Bass fishing is one of the greatest sports in all of the world. The thrill of catching a bass, no matter the species, simply can’t be matched. While there is a lot that goes into bass fishing, I think I can tell you about 90% in 15 minutes!
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Largemouth bass, also known as largies and bucket mouths, can be further categorized into Northern Largemouth, Florida Largemouth, and H1 Hybrids—-the mix of the two sub species produces the biggest largemouth in the world, which happens to be over 22lbs, shared by two anglers in Georgia and CHINA.
The largemouth is probably the most widespread among the bass species, found in neighborhood ponds, natural lakes, rivers, creeks, reservoirs, all 50 states, and literally around the globe!
Largemouth bass can be identified by their color and markings, BUT the most identifiable trait is its mouth. When its mouth is closed, the jaw will extend past the eyeball, hints the name LARGE MOUTH.
Smallmouth bass, also known as smallies and footballs, tend to be more curious and aggressive than largemouth and are known as being the hardest fighting of the bass species, sometimes jumping 5ft in the air and literally NEVER giving up.
While they may be more aggressive than largemouth, they don’t grow as big, with the World Record coming in at 11lbs 15oz. There are also sub species of smallmouth bass which include northern smallmouth and southern smallmouth.
Smallmouth can be found in different bodies of water, but they tend to thrive in creeks, natural lakes in the North, and clear water reservoirs. They can be identified by their brown color, vertical bars, and when their mouth is closed, the jaw will NOT extend past the eyeball, obviously why it is named smallmouth.
Spotted bass, also known as Spots and Kentucky bass, also have many subspecies including Kentucky spotted bass and Alabama Spotted Bass.
Spots can thrive in very clear water reservoirs, as well as heavily stained river systems. The biggest smallmouth ever caught was 11lbs 4oz.
Although they look similar to a largemouth bass in color, Spots tend to have an extremely dark and blotchy lateral line, with dark spots occurring just above and just below. Their jaw will not extend past the eyeball, and there is a very recognizable rough patch on their tongue that feels like sandpaper.
While these three species are the most targeted bass, it should also be known that there are other bass species like Shoal bass and Meanmouth which is a cross between bass species.
Interestingly enough all of these bass species actually fall under the SUNFISH Family, while fish species like striped bass and white bass fall under the BASS Family.
In order to catch largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass you might think that lure selection is the most important element? While this is very important and we will discuss it shortly, the most IMPORTANT element of bass fishing is knowing WHERE bass are located!
There are two categories of lures, horizontal lures and vertical lures. Horizontal lures are meant to be worked horizontally in the water column, these are lures like, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits, etc.
Vertical lures are baits that you cast out and let sink vertically to the bottom, where then they can be worked across the bottom, like texas rigs, jigs, ned rigs, shaky heads, etc.
NOW Some vertical lures can also be fished horizontally like a jig, aka a swim jig, so when we talk about lure selection keep that in mind.
Selecting a lure comes down to “matching the bait profile” and selecting the “right color.”
Matching the bait profile is exactly what it sounds like. You want to choose a lure that best represents the bait or food that the bass is eating in your body of water. Maybe you are fishing a pond or lake where the main forage is bluegill. In that case, a chatterbait or a jig can really match the bluegill profile perfectly. Or maybe you are trying to match a crawfish, in that case a ned rig or a crankbait reeled across the bottom can really mimic a crawfish well.
BassFishingHQ is dedicated to teaching people how to catch more and bigger bass. I will go over different bass fishing tips & techniques that will put more fish in the boat or on the shore. Whether you are just starting out or a seasoned tournament angler, my goal is to help you catch more bass.
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This was such a helpful video. It's helped me to understand bass fishing a lot more.
Great Video! I loved it!
Remember. Hydrilla is invasive(5 per whorl). Elodea is native (3 per whorl).
Great video man!!!
I cast using a frog lure and the top action never disappoints.
I’m a pro bass fisherman now after watching this video. Thank you.
90% of bass fishing… use a worm. On a dropshot. I’ve fished many many times with people throwing lures. My nightcrawler almost always wins. If ya wanna cast, bullet weight and bead to leader and cast a long piece of crawler. If not dropshot and sit or bounce it back to you. I have like 300 lures. The crawler always wins
Helped me so much thank yiu
Kentucky lake is a reservoir not a lake
thanks so much!
Very educational!
Thanks you help me eliminate 2/3 of my tacklebox on any given day! You’re also tempting me to drop a bunch of cinderblocks in my local pond🙄
Bass….like any predator….tend to follow the movements of their preferred prey. On the resivoures I fish the shad hatch up in the mouths of clean feeder streams. As they grow and the summer progresses the shad begin breaking up into smaller schools and start moving out towards main channels. By late summer most anglers will do best fishing for schooling bass on the main lake channels.
Thank you for this video I’m getting into fishing and videos like this really help!
Wow this may not be a $200 class, but i feel like i got that much value or more out of it! This video is going to become the go-to for anyone asking any questions 🙌
Have any knowledge for Bass in the lower Middle East Illinois area this month? Thanks for all the previous knowledge, buddy! You have taught me ALOT!
the meat riding is insane
What about Rock Bass
That was a good amount of information without all the nonsense. Excellent video.
This is without a doubt the best bass fishing education video I've seen. I don't really bass fish but was looking to get into it. The countless videos that did not give any good info kinda turned me off. This has me really wanting to get out there. I'm also not far from those lakes. lol
What are the eggs fertilized by UV or something? Bass do not need sunlight to fertilize eggs, and often times their beds are in the shade
Great vid
The hairline on the top left of your screen makes me Hate you buy this is a great video
How dare you leave out Guadalupe Bass
Great use of visuals – well done!
You the best
Thank you for this upload. I'm a veritable rookie/novice, and Bass fishing has been a dream of mine for a while. A younger dude at work and this video, your technical/fundamental know-how are absolutely priceless. I can't overstate how much I appreciate it. I hope you know Jesus as our slain and Risen King, our only intercessor. Rock steady man. Thanks again for the killer data.
My dad Caught and taxidermied a 20lbs spotted bass
Excellent video. Thank you
I have literally watched thousands of bass fishing videos. And THIS is THE most informative videos I have EVER watched! I have actually watched it several times! Thanks for such great content!
So, if they’re opportunistic feeders, then why does bait selection matter so much?
Just caught a nice largemouth last night but I lost it in a precarious footing situation where I could’ve slipped into the water. I probably should’ve bagged it though instead of hoping it wouldn’t flop itself to to freedom. Got to hold it at least.
I can confirm that smallmouth are super aggressive. The one I caught broke my line with its thrashing.
This guy in video has no clue to what he is reading….
Best video I've found, thank you!
"Over the last several years bass fishing went from a weekend hobby to a multi-million dollar industry"??? Nah dude, that happened LOOOONG before you were even born. Ah, youth blissfully ignorant and yet so damn self-confident about the garbage they spew.
Gems nothing but gems….
Teaching my grandson to fish. It was overwhelming for me to try and conjure up all my "lessons." You did it remarkably well and I showed him this video. Thanks, Ty!!
Wow i feel educated
I live in north Florida
Bass fishing is almost nonexistent here
I’ve never been skunked so many times in my life
I switched over to specs
Here it is in 2 seconds are you bitches ready? Location location location. Lmfao
“Bam, they gone” 😂😂
Awesome channel
Bruh a 22 pound large mouth say what ?
I'm 16 and not a one of my family are fishers so I basically have to learn myself which kinda sucks because I suck thank you
"they gone" lmaoooo
This is by far the best video on bass fishing I have ever seen!!!❤