Boss Hogs Fishing

Andrew

How to Fish with Jig Heads for Beginners

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Jig heads can be a versatile and deadly bait in your fishing arsenal. Whether the bite is off or on, or the water conditions are not ideal, throwing a jig could mean the difference between catching largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or getting skunked. That’s why you need to learn how to fish with jig heads.

Jigging is an active fishing method with the fisherman snapping and popping the lure in the water. The movement of the jig attracts the attention of fish, but learning how to jig takes time and practice.

You won’t be an expert the first time you head out.

The benefit of using jigs for bass fishing (or almost any fishing) is that you can fish them all year long in various conditions. There are few times, if any, when fishing with jig heads is a bad idea.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about how to fish with jig heads.

Related: What Do Bass Eat: Pick the Best Baits & Lures

What is The Point of Jig Heads?

If you are new to fishing, you may wonder what is a jig head or what is the point of using one while fishing.

A jighead is a fish book with weighted material – often lead – molded at the end of the eye of the hook. The point is to hold the bait in a way that looks more natural with the intention of luring more fish to your bait.

Jigs come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. While they are all similar in form, they aren’t all equal. Differences come from the kinds of molds used, such as silicone or resin, manufacturing, or the composition of the lead. The actual weights of the jigs vary from one to another, which is why I often stick to the brands I like the most.

Jig heads come by themselves or as a complete package, with a skirt trailing the head that covers the hook. The hook extends from the jig as one piece, so they are more than a bait – they’re a hook too.

Some fishermen also use jig heads with soft plastics or live bait. It’s your choice if you decide to try soft plastic baits with the jig to see if you get more bites!

Jigs are meant to be casted in thick vegetation, under docks, and fallen trees. Places a bait with treble hooks may get snagged.

What Fish Can You Catch with Jig Heads?

Jig fishing works for freshwater and saltwater fishing, but most use this setup when freshwater fishing.

You can catch a range of fish on jigs, such as:

  • Largemouth Bass
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Bluegill
  • Sun Fish
  • Perch
  • White Bass
  • Rock Bass
  • Crappie

Can You Fish with Just a Jig Head?

Yes, it’s possible to fish with just a jig head, but you get better results with a trailer. A jighead looks more realistic with a trailer because it looks flashier and more enticing to the fish.

What Time of Year Do You Fish a Jig?

This is one of the reasons why I regularly fish with a jig; you can catch fish with jigs all year round. There is no specific season for jig fishing; a jig is a good choice if you want to fish.

No wonder anglers love them!

Picking a Rod & Reel for Fishing with Jig Heads

You’ll first want to select the right rod and reel combo when you fish with jig heads. Using the wrong rod and reel impacts your casting, and you may miss out on landing your PB.

Typically you’d want to use a longer, heavier action rod. You will work the bottom, throwing it in the brush, rocks, heavy cover, etc. You’ll need at least a 6.5-foot or longer rod, so you can really work that jig up and down and get the right presentation. 

Basically, the longer the rod, the more movement your lure gives off. You may want to try different long rods to see which works best for you.

A heavy enough action to get a fish out of that heavy cover when they strike your jig. Either a medium heavy or heavy action rod will have enough strength to battle the fish, with any obstructions along the way. 

Since you’ll battle weeds and vegetation, a fast-action rod is a good idea since you will be able to feel the nibbles as you move through the brush.

Setting Up Your Reel When Jig Head Fishing

The reel setup will depend on your rod style and preference.

Yes, there are multiple speed and gear ratios to use when you fish with jig heads, which can be confusing to wrap your head around.

For beginners, I would recommend sticking to whatever reel best pairs with your rod. If you’re using a spinning rod, then a medium, 4000-5500 size reel, would be a good choice. These reels are made for rods in the 6.5 to 8-foot range.

If you’re using a casting rod, I would suggest using a 7.1:1 through an 8.1:1 gear ratio. You’ll want a faster casting reel to be able to reel in slack fast when fighting a fish. I would pair this up with a 20-30 lb braided line.

Baitcasting reels are set up with minimal line vacillation because of the way the line rolls off the spool instead of unraveling like on a spinning reel. It increases the accuracy and casting distance of a lure. This is a reason why baitcasting reels are a popular choice for many bass fishermen.

I would pair it together with 20 lb fluorocarbon or 20-30 lb braided fishing line. You want a stronger line to be able to stand pulling a fish out of thick heavy cover.  Fluorocarbon is an excellent choice for jig fishing because it’s clear, sinks in the water, stays taut underwater, and is more sensitive than a monofilament line.

6 Types of Jig Heads

Now that we’ve covered the basic rod and reel setup, let’s talk about the skirted jigs, to be exact.

These are your standard jigs with a twist; there is an added colored skirt to give it a bigger profile, with a fiber or plastic weed guard to help avoid snags fishing the cover. Remember, the jig is just the head of the lure; the rest is the trailer. Most jigs come with a skirt, so that’s where the biggest differences happen.

There are really 6 different types of jigs for bass fishing that all serve their own purpose. 

Swimming Jig Head

These types of jigs are designed for swimming; I use this regularly when fishing for bass. It’s the most popular jighead for fishermen and is easy to understand.

Swim jigs have a narrow pointed head, similar to a bullet style, that is designed to come through grass and wooded areas. They are best for the middle of the water column and for shallow water. Cast it out and retrieve it.

You can also pop your rod a bit to give it a different type of presentation in the water.

Flipping Jig Head

This jig is my absolute favorite when I fish with jig heads. Whether you’re onshore or offshore, you can throw this jig into anything.

These jigs are designed for heavy, thick cover. Throw them under docks, weeds, and fallen timber. Flipping jigs are built a bit stronger to withstand getting bounced off of cover, or getting hung up. It doesn’t matter how dense or mucky the water is; the weed guard on flipping jigs is tense and strong.

With their cone-shaped head, stout hook, and strong weed guard, they’re designed to be thrown in the heaviest of covers. They can take quite the beating. Typically, since they are strong, they are also larger in size, often running up to a full ounce.

Football Jig Head

Football jigs allow the jig to roll over and fall off of rocks and rubble without falling into the cracks.

Spoil alert, if you’re fishing the bottom with anything, you can always expect to get hung up from time to time. Don’t get frustrated!

Cast it out. Let it sink, and slowly retrieve it. Work it over and around the cover on the bottom. That’s what these football head jigs are designed to do. When you get a strike, set the hook hard and get that fish out of there! 

Punch Rig Jig Head

This rig allows you to fish thick heavy vegetation. The jig is able to punch through the grass and get to the bottom, where bass likes to hide.

The punch rig gives you the profile of a skirted jig and the weedless ability of a Texas rig. Use a heavy bullet weight on your punch rig, and you’ll be able to get your rig down through the thick vegetation.

Finesse Jigs

These jigs are lighter and more compact in size. These jigs are used when the bite is slow, the fish are lethargic, and you must finesse them into striking your bait.

Fish these jigs slowly, with a couple of pops, or slowly raising and allowing the jig to hit the bottom. You can use lighter tackle using these jigs to feel when that bass strikes it. You can fish this jig shallow or in deep water.

Casting Jig Heads

Casting jigs are also known as structure jigs.

These jigs are equally suited to beginners due to their all-purpose capabilities. They have a lighter hook than flipping jigs. You fish these jigs with lighter tackle, and the lighter, less thick hook allows for better penetration during a hook set.

This jig isn’t built for power fishing like a flipping jig or football jig, but you can still fish it around cover. This jig is great for fishing clear shallow waters. 

Casting jigs are often used with craw or grub trailers.

