How to Bass Fish-A Bass Fishing How To for Largemouth Bass Fishing

I am writing this for anyone that wants to learn how to bass fish. Largemouth bass fishing is a very fun sport to take part in and I highly recommend it to anyone. This is not a bass fishing how to hub on how to become a bass pro, but to help the novice get started. I am hoping to gear this towards someone that really doesn't know very much about bass fishing. So, if you are an expert, this may be a little elementary for you. But, if you are new to the sport, then I hope you will learn a few tips here that will make your bass fishing experience a very productive one, even if it's your first fishing trip. I will cover what you need in regards to any paperwork, best type of gear, and how to pick a good spot to throw your lure. I hope you learn something from this and can begin a lifelong love of the sport.

The most important piece of paper you can have on you when you start bass fishing is your fishing license. As far as I know, all states require you to purchase this license to do any fishing. They should be fairly inexpensive for an in state license and typically a lot more for an out of state license. A fishing license is normally good through the whole year so once you've purchased it, you might as well fish all you can. If you are fishing out of state, you can probably purchase a weekend license that will last through your trip instead of having to pay for a full year.

Fishing in wildlife refuges or state parks, etc. may require you to purchase some sort of decal or weekend pass to park your vehicle or to put on your boat. These are also not very expensive and the cost goes to helping fund services at that park or refuge. Annual decals can sometimes get expensive if you have to purchase one for your vehicle and your boat. But once again, if you pay for it, you might as well use it all you can.

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Now that you have the proper paperwork and you can now legally fish, you need to have the gear to do the job. Unless you're planning on fishing with some string and a hook (which probably won't work for bass) you need a decent rod and reel. You don't have to go out and purchase the most expensive rod or reel to get the job done. However, keep in mind, you usually get what you pay for.

The rod should be a six or seven foot rod. Since bass can be substantially larger than crappie or blue gill, you really don't want to have a short rod that is not very strong. A short rod will also decrease your casting distance as well, so just go ahead and get a longer one. Ugly Stik is a great brand. Their rods are indestructible. They're not too expensive, but do cost a little more than a basic starter kit you may pick up at Wal Mart. if you fork out the money for an Ugly Stik, you shouldn't have to buy another rod again, or a very long time at least.

There are as many reels out there as there are fish. Well, maybe not quite, but there are quite a few. You can use a basic covered spinning reel. These are the kind where you push the button, cast the lure, and then start reeling in your lure. They are good for beginners because they are pretty easy to use. But, if you'd like to start out with a little more casting range and more control of your retrieve, I recommend a bait casting reel. Once again, they come at a little higher cost than basic reels, but can greatly improve your casting ability once you learn how to use them. The ideal type to get would be one that has a magnetic backlash control. This can greatly improve the learning curve when learning how to use these reels.

 Lure choice and proper use is one of the most important things to consider when you finally hit the lake. You can use crankbaits, rubber worms, spinners, buzz baits, frogs, mice, and lots of other types. Each lure has different purposes and you need to have several on hand in order to ensure you can effectively fish the areas where the bass are hiding.

Crankbaits are typically shaped like some sort of fish or feeder fish. They have a lip at the front of the lure that caused the lure to dive to the desired depth. This type of lure you reel in steadily to give the appearance that it is swimming. The have at least one treble hook and can have more.

Spinner baits usually look like absolutely nothing that lives in the water. At least to you and I. But, bass love them. They have a shiny "spoon" on them and a hook that is usually hidden by a skirt. The skirt is a bunch of rubber tassles. They come in all sorts of colors and sizes. You can ask around your local fishing stores and they should be able to tell you what the bass like in that area and at that time of year.

Rubber worms are exactly what their name implies. They are rubber worms. These also come in lots of different sizes and colors. The best way to find out which one works best is to try them. I like grape colored because that's what I personally catch the most bass with. Never underestimate the productivity of a rubber worm. There are many ways to rig the worm so read up on the techniques as well as the retrieval method that works best.

These are the basic lures that  you should want to have in your tackle box when you first start fishing for largemouth bass. Keep in mind, that the more experience you get, the more you will want to start looking into other lures that can help you fish hard to reach areas like lillypads and moss.

Now that you have all the paperwork and equipment that you need, it's time to find some water. Bass are found in pretty well any freshwater body of water in the United States, so once you find a body of water that you are allowed to fish in, there should be some bass in there. Pubic parks and refuges often allow people to fish in their lakes. You can also fish in rivers or ponds. If you plan to fish on private property, please be sure to ask permission. Some people get very upset if they catch you fishing their pond without permission.

 I have gone over everything that you need in order to be capable of catching bass. Now the real fun begins. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need a boat in order to catch largemouth bass. You can catch bass from the shore just as easily as in a boat. You just have to know what to look for.

When fishing from the shore, look for areas where a tree may be hanging out over the water. Bass love what is called cover. Cover can be a stump, weeds, or a tree hanging over the water. The tricky part is not getting your hook stuck on the cover. But, that comes with experience. Look for cover and try to figure out what lure may work best. If you see fish hitting the top of the water, a buzzbait may be ideal. If you're not sure, try a rubber worm or a spinner. The more fish you catch, the more you will figure out what to use. It all comes with practice.

I hope this helps anyone looking to start bass fishing. I believe this is a great sport to learn because you are never too young or old. The longer you do it, the more challenges you can find for yourself.