SENSES: Largemouth bass have the five major senses common to most animals: hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch. They have another sense, the lateral line, which is a series of sensitive nerve endings that extends from just behind the gill to the tail on each side of the fish. The lateral line can pick up underwater vibrations as subtle as a swimming baitfish. Largemouth bass hear with external ears located within the skull. They may be attracted by the ticking or popping sound of some artifical lures. But when they hear loud unfamiliar sounds, they usually swim to deeper water or cover. Bass can see in all directions, except directly below or behind. In clear water, they can see 30 feet or more. But in most bass waters, visibility is limited to 5 to 10 feet. Largemouths can also see objects that are above water. Largemouths smell through nostrils, or nares, on the snout. The nares are small passageways through which water is drawn and expelled without entering the throat. Like most fish, bass can detect minute amounts of scent in the water. Bass use their sense of touch to determine whether to reject or swallow an object. Sense of taste is not important to largemouth bass as it is to some fish species, because bass have few taste cells in their mouths.
FEEDING: Newly-hatched largemouths feed heavily on tiny crustaceans and other zooplankton until the bass reach 2 inches in length. Young largemouths eat insects and small fish, including smaller bass. Adult largemouths prey mostly on fish, but crayfish, frogs and insects are important foods in some waters. Wherever they live, bass rank high in the aquatic food chain. A bass 10 inches or longer has few enemies and will eat almost anything it can swallow. Because of its large mouth and flexible stomach, a bass can eat prey nearly half its own length. Bass inhale small foods. The bass opens its mouth quickly to suck in water and the food. It then forces the water out the gills while it either swallows or rejects the object. Bass usually grab large prey, then turn the food to swallow it headfirst. As the water warms, the metabolism of bass increases and they feed more often. Largemouths seldom eat at water temperatures below 50 degrees. From 50 to 60 degrees, feeding increases and from 68 to 80 degrees, they feed heavily. However, at temperatures above 80 degrees, feeding declines.
GROWTH: The amount bass grow in a year depends on the length of their growing season, or the number of days suitable for growth. The growing season in the south may last twice as long as it does in the north. Largemouths gain weight most quickly in water from 75 to 80 degrees. They do not grow in water colder than 50 degrees. Although bass in the south grow and mature faster, they rarely live as long as largemouths in colder, northern lakes. In southern waters, bass occasionally reach 10 years of age; in northern waters, bass may live as long as 15 years. Female bass live longer than males, so they are more apt to reach a trophy size. In one study, 30 percent of the females were 5 years or older, while only 9 percent of the males were 5 years or more.
SPAWNING: In spring, when inshore waters reach about 60 degrees, largemouth bass swim onto spawning grounds in shallow bays, backwaters, channels and other areas protected from prevailing winds. Spawning grounds usually have firm bottoms of sand, gravel, mud or rock. Bass seldom nest on thick layer of silt. Some spawning areas are in open water; others have sparse weeds, boulders or logs. Male bass may spend several days selecting their nest sites. The beds are usually in 1 to 4 feet of water, but may be deeper in clear water. The males seldom nest where they can see other nesting males. For this reason, beds are generally at least 30 feet apart, but may be closer if weeds, boulders, sunken logs or stumps prevent the males from seeing each other. Largemouths spawn when the water reaches 63 to 68 degrees and temperatures remain within this range for several days. Cold fronts may cause water temperatures to drop, which interrupts and delays spawning. A female bass lays from 2000 to 7000 eggs per pound of body weight. She may deposit all of her eggs in one nest or drop them at several different sites before leaving the spawning grounds. After spawning, the female recuperates in deep water, where she does not eat for 2 to 3 weeks. Alone on the nest the male hovers above the eggs, slowly fanning them to keep off the silt and other debris. He does not eat while guarding the eggs, but will attack other fish that swim near the nest. Sunfish often prey on bass eggs or newly hatched fry. In waters with large sunfish populations, the panfish can seriously hamper bass reproduction. Bass eggs hatch in only 2 days at 72 degrees, but take 5 days at 67 degrees. Cold weather following spawning will delay hatching. If the shallows drop to 50 degrees, the fry will not emerge for 13 days. At lower temperatures, the eggs will fail to develop. A severe cold front sometimes causes males to abandon the nest, resulting in a complete loss of eggs or fry. From 2000 to 12,000 eggs hatch from the typical nest. Of these, only 5 to 10 are likely to survive to reach 10 inches in length.