Understanding Jig Weights

All jigs, with the exception of floating jigs, are weighted. You’ll find several jig weights for freshwater fishing, such as:

  • 1/64 ounces
  • 1/16 ounces
  • 1/8 ounces
  • 3/8 ounces
  • 1/2 ounces
  • 3/4 ounces

Choosing the right jig weight really comes down to reaching the right depth, and how slow or fast you want your fall rate to be. The lighter the weight, the slower the fall. The heavier the weight, the faster the fall.

You must also consider what type of weather conditions you may be up against.

One minute you may have a nice calm current, and that half-ounce jig head might be perfect. Then the wind starts picking up, along with the current, and you need to adjust.

Here’s a good starting point for talking about weights.

  •  ¼ ounce for fishing shorelines or shallow waters with 3 to 5 feet of water.
  •  ½ ounce for fishing shorelines or rock edges with drops down to 8 to 12 feet of water.
  •  ¾  ounce for fishing in 8 to 15 feet or vertical jigging in water to 20 or 25 feet.
  • An ounce or more for retrieving or vertical jigging in 20 feet or more of water.

Picking Colors for Jig Head Fishing

There are so many types of colors when we talk about anything fishing-related. When you pick colors to fish with jig heads, base it on the time of day, the time of year, and the circumstances. It’s more than just picking a color; thought goes into picking an appealing choice for your jigs.

You have thousands of choices of color combos and skirts with jigs.

Summer, sunny, and warm temperatures generally call for bright and attractive colors. You want to excite the fish. Fall, winter, clouds, and cold temperatures call for natural and matte colors.

Here are a few fan-favorite colors to start with. 

Green Pumpkin – Bluegill

Bass love bluegill, and green pumpkin jigs imitate the coloring of bluegill, one of their favorite snacks. You can use this jig color anytime bass feed on bluegill, regardless of the water color.

A good tip is to add a bit of chartreuse to the tip of the trailer since bluegills have iridescent tails.

Black & Blue – Contrast

If the water has a bit of stain, black and blue work great for jig colors. This color combo offers a contrast, giving the bass an easy target in the water.

Use a black and blue jig when there is dirty water, low light conditions, and vegetation.

Crawfish – Brown

Another jig color to try is crawfish, which is a derivation of green or brown. Brown jigs work well around rocks, shells, and wood, especially if you fish in clear water.

Baitfish – White

If you think the bass in your lake feed on shad or other baitfish, white jigs are a great lure. It works well as a swim jig, imitating the baitfish as they swim near the bass.

Best Jig Head Trailers

Jig heads come complete with skirted trailers or without trailers. Some anglers buy those sold separately because they may want to pick a skirt or color combination they think will be more effective. Also, you may decide to use a different length.

A plain jighead without a skirt gives you more options.

No matter the color you choose for your jig, you’ll want a trailer that is very similar, if not identical in color, to pair up with it. A trailer adds better action, size, and overall appearance to your bait in a bass’s eyes.

When you rig your trailer up, you’ll want to keep it around 2.5 to 5 inches in size. The smaller jigs have a faster fall rate, while the bigger jigs have a slower fall rate and make your bait look beefier. There are a variety of trailers to use for jigs.

Here are a few of my favorites. 

Craws

Many anglers use a crawfish trailer because they create a loud, flappy presentation in the water. However, if you are fishing in dense cover, this won’t work as well. Crawfish trailers are best for open and somewhat clean water.

Chunks

I often use chunk trailers, a hybrid between craws and grubs. These trailers are smaller than crawfish but bigger than grubs, with a square, rectangular body, and one or two tails behind.

If you are fishing in deeper water with heavy cover, rocks, dams, or loose vegetation, chunks are great. They also work well with a swim jig because they move nicely through the water with an ideal presentation. These are great bass jigs!

Grubs

Beginners love fishing with grub trailers! As long as the colors work for the water clarity and time of day, you should get bites with this.

Grubs are plastic worms with a tail covering the hook’s vertical area. My kids often use grubs on jigs and catch tons of bluegill, bass, and even a perch!

Creatures

Creatures are similar to chunks. They have a thicker profile. Often have tiny legs and tails. My favorite creature trailer for a jig is Berklys Powerbait Pit Boss

Do I Need a Sinker with a Jig Head?

No, you don’t need a sinker always need a sinker when using a jighead because they have a weight attached to the head.

Fishing a jig doesn’t have to be complicated. Just having a good set up and choosing common colors will go a long way. Don’t be intimidated by all the brand names involved. 

Get what’s affordable for you, and when it comes to the bait size. Stick to a ⅜ to ½ oz. 

These are good, all-around sizes for jigs. The bigger and heavier the bait, the faster the fall rate. 

The smaller and lighter the bait, the slower the fall rate. Take this beginners guide on how to fish with jig heads to get you started.

What is The Best Time of Day to Catch Catfish?

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Catfishing is a popular hobby for fisherman, but unlike other fish, there definitely are good and bad times to catfish. So, you need to know what is the best time of day to catch catfish.

The answer isn’t “whenever you can go” or “when you get off of work.” While yes, in theory, it’s possible to fish for catfish whenever you want, but if you want to increase your chances of success – don’t we all? – then you need to know the best time of day to catch catfish.

It’s important to know what affects the catfishing.

The time of day, the season, and the weather conditions all dramatically affect when you may land catfish. In general, the best time of day to catch catfish is one to two hours before sunset and two to three hours after sunrise. However, in the winter, this changes, and you can catch catfish in the winter from late morning until just before sunset.

This aren’t hard rules though!

Keep reading to take a deeper look at the best time of day to catch catfish.

What is the Best Time of Day to Catch Catfish?

The best time of the day to catch catfish is from sunrise until 10am. Most people assume that nighttime is ideal, but fisherman have the most success from 6 am to 10 am, depending on when the sun rises in your area.

This time frame is ideal for catfishing because the sun is coming out but it’s not yet directly overheard, and the water temperatures are still cool from the evening before. Catfish are active at this time because they want to eat before the sun warms the water too much, forcing the prey fish to seek cover.

If you can’t get out during this time to try catfishing, the next best time of day to catch catfish is the last two hours before sunset followed by the two to three hours after sunset. Trees often cover the angle of the sun, causing cooler waters. As soon as the water temperature starts to get cooler, catfish come out to feed.

It’s easy to see that the time of day and amount of sun that the body of water receives plays a significant factor in your success rate and the activity level of the catfish. Baitfish and prey fish that catfish seek will look for cover during the middle and hottest parts of the day.

The Best Time to Catch Catfish Based on the Seasons

As I mentioned, figuring out the best time to catch catfish is more than just the actual times – seasons matter as well. Let’s examine each season and how it pertains to catfishing. 

Spring

Spring has a big range of temperatures, and that will change the times you should go catfishing. In early spring, the ice is still melting with freezing temperatures at night time, so catfish tend to behavior similar to winter. If you want to go catfishing in early spring, your best bet is to go during the middle to latter part of the day because the warmer water temps will cause them to look for food. 

Since days are still short at this time frame, fishing is limited. You’ll only be able to hit up the rivers and lakes for a few hours each day.

As spring progresses and temperatures change, catfish become more active towards the late evening. Fishing from shore is ideal in the spring since they’ll gravitate to the warmer shore waters. 

Spring is a major transitional season. The water starts to warm up, causing the fish to become more active, feeding quite aggressively. Then, a cold snap hits and the water temperature drops rapidly. Ideally, it’s best to avoid days when temperatures drop and rise suddenly.

