Of all of the different species of fish you can catch bass is probably the most popular, bass fishing gear for a beginner however can be quite confusing.
There's just so much of it.
There are so many different bass fishing techniques and bass rod setups that for a beginner it seems like a daunting task to choose their first rod and reel.
Bass fishing gear does not need to be anywhere near as complicated as some anglers make out.
A basic rod and reel that can cast a variety of lures and bait rig setups is all you need to get started.
Bass Fishing Gear and Tackle
1. Rods
Like most freshwater fishing when it comes to bass your choice of rod will normally be narrowed down to either a spinning rod or a casting rod.
Spinning rods are considered more versatile, whilst a casting rod will usually be used for more specific or specialized techniques.
That's not to say that you cannot use a casting setup as your general rod.
A 7 foot casting rod with a medium/heavy power rating and a fast action is a good choice for general lure work and different styles of bait rigs.
For lighter applications a good bass spinning rod would be 6'6" in length and have a medium/light power rating again with a fast action.
This type of spinning combo for bass should be good on smaller lakes and rivers on any kind of larger waters you may need to beef things up a bit/
2. Reels
If you opt to use a casting setup then a baitcaster reel is a must. There is a steeper learning curve when using a baitcaster and for a beginner I would generally recommend a spinning reel.
Baicasters do give you much more control when casting. And they are a lot easier on the arm if you are out casting all day.
A good spinning reel for bass would be a either a size 2500 or a 3000 high quality spinning reel. If you can get one with a spare spool then I would load one with monofilament and the other with braid.
Spinning reels are better for beginners as they are a lot more simple to learn how to use. Flip the bail arm over and catch the line with your index finger and then cast away.
With a casting reel however you need to learn just how much pressure should be applied to the spool in order to avoid the dreaded birds nest or over-run.
3. Line
Line choice is larger dictated by what type or lure you are using.
Braid, monfilament and flourocarbon are the three most used types of fishing line.
Mono and flouro are generally see through whereas braid is an opaque color depending on the brad.
So, for example a topwater frog should only really be used with braid as braid will cut through heavy weeds and cover mush easier than mono.
Conversely if you are using a small crankbait then mono would be a better choice as the added stretch in mono will help reduce the risk of pulling the smaller treble hooks on the crankbait out of the bass's mouth.
4. Lures
There are an almost endless supply of bass lures available on the market and more and lore are invented every year.
The choice of lure is usually determined by the time of year and the type of water that you are fishing.
On larger waters you will generally use larger lures, the best bass lures for ponds however will generally be smaller.
- Crankbaits
- Spinnerbaits
- Worms
- Spinners
- Frogs
- Topwater
The list is almost endless and each type of lure has it's own specific techniques and tackle required to get the best out of them.
5. Hooks
High quality bass hooks are an absolute must. There is no point in buying cheap hooks. Look at it this way of all of your bass fishing gear and tackle the hook is the first point of contact for a bass once it bites.
There is a choice between round offset hooks and offset wide gap hooks. For a worm rig you should opt for a round bend and for almost everything else the wide gap offset.