Live Bait
There are several live baits that can be used to attract bass. Some of the most popular ones are minnows, earthworms, salamanders, frogs, leeches and crayfish. If fishing in clear water, live bait is better to use than artificial. After a cold front, you'll get better results using a live bait, than artificial. Bass will usually grab larger live bait and turn it so it can be swallowed headfirst. Make sure to give the bass enough time to do this, before setting your hook. If using smaller live bait, set the hook as soon as you get a strike.
Artifical Bait
The most popular artificial bait to catch bass with is plastic worms. They can be rigged to be weedless and their effectiveness is best in warm water. Spinnerbaits attract the fish because of their color, flashiness and action. They are a combination of two lures, a jig and a spinner. Crankbaits can float, dive, vibrate, sink, and sink as well as float. They are useful because they can cover a vast area of water. If trolling along weedlines, use a spoon plug to fish for bass. Bass fishing jigs come in everything from having feathers, plastic attractors, and hair attached to the lead head of the jig. Jigs are best used when fishing in colder water temperatures. When fishing with artificial bait and the bass strikes, set the hook immediately.
Rod and Reel
When deciding on which rod and reel to choose, balance between the rod and the reel is very important. You don't want an ultralight rod being used with a heavy duty reel on it. The balance and sensitivity of the rod will be impaired. A basic bass rod's tip should be sensitive and the butt should be strong. You'll want a rod that's strong enough to horse the bass out of the heavy cover of weeds and brush. Consider the type of fishing you'll be doing, when choosing your rod and reel. If you'll mainly be doing fishing from shore, you won't need a heavy duty rod. If you plan on doing a lot of trolling, your rod and reel will need to be more heavy duty.