The best fishing happens when weather stabilizes, and the temperatures start to steadily rise. You’ll notice catfish moving closer to shore, so skip the boat and fish from river banks or lake shores. The fish are on the prowl for food since they want to gain weight after losing it during the winter. Spawn season is on its way!

Summer

Summer is typically the best time of the year to catch bigger catfish.

In the summer months, catfish hunt the most at nighttime, typically an hour before sunset until two hours after sunrise. This is a great window for fishing. 

We might love hot summer days, but catfish head for deeper water and cool temperatures. It also means fishermen get to skip the sun beating down on our necks and fish during the cool temperatures at night.

Our family loves heading out for some night fishing. However, you have to be patient since it takes more time for catfish to see your cut bait like chicken liver or live bait.

At this time, catfish come out from their deeper holes in the lakes and rivers, seeking bluegill, perch, and shad. Fishing from the bank and boat yield great results. Another option is to catfish in the daytime by boat if you find where they are; they tend to be bunched up together. 

Catfish Spawn Season is in Summer Too

Catfish spawn season starts at the end of spring until the beginning to mid summer, and fishing during spawn season is typically less successful than other seasons.

Fish behave different during spawn season; they have one focus at this time. After the spawn season, the typical fishing pattern is ideal.

Fall

Another great season for catfishing is fall, and this is when we really see the color shad becoming a favorite for catfish. Shad start to gather together, and catfish love to hunt during this season. 

Early in the fall season, catfish often behave very similar to summer because the temperatures are still relatively the same. The best time of day to catch catfish in early fall is from sunset until sunrise.

In late fall as winter approaches, water temperatures plummet, and your catfishing plan of action starts to resemble that of wintertime. Plan to fish more towards the middle or later parts of the day with live or cut bait to catch all the catfish. 

Winter

Catfish aren’t nearly as active in the winter as they are in other seasons. They hide in the winter, trying to stay as warm as possible. They tend to keep their belly on the bottom of the deepest hole they can find, so if you’re heading out on a winter catfish trip, look for the deepest holes you can find.

That’s why, the best time in winter to catch catfish is in the late morning up until near-sunset. Don’t attempt to catfish at night in the winter; you won’t have the results you want. However, if you experience any rain or weather event that causes the air temperatures to go up, it’s time to get out and catfish; channel catfish and other big ones start to come out, looking for a bite to eat.

The Time of Day to Catch Catfish Based on Species

Most catfish anglers realize there are several breeds of cats, and all species of catfish have similarities and differences. Most act in predictable ways, but it’s important to know the differences to increase the chances of landing a catfish.

Fishing for Flathead Catfish

Flatheads may be caught during day and night, the same as other species. They hide in deep shade throughout the day while searching for food in the evenings and nighttime.

Flatheads are most active from May to October, but their activity levels decrease in midsummer. This is due to the water temperatures increasing, and winter is when you are less likely to have any success at all. Flatheads are slower in the winter than blue or channel catfish.

Fishing for Blue Catfish

Blue cats are different than flathead and channels.

It’s possible to catch these fish in the winter, unlike flathead. In fact, prime blue catfishing is between mid winter and early spring; you’ll catch large fish during this time frame. However, fishing during this time is hard.

Let’s be honest; who likes to fish when it’s freezing outside?

You’ll find good bites from mid March throughout April. Then, when spawning season hits, the fishing for blue catfishes worsens, but it picks up in the first half of fall again.

Fishing for Channel Catfish

Catfish anglers fish for channel cats all year around, but if you head out in the winter, you’re more likely to catch a channel than a flathead. However, they are most active from late spring until the fall with a decrease in the spawning season.

Do Catfish Feed More at Night or During the Day?

It’s a common idea that catfish only feed during the nighttime, but that is inaccurate. Catfish don’t feed anymore at night than they do during the day.

Remember, catfish are opportunistic predatory fish, so they feed when the conditions make it the easiest for them to locate their prey. They don’t want to put anymore work into getting their next meal.

So, the time of year, weather conditions, and types of body all matter and determine when catfish feed the most. It’s important to know that catfish feed during the day and night, but if the day is hot, they may be inactive. They may hunt during the nighttime, but they may not.

Is Catfishing Good During the Middle of the Day?

The hottest parts of the day are in the middle of the day, running from 1 PM to 4 PM if you live in the Northern Hemisphere. During this time of day, catfish, along with other predatory fish, seek cover, sinking low into the body of water where the light will not penetrate.

Catfish may also hide under submerge logs, stumps, docks, bridges, or any other type of cover. Cats look for deep structures that give them the best spots to stay cool. You often can find some trophy class catfish here.

So, catfishing is generally not good in the middle of the day. This is why grandpa got out to the lake or river as soon as he got coffee brewed in the morning – that’s why those predator fish are out seeking a bite to eat.

However, that’s not always the case.

If the day is very cloudy or overcast, it’s possible that the fish activity may be more sporadic throughout the day rather than having defined peak times.

That’s why some fishermen love fishing in the rain! Rain cools off the water temperature, causing catfish to be on the move, seeking out insects and larvae. Rain stimulates catfish to hunt because they need their whiskers more in muddy water.

FAQs about the Best Time of Day to Catch Catfish

What is the Best Time of Day to Catch Catfish in a Lake?

Headed out to your favorite lake to land a catfish? The best time to fish is before the sun gets directly overhead; otherwise, the catfish will dive deep and be hard to find. Fish the early morning hours or before the sun fully sets for the day.

Lakes are unique fishing grounds for catfish because the depths of the lake vary so widely. That’s why having a fish finder on your boat is a great idea because it helps you determine the depth where you want to try to find the catfish.

When you catfish in a lake, stage your baits at various depths to try to figure out where the fish may be located. Big catfish often feed in shallower water right along the bank, even in waters as shallow was one or two feet, during periods of low lights. As the water gets warmer later in the day, catfish move to the deeper waters.

What is the Best Time of Day to Catch Catfish in Rivers?

If you’re headed out to your local river to catch some catfish, the warmer months are your best bet between 6 AM and 10 AM or the last two hours before sunset.

You can increase your chances of landing a big catfish by fishing during a period of heavy rain because currents and water flow are high. Look for sandbars, creek mouths, and tidal jams to land the big catfish, especially if you’re seeking channel and flathead catfish since they use those areas for hunting.

What is the Best Time to Catfish from the Bank?

If you’re catfishing only from the shore, the best time to go fishing is around sunset until midnight, as long as the lake has gradual slopes.

Steep banks or prominent hills on one side typically indicates deeper holes near the shores. Catfish go deep into these areas, which are like holes near the walls, and they’re within easy casting range. If you find a good spot, you’re likely to find several catfish in one area.

If your lake has all flat land around it, fish at nighttime because catfish move into these shallow, flat areas before sunset and stay there throughout the night for feedings. During the day at these flat lakes, chances are the catfish are in the middle, way too far from shore if you’re trying to cast. They like to find deep holes to hide.

How Deep Should You Fish for Catfish?

Catfishing is unique because you fish for catfish with your bait on the bottom rather than suspended in the water. Catfish swim along the bottom of lakes and rivers, searching for food with their whiskers. It’s not common to find catfish in the middle of the water column.

How deep you should fish for catfish depends on how deep your lake or river is. In general, the suggestion is start fishing at the deepest point you can and gradually work to shallow water until you find the catfish.

Yes, it takes time, but it works!

However, this is why I suggest catfishing with several poles at one time. If you have more than one pole out at different depths, you increase your chance of finding the catfish.

What is the Best Month to Catch Catfish?

