Do you know there are secrets to catching more largemouth bass? Among numerous freshwater fish, largemouth bass is easily a favorite among all anglers. The key is to choose the correct bait to catch this fish. But of course, that’s not the only thing. You also need to pay attention to the weather and other natural things that will help you down the line. But first, let’s get to know more about the largemouth bass and your options for bait. They are crucial in deciding your success to win the battle against the fish.
What Is Largemouth Bass?
Many reasons why largemouth bass is a popular gamefish. This freshwater species is large enough and often gives a good “fight” that motivates anglers to fish more of them. Being challenged with their feisty attitude makes numerous amateurs and recreational anglers choose this fish as their first fish.
The species is native to northern America. You can find it around eastern America, southern Canada, and even around the Mexican water. But the fish also lives in many rivers in other countries such as Guatemala, Namibia, and Japan.
Unfortunately, this feisty carnivore causes a decline in several species’ populations, mainly smaller fish native to the area. Therefore, many people use the opportunity and use anglers to catch more largemouth bass as population control.Now that we’re on that topic, it’s time to explore the best bait to catch largemouth bass.
What Are the Best Baits to Catch Largemouth Bass?
Despite the rumors, there is no such thing as the perfect bait that can guarantee your catch. It’s all come down to how good you are with your fishing line and choosing the fishing spot. In general, all baits work to catch more largemouth bass. You can choose between using live or artificial bait or topwater lures that fit your preferences and expertise.
Live Bait
One of the most rustic options out there is using live bait when you fish. Many anglers choose live bait as their primary bait to catch a bass. They usually have a box of live bait ready or go fishing in a stream abundant with largemouth bass baits. Some anglers even went as far as dedicating a specific time to fish for their bait.
Expertise has nothing to do with choosing live bait. It’s all about personal preferences. The primary benefit of choosing live bait is that they come for free. You don’t have to spend any money to get them. But they can’t
Shiners are a popular live bait among all anglers. They are almost everywhere and easy to catch. Other popular live baits are crawfish, frogs, and worms.
The largemouth bass is a carnivore, which means some anglers go creative with their live baits. Some of them use mice or larvae. One note when you choose a live bait is to have a creature that is familiar to the area. The fish can notice when there are unknown creatures in their water and may react differently.
Live baits have many benefits. But they can’t guarantee the bass will always fall to your line. When you’re dealing with water where the bass is picky, you can always fall back to the shiners to catch them.
Topwater Lures
Next is using artificial baits or topwater lures. If it’s your first time trying to fish largemouth bass, you may prefer these baits over live ones. They are much more common and affordable. You can go to an outdoor shop to get your supplies. And the best part is you can reuse this bait multiple times.
These plastic baits come in different shapes and names. Each is unique and can attract a different type of fish. The most common ones to fish bass are walkers, poppers, and minnows.
Walkers can give a zig-zag-like walk across the water. They are perfect if you’re in the water where you know the bass is lying in waiting and you want to attract them with some extra action.
Poppers are just like its name. They pop around the surface and are not very fast, unlike walkers. This bait is perfect if you aim to attract a bass that is hiding under a rock.
Usually, minnows are larger than walkers or poppers. They cater to the larger surface and can give a jerk-like reaction from the water. It’s a favorite among anglers who are fishing when the bass is in their mating period.
Some Extra Tips
Choosing the right bait is crucial, but even the best bait won’t give you the fish if you don’t know these secrets.
The first secret is regularly changing the fishing sport. This will increase your chance of catching a fish since they are more susceptible to falling for the bait. Fish are smart at noticing the bait and avoiding them. The next secret is the weather. Other anglers may distract you, but as long as you tune in with the weather, you can tell when the wind and nature are in your favor.
The final secret is mixing up your style when using the lure. In addition to using nature to your favor, you need to be bold and use different methods when throwing the lure. You have to mix your style a bit and pay attention to how and where you throw it.
A small difference in how the bait bounces above the water or slides inside the stream can give you largemouth bass or keep them away from your boat. Remember, these fish are intelligent. After a while, you will be far more familiar with their habit. You can adjust your throwing habit to catch the largest fish in the area. So have you found a favorite lure to catch largemouth bass? The best bait to catch largemouth bass is the one you’re most comfortable with. It’s great if you choose to use live bait for sustainable reasons. But there’s nothing wrong with using topwater plastics as your lure. In the end, it’s more about how big the largemouth bass you can catch with that lure.