Q&A for How to Fish for Bass

Probably not preparing for the weather. It's going to rain sometimes. Always keep rain gear ready. Having backup equipment is also really important. Make sure you have two rods with you because things happen. Polarized glasses are an absolute must. Those allow you to see into the water. Mindset is the other thing to prepare. Go with a sense of adventure. Know that you're probably going to make mistakes, we all do. You might not catch fish and that's okay but you're going to learn something in the process and if you do catch fish, that's a bonus.

Search Google for fishing license plus the name of the state. In most places, you can get your license immediately. A lot of states also have a phone app, so your fishing license is digital, which makes it easy.

It can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. It all depends on the time of year and the bait you are using -- there is not one right answer to this question. Fishing is all about developing patience and enjoying the journey, not just the results.

It means to get the hook to go through the fish's mouth when you feel a bite jerk.

Watermelon u-tail worm made by Zoom is a great all around soft plastic. Be sure to Texas rig it with a light bullet sinker.

Use a tight wobble crankbait. The water clarity and depth will be determined by you, but a tight wobble, medium-deep diving crankbait is ideal.

Fish areas that have fallen trees under the water. You can catch bass year round but, in my opinion the best time is in April right before the spawn.

You will feel anything from a tap to a huge pull, depending on the size and laziness of the fish. Most of the time if the fish is committed, it has a high chance of hooking itself.

Yes, they should.

A light bullet weight ranges from 1/16 ounce, which is for slow sinking, to 3/4 ounce, which is for faster sinking.

The biggest thing to get them interested is to get something in the water that creates some disturbance, like a boot tail swimbait or something like a craw from Strike-King like the Rage Craw. You could put the boot tail on a jig head and could put the craw on a Texas rig. If they are not into the disturbance, try something more subtle like a Zoom finesse worm.

For bait, you should be able to use worms and other sorts of things like minnows at your local bait show. Or, you could use crawdads, largemouth and especially small mouth love them. But it mostly depends on your local fishery.

No. To lure fish you must be able to cast and retrieve line. Also, bass fight hard so you need to have a drag system.

If the pond has minnows, then yes, but check local regulations on catching bait.

Try using a different bait, fishing in deeper water, targeting other species, changing your location, or adjusting your fishing technique.

Some of the most effective baits for catching bass include plastic worms, crankbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits, and topwater lures. However, the best bait to use will depend on the fishing conditions and the behavior of the bass in that particular waterway.