The best month to catch catfish varies based on where you live, but if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, May is considered the best time to catch catfish. It’s late enough in the year that you typically won’t have ice on the water, unless you live in a much more northern region, but it’s early enough that catfish start their more aggressive feeding patterns.

May, June, and July are great months for catching catfish. This is because these months have long days and warm water temperatures, and there are plenty of forage fish that catfish want to eat, like minnows, worms, larvae, and insects.

Do Moon Phases Affect Catfishing?

Research cannot prove one way or another if moon phases affect catfishing, but anglers have their own opinions. In my experience, moon phases affect catfish to some degree, but it’s different than other species.

For example, pike and bass rely fully on their vision to hunt, so they bite and hunt best during the full moon. The extra light allows these fish to find food much easier in the upper feet of the water column. On the other hand, during the new moon – aka no moon – phase, it’s much darker, so these fish tend to bite less often.

Catfish aren’t the same.

A lot of fishermen find that catfish bite less during full moons. Remember, these fish use more than their sight to fish. They bite on any given night, but I have the best results on darker nights.

Strange, right?

Every angler wants to land the big catfish for the season, but we don’t have all day to sit by the water. So, use what you now know about the best time of day to catch catfish to increase your chances of landing the big one.

What Do Bass Eat: Pick the Best Baits & Lures

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Understanding what bass eat helps you, as a bass angler, pick the right baits and lures.

Whether you want to hook largemouth or smallmouth bass, understanding what do bass eat increases the likelihood you’ll find one on the end of your hook.

In general, the thing you should know is that big bass eat anything, but understanding each type of bass is something all anglers need to understand. You should know that largemouth and smallmouth bass each different things at times.

Some bass love small insects, while others eat larger prey. A few species even eat anything – even each other!

Bass fish can be found throughout North America and the United States in rivers, lakes, and ponds; they are considered to be a popular game fish. They are also known as black bass or simply sea bass which is their preferred name when taken from saltwater habitats. On the other hand, freshwater subspecies of this sunfish family are referred to as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass or spotted bass depending on where they’re caught.

It’s important to understand eat species really is different.

Cool, right?

So, let’s take a look at what do bass eat to help bass anglers pick the best bass baits and lures.

When Do Bass Eat?

Bass typically bite more in the early mornings and late evenings because the reduced light conditions give them a hunting advantage over their preys. That’s why early morning and evenings are considered the best time to bass fish. They do feed in between these times as well; it’s important to remember that they are opportunistic feeders.

Weather conditions and water temperature play a factor in when bass eat as well. Hotter temperatures and the bass may feed in deeper waters. A cool overcast day they may be feeding in shallow water.

What Do Bass Eat: A Look at The Bass Species

I want you to understand the bass diet, and the best way to do that is to take a look at the different species since their diets vary slightly.

What Do Largemouth Bass Eat?

Largemouth bass fishing is the most popular for bass fishermen!

Large mouth bass are crafty hunters and will go after a variety of prey. They hunt aggressively – an apex predator in many waters – and eat almost indiscriminately. They hunt for food on every level on the water – top, bottom, and everywhere in between.

They’re smart; professional anglers are convinced, if you lose one on a bait, you may need to switch your bait to attempt to hook it again.

Young largemouth bass tend to feed everything, such as:

  • Insects
  • Small Aquatic Bugs
  • Crustaceans
  • Zookplankton
  • Tapoles
  • Small fish
  • Crawfish
  • Other Bass
  • Baby Ducks
  • Small Alligators

Adult largemouth bass move onto to larger fish and prey once grow to about 8 inches in length. They’ll feed on the same things as smaller ones maybe on a larger scale. They’ll also eat frogs, lizards, blue gill, bigger bait fish, basically anything they can fit in those wide mouths of their’s!

What Do Largemouth Bass Eat in Spring & Summer?

Bass go through a phase before they spawn where they move from deeper to more sallow/warmer waters into their bedding area. Along with insects, dragonflies, and other small aquatic life, they will feed on shad and crawfish.

These two baits are packed with nutrients and helps them prepare for the fasting period females go through while they sit on their nests.

FYI: Males often patrol the nests for predators, so throwing a plastic worm or jig around a nest could definitely cause you to get a strike from a very territorial male or hyper protective female largemouth bass!

In the summer after the spawn, bass regain their appetites and start feeding heavy after a long fasting period. Just about everything is on their menu, shad, crawfish, bluegill, frogs, lizards, small water snakes. Its literally a buffet for them!

What Do Largemouth Bass Eat In Fall & Winter?

Bass keep eating while the water temperature starts to drop.

Early fall is still a great time to fish because bass are trying to fatten up for the winter months. They’re still munching on insects, small bluegills, crawfish, frogs, shad, and live bait fish.

Once it changes to colder water, they move to deeper waters, typically near a structure. They become lethargic, and, when the opportunity presents itself, they eat what comes within range.

What Do Smallmouth Bass Eat?

Next to the largemouth bass, smallmouth bass are a very popular bass for hobby fishing and sport fishing. These fish are not as big as largemouth, but for some means they are more of a challenge and put up a fight. Generally they can be found in rivers and streams, as well as some lakes and ponds.

Related: 13 Bass Fishing Tips for Ponds You Need to Know

Like largemouth bass, small mouth bass will generally eat whatever food is available to them. They will feed on:

  • Minnows
  • Shad Fish
  • Yellow Perch
  • Crawfish
  • Insects
  • Lizards
  • Frogs

However, one difference is that, when you have baby smallmouth bass, they feed on plankton and insect larvae. Baby bass grow quickly, and at that point, they start to hunt for crayfish.

What Do Smallmouth Bass Eat In Spring & Summer?

Just like the largemouth bass, smallmouth bass are preparing themselves to spawn in the spring. Smallmouth bass feed on crawfish, minnows, smaller bait fish, insects, basically anything they can find.

They move to shallow warmer water to nest, and they behave just as territorial and protective of their nests as largemouth bass.

After the spawn, water temperatures are rising, and smallies typically will head to deeper water, especially during the hottest part of the day. Weed beds, rock beds, sunken debris, points, and break lines are some of their favorite places, and they seem to like cooler water temperatures.

What do Smallmouth Bass Eat In Fall & Winter?

Smallmouth bass are still feeding heavily in the fall an winter.

In the early fall, they start to move back to their typical hiding spots just like largemouth bass. In late October through December, we find smallies in some pretty cool places; most of them tuck away and under some structures, right where it drops off into deeper waters.

I’ve heard of people catching them under bridges and piers on winter nights when everything is frozen over! Those fish won’t be moving much at all until the water starts warming up again.

No matter what time of year or what size your artificial lures are, don’t forget about crawfish baits and plastics!

Other Species of Bass

Largemouth and smallmouth bass are the most common, but they aren’t the only species you may fish. Let’s take a look at some of the other species and what they eat.

White Bass

White bass like other bass species are carnivores and often fun to catch. Most white bass will not grow to be much longer than a foot in length. They feed on worms, minnows, and smaller bait fish like shad.

With being smaller in size ,their prey species available to them is limited. They can not match the huge appetites of largemouth bass.

Spotted Bass

These bass resemble a largemouth bass in color, but the way to tell them apart is spotted bass have a smaller mouth than largemouth bass. The prefer cool and warm streams and reservoirs with rocky bottoms. They often feed on smaller bait fish, worms, crustaceans, golden shiners, and crawfish.

Striped Bass

These smaller bass have somewhat similar characteristics of white bass. You can tell by they’re body shape. White bass are more round, while striped bass are more slender.

A couple other ways are striped bass have strong, clear horizontal stripes that reach all the way to the tail. White bass have much more faint stripes, and only one of them normally reaches the tail.

