Crayfish
Crayfish are one of the most effective baits for bass. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, crayfish are productive for catching largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and white bass. Use crawfish bait either live, dead or using just the tail. Hook the crayfish through the underside of its tail so that the point is protruding through the top. Grasp the bait and pull its tail away from the head and thread the hook through its tail or through both sides of its body.
Insects
Insects such as grasshoppers and crickets are excellent bait choices for bass, states the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Both are caught by hand or with an insect net. To find these insects, search in areas with tall and thick grass or under lighting fixtures during nighttime. Use medium-sized hooks for bass fishing and cover the hook completely to increase bites.
Minnows
Minnows such as live shiners are natural food for bass, making it one of the best live baits for fishing. Virtually all bait and tackle stores offer minnows allowing anglers to acquire them easily. Minnows are especially effective from late winter to early spring when large-sized bass in lakes are beginning to move for spawning. Pre-spawn bass need to feed and simply cannot resist a live minnow bait, according to the Texas Game and Fish Magazine. Use live minnows over points adjacent to spawning flats to catch a strike.
Article Written By Rona Aquino
Rona Aquino began writing professionally in 2008. As an avid marathon runner and outdoor enthusiast, she writes on topics of running, fitness and outdoor recreation for various publications. Aquino holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications and English from the University of Maryland College Park.
