So, you want to try your hand at catching one of America’s most beloved sport fish? Learning how to catch largemouth bass is addictively fun.

There’s a couple of reasons why the largemouth bass is such a favored game fish: One, they’re aggressive. Feeling a bucking bass at the end of your line will exponentially increase the entertainment factor while you’re fishing. Two, It’s a widespread species you can find in most waters in the United States. Seriously, there’s a record in every state for these squirrely, big-mouthed lunkers. Thus, we’ll share what all the fun is about by giving you our secrets to catching one of these hawgs.

How To Identify a Largemouth Bass

First, let’s go over how to identify a largemouth bass. Starting with fun fact number one: did you know largemouth and smallmouth bass belong to the sunfish family? However, unlike your average sunfish, a largemouth bass’s body is much bigger and more slender. Then, as their name implies, their mouths are wide, extending past their eyes. Additionally, in contrast to a smallie’s markings, a largemouth has a distinct dark lateral stripe running along its side.

Starter Largemouth Bass Tackle

Now, let’s take a look at some largemouth bass tackle you’ll need to get started fishing:

6 Tips on How To Catch Largemouth Bass

Tip #1: Use Live Baits To Catch Big Bass

First off, live baits will outfish any artificial lure: period. Largemouth bass are carnivorous, opportunistic feeders, and plopping prey in their face will get them interested. So, if you want to get yourself a toad of bass, try your luck by fishing with live baits. Here is a list of our go-to bass baits:

  • Worms
  • Minnows
  • Sculpins
  • Shad
  • Crayfish
  • Suckers
  • Leeches
  • Shiners
  • Crickets
  • Frogs
  • Bluegill

Tip #2: Keep Your Baits Seasonal

    Yum Lures Crayfish Plastic Bait

Yum Lure's soft plastic crawfish bait against a white background.
    For springtime bass fishing we like to fish this plastic imitation crayfish bait by Yum Lures.

Second, when you are using live or artificial baits, it is essential to your success to use them seasonally. During certain seasons, some baits and especially lure colors will outperform others. For example, an almost motionless worm can likely pull a hungry bass out from its shelter in the winter.  Whereas, before the spawn, bass are loading up on protein in the springtime, so natural crayfish colors from olive-green to orange-red seem to perform well.

Tip #3: Don’t Stick to One Technique

Third, learning multiple techniques for targeting largemouth bass will help increase the number of bites you get. While I believe it is important to master one bass fishing method, it is also vital to switch it up now and then. Here is a list of popular techniques anglers use to target largies:

  • Wacky rig
  • Texas rig
  • Drop shot rig
  • Spinnerbaits
  • Topwater poppers and frogs
  • Jerkbaits
  • Crankbaits
  • Flipping
  • Pitching

Tip #4: Fish Cover and Structure

Fourth, fishing cover and structure is an excellent way to seek out bass. Since bass are natural predators, adult largemouth will often utilize fallen timber or thick vegetation as cover to ambush prey fish. So, finding these types of areas and throwing lures mimicking wounded baitfish will help you attract those opportunistic feeders.

Tip #5: Follow Their Forage

Fifth, another fantastic method for targeting bass is by following their forage. In the evenings, baitfish will move to shallow waters to feed. Consequently, because of this predictable feeding pattern, lurking predators like bass and catfish can easily hunt prey fish during this time of day.  Thus, when in doubt, naturally present a lure that best mimics their food near a cloud of forage fish.

Tip #6: Cloudy Days Equal Optimal Bass Fishing

Lastly, overcast and cloudy days can call for some of the best bass fishing. For example, when the weather is muggy, water visibility lowers, making bass more comfortable migrating to shallower waters. Here are some lures that work exceptionally well during these weather conditions:

  • Topwater lures
  • Spinnerbaits
  • Buzzbaits
  • Swim jigs

In addition, we believe the best colors to use on cloudy days are bright fluorescents or dark colors, like blues and blacks. We like bright fluorescent-colored lures because they are highly visible to fish on overcast days. Then, dark-colored baits also perform well because they appear more natural to bass during muggy weather.

Keep Your Hooks Sharp and Your Lines Tight!

Finally, now that you better understand what types of bait and tackle to use, you’re ready to target bass. Hence, we hope these six tips will give you the tools you need to be a successful largemouth bass angler. Do you have any more questions about catching largemouth bass? Let us know in the comments section below. Did this article benefit you in any way? Then, please share it on social media with your friends.