There’s a lot of talk about Largemouth Bass, and it’s well deserved. No fish defines angling like this one! Known to never bite the same bait twice, Bass put even the most experienced anglers to the test. They even continue to inspire new lures and techniques…
About 30 million Americans actively pursue this species, fueling an industry worth $60 billion – and that’s just for Bass. Really, it’s no exaggeration to say that Largemouth Bass fishing is the essence of the sport itself.
So, what makes this fish tick, and how can you outsmart such a legend? Read on and we’ll talk you through everything Largemouth Bass!
How to Identify Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) is the largest species of Black Bass. This family of fish also includes Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Redeye Bass, Shoal Bass, Florida Bass, Alabama Bass, Guadalupe Bass, and Suwanee Bass.
Largemouths are native to the eastern and central US, as well as southeastern Canada and northern Mexico. But they’ve also been artificially stocked well beyond that due to their popularity as a game fish. This allows Bass fishing enthusiasts to target them virtually everywhere in the United States – and around the world.
These deep-bodied fish have rounded fins and large mouths that extend past the middle of their eyes, earning them the Largemouth name. They’re green with a pale underbelly and a row of dark spots or patches running from their pectoral fins down to their tails.
Largemouth Bass typically measure 12–14 inches and weigh anywhere from 1–5 pounds. Trophy fish grow much larger than this, however, with some reaching well beyond 30 inches and tipping the scale into the teens. On rare occasions, record fish weigh over 20 pounds. The world-record Largemouth Bass caught in 1932 weighed 22 pounds, 4 ounces.
Largemouth Bass vs. Smallmouth Bass vs. Spotted Bass
Anyone new to the Bass fishing game might find it hard to tell the difference between Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass. Despite their names, mouth size is not the only thing that sets them apart. In fact, it’s not even the easiest difference to spot! Check out this article for the lowdown on how to tell them apart.
But hold on – that’s not all. A more confusing pair than this is Largemouth Bass vs. Spotted Bass, which look almost identical to the untrained eye! Luckily, Spotties aren’t as prolific and you won’t need to worry about telling them apart too often, thankfully.
Best Bass Fishing Spots
Okay, so anglers go crazy for Largemouth Bass and nowadays you can find them practically everywhere. But, if you’re in the market for the best Largemouth Bass fishing, where should you go?
Texas
You’d be hard-pressed to find a list of top Bass fishing spots that doesn’t include Texas – multiple times. We’re not going to remind you that everything’s bigger in the Lone Star State. But, we’ll put it this way… In 2023 alone, more than 15 Bass that weighed above 13 pounds were caught in one single Texas lake! That’s trophy-sized Bass that anglers are lucky to see in most lakes only once.
If you’re itching to try your luck, some trophy Bass fishing lakes in Texas include:
- O.H. Ivie Lake (Lake Ivie). This is where those 15 “legacy lunkers” were caught in 2023. In the past three collection seasons of the Toyota ShareLunker program, as many as 39 legacy lunkers have been recorded here.
- Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Long regarded as a Bass fishing mecca, these 114,000 acres of water offer year-round fishing for Largemouth. The largest recorded here weighed over 16 pounds.
- Toledo Bend Reservoir. Toledo Bend is one of the nation’s oldest fishing lakes – and, one of the best when it comes to Largemouth Bass. You’ll find these fish in the shallows most of the year, before the summer heat drives them to deeper parts of the lake.
- Lake Fork. Lake Fork has been stocked with Florida-strain Largemouth since the late ’70s. This, combined with strict harvesting regulations, paid off big time when the lake became home to the state’s rod-and-reel record for the species (18.18 pounds).
Largemouth Bass fishing in Texas is open year-round with a bag limit of five fish that measure 14 inches or more. Some lakes and reservoirs have their own regulations that may differ.
California
California has long had some bodies of water among Bassmaster’s best lakes. Though its status is noticeably dropping, it continues to make the cut as local Bass waters bounce back again and again. You can enjoy great fishing for Largemouth Bass in a number of California’s lakes and reservoirs, but two names always come to mind:
- Clear Lake. This is the oldest Bass lake in California. You might not find Texas-sized lunkers here, but 4–8 lb Largemouths are regular sightings on the lake.
