Getting Started Bass Fishing
When choosing a good setup to start fishing for bass, I found bigger is not always better. I started with a 7’2” STIX #2 Hybrid Spin STIK and a LEWS standard spinning reel. When I hooked my first bass, I hardly knew it was on. This defeats the whole objective of enjoying the fight these great fish deliver. Here is my Beginners Guide to Bass Fishing.
My Setup
I then moved to a 7’6” STIC #1 Finesse Spin STIX and a LEWS 75 Laser Lite Spinning Reel. This was more like it. Even the one-pounders felt like something great, and I learned to feel the fish. I found a 10 lb test K9 “8” Strand Super Braid in yellow to be the best for casting. I attached 18 inches of K9 Fluoro Clear 8lb for my leader.
Beginning bass anglers can fight a one-pounder and feel the thrill of the fish taking drag with these finesse setups. This gives you valuable experience in learning how a bass fights and reacts after setting the hook.
Start small and then get bigger. That’s my advice. Also, don’t expect to start laying into some five-plus pound bass. They will come with time. Start out seeking smaller bass and gain experience catching them. You learn how to handle the big momma when she takes your bait.
Starting Baits
In the beginning, it is not necessary to go out and buy all the tackle from ShopKarls. Start with the basics, and what you know you can catch fish on for now.
Select a few crankbaits. I find the StrikeKing Hybrid Hunter Crankbaits to be the best in price, and they catch bass. The Hybrid Hunter dives about 3-5 feet and is a good start to crank baiting. Two colors of each are fine for a beginning bass fisherman. Bass is not too picky when it comes to color. Find a natural-looking one that resembles baitfish, like a shad pattern or bluegill pattern. These represent the two different types of baitfish and work well.
Next, select a few spinnerbaits. There are many sizes and types on the market, but I found the ZMAN SLINGBLADEZ™ WILLOW COLORADO. to be the best. Go for baitfish imitations both with gold blades. I find that they work best in all settings.
Lastly, select some plastic worms. I call this my finesse fishing bait because you slow down your retrieves and tend to pick a pond or lake apart more. Going for natural colors such as green pumpkin and Junebug colors works better for me. Pick what suits you the best and what will catch fish for you in your area.
Where To Fish First
Never jump into the deep end of the pond. Start in the shallows in the early morning and make your way into deeper water when the sun gets high. I used this principle and started in ponds. You generally catch smaller bass, but it is perfect for you to learn and will help you get your system down.
Where To Find Fish
This is the first question I ask myself when breaking down a body of water. Where do I find the bass?. The best way to look at it is that bass always play hide and seek. You have to look for them, and when you find them, you will catch them. Some places you may find them are laid down structures or weed lines in the water. Bass love to hide in these places. It keeps them cool and allows them a cover to ambush prey as it swims by. If you are unsuccessful, look for areas where the water or the structure changes. Where rock walls are or weeds become hydrilla is a great place to cast. It’s all about learning the area you fish in and finding those places they like to hide and seek.
Imagine yourself as a bass. Look at the pond and say to yourself if I was the fish, where would I hide.
Methods Of Catching Bass
This beginner’s guide to bass fishing is to help you when starting out. My favorite and most successful method is using the StrikeKing Hybrid Hunter from my kayak. I have fished all other baits and lures, but the Hybrid Hunter has helped me catch a lot of bass. It is a simple way to fish that requires minimal skill. This suits a beginner and will give the beginner the confidence needed to fish.
The Spinnerbait
The spinnerbait is a great way to catch bass, but also requires a little more work. When I was a beginner, I didn’t use it too much. I found that I was losing fish hitting the blades and not the hook. This didn’t go down well and I started to hate the spinnerbait. I have caught fish on them but losing more than you catch is not great.
Big bass can also bend and break them, and that began making me spend more money. The variety of spinnerbaits is endless but stick with the bright colors. When reeling these lures back, I found that keeping it just under the water’s surface worked best because the bass was attracted by the wake it created in the water. Once a fish has taken the lure, strike hard and set the hook because they spit it out the moment they realize it’s not a natural baitfish.
The Plastic Worm
The plastic worm resembles the most life-like bait to a bass. This type of fishing requires a lot of patience and skill, which can cause you to dislike it at first. Worm fishing will help you catch bass when no other bait can. The wilder the worm went, the more the bass loved it. A wacky rig with a weightless SENKO style worm is great for beginners to start with.
Once the bass takes the worm, do not set the hook yet! Let him swim away with it and then hammer the hook set. This isn’t easy because you want to immediately catch him when you feel that tick on the other end. Bigger bass is not too easily attracted by worms, so making them look natural works for me better. I say that the bigger the bass, the more likely it will not be attracted to the worm.
Bass fishing is a learning sport, and no one knows it all. Ask questions, and don’t be close-minded by your own opinions. Try all techniques and experiment with things. You will find something that works for you, and maybe you can help someone else. Go fishing often, and you will learn. I found that early morning and late afternoon fishing proved to be most successful.
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