Then, there is the tongue – white and striped bass both have raised, sandpaper-like tooth patches on their tongues. The difference is that white bass only have a single patch, while Stripers have a double one.

They feed on shad, bluegill, worms, crayfish. A good way to fish for them is using a silver spoon, or chrome crank bait.

Rock Bass

Not truly a bass, rock bass are actually in the sunfish family. They feed on insects, small crustaceans, crayfish, worms, and smaller fish. They don’t get very big and often will be prey to bigger fish including bigger bass.

Understanding The Hunting Behaviors Of Bass

Ambushing

Bass are known for being it any type of structure, seedbeds, rock beds, brush piles, and dead trees in the water. This allows them some protection from predators but also allows them to ambush prey. When a unsuspected bait fish swims by. The bass lashes out from its hiding spot to attack. What helps out is that baitfish are also drawn to the same structures as bass.

Hunting

Often larger lone bass will take a hunting approach when searching for food. They’ll slowly swim around shallow water where structure is present, or suspend themselves in the water column. Very still, but completely aware of their surroundings. In search of prey. They will attack when given the opportunity.

Chasing

If bass are together in a school. They can use the chasing technique for eating prey. They’ll locate a school of baitfish and attack them all at once, as the baitfish disperse. They’ll leave behind some dead or stunned ones. So the bass can then swing back a second time and forage on them.

How Much Do Bass Eat?

A bass can eat around 1/3 to 2/3rds of its body weight every day.

A bass needs to eat around 10 pounds of fish to gain 1 pound of weight. Larger bass species will obviously need more to eat than a smaller species.

Bass can and have been caught on a variety of different baits. Knowing what they eat, they’re hunting behaviors, and where they tend to linger can be a huge advantage to you when you’re out on the water.

Knowing what do bass eat helps bass fishermen pick the best baits and lures. It helps ensure you will be successful and land a big bass each time you head out on the water.

Plastic Worms for Bass Fishing: What You Need to Know

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Soft plastics are one of the first baits bass anglers use. Make sure you know all about these favored baits.

When it comes plastic worms for bass fishing, there are many types of plastics on the market. Artificial lures are made to mimic live bait, and worms are a bass favorite. With the numerous ways to rig them, the possibilities are endless.

However, the best plastic worms is a broad topic. Knowing which type of plastic worm you should use is crucial when going out in search of the big ones.

Each worm requires different action presented by the lure and what style rig to use can be determined by what type of cover you might be fishing in or just out in plain open water.

Needless to say, bass anglers have a lot of options, but that’s okay! Keep reading, and you’ll learn all of the types that smallmouth and largemouth bass love to bite along with how to rig them up!

Types Of Plastic Worms For Bass Fishing

Ribbon Tail Worms

These are your classic rubber worms with a curly tail.

The curl is longer than most, with a straight, solid body that takes the abuse of multiple bass strikes without tearing. These worms are typically Texas Rigged at the head, leaving the tail free to flap in the water as the bait moves.

The great thing about curly tail worms is that you can use them anywhere, and sometimes, other freshwater fish may bite on them like walleye and pike.

Stick worms

Typically called the Senko, these worms have hardly any action at all. Yet, they’ve become so popular.

Not only in professional bass fishing, but the average Joe trying to catch his personal best largemouth love straight tail worms. The lures slow fall and tantalizing tail wiggle triggers bass to strike without any effort on your part other than casting it out into the water.

They’re simple to use, and you can rig it multiple ways. A few of my favorite ways to rig them up include the wacky rig and Texas rig. I have many of these plastic fishing worms in my tackle box for sure!

Finesse Worms

These worms are smaller and usually skinner than other soft plastic worms. They’re designed to be rigged and fished with light tackle.

Probably the best rig for fishing with finesse worms is the drop shot, but can also be rigged on a jighead, the shaky head jig, and can be used as a trailer on spinner baits and chatter baits.

Creature Baits

Big and ugly is a good way to describe a creature bait. If they were real, you wouldn’t want to see one crawling your way.

They have a lot of bulkiness to them, made up of legs, antennas, whiskers, and other appendages. Creature bait is commonly used as flipping baits, a specific motion you make while casting and reeling.

Craws

These are soft plastic crawfish imitations. They’re made to mimic the natural looks of crawfish, one thing that bass love to eat, especially in the spring time.

These soft plastic baits are mostly used as jig trailers, but can also be rigged Texas style. The claws on the bait can provide some flapping action, but mostly a more subtle and natural looking action.

Picking The Right Worm Color For Bass Fishing

Choosing the right worm color for bass fishing is a complicated and personal topic. Since bass are predatory in nature, they’ll be looking for food most of the time you’re out there on the lake or river.

Each bait should have some sort of action when cast out into the water, whether it’s a slow controlled fall or twerking to a TikTok dance, but picking the right color is going to help you gain more strikes.

Lighter Waters

When fishing in clear water, use bright colors like reds, oranges, pinks, chartreuse, or something with a glitter in it to draw attention from predators lurking below. Clear waters usually don’t reflect any light coming through them, so bright colors are key because bass can spot them easier.

The same goes when you’re fishing in shallow water, such as long the shoreline. Shad and natural colors are different ways to land bass.

Darker Waters

For green, murky, and dirty water, use darker colors like blacks, browns, purples and blues. These opaque colors do not reflect light well under water so they’re easier for bass to see.

My all time favorite dark color is green pumpkin for fishing murky waters. Pro bass fisherman and Freshwater Fishing Hall Of Famer Roland Martin claims the 5″ green pumpkin Senko is the number 1 soft plastic size and color in the world.

Always remember that structure plays a significant role in how successful bass fishing can be, so always pay attention to what type of cover is in your fishing spot. Bass hide, waiting for their prey to swim by, so you want to look for structures like downed trees, tall grasses, brush piles, and anything else that acts as a hiding place.

Related: How to Pick Spring Bass Fishing Colors

The Sizes Of Soft Plastic Worms

The right size of soft-plastic worms is just as important as the color. The most common mistake beginners make it they think bigger is better.

Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to fishing with soft plastics because bass will eat many different sizes and types of forage daily so they’re not always looking up at a big meal above them. Think about it; live worms aren’t always the biggest worm on the block, but fish still enjoy them!

Smaller Is Best To Start

When choosing artificial worms, small in length and thickness typically going to get you more bites. They’ll be easier to fish in heavy cover like trees and laydowns. Another key feature about smaller worms, they’re less likely to get hung up in heavy woody brush or laydowns.

Another reason to use shorter worm lengths when targeting bass is due to their ability to swallow the bait easier in one bite. A long worm with a longer tail can potentially take two bites to swallow, which could lead in a miss when setting the hook if they swallow the end without the hook first.

Larger Worms For Larger Bass

If you’re looking to catch a big bass, then you should fish a bigger worm.

Now don’t assume that small fish won’t bite big worms, and big fish won’t bite small worms. Giant bass have been caught on smaller worms, and tiny bass caught on big ten inch worms. This is just playing the odds; bigger worms get big bites and small worms get a lot of bites.

Fishing a bigger and longer worm does mean you can get hung up more if fishing in heavy cover. The long body and even longer tails can sometimes get wrapped around sticks and other types of structure.

Ask any dad who is fishing with kids, and they’ll tell you this is true!

Still with experience, patience, and the right rod, reel, and line combo. You’ll be able to set the hook on those strikes and land that boss hog you’ve hooked into.

Just remember it’s not all about the size of the bait, the water clarity is also going to play a part in your decision. The clearer the water the smaller the worm you may want to use, and the murkier the water the bigger the worm.