- California Delta (Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta). These 80,000 acres of water hold a helluva lot of Bass, making the Delta one of the country’s top Largemouth Bass fisheries.
Largemouth Bass fishing in California is open year-round, but be sure to check size and bag limits specific to the lake or reservoir you’re fishing in.
South Carolina
South Carolina is another top contender on many Bass fishing lists, typically due to one of the following hotspots:
- Santee-Cooper Lakes. Lakes Marion and Moultrie make up this system of lakes which is a big Bass factory. And, it’s no surprise, given that Lake Marion is tied for the state-record Largemouth at 16 pounds 2 ounces!
- Lake Murray. Anyone who follows Bassmaster’s top Bass fishing lakes knows that Murray has made the cut plenty of times. And it wasn’t just voted #1 in the Southeast – it ranked fourth in the entire nation! Come springtime, the shallows are clear enough that it’s said you can practically sight fish.
The regulations in South Carolina allow you to keep up to five Bass, whether these are all the same species or a combined total of Largemouth, Smallmouth, or Redeye. On Lakes Marion, Moultrie, and Murray there’s a minimum size limit of 14 inches.
Michigan
The Great Lakes are known for good Bass fishing, but there’s more to Michigan‘s Bass scene than that. Lake St. Clair may be a step down in size, yet what it lacks in water volume it makes up for with lots and lots of Bass. It’s primarily known as a Smallmouth fishing spot, but the Largemouth Bass fishing is nothing to turn your nose up at, either. In summer, you can catch dozens of Bass within a single hour!
Catch-and-release fishing for Bass is open year-round in Michigan. The possession season on Lake St. Clair runs from June 15–December 31.
Florida
We’re used to Florida topping many fishing-related lists, but this time around the Sunshine State has some stiff competition. Don’t get us wrong, though, there’s still great Largemouth Bass fishing in Florida, and no shortage of places to catch them.
If we have to pick just one lake to cast some lures for Largemouth, it’s Orange Lake. This is home to some of the best Bass fishing in the country. The lake’s reputation precedes it, though, so you’ll face a lot of fishing pressure. To escape the crowds, consider some of these other Bass fishing spots in Florida:
There’s no minimum size limit for Largemouth Bass in Florida, but anglers can only keep a total of five Black Bass per day, whether they’re all the same species or a mixed bag.
How to Fish for Bass
Put simply, fishing for Largemouth Bass involves casting different baits and lures. Enthusiasts develop many of their own tricks to this, but you can get started with just a few crankbaits, swimbaits, and plastic worms in a couple of colors each.
Exactly what lure to use and your style of retrieve depend on the depth you’re fishing in and what the water is like. Largemouth Bass frequently feed around structure and beneath vegetation that creates a natural cover for them in the shallows. But you can also find them in open and deeper waters.
In clear water, a slow and steady retrieve might work best, while a fast and irregular retrieve is more attention-grabbing in murky water. Make your bait move as naturally as possible by varying the speed and including irregular pauses. Bass zero-in on injured prey, which is why many anglers go jigging for them.
Though your gear will be completely different, many of the same principles apply when fly fishing for Bass.
As you develop experience and become attuned to the behavior of these fish, it will get easier to cut through all the “noise” from other anglers out there who swear by their own tricks. After enough time on the water, your intuition may be strong enough to practice finesse fishing for them!
Bass Fishing Gear
With a variety of ways to fish for Bass, it’s only natural that anglers have a wide range of gear to choose from. Serious Bass anglers often carry multiple rods and pack an entire arsenal of lures so they can adjust depending on conditions.
Bass Fishing Rods
When choosing a Bass fishing rod, your options can be simplified into two general categories: baitcasting vs. spinning. Baitcasting rods offer greater control and accuracy, but it takes experience to choose exactly the right rod and setup for current conditions.
Meanwhile, a basic spinning setup allows you to start casting with relatively little technical knowledge. These rods are adaptable, so you won’t have to fiddle around with different setups and you can basically treat your gear as one size fits all.
A 7′ rod will suit most situations, but if you have multiple rods at your disposal it doesn’t hurt to bring a shorter one and a longer one. Shorter rods are great for jigging and require little effort to cast on repeat. If you plan on casting spinnerbaits or crankbaits, you’ll want to use a longer rod.