Choosing the Right Bass Fishing Lures
There is nothing quite like bass fishing. The thrill of seeing that bass grab your lure and then you have to react immediately to make sure that the bass does not get away. Then comes the struggle as you try to reel in the bass. Once you have the bass in your hands, you can proudly display it for all to see.
Of course, none of that will happen if you do not use the right bass fishing lures. It is essential that bass fishers understand the different types of bass fishing lures and know which lure to use in different situations.
So Many Lures to Choose From
Bass fishing lures come in a great variety. You can find more lures for bass than for any other type of fish. You will never have the time to be able to actually try out every lure out there, so Below is a brief description of the different bass fishing lures available.
Crank Bait Lures
Crank bait lures get their name because of they way they operate. Crank bait lures are connected to the line, the lure is then cranked back to the fishing boat. There are many options available for crank bait lures. Some lures float, others will sink to the bottom of the lake if the reel is not being cranked. Some other types stay suspended in the water. Crank bait lures are very popular with bass fishers.
Crank bait lures come in different varieties, and are optimized for the depth you will be fishing at. There are crank bait lures that are made for whether you plan on fishing in shallow, medium depth, or deep waters. These crank bait lures will have different sized lips.
Top Water Bait Lures
This type of lure floats on the water, even when the lure is being reeled in. However, top
water bait lures are noisy, which can scare away the bass you are trying to catch.
Spinner Bait Lures
Another type of bass fishing lure is the spinning bait lure. These types of lures are very popular with bass fishers. Spinner bait lures usually have bright colors and are shiny. These lures also frequently have metallic blades. These lures spin as they are reeled in, thus the name "spinner bait lures." The colors and the spinning motion attract the bass.
Find the Best for You
With the many different types of bass fishing lures available, it may be difficult to know exactly which one will work best for you. However, this discussion should give you some basis for helping decide which lures may be more useful in different situations. Remember, no lure can guarantee that you catch bass, sometimes it just comes down to
luck, but selecting a good lure will sure increase your chances of landing that king of
the pond.

　
　
　

Carolina Rig

　

　

The Carolina Rig is really just a fancy way of saying a plastic worm tied between 12 inches and 24 inches down the line from the weight. The worm is tied at the end of a "leader" which is just a length of the same weight line that you are using on your setup. A swivel is used between the weight and length of line you are using as your leader.
What you need to complete this setup
Line
Weights
Glass Beads 
 Swivel
Leader
Length – 12"+, but don’t suggest you go much longer than 24 inches. The deeper the water you are fishing in, the longer leader you should consider.
If you think the fish are getting spooked by your line in clear water, you can go to a smaller line for your leader, but the trade off in doing this is obvious. You are likely to lose some fish. Worm Hook
Plastic Worm
Sinking – good for all around fishing.
Floating – best when you think they are hovering say…around the length you chose for your leader off the bottom. Order of tying this rig:
Weight >Glass Bead (optional)> Swivel >Leader Line> Worm Hook w/Worm.

　

How to fish it
Cast your bait where you believe the fish to be. Hint – bass like cover. Temperature and time of the year are the considerations for how deep you should be fishing. This knowledge is beyond the scope of this article so I’ll keep that to myself.
A lot of your bites are going to come while your bait and line are falling towards the bottom. The bait is going to tempt the grouchy old man bass into a fit of anger by having the gall to enter his dominion. If you don’t get your bite on the fall, you have to "fish" it some.
To fish the bait after the weight is on the bottom move the tip of your rod just a bit to make it move. Be easy with it. Only use your reel to tighten up the line. You should only be moving the TIP of your rod around eight inches at a tug. Move it some, and then let it sit. Once you think things have settled down a bit, stir things up again with more movement.
Remember, you aren’t reeling in the bait, you are fishing it. Think, "I’m just going to drag the weight on the bottom a little to make the bait dance for old man bass", because that’s what your goal is. If you jerk your pole 12 inches all at once, this doesn’t make for very realistic action on the bottom of the lake. The weight slowly making it’s way over obstacles on the bottom will give that worm plenty of action. You don’t need to create more with the end of your pole.
After you have fished your bait out of the area of the cover you can retrieve it and re-cast. Fish the area close, with each cast within a foot or two of your last. Thoroughness pays dividends here.: – again choices are endless. – your choice, and the choices are endless. – just some line off your reel. - you could rig this without the swivel in a pinch. The swivel is there for a reason though. That reason being better action. - if you like that type of thing i.e. optional. – either bullet or bell. Your choice depending on what works best with the water you are fishing in. – 12lb test + with around 14lb being optimum. :

Largemouth bass are widely pursued by anglers. Bass are aggressive predators and will often strike just about anything. There are numerous lures and techniques that will work for bass. A rubber worm is a great choice but requires more skill than a crankbait. A topwater plug will snag vegetation and objects easily, while a spoon can be worked in thick grass and hydrilla. There is a lure and technique that will let an angler of any skill level catch bass in just about any water environment available.