Rigging Soft Plastic Worms for Bass Fishing 

Now that we’ve covered the different colors, the different types, and how to pick the right size of plastic worms, let’s look at rigging your plastic worms or bass fishing.

How you rig your plastic worm also changes whether or not the bass are going to bite on your bait. Here are some of my favorite ways to rig up soft plastics.

The Wacky Rig

This is one of the most simple ways to rig a worm, and it’s ironically a very effective way to catch bass. Using a 5″ Senko (stick worm), I like to use a 1/0 or 2/0 size octopus shaped hook with a wacky ring. Using a wacky ring isn’t necessary, but they do help the worms last longer.

The one disadvantage of wacky rigging is you can blow through a pack of worms because of the way they’re rigged.

Take your Senko and bend it finding the half way point of the worm. Keeping that point marked with your finger. Insert the worm in your wacky tool. Pull down one wacky ring down the tool until its placed on the worm. You then can put your tool away, run your hook all the way through the worm where your wacky ring is and expose the hook.

I’ve seen some people use small zip ties instead of the Wacky Tool and rings. That’s all personal preference and totally up to you!

Carolina Rig

Similar to the Texas Rig, the Carolina Rig uses the same concept, but it has a fixed weight above the hook, instead of sliding down to it. This rig is suitable for beginner fishers.

You can purchase Carolina Rig kits and leaders at any tackle shop or fishing store.

Weedless Hook Texas Rig

The Texas Rig is by far the most commonly used rubber worm rig and my personal favorite! It’s used mostly for its weedless properties, along with giving the worm a nice and straight profile.

A Texas Rig is normally weighted, though you can rig this weightless for a much slower fall. The size weight you choose can depend on the current of the water, and how fast you want the worm to fall. Typically, I use a 1/8 ounce bullet sinker when I’m fishing this rig. If I use a sinker at all. With a size 2/0 to 4/0 offset shank hook.

Drop Shot Rig

This rig is actually somewhat similar to the Carolina Rig. They both are designed to keep the worm freely suspending at a set distance from the bottom, but the drop shot rig is mainly considered more of a finesse rig. So lighter line and tackle is best suited for this one.

What’s nice about a drop shot is you have two choices: you can either work the weight or work the worm. By hopping the weight along the bottom, you get more erratic action, or you can leave the weight planted on the bottom and lightly shake the worm.

Ned Rig

This rig is similar to the drop shot and is fairly simple. It’s made up of a short stick-worm, mister twister, small craw, or creature bait that’s rigged on a weighted jig head often one with a colored head on it. You can work it like a crank bait, reel it slow, or work it somewhat like a drop shot rig.

Fishing soft plastic worms for bass fishing is a great way to land a huge smallmouth or largemouth. With a never ending selection of colors and styles, you can find your tackle box full of a variety to choose from. It all comes down to what the fish want.

Your favorite color or rig might not be what they’re hitting on that day. The right rod and reel set up can also make the difference of you getting that big bass out of a heavily structured area. It’s always a good idea to have an arsenal in your tackle box ready to go.

13 Bass Fishing Tips for Ponds You Need to Know

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You don’t have to find large lakes to fish for bass – try bass fishing in small ponds too!

Did you know that over 75% of Americans live within 10 miles of a bass fishing pond? That’s right! It makes way more sense to fish in ponds, but you need solid bass fishing tips for ponds.

Some of the biggest bass caught on record were caught in small ponds!

Everyone gravitates towards large and small lakes and rivers, but ponds are one of the best bodies of water for largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing. Using ponds is way more low-key; you can relax with some solitude and a cold drink.

Typically, if you use a boat for bass pond fishing, it’s a kayak or a paddle; you don’t need a huge boat. That makes it even more accessible for the average fisherman like yourself.

So whether you find a big or small pond, use these bass fishing tips for ponds to land the big one.

13 Bass Fishing tips for Ponds

Before you head out and sling some bass, I wanted to give you some of my best bass fishing tips for ponds.

1. Locate Ponds for Bass Fishing

Before you do anything, you have to find the right ponds!

Though several different types of bodies of water will work well with this type of sport, locating ponds for bass fishing is still an important component to maximizing your success when out on the water in search of the big catch.

Of course, not everyone knows where they might find a pond that has been proven to be a hotspot for catching bass. Fortunately, there are quite a few ways that you can locate ponds for bass fishing.

Talk to Your Family and Friends Who Fish

Though it may be a bit difficult to score the inside scoop on where your friends and family like to fish, asking them about their favorite ponds can offer you some clues as to where you should go.  

This is especially true if they seem reluctant to share any advice at all! No one wants to share their honey holes!

Ask at Local Bait Shops

If you are friendly with your local bait shop owner, they might be more willing to share some of their best-kept fishing secrets with you. This won’t necessarily guarantee that they’ll tell you where the bass are biting but it never hurts to ask!

Read Fishing Magazines

An alternative solution for finding information on bass fishing hot spots is by reading popular fishing magazines. These publications will often publish reader submitted reviews of the best fishing spots around that have been proven to be consistent hotspots for catching bass.

Check Out Maps

Though it takes a bit more work on your part, you can also use maps to locate ponds for bass fishing.

In addition to using an atlas or general map, you may also want to consider purchasing a detailed road map of the area – not only will these show the locations of lakes and ponds, they’ll tell you exactly where each one is so there’s no guesswork involved!

It goes without saying that, if you find small ponds, make sure you double check with the pond owners before fishing. It might not be a private pond, but it’s always good to do your research ahead of time.

2. Know How You’re Getting to the Fish

As I mentioned before, when you’re pond fishing for bass, you typically don’t need a serious boat.

This is a pond after all!

Fishing a pond entirely from the shore is the easiest and best option. Not only is it more convenient for you, but it causes less water disturbance that might chase away the bass.

This is especially true if the pond is less than an are because bass in small waters are often skittish and hide at the first noise.

However, if you find yourself at a large local pond, you have a few other options for reaching those pond bass.

  • Use fishing waders! This works if you move as slow as possible and avoid creating wakes. However, make sure the bottom is firm, or you’re going to fall over.
  • Consider using fishing float tubes if the pond is more than a few acres.
  • You could try mini bass boats.
  • Fishing kayaks are excellent options, and you can get one or two person fishing kayaks!

3. Go Bass Fishing at the Right Time of Day

Bass might bite all day long, but any fisherman will tell you that there are better times to go fishing than others; this is definitely one of those best bass fishing tips for ponds that anglers overlook sometimes.

When fishing ponds for bass, you typically can catch all but, but the best times of day are in the early morning and late afternoon. These are cooler periods throughout the day when bass seek out bluegills, shad, and frogs for their meals.

Typically, in the middle of the day, they’re taking cover somewhere.

4. Use the Right Fishing Tackle

Pond bass are skittish, so when you’re fishing in small quarters, it’s always best to use light tackle. You should use a medium weight spin or a bait cast fishing rod that is 5.5 to 6.5 feet long.

Another tackle option for bass fishing in ponds is a fishing reel spooled with 6 to 12 pound monofilament fishing line OR 8 to 30 pound braided fishing line.

What you select will depend on the bass you find in the pond and how much cover there is.

5. Know Where Pond Bass Hide 

Once you’ve located ponds for bass fishing, the next step is to learn as much as you can about pond bass and their habits so that you can know where pond bass might be hiding.

This knowledge will help you to determine whether or not it’s actually worth your time and effort to go out and fish in a particular pond – if there simply isn’t any activity going on, catching bass will be like trying to catch a ghost!