Fly fishers can get started with a 9′ rod, anywhere in the 2–8-wt range depending on water and wind conditions. If you aren’t sure what to bring, a 7 wrt rod is often recommended to handle Largemouth Bass.
For more advice on your Bass fishing setup, refer to our guide of the best Bass fishing rods.
Bass Fishing Line
As a beginner, you won’t need more than some monofilament line to start casting for Bass. But once you’ve got your bearings, there’s a whole world of fishing lines to explore and you’ll want to experiment. We’ve covered the best Bass fishing lines extensively, but to sum it up:
- Monofilament is the most beginner-friendly. The stretch of this line acts like a shock absorber to help handle hard-fighting fish. Meanwhile, its buoyancy makes it perfect for topwater fishing techniques.
- Braided lines offer minimal stretch, but the flipside to this is greater sensitivity which allows you to feel even the slightest nibble. These lines are durable enough to withstand heavy cover, rocky shorelines, and trophy-sized fish.
- Fluorocarbon is unique because it has enough weight to sink beneath the surface, yet remains virtually invisible to unsuspecting fish. This makes it a top choice for fishing in clear water as well as heavy cover, and it may help you get a bite when the fish are already wise to the sportfishing game.
Bass Fishing Rigs
If you’ve been fishing before, the most common Bass fishing rigs are probably familiar to you. If not, be sure to read the guide linked above. In short, these are:
- The Texas rig: Perfect for fishing in dense cover.
- The Carolina rig: Suited to deep-water Bass fishing, such as in summer.
- The drop shot rig: Useful when fishing in clear water.
- The jig head rig: The jack of all trades that you can fish in most conditions, whether jigging or casting
Keep in mind that mastering these rigs goes far beyond knots and hooks. You also have to notice when the fish are changing their behavior with the seasons, and be prepared to adjust to water conditions.
Bass Fishing Baits & Lures
You can fish for Largemouth Bass using many different baits and lures – a true blessing, since these fish won’t fall for the same one twice! This is why Bass anglers stock a full arsenal, including jigs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, plastic worms, and various topwater lures. And that’s not to mention the endless world of fly patterns.
Your bait selection should be based on the size of the Bass you’re targeting. Small Bass will go for tidbits on the smaller end of the spectrum including insects, while real lunkers might gobble up anything from frogs to turtles and baby alligators (yes, you read that right!).
There’s a lot to consider here, so we recommend setting aside a few minutes to really dive in with our guide to Bass fishing lures.
When to Catch Bass
Bass inhabit their home waters year-round and, in many places, it’s legal to fish for them non-stop. But, this doesn’t mean you can always keep your catch.
Fall, winter, and spring are considered the best seasons for Bass fishing. Cooler water temperatures at these times draw Bass into the shallows, where they’re easily accessible. Depending on how clear the water is and what type of cover you have to contend with, it may even be possible to sight fish for them.
Springtime in particular is popular because it marks Largemouth spawning season, when these fish are at their biggest. Your chances of landing a trophy are best during this timespan. Depending on the local climate, that may begin as early as December and last until June, though you’ll usually hear anglers rave about February, March, April, and May.
That said, Bass fishing in summer isn’t bad – you’ll just have to access deeper water and rely on different techniques.
But that’s not all. You’ll also want to plan your Bass fishing trip at the right time of day. While a bright and sunny afternoon at the lake sounds great, it’s not necessarily the best moment to start casting lures. This is because Bass hunt in low-light conditions such as dawn, dusk, and under cloud cover. In fact, overcast and rainy weather produces the best Bass fishing.
If you can, aim for a warm, rainy day just after a cold front. This is when Bass feed more actively. Many anglers also recommend night fishing for Bass when the weather is warm.
Largemouth Bass: The Fish to Hook a Nation
Needless to say, Largemouth Bass have truly put the “sport” in sportfishing. These fish are both hard-fighting and hard to fool, which makes catching them a perpetual challenge. It’s only natural that they’ve shaped the industry into what it is today and made a name for themselves worth billions of dollars!
Some might even say this species is bigger than fishing – it’s an icon of the nation. Native to the US and claimed by multiple states as their official state fish, Largemouth Bass is indeed the all-American sport fish.
Are you an avid Bass angler? What makes them stand out for you? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
The post How to Go Largemouth Bass Fishing: The Complete Guide for 2024 appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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