemouth and smallmouth fish with this easy setup, but you will also be able to fit all of your gear in your pocket or bag. There’s no need to tote along a cumbersome tackle box.
This is a tried-and-true strategy for catching bass. If you follow these instructions, you will catch fish!
Yamamoto senko Bait (Yamamoto senko Bait)
Yamamoto senko (Yamamoto senko) Plastic worms have a magical effect. I’m simply going to go ahead and say it out loud. And I have to agree with Mr. Bailey on this point as well. There are a million and a half different types of bass baits available, including plastic worms, crankbaits, buzzbaits, topper poppers, bass jigs, and so on.
However, the Yamamoto senko Bait is by far the most effective bait for bass fishing. For newbies, these guys are easy to use, take up little space in your gear, and…most importantly…they catch bass!
Yamamoto senko plastic worms are available in a variety of colors to suit your preference. However, the three colors that I suggest utilizing while learning how to fish for bass are as follows:
Watermelon, Black Green Pumpkin, and other fruits and vegetables
Every one of these hues will also have a variety of colorful flakes or glitter put into them, which will make them much more appealing to you. You may use whatever color flakes you choose, but I prefer the plastic worms with black flakes, such as the ones seen here.
You’ll also note that all of the plastic worms are available in a number of sizes. Similarly, Yamamoto senko worms behave in this manner. At this stage, you shouldn’t be too concerned with the size of the worms. Anything with a length ranging from 4 inches to 7 inches would work quite well.
Okay, so you’ve acquired your plastic worms… now what?
Now, let’s talk about the hooks that you’ll need to purchase.
2. Plastic Worm Hooks with an Extra Wide Gap (EWG) of 3/0 inch
These hooks are ideal for fishing the Yamamoto senko plastic worms that we just purchased! Because of this extra-large space between the tip of the hook and its shaft, these hooks are often used for snagging large game fish. This makes it much simpler to hook bass straight in the side of the mouth, and in my view, this makes them the greatest hooks for bass fishing on the market today.
You should also use these hooks when learning how to fish for bass because of their versatility, which is another reason why you should do so. The Texas Rig (the most straightforward approach) and the Wacky Rig are the two most common senko worm rigging methods for beginners.
Want to know how to rig a senko plastic worm to catch bass? Check out this video. This article from Bassmaster.com, titled “Brent Ehrler’s 5 Favorite Senko Rigs,” is an excellent resource.
Let’s have a look at the weights you’ll need for these two setups today.
3.Slip Sinker in the Shape of a Bullet
With any Texas-rig setup, you’re going to want to start with a slip sinker or nose weight in the form of a round bullet. This weight is placed on the line in front of the knot and hook so that it is in line with the knot and hook. Essentially, it will slide down the line and settle on the snout of the worm..
There are also a plethora of various sizes available for these kind of weights to choose from. But, because we’ll be utilizing senko worms for the time being, pick up a few bullet-shaped slip sinkers that weigh somewhere between 1/32 and 1/8 of an ounce to use with them.
These weights are regarded to be lightweight in the realm of bass fishing weights. A lightweight sinker is being used for our rig because of the influence it has on a senko worm, which is the basis for this choice.
These small, lightweight sinkers will enable the senko worm to fall naturally in the water, providing an appealing presentation to the bass in its natural habitat. If the plastic worm is subjected to too much weight, it will tumble straight down and at an excessive rate.
Techniques for catching bass include the use of the Yamamoto senko Worm.
Fishing for bass does not have to be difficult. And I really doubt the credibility of anybody who claims different. After recovering a copper-colored Blue Fox spinner that had been dropped into an adjacent farmer’s pond, my 4-year-old daughter caught a smallmouth bass, which turned out to be her very first fish ever. Nothing could be any easier than that, in my opinion.
As a result, bass fishing might be as simple as that. Cast and retrieve are the rules. However, as you get more knowledgeable about how to fish for bass, you’ll discover that there are several bass fishing tactics to experiment with and understand. And each bass fishing approach has its own set of benefits that should be considered.
Given that we’re just working with Senkos at this moment, here’s a simple strategy you may use with your Senko, or any other kind of plastic worm, to catch fish in the pond.
A Cast and Retrieve Technique for Bass Fishing.
Cast the worm in the direction you want it to go and let it to drop to the bottom. I ALWAYS let the worm to rest for a few seconds on the bottom of the container. During this period of waiting, I’ve caught a lot of bass.
Several seconds later, raise the tip of your fishing rod to bring the plastic worm back to life and drag it down the bottom, using nothing but your fishing rod to propel the bait forward.
Now, when the plastic worm comes to a stop, reel in the slack in your line and maintain a tight line throughout the process.
Continue to use the lift and reel method of recovery until the senko worm finds its way back to your location. Then go through the procedure again!
