Beginner
Bass Fishing Basics
Find cover, choose a simple rig and land your first bass.
Start with reachable cover
Look for weed edges, shaded docks, fallen trees and rock transitions. Start along the outside of cover rather than casting into its thickest part. Cast past the target and bring your bait through it.
A medium spinning outfit with line and lure weights inside the rod's printed rating is a versatile starting point. Set the drag so line pulls out under steady pressure, not so tightly that a snag can break the rod.
Rig a straight worm
Slide an optional bullet sinker onto the line, narrow end toward the rod, then tie a suitable worm hook. Insert the hook into the worm's nose, bring it out a short distance down, slide the nose to the hook eye and rotate the hook.
Measure where the point should enter the body. Push through and lightly tuck the point under the surface. The worm should hang straight, not curled or stretched. Crawl it across the bottom, pause, then move it again.
Detect bites and release carefully
Watch the line as well as feeling the rod. A jump, sideways movement or unexpected weight can be a bite. Reel up slack and use a firm sweep with a single-hook worm; don't use the same hard strike for treble-hook baits.
Use a rubberized net and wet hands. Support a large fish's belly, keep fingers clear of hooks and return fish promptly where release is legal. Check local seasons, size limits and spawning-area restrictions.
Advanced · Bass fishing
Bass: Patterning Cover & Structure →Need gear for this?