Welcome to our Largemouth Bass Fishing Home Page

Largemouth bass are the most popular game fish that is targeted throughout the U.S. These fish are exciting to catch whether you are fishing for fun or competing in a bass tournament. Whether you are a beginner or veteran, this section has a ton of information that will help you catch more bass.

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January 29th, 2025

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There Are Different Strains of Largemouth Bass

The northern strain largemouth bass and the Florida strain largemouth bass each have unique characteristics that influence how and when they are caught.

Northern Strain Largemouth Bass

Northern strain bass are known for being aggressive, which makes them susceptible to a wide variety of lures and presentations. They grow more slowly and can thrive in cooler water temperatures, making them common targets in northern waters all over the United States and into some parts of Canada.

The Florida Bass

The Florida strain bass is now just called a Florida Bass and with so many southern waters now stocking their lakes with Florida strain largemouth bass, anglers need to know about some of the differences so they can make the appropriate adjustments needed to catch these giant bass.

We are putting together an entire website devoted just to the nuances of catching Florida Bass, so take a look if you want to learn more about catching those giant bass.

Best Lures

Soft Baits | Hard Baits | Topwater Lures

Best Fishing Rigs

Learn More

Best Rigs for Largemouth Bass

Best Fishing Techniques

Catching largemouth bass involves a variety of techniques, each suited to different conditions and bass behavior. Learn about the different techniques so you can put more bass in the boat.

Catch Big Bass

Largemouth bass have huge mouths and they will gladly eat a bigger bait. When water temperatures warm up in the summer, they seem even more willing to eat a real big bait. The better anglers usually catch bigger bass with bigger crankbaits, swimbaits, big 10 to 12 inch worms and big lizards in the summer time.

Catch Lots of Bass

Best Largemouth Bass Fishing Destinations

There are so many awesome largemouth bass fishing destinations. If you’re looking for big largemouth bass, the northern part of the United States cannot compare to the south. However, there are so many cool fishing destinations in the north that many anglers would prefer to go on a fishing vacation for largemouth bass. You have so many options. Target large numbers of largemouth bass, huge bass or just go someplace awesome that has good largemouth bass fishing.

Best Largemouth Bass Fishing Destinations

Best Live Baits

Largemouth Bass Love Weeds

Fishing the weeds can be highly effective for catching bass since these areas offer essential cover, shade and plenty of food. Bass often inhabit a variety of vegetation such as lily pads, milfoil, hydrilla and other aquatic plants. These habitats serve as ambush points for bass to take advantage of prey that swims past them.

Emergent Vegetation

Emergent vegetation, which includes plants that grow above the water’s surface such as reeds, cattails, and grasses, provides excellent cover, food, and oxygenation, making it a prime habitat for bass.

Submerged Vegetation

Fish the Weed Edges

Fishing the weed edges is a highly effective strategy for targeting largemouth bass. These areas provide a natural transitional zone where bass like to hunt for prey.

Fish the Weed Pockets

Fishing the weed pockets for largemouth bass can be highly rewarding since these openings in dense vegetation often attract bass looking for prey. With the right setup, you can present a bait to these fish and get them to bite.

Flipping

Flipping is a precise, short-distance technique that allows anglers to quietly present lures to bass that are hiding in dense cover. This is one of the best ways to prevent baits to these fish without spooking them. It involves using a controlled amount of line, kept close to the rod length, while gently flipping the lure into targeted spots.

Punching

Punching is a powerful bass fishing technique designed to penetrate thick vegetation to reach that are hiding beneath mats of weeds, such as hydrilla, lily pads or duckweed. Punching involves using heavy weights to punch through the dense surface vegetation. It’s particularly effective in the summer months when bass seek shade and cooler temperatures under thick cover.

Weedless Presentations

Weedless presentations are essential for fishing in and around heavy vegetation where bass often hide. These techniques allow you to present your lure without it getting snagged up, so you can get more bass into the boat.

Use Heavy Tackle

Heavy tackle is important for fishing around heavier vegetation, especially if there are big bass on the body of water that you’re fishing. Anglers use medium-heavy to heavy rods and reels with line weights ranging from 17 – 65 pound test.

Largemouth Bass Love Wood

Wood is probably the second most common type of cover where bass are found. Flooded brush and timber, laydowns and overhanging trees can provide some excellent bass fishing for good numbers and quality-sized fish.

Submerged Trees

Submerged trees are a prime habitat for largemouth bass, especially in the southern United States, where they are commonly found in reservoirs. These structures provide ideal conditions for bass due to the cover and feeding opportunities they offer.

Overhanging Trees

Fishing under overhanging trees can be very productive for catching bass, as these areas provide excellent shade and cover. However, getting your bait into the right spots without snagging can be challenging. Skipping baits is an effective technique to achieve accurate and snag-free presentations.

Laydowns

Fallen trees, or “laydowns,” are excellent structures for targeting largemouth bass. These trees, either naturally fallen or purposefully placed in the water, create an ideal habitat for bass due to the shade, cover and food sources they provide.

Weedless Presentations

Weedless presentations are essential for fishing in and around heavily wooded cover where bigger bass often hide. These techniques allow you to present your lure without it getting snagged up.

Use Heavy Tackle

Heavy tackle is important for fishing around the wood, especially fishing around large trees. Anglers use medium-heavy to heavy rods and reels with line weights ranging from 17 – 65 pound test.

Current

Many lakes and reservoirs that are home to largemouth bass will have current in them. While largemouth bass will usually prefer the slack water over moving water, they do often use the current to their advantage for feeding and protection.

Ambush Spots

Bass often position themselves behind rocks, logs, or other structures to stay out of the main flow while waiting to ambush passing prey.

Oxygen & Food

Current brings a constant supply of oxygen and food, making areas with moving water attractive to bass.

Cooler Water Temperatures

Cooler, moving water can be very appealing during the warmer months of the year as it provides a more comfortable environment for largemouth bass.

Docks

Dock fishing can be highly effective for targeting largemouth bass, as docks provide excellent cover, shade, and feeding opportunities. From spring through fall, anglers will catch largemouth bass under, next to and near the docks. Find a dock with a good mixture of shallow water, deep water, shade and other cover such as wood or weeds and you will have an excellent spot to catch a bass.