best tackle to start for bass fishing?

[mrpike1973]

hi i would like to graduate from sunnies to bass. what methods are best for bass i'm mostly on shore or boat i have rods already i've tried texas rigging but havent had much luck does 6 inch worms work with jig heads. i'm looking for effective ways but economical. i'm a little short on money what would you guys say works good.

[Basscat]

Spinnerbaits are good lures to try. You can cast them around cover, or in open water, and they can catch a lot of fish. Try varying your retrieve by stopping and starting as you reel. You can also vary the speed at which you reel to fish different depths in the water column.

Texas rigs are also very effective when fishing around cover. If you dont have much luck with a worm, try fishing a creature style bait, such as a brush hog or a lizard, on a 5 O wide gap hook. For weight, use a bullet weight.

As far as colors go, in clear water, use natural colors such as green or white. In stained water, try using dark colors such as black and blue.

[basssmasher*]

Ditto what Basscat says, i was in the same spot as you years ago.. I started with plactic worms and 3/0 and 4/0 hooks and smaller bullet weights. My fav still has to be a 4 in finesse worm though

[traveler]

Dynamite

spear

seine or cast net

steal them from a heron

sorry, couldn't help myself:)

[Rippinlip]

3/8 oz white spinnerbait, with a gold single colorado blade.

Like stated above you can use shallow or deep, slow rolled or buzzing the surface.

I would also say try to use a 1/4 - 3/8 oz rubber skirted jig, I would recommend darker colors. Can be pitched to docks and pockets in weeds.

[Cast A Way]

I like spinnerbaits in white - watermelon green with a trail hook and twister. Weedless jigs in black/blue - motoroil. I use mostly 1/2 oz. Zoom U-tale worms rigged or on the jigs works good.

[Yourmumsfishtank]

I personally like top water bass action, its always fun to have a top water frog like a hula popper or scum frog handy in the tackle box when the pads and grass start to grow in.

[suncruiser234]

Scum Frog, Rat-L-Trap, and a white spinner bait. Leave the jigs at home till you can catch them consistently on a worm.

Use the cranks and spinners to locate the fish. When you find where they are, throw the worm!

[Deitz Dittrich]

I would like to welcome you to the Bass forum of HotSpotOutdoors, lots of great guys and gals to help out with questions exactly like this one.

HSO Bass Fourm

To answer your question.. as many have said.. Spinnerbaits are good. Do a google search for a wacky rig. Another very easy rig to fish, and very successful.

[mrpike1973]

suncruiser and others i never thought of that. cranks and spinnerbaits to locate fish. i always tried to find fish with just the worm never got many very frustrating. so a game plan should be spinnerbaits in weeds, edges then cranks on outside edges once i locate a couple bass then slow down and worm fish. would this be the best idea thanks to all of you

[gurkster]

Wacky Rigged Senkos around structure, Spinnerbaits, Scum Frog (top water) and a shallow diving crankbait (Manns -1). Those 4 are proven baits and should get you started. You can get all for under $20.

[goblueM]

you know, backing up a bit here - I'm not sure how familiar you are with bass and where to find them... but that is the place to start

you can have the best techniques and equipment but you aren't going to catch any bass if you can't locate them and fish in those spots

[MichaelSwan]

Inline spinners - Mepps for sure, Hula poppers, a top water lure, works insane early morning or evening on calm water. In my experience they are big dumb brutes and hit darn near anything and are a great fight, plus are easy to take off.

[mainbutter]

1) rapala, small/medium, jointed floater, husky jerk, or x-rap

2) senko fished weightless, wacky style on a drop shot hook (youtube this for demonstrations)

3) twister tail grub preferably in white, fished on a jig head. Straight retrieve with little jumps occasionally works great.

[cyeezy]

in spring going with lures that cover lots of water is best. i like spinnerbaits, top water buzz toads, buzzbaits, crankbaits.

mn lakes in summer are full of weeds, get some heavier tackle like a medium heavy fast action 6'6" to 7' rod, 50 lbs braided line. look for changes along shoreline cover, for example a patch of weeds that sticks out a little farther than the rest or a hole in the thick emergent weeds , cast you texas rigged worm or creature bait there and wait for the tap then set your hook hard. topwater frogs work well in summer too because they don't get hung up in the weeds.

you can catch fish using other methods too but i think these are good approaches for noobs.

[jigglestick]

JITTERBUGS!!

[jigginlow]

Try the strike king line of Rage products, like the topwater toad. The first time I ever used one of these I just about went in my pants when I got a hit.

[Get'n Jiggy]

Another vote for spinnerbaits, get yourself a 3/8 oz. and start casting!!!

[EBass]

Fish with someone that knows the in's and out's of bass fishn'. Then take some of their tackle

[thatoneguy]

Fish with someone that knows the in's and out's of bass fishn'. Then take some of their tackle

+1

I learned more in a few hours on the lake with a couple FM members (thanks guys!) than I would have in a few years of fumbling around on my own. Find a friend (or make a new friend) who knows bass fishing backwards and forwards, and get out on the lake with him/her a few times. It will greatly speed up your learning curve and increase your enjoyment.

[dan z]

junebug colored frogs with a 5/0 wide gap fished in the thickest slim/slop you can find!

[MN Shutterbug]

Texas rigged tube worms or lizards fished weightless. Very slowly crawl them back to the boat after casting right next to shoreline weeds. On bright days I go with chartreuse and dark days - black with red specks. Top waters have always been my favorite method but where I fish, they just don't produce as well.

[g_anoka]

It has been said before, wacky rig.

[KidMoe]

+ MN Shutterbug

I have yet to have better luck than with texas rigged worms. Rigged weightless with the hook tip tucked in the worm can be thrown along weeds and structure without getting hung up. Plus with the heavier worms you can really get some distance on your casts. Although, a drop shot with either live bait or plastics can be really good too.

The main way i locate bass is if it looks like it's impossible to get a lure in there, there's a hog hangin out in there. :-)

[ted4887]

The main way i locate bass is if it looks like it's impossible to get a lure in there, there's a hog hangin out in there. :-)

Lol, ain't that the truth!

Wacky rigs and cranks are my go-to's.