Bass love all sorts of cover such as:

  • rocks
  • logs
  • lily pads
  • docks
  • weeds (both dead and alive)
  • stumps (sometimes quite large ones!)
  • brush piles (especially those made by fishermen)
  • sunken boats
  • old car parts

Basically anything you can think of that they might be able to use as a hiding spot.

6. Figure Out The Best Places to Fish at That Pond

At first glance, a pond is a pond, right?

WRONG!

Ponds are all different, and you have to pay attention to the structure to maximize your chances of landing a huge bass. Here are some areas on a pond that bass like to hide.

Edge of the Shoreline

The first place you’ll start fishing is the shoreline. Bass hang out here if it’s not too shallow, especially late in the day during hot water and midday in the spring and winter.

Corners

If you’ve ever watched bass fishing on television, it’s no secret that these fish love to hang out in the corners of ponds and lakes . This is because this is where cover tends to be most plentiful – both underwater structure, such as rocks or stumps, and above water features like trees or bushes are more likely to be located.

Though not all bodies of water have “corners”, you’ll frequently find that these types of fishing spots are in close proximity to one another.

Points in a Pond

Another good place to look for pond bass is at points in ponds . These are essentially just indentations along the edge of a body of water, which serve as excellent cover for these fish.  

Here again, pointing juts out into the water and typically has steep banks – particularly if they’ve been created by an underwater obstruction, such as rocks or trees. Though these points can be found in any body of water, they’re most common around the edges of ponds and reservoirs .

Points are great places for pond bass to hide because they provide them with both shelter from strong currents or waves that might come crashing into the water as well as cover from would-be predators that are waiting for their chance to strike.  

Additionally, fish love them because this is where bait fish tend to gather so there’s always a good meal waiting!

7. Fish First Where You See Visual Cover

Here’s a good bass fishing tip for ponds – start fishing first where you see areas with visible coverage for bass.

Look for structures in the water like stumps, pipes, downed trees, logs, and shady corners. Since bass like to hide, it’s natural for them to seek out these types of structures.

8. Fan Cast When Shoreline Fishing

When you’re pond fishing for bass, try to fan cast at different angles as you walk along the bank. Cast close to you, far out in front of you, and anywhere you can. Try to cover as much water as possible.

Don’t cast straight out – fan cast!

9. Think of Three Water Column Levels for Bass Pond Fishing 

When fishing for pond bass, you’ll find that these fish are often spread throughout the entire water column. Don’t worry; this isn’t as complicated as it sounds.

Imagine that the pond is divided into three water levels: shallow, medium, and deep.

Shallow or Surface Water

At the very top of this list is surface waters , also known as the ‘ep’ or just right above the grass line. If there’s any current in a body of water, stripers will typically hang out in these parts because it allows them to position themselves so that they get an easy meal flowing past their little boat!

The shallow water is at the upper end of the pond or feeder areas. They range from only a few inches deep to three or four feet deep.

Medium Water Level

Fish also like to hang out at mid-level depths, which can be anywhere from three to six feet below the surface of the water. This is the perfect place for them because they’ll have an easy time darting into areas where there’s cover, but can still snap up any prey that might be swimming nearby

Deep Water Level

Finally, the last ‘level’ where pond bass like to hang out is the deeper water.

If you’re looking for these types of fish this far away from the shoreline, it means that there probably isn’t a lot of vegetation or other forms of cover at all. The deepest areas in ponds are typically downstream in front of a dam.

As you can see, these three ‘levels’ are quite different from one another when it comes to bass fishing in ponds!  However, what they have in common is that they all allow for easy access to prey – which means that there’ll be plenty of opportunities for anglers to catch big fish!

Here are some tips for fishing the three water levels for bass.

  • From late spring into fall, fish the shallowest waters early in the morning, right at dawn.
  • When it reaches 8 to 9 AM, it’s time to move to the middle depths as the light from the day gets brighter.
  • At noon, you need to fish the deepest waters.

You reverse this order in the winter; start with the deep end first and move to the shallow areas as the sun warms the water temperature in the shallow areas.

10. Use the Right Color for Your Lures

If the pond you’re fishing has clear water, you want to use natural colors for your lures. Bass know if it’s real or not.

Go for greens, pumpkins, and shad colors, even if the pond has no shad.

However, if the pond you’re fishing has low visibility, you may need to bring out some red and green lures to help attract the bass out of their hiding spots. Black and blue bait colors work well when fishing in muddy water. Water clarity plays a big part when picking the right bait and lure colors.

Related: How to Pick Spring Bass Fishing Colors

11. Use Moving Baits First

Though the name of the game when bass fishing is to get your bait to be as close to what the fish are looking for as possible, this doesn’t mean that you should automatically use live bait.

One of my favorite bass fishing tips for ponds is to start fishing with “search baits.” Basically, these are baits that cover water and help you lure out the bass. They may not bite, but you often see them following behind or slapping.

Pond bass see a moving bait as an opportunity to eat, so they will strike. This isn’t surprising since it is an instinctive behavior. Spinnerbaits and grubs are also good to try out when pond bass fishing because their erratic movement often attracts these types of fish.

12. Lures Needed for Pond Bass Fishing

When pond fishing for bass, most people choose their favorite artificial lure over live bait because the results are much more predictable. However, this doesn’t mean that lures can’t imitate natural foods that might attract these types of fish.

They just need to look something like whatever it is that’s swimming around under the water.

In the case of pond bass, this means that hard baits like crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits are going to get plenty of attention from these fish.

As far as soft plastics go, when pond bass fishing look for thin strips of plastic worms, grubs or creature baits in a  color that matches the water you’re fishing.

Since most bass anglers use rod & reels with fairly stout line in their setup, they can go for both smallmouth and largemouth bass when pond fishing. To do this, simply choose a lure that’s got plenty of action so that it looks interesting from far away! And remember, if it doesn’t work one way try something different next time around.

Let’s look at some of the best baits and my favorite lures. Generally, you want lighter, compact lures because bass living in ponds are in a smaller environment.

1. Topwater Lures

I like using topwater lures when fishing for bass in ponds, but you need to make sure the pond is at least a solid acre or bigger.

Why?

Topwater lures make plenty of noise, and since we know pond bass are skittish, we don’t want to make the mistake of scaring all of them away.

Look for smaller size lures and make their movements subtle and steady. I like the Calissa Offshore Tackle Plopping Minnow and the Yo-Zuri Popper Floating Lure.

2. Shallow to Medium Crankbaits

You don’t want to use deep-diving crankbaits. Typically, they’ll get caught up in all the vegetation.

Instead, use shallow or medium divers; look for bluegill or shiner finishes because they look like what bass eat in ponds. It should have subtle wiggles not wobbling actions.

3. Spinner Baits

Another type of lures I use for bass in ponds is spinnerbaits. However, unless you’re fishing large ponds that are five or more acres, it’s best to use small one-eighth to one-quarter ounce spinnerbaits.

Why?

The larger ones may scare away your big bass!

4. Plastic Soft Worms

Everyone loves the lures, but listen, if you have soft plastic baits rigged Texas-style or double-hook models, you can sling some big bass with plastic worms.

Seriously!

You’ll want to use black, blue, green ,purple, and brown colors. I love green pumpkin; it’s one of my favorite colors that bass love to bite.

5. Grubs

If all else fails, falling back on your trusty soft plastic grubs is always a great idea when pond fishing. Try rigging them on light lead-heads or Carolina-style behind a slip sinker.