Pro Tip: Keep in mind that bass are predators, which means they are always traveling from one location to another in search of food. It may be necessary to cast more to the right, then to the left if you are having difficulty capturing anything in a certain place. Also, don’t be hesitant to throw quite near to shore, even in the shallows, if the conditions are right. In particular, early mornings and late nights are when bass are most active, so take advantage of these times.
Several Interesting Facts About Bass Fishing
Bass fishing, namely largemouth bass fishing, is by far one of the most common kinds of fishing in North America, with the largemouth bass being the most popular species. There’s a good reason why nearly 14 million fishermen in the United States alone are devoted to hunting these fish: they’re delicious.
A large part of the reason why bass fishing is so popular is that it is so accessible to everyone! It is not necessary for men, women, and children who wish to try their luck at capturing a largemouth or smallmouth bass to go very far from where they now reside in order to do so.
Bass fishing using worms is a popular technique.
According to official statistics, bass may be found in 49 of the 50 states of the United States, including Hawaii, as well as in numerous portions of Canada and Mexico, among other places. Granted, the fishing may not be as fantastic in some of those locations, but there are still possibilities to catch bass in those locations!
An other reason for the popularity of bass fishing is the fact that you may fish for bass at any season of the year, at any time of day or night. Keep in mind that there are probably better seasons of year and better times of day to fish, but once again…the opportunity to catch bass can be found all throughout the country.
The third reason for the popularity of bass fishing, which I’ll discuss, is the sheer amount of enjoyment that can be had while doing it. Bass fight ferociously, so catching even the smallest bass can be a lot of fun. Furthermore, bass are constantly hungry. It’s as simple as switching up your bait or your fishing area if your bait isn’t working or your location isn’t working for you. When you’re not catching bass, a simple three-minute trip to another submerged log can be all you need to turn things around.
The Various Bass Species There Are
It is possible to catch many different kinds of bass around the globe, but for the sake of this essay, we will concentrate on the type of bass known as “black bass.” And among the bass that are members of this family, we’re particularly worried about largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, among other things.
Bass fishing for largemouth bass (bass fishing 101)
Largemouth bass are the most often seen bass species while fishing for them. Because of the enormous size of its mouth, they are referred to as the “Mouth Monsters.”
In general, largemouth bass live on their own, yet you may see numerous largemouths living in close proximity to one another, particularly if they’re in an area with plenty of food available.
Largemouth bass are a predatory fish that is nearly always at the top of the food chain in their ecosystem, which makes them an excellent food source. As a result, you’ll quickly discover that largemouth bass are aggressive fish that will not only attack your bait without notice, but will also munch on it while you’re not looking.
These bass like to conceal themselves between rocks, in and among vegetation, beneath submerged logs and branches, and wherever else they can readily conceal themselves while waiting for easy food to come along. In order to attack their next meal, the largemouth bass will emerge from these hiding places.
As a result, largemouth bass love to reside in warm, calm water, which is why fishing for largemouth bass in agricultural ponds and lakes can be so productive. These predatory fish may be found in a variety of habitats, including rivers, streams, and reservoirs. Simply search for the calm, slow-moving water to find it.
Tips and tactics for catching smallmouth bass are included in this section.
Similarly to largemouth bass, smallmouth bass (commonly known as “smallies”) are an immensely enjoyable fish to capture. Once caught, smallmouth bass may put up a fierce battle and do impressive acrobatics, as you’ll frequently see them spring out of the water, flip, and spin in an effort to get free of the hook that has been placed in their mouth.
It is for this reason that smallmouth bass fishing is among my favorite types of fishing.
Smallmouth bass, in contrast to largemouth bass, may frequently be found in big groups of up to 50 individuals. While it is not unusual to come across them living a lonely existence, it is not the norm.
The most significant distinction between largemouth and smallmouth bass, on the other hand, is the kind of environments that each of them like to inhabit. For example, in contrast to largemouth bass that prefers calm warm waters, smallmouth bass are more typically found in colder, clearer water. In rivers and streams, as well as in lakes and reservoirs, smallies may be found in great abundance.
Furthermore, since smallmouth bass are intolerant to pollution and unclean water, they serve as an excellent natural indication of a healthy ecosystem!
Finally, some last thoughts…
Thus concludes the most straightforward explanation of bass fishing that can be provided. I promise that if you just follow the very simple techniques that we discussed in this post, you will be successful in catching fish.
It’s important to remember that bass fishing does not have to be a costly activity to participate in. You may simply get started for as little as $100… If you happen to already have a fishing rod and reel that would suffice, the cost may be much lower. Don’t be distracted by all of the bright lights and flashy stuff that are accessible. That moment will arrive!
Concentrate on the straightforward setup we outlined before, the senko worm. Start catching fish with this method, then return to this page to learn about some more bass fishing tactics that are effective.
Wishing you the best of luck! Be sure to post your catch here so that we can all learn what you managed to get your hands on.
And, if you found this article to be useful, please forward it to your friends to help spread the news about bass fishing in general!