Rig the worm "Texas style" or use a weedless hook. Use a split-shot or worm lead weight depending on water depth. Cast worm and allow it to sink to the bottom. Retrieve the worm slowly while raising the rod tip. Pause for several seconds after raising the rod tip, then continue reeling. Repeat this all the way back to the boat.

Catch More Bass With the Right Lure
Bass fishing has grown in popularity, both within the amateur and professional or competitive fields. To become a successful bass fisher, you must learn which bass fishing lures are appropriate. These bass fishing lures will vary depending on whether it is a morning or an evening fishing trip, the area, the body of water and the water depth. Below are a few suggestions regarding the bass fishing lures that are available and the best ways to use each lure.
One of the most interesting bass fishing lures is crank bait. Crank lures imitate an injured or weak fish through using slow movements. They can be used on top of the water or as a sinking lure. They also provide a cranking noise which the bass often finds intriguing and attractive.
Jigs are a heavier bait with a lead head and usually a single hook. They are very versatile because they are useful in cloudy AND clear water types and can be used during all times of the day. The jig is most effective when the water temp is less than 60 degrees.
Spinner baits have a large, spinning, metal fin that agitates the fish. This causes the fish to attack the lure. These bass fishing lures can be used anytime and are especially effective when the bass are spawning because during that time they are less interested in finding food.
Vibrating lures are made of plastic or metal that vibrates. They easily sink to the bottom of even deep waters. There are a wide range of bass fishing lures that can be considered vibrating lures, such as tail spinners. Tail spinners are metal baits that have a small spinning tail that lure the bass. These fishing lures are best used near tree stumps, watery beds of grass, logs, near deep water or near river currents.
Rubber worms are less annoying than lively worms, but some anglers find them to be less effective. To most get the most out of your rubber worm you should add a weight to the lure to cause the bait to sink to the bottom, then slowly reel the lure back in.
Grubs are very attractive to bass. They have a soft body with a hook attached to a head of a jig. It is the perfect bass fishing lure to use when there is insufficient cover in a highland body of water. They are also most useful in deep, clear bodies of water so that bass can see there color patterns.
Poppers can be an effective lure for bass, but are not as versatile as others.They are most useful only during the summer months and can only be used on top of the water. When you slowly reel these lures in, they create a popping motion on top of the water.
Docile, hard to catch bass is a problem that can be solved with tube jigs. These bass- specific lures work best with a spinning reel on a medium to medium-light action fishing rod.

Bass Fishing
If you've done any bass fishing, then you'll already know that it's not as simple as just putting a line in the water and waiting for them to bite. One of the best things about bass fishing is that it requires skill and patience to be successful. So it's important to put as many factors in your favor as possible, so that you have the best chance of catching a bass. Let's take a look at a few tips for successful bass fishing.
As Conditions Change so Should Your Fishing Tactics
The weather matters! In the cooler weather, such as early spring and fall, bass are much more responsive to top water lures. They're also more likely to be found in shallow water, such as along the shoreline where there are overhanging trees. When it gets hotter, though, bass retreat to deeper, cooler holes, and you need a change of strategy. Basically you need to dredge the bottom, and use something like a plastic worm to get the bass to respond.
Time of day is also important, with dawn and dusk the best times to catch the biggest bass. Look for ambush spots where bass might be lurking in wait for baitfish. They like to pounce on their prey, and these bait fish are most active early morning or evening. This method works best when the water is warmer, above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, because a lot of baitfish aren't active in cooler temperatures.
Water Quality Matters!
The quality of the water you're fishing in makes a difference to your bass fishing tactics too. In muddy water, for example, bass use their sonar to locate food. So choose lures that vibrate well and perhaps make some noise. In clear water, though, bass are very cautious and wary of anything unusual. So you need light lines, and lures that closely resemble local food sources. Spinners can work, but you may find a black spinner blade will reduce the flash and be more successful.
In normal water quality, with some algae and plankton to filter out sunlight, most types of lures can be used. It's often a good idea to set up three outfits, using a different lure for each one, to see which one is working the best. For example, you could use a deep diver on one, a surface lure on the next, and a plastic worm on the third.
What's the Best Bait?
A large survey of bass fishing enthusiasts found that the plastic worm was considered the most effective lure by a big margin, so when in doubt, try a plastic worm and see what happens. It's also good to talk to local fishermen if you’re not familiar with the area, and ask them what they recommend. Most bass fishing enthusiasts are happy to find another enthusiast to swap stories with.