Some of the favorite lure colors for grubs when fishing in ponds include:

Ideally, the grubs should be two to three inches long; compact

13. Know What Bass Eat in Ponds 

No bass menu would be complete without the inclusion of small fish. Though insects may make up the majority of their diet, if you catch a bass when it’s big enough it will have feasted on minnows at some point in its life!

You need to know what bass eat in ponds to help you pick the best lures. You’ll use either plastics or topwater lures, but they need to mimic prey species. Bass like to eat:

  • Crawfish
  • Frogs
  • Smaller Fish
  • Minnows
  • Shad

Don’t limit yourself to bass fishing in deep waters and big lakes. Go to the small ponds and farm ponds – you may be surprised what you hook. Use these bass fishing tips for ponds to increase your chances of success.

Are you a bass angler that loves fishing in ponds? Drop your tips in the comments!

How to Pick Spring Bass Fishing Colors

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Before heading out this spring, make sure you stock your tackle box with some fishing colors bass love.

It’s that time of year again. Spring time is approaching, which means it’s time for some spring bass fishing! Shallow water, water visability, type of cover are all things you should consider before heading out to try and land that big bass. We all have our favorite colors in our tackle box, so you need to have some spring bass fishing colors on hand.

Let’s be honest; we’ve all been there.

The day is perfect, the sun is shining, but the bass ain’t biting. It feels like a total bummer.

Sometimes, the answer to your problem is simply picking the wrong fishing colors for your lures and bait. Spring is one of the best times to fish for bass, so don’t let these opportunities pass you up.

This guide is a useful tool to help you know what color selection to use and when, maximizing your chances of catching that big fish. Professional anglers and some of the best anglers in the world use these tips and tactics year round to catch smallmouth and largemouth bass.

How to Choose the Right Spring Bass Fishing Colors 

Bass fishermen have to be very precise when fishing for bass because catching a bass is not as easy as it seems. If you want to catch a lot of fish in a short amount of time, it is important to use the right method and bait. You don’t want to waste your time or bait by using the wrong colors for spring bass fishing .

To pick the best spring bass fishing colors , one must consider several factors, such as local species’ habits, water clarity, color of water and surrounding vegetation.

Let’s take a look!

Water Clarity

There are many different factors that affect the success of bass fishing, such as water clarity and color .

To consider water clarity when choosing spring bass fishing colors, you must know what type of water you will be fishing. Since each body of water is unique in its composition, the best color for a given lake or pond can vary considerably from one body to another. The most common examples include:

Transparent Water Clarity

This means there is very little plant life growing below the surface of the water which usually occurs at high altitudes. In this case, an angler should use bright lures with reflective finishes because bass can easily see them against clear waters. 

Slightly Stained

This usually occurs when aquatic vegetation starts to grow at the beginning of the spring.

In this case, one should use spinnerbaits in olive or yellow with reflective finishes because bass can see them better when light passes through water that is not too clear.

Stained Water

Depending on how bad the vegetation is, the best colors for stained waters are bright lures with flashy finishes like chartreuse and orange. Flipping jigs with bright finishes also work.

Sunlight 

When the sun is higher in the sky or if light is reflecting off the water surface, bass can see lures with reflective finishes very well, so it’s important to use them. 

Since bass can see lure finishes very well during certain times of the day, anglers have to pay attention to what type of sunlight they will be fishing in. It’s best to ask other people who fish at the same location because weather conditions may change along the day.

Sunny Days

On sunny days, when sunlight passes through water that isn’t too stained and bass go shallow to spawn, anglers should use bright colored spinnerbaits and topwater lures that reflect sunlight because bass will be looking for small marine organisms on the surface of the water.

Low Light Conditions

During this time, there are no shadows produced by vegetation, and fish can see dark colors better than bright ones. In this case, one has to experiment with different color combinations and stick to darker options like black, blue, brown or green pumpkin.

Cloudy Days

This is a time when fish can see brighter colors better. Yellow and white are good choices for this condition, but if the water is extremely stained then one has to use combos with green or brown hues .

Best Spring Bass Fishing Colors 

1. Transparent Colors 

If you’re fishing for largemouth bass in clear water situations, one of the best spring bass fishing colors are transparent or ghost colors. These see-through baits are great if the body of water you’re fishing in has clear water with high visibility.

Why do ghost fishing colors work great?

Because they look natural! 

They mimic the natural clear conditions, and they’re less likely to scare away the bass. The rule of thumb to remember is that you should always use light and subtle colors in clever waters. This is because, when the water is clear and bass can get a clear look at the bait, they prefer softer, natural colors. 

Ghost Colored Bass Fishing Lures

2. Shad or Flashy Colors 

On sunny days, one of the better colors to use are chrome/shad patterns.

The higher the sun is, the more it penetrates the water. Allowing the scales on bait fish – like shad – to reflect more. This attracts the bass because they’re used to seeing this type of reflection of baitfish.    

Shad Fishing Lures for Spring Fishing

3. White or Chartreuse 

During those dark and gloomy days, or when the water is stained or muddy. This is the category of color you will want to choose. You want a color that stands out and can easily be found in these types of conditions. A white spinnerbait may be a good option.

You can also use a brighter blue color. Okeechobee craw is a popular color and you can find it in spinner baits, jigs, and chatterbait styles. 

White and Chartreuse Spring Bass Lures

4. Red or Orange 

In the early spring bass will often feed on crawfish. One theory suggests that the reason bass targets the red/orange color is because this is the time of molting season for crawfish, which is why using any bait with crawfish colors is a great idea.

They turn reddish during their molt and become more visible. Making them an easy meal for bass. 

Red and Orange Colored Bass Lures

5. Black and Blue

Primarily used for dirty water, or overcast days. These colors maximize profile visibility. Dark colored soft plastics may be ideal in these situations. Senkos, pit boss, and power worms are just a few choices out there. June bug, green pumpkin, blue and black, and grape colors are good to use, but darker colored crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and jigs may work as well.

Black and Blue Bass Lures

What Colors do Bass See Best?

It all comes down to the conditions where the bass live at that time. Bass have dichromatic color vision, so it’s like they always have a yellow filter over their eyes. 

Keep this in mind when picking bass lures for spring fishing.

Bass easily identify red and green colors, especially when they’re in shallow waters. In clear water conditions, bass see shad colors, white, silver, and other natural color lures. 

Interestingly enough, bass have a hard time distinguishing between some bright colors, like chartreuse and white.

Where Do Bass Go in the Spring? 

In the early spring, bass are focused on two things: food and spawning. They feed heavily and bulk up as they prepare for the spawn. As the water temperatures start to rise, bass are moving to shallower water and shallow flats. Once the water temperature reaches 60 degrees, bass start to spawn. 

They’re awake after a long winter, and it’s time for them to get moving. This is why the spring season is one of the best times to fish for largemouth and smallmouth bass. They’re busy finding food and spawning. 

They typically bed in heavily covered areas like timber or rocks, bass go there because it is easier for them to hold onto and produce offspring while hiding from predators. This would be a good idea to throw a soft plastic Carolina rig out there.

They move closer to their prey. Bass feed on shad, small bait fish, and crawfish.

Where Do Bass Live in the Spring?

-Bass stay near cover where they can protect themselves from predators. They don’t need strong current because food slows down during this time. 

Make sure you have the right set up with your rod, reel, and strong enough line to fish heavy covered areas. The best bass fishing spots can typically be the most difficult to get to or fish! 

Remember, choosing the right color at the right time can make the difference in getting skunked or catching the biggest bass out there. Pay attention to what’s in the body of water you’re fishing and what the bass might be feeding on. Also, the weather and water conditions.

Happy fishing and where there’s a log, there could be a boss hog!