Largemouth Bass
America's most popular game fish: aggressive, cover-oriented and found in nearly every warm lake and pond.
- Where to find them
- Weeds, docks, laydowns, lily pads and other shallow cover in warm lakes, ponds and slow rivers.
- Best times
- Spring spawn and early summer; dawn, dusk and overcast days in summer heat.
- Typical depth
- 1–20 feet
- Tackle
- 6'10"–7'3" medium-heavy casting rod, 12–20 lb fluorocarbon, or 50 lb braid around heavy cover.
Top lures and baits
- Texas-rigged soft plastic
- Spinnerbait
- Topwater frog
- Squarebill crankbait
- Jig
Tips
- Fish slower after a cold front.
- Match lure color to water clarity: natural in clear, bold in stained.
- Wind-blown banks hold active fish.