Spring Techniques

The first thing to keep in mind is exactly what’s going on in the spring of the year. The
biggest thing that happens in the spring is that the weather warms up, and when the
weather warms up, the water temperatures begin to warm as well. As water
temperatures warm, bass begin to move from their deep water winter lairs, to shallower
warmer water.

This means after a couple of warm day’s bass will begin to move onto any shallow flats
seeking warmer water. So, rather than focusing of deep water cover, in the spring focus
on underwater humps and shallower water than you would in the fall or winter. As the
water temperature rises bass will move to the warmer water.

With all that being said, let’s discuss some of the more popular and effective spring
bass fishing lures, what do you say?

1. Jig & Pig – The jig and pig is a great bass fishing lure for the spring of the year. This
bait imitates crayfish very well, which is a favorite food for bass in the spring of the year.
Use colors that mimic crayfish as much as you can. The jig and pig is a great lure at this
time of year.
2. Rattling Crank Baits – In the spring a rattling crank bait is a great lure foe bass. Many
anglers believe that the rattling sound imitates fighting crayfish underwater. Is this true?
Who knows, but the point is that the rattling sound helps to give the bass something to
“hone in on”, and in the often stained water of spring, these bass fishing lures are very
effective. A great tip is to find some grass and pull your crank bait through the grass,
varying the speed of your retrieve as you go.
3. Spinner Baits – Slow rolling spinner baits is a great bass fishing technique to use in
the spring. Once again, many anglers think that these lures, when retrieved slowly,
mimic crayfish, so stick with darker colors such as black or brown. Colorado blades
seem to work better than other blades in the spring of the year as well. Slow roll your
spinner bait through any grass that you can find, just like with the rattling crank bait. Try to
keep your bait near the bottom as much as you can.
makes the bass additionally vulnerable at this time is that they also strike out of reflex
and a natural instinct to defend - hungry or not.
4. Weightless soft plastics-  A 6 or 10 inch lizard Texas rigged without a weight can be
very productive this time of year, and is one of my favorite baits. One of my favorite lizards
is a pumpkin body with a chartruese tail 10 inch Zoom lizard. Target the grass areas
near the banks. The wightless lizard will allow you to throw into the grass and fish it
without getting snagged. Remember to keep the line as tight as possible because the
strikes are sometimes a small bump in the line.

The best bait for bass fishing is a good question. Especially around this time of the year. Oh yes! It's that time of the year again, the birds are chirping, the weather is warm, and the bass are jumping. I love the spring!
Spring is the time of the year when bass are spawning, making it much easier to find them. They can be found in the shallow areas of a lake or pond. Any structure in the shallow parts is also a plus. For example around docks and fallen trees.
Now that the hardest part of catching big bass is taken care of, finding the location of them that is. But another tricky part, which is where most 90% of Anglers fail to do correctly is catch them. They can see them, but they just can't catch them.
So how exactly do you catch bass? With bait of course...but which baits to use is another question.
The Best Baits for Bass Fishing are:-Live Bait - Because lets face it, they can't fool bass
1) Worms - Without a question, worms are the most popular bait to use, when fishing for bass. There is a reason for it too, Bass LOVE them and they sure are hard to resist when you are a bass in the water. Great to use because they are easily stored and use them anywhere.
2) Minnows - Another popular live bait for bass fishing. Bass love them too, but they take more effort to keep. Unlike worms, minnows must be contained in a container with and air tank. If you have a boat, then minnows are excellent choice of bait, but if you fin yourself on foot, they are not the best option.
- Artificial Lures - Bass are not that smart, but presentation is key!
1) Plastic worms - Absolutely love to use them, using them with a drop shot technique is very effective. Many choices in colors and types.
2) Spinner Baits - A great lure and a very adjustable one at that for bass fishing. Easily changeable blades and skirts. Make the perfect spinner bait for the water your fishing. They are a great trolling bait, which is an excellent way to cover the most area of water for bass.
3) Crank BaitsAction looks good to a hungry bass. Another plus is that there are a variety of different lip sizes. The lip size is what causes the crank to go deep or shallow. The large the lip, the deeper the crank bait goes. The speed is another factor that determines life like presentation and depth.