How to Fish for Big Mouth Bass

Bigmouth bass is one of the most popular game fish in the world and their aggression and display of acrobatics are quite the attraction. So, if you want to get in on the action, you must learn how to fish for bigmouth bass. 

How to Fish for Big Mouth Bass 

Fishing for big-mouth bass primarily involves identifying their preferred spots in the water, this gives you an idea of where to zone in on. Next, the best period to fish is typically around dawn or evening. This is because they tend to see their prey clearer when the lighting conditions are low and would likely bite your bait faster. 

Also, to increase your chances of catching a big mouth bass, you should do your fishing in clear water bodies; the clearer the water, the higher your chances. Furthermore, a range of lures would work for this species given that they are not very selective in this regard.

In addition to these, other tips like using the right equipment, knowing the basics about these species, as well as being a versatile and adaptable angler would definitely help.

Know the Basics

Before setting out to fish a big-mouth bass, you need to acquire essential information about them. This will enable you to go about fishing the right way given that you are familiar with their habits and behavior.

Here are some basics to know:

• Habitat: warm and shallow lakes, creeks, swamps, reservoirs, and rivers
• Size: around 12 to 16 inches long and may weigh up to 1 to 3 pounds. Occasionally, some weigh between 7 and 8 pounds. However, only bass weighing over 10 pounds is commonly regarded as a trophy bass
• Stripes: bigmouth bass have stripes that run horizontally along their body
• Current condition: big mouth bass are found closer to the shore during hot winter days and spring
• Color: most of them appear olive-green or greenish in color with or without stripes

Gather the Required Gear

To achieve your goal of making a score, using only the recommended gear is a strong requirement. Here’s a checklist of some necessary gear that would up your chances of getting a good haul:

• A bass fishing rod
• A bass fishing line
• Bass fishing lures
• Bass fishing reels
• Bass baits
• Bass hooks and sinkers
• A bass terminal tackle
• A bass tackle storage 

Identify the Best Bass Lures and Baits

Bigmouth bass is indeed attracted to a lot of lures. However, only a few of these have a high level of effectiveness. So, instead of wasting time and resources acquiring a variety of baits and lures, you should just focus on effective lures.

A popular bait for catching this species is soft plastic jerk baits that range from 2 to 6 inches in size. You would need to rig a rubber worm, usually a Senko. Senko is mostly preferred because it looks just like a slug or live worm which is one of the favorites of big-mouth bass.

You can rig a Senko worm using any of these methods:

Dropshot Rig

The dropshot is a great method to lure bigmouth bass, especially in deep water bodies. You would need a fishing rod, a braided line, a fluorocarbon line, a dropshot hook, a weight, and a bait. The drop shot rig is one of the best for finesse approaches.

Texas Rigged Senko

In this technique, a bullet-shaped weight is added to the fishing line, after which a plastic bead is added before securing the fishing line to a hook. The Texas rig provides a simplified and weedless bait that may be effectively introduced into the heaviest cover to entice a big mouth bass to bite.

Texas rigs are easy and effortless to use, primarily due to their small size.

Wacky Rigged Senko

The wacky rig is more capable of getting a bite than a texas rig. It is used together with weight and advisably, a fresh bait. These two factors give the best results. You should also make sure to pitch towards the edge of a dock.

Ned Rig

This is one of the commonly used rigs due to its simplicity. All you need is a ned rig jig hook and plastic baits. To make it work, you need to attach the hook to the rig and thread the bait on it.

Other artificial baits for catching this species include:

• Jigs: they are weighted and can be used in shallow and deep water bodies
• Crankbaits: they look like crayfish and can be used under any weather condition in deep water bodies
• Jerkbaits: they are very effective and easy to handle and can be used in shallow and deep waters
• Spinnerbaits
• Swimbaits

Generally, any bait that mimics their regular prey would typically work, especially since they are a carnivorous species. Bigmouth bass is also drawn to live bait like shad, shiners, or minnows which all fall under the category of fish. These species are also attracted by crawfish since they constitute a good portion of their diet.

Stick to Basic Lure Colors

One interesting fact to note about this species is that they are more attracted to colorful bait. Since they see better when the lighting conditions are low, using brightly colored lures would likely grab their attention faster.

You should take note to use colors that are light, subtle, and clear in water. Make use of red, orange, or yellow baits when the water is murky. Also, using red or orange baits tend to deceive the fish into thinking the bait is injured, giving it the urge to strike immediately and aggressively.

Be a Versatile Angler

Using the same fishing methods repeatedly will yield poor results. They might be effective in the beginning, however, over time, they may tend to become less effective. This is why you should be a versatile angler. You have to be open to learning new techniques or methods and fishing in other spots outside of your regular ones.

As an excellent angler, you should be open to exploring different fishing sites. This would help broaden your knowledge of good bigmouth bass spots, and in the long-term, you can be fairly certain that certain spots have a pretty good guarantee of a great haul. In addition, you would be constantly discovering new spots and setting yourself up for new experiences.

Consider the Wind and the Water Conditions

Fishing for big-mouth bass should be done in the water of about 65 to 70 degrees; this is where they thrive the most. Usually, the water’s temperature changes with time, location, and weather.

The temperature of the water body has a huge impact on how the fish feeds and moves around. For the best effect, it is advisable to throw your slow-moving baits in water with cooler temperatures and the more aggressive ones in warmer water bodies.

The direction of the wind can also increase your chances of catching a big-mouth bass. They tend to swim along with the current. So, it is advisable to fish while facing the direction of the wind as it is better for the bass to notice your bait before noticing your boat.

Conclusion

Generally, fishing for big-mouth bass could be quite the task. This is why the process requires a lot of patience, persistence, and endurance. It also involves a lot of practice. However, following the tips stated would help you become a better angler and catch bigmouth bass.