Bass fishing guide · USA

Bass fishing

Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass are among the most popular game fish in the USA, striped and white bass their open-water cousins. Here is which bass lives where, when it bites and how to catch it.

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Bass species

Largemouth bassOne of the most popular game fish in the United States: a heavy-bodied sunfish with a huge mouth that ambushes prey from weeds, wood and docks and often jumps when hooked.

Smallmouth bassA hard-fighting bass of clear, cool rivers and rocky lakes, also called smallie or bronzeback: bronze colored with dark vertical bars.

Spotted bassThe spotted bass, also called Kentucky spotted bass or spots, is the smaller cousin of largemouth and smallmouth: a black bass of flowing, rocky rivers and reservoirs in the southern US, known by rows of spots below the lateral line (Wikipedia).

Striped bassStriped bass, also called striper or rockfish: the classic East Coast inshore fish with seven to eight dark lengthwise stripes that runs up rivers to spawn and is caught in the surf, in bays and in big reservoirs.

White bassThe white bass, also called sand bass or silver bass, is a silvery schooling predator of the reservoirs and big rivers of the US Midwest and South, famous for its spring spawning run into tributaries (Wikipedia).

When bass bite

Spring spawn. When the water warms in spring, bass move shallow to spawn: the easiest time to find them.
Early and late. In summer and fall bass feed shallower in the first and last light of the day.
Heat and cold. In midsummer heat and in winter they hold deeper and bite slower. Fish slower and closer to the bottom.

Best time by species

Largemouth bass: In spring around the spawn, when fish move shallow; otherwise around cover such as weed beds, timber and docks. In the heat of summer and in winter big bass get sluggish, and large live shiners tend to work better (Wikipedia).
Smallmouth bass: Spring through fall; in rivers fish hold behind rocks and in eddies. When the water drops below about 60 °F (16 °C) they move into deep pools and feed very little, so go with small lures such as hair jigs or small spinners (Wikipedia).
Spotted bass: Before and after spawning in April and May fish hold shallower (Wikipedia on spawning, rule of thumb); in summer they also use depths down to 30 m in reservoirs (Wikipedia).
Striped bass: In spring spawners run up the rivers, and Chesapeake Bay fish migrate along the coast as far as Canadian waters (NOAA Fisheries). Spring and fall are the main coastal seasons, dawn, dusk and night often the best times (rule of thumb).
White bass: In spring during the spawning season from mid-March to late May, when fish move into tributaries and shallow areas (Wikipedia). In summer and fall the schools roam open water in reservoirs (rule of thumb).

From the species profiles, with sources there.

Methods and lures

Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and topwater lures cover water fast. Soft plastics on a Texas rig or a drop shot are slower and reach into cover and deep spots.

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Methods and lures for bass

Best bass lures Texas rig Drop shot Jigging Lure fishing Fly fishing Surf fishing Palomar knot

Where to fish

Weedy lakes and ponds: Largemouth ambush prey from weeds, wood and docks in quiet water.
Rivers and rocky lakes: Smallmouth like clear, cooler water with rock, gravel and current.
Reservoirs: Spotted bass hold on rock and riprap, often deeper; white bass and stripers roam open water in schools.
Coast and bays: Striped bass in the surf, in bays and up the rivers, mainly in spring and fall.

Check the rules

Each state sells its own fishing license, and seasons, size and bag limits for bass differ by state and water. In saltwater a separate license can apply. Fishing license by state

Quick answers

When is the best time to go bass fishing?

Spring around the spawn, when bass move shallow, and on summer and fall days early and late. In summer heat and in winter they hold deeper and bite slower. The fishing forecast shows the best time windows for your spot.

What is the best lure for bass?

There is no single best lure. A soft plastic worm on a Texas rig catches bass almost anywhere; spinnerbaits, crankbaits and topwater lures cover water faster. Smallmouth like tubes, grubs and crawfish imitations.

How do I tell largemouth from smallmouth bass?

Largemouth are greenish with a dark stripe along the side, and the upper jaw reaches past the eye. Smallmouth are bronze to brown with dark vertical bars, and the jaw ends below the eye.

Do I need a license for bass fishing?

Usually yes: each state sells its own fishing license, and seasons, size and bag limits for bass differ by state and water. Check with your state fish and wildlife agency before you go.