Largemouth Bass gear

Quick setup

Rod	Reel	Line
A 6.5 to 7 foot medium action spinning rod is an easy start. Bass rods run 6 to 8 feet, with 7 to 7.5 feet a good all-round length.	Spinning for beginners. Most bass anglers move to baitcasting; spincast also works.	8 to 10 lb mono on spinning gear. For heavy cover, braid of 15 lb or more. Fluorocarbon is a good all-round baitcasting line.

Rod, reel and line

Rod: A 6.5 to 7 foot medium action spinning rod is an easy start. Bass rods run 6 to 8 feet, with 7 to 7.5 feet a good all-round length.
Reel: Spinning for beginners. Most bass anglers move to baitcasting; spincast also works.
Line: 8 to 10 lb mono on spinning gear. For heavy cover, braid of 15 lb or more. Fluorocarbon is a good all-round baitcasting line.

Baits

nightcrawlers
minnows

Lures

soft plastic worms
spinnerbaits
crankbaits
topwater plugs and frogs
jigs and tubes
swimbaits

Rigs

Texas rig: 1/4 to 1/2 oz worm weight, 2/0 to 4/0 worm hook, 6 to 10 inch worm. Let it sink and drag it slowly through vegetation.
Wacky rig: a 4 inch stick worm hooked in the middle on a 1/0 hook. Let it sink slowly, lift, repeat.

Tips

Best at about 55 to 75°F, roughly May through June and again from September to mid-October. Fish weed edges, docks, wood and drop-offs. Topwater shines early and late.
Fly fishing: Poppers and streamers that imitate minnows or crayfish, best when bass are shallow.

Starter setup

A 5.5 to 7 foot light to medium-light spinning or spincast rod and matching reel, spooled with 6 lb monofilament. Spincast is easiest for beginners, and a 4 to 5 foot rod suits small kids. Carry size 6 to 10 hooks, a few split shot (pinched on 4 to 8 inches above the hook), small bobbers, a couple of small spinners and jigs, and worms. Learn the improved clinch knot and the palomar knot.

Light line casts farther and draws more strikes. Heavier line and stiffer rods are for bigger fish, heavy cover or sharp teeth, not for everyday fishing.

When to size up

Fish	Gear
Walleye, bass, saugeye, hybrid striped bass	medium rod, 8 to 12 lb line, 6 to 7.5 feet
Channel catfish	medium-heavy rod, 10 to 20 lb line
Northern pike	medium-heavy rod, 15 lb or heavier braid, steel or heavy fluorocarbon (40 lb+) leader
Muskellunge	heavy 7 to 9 foot rod, 50 to 80 lb braid, heavy leader
Trolling for lake trout and salmon	8.5 to 10.5 foot trolling rods, 15 lb mono or 30 lb braid, level-wind reels
Steelhead	8 to 10 foot or longer rods, 6 to 10 lb line
Lake sturgeon	heavy rod, 50 to 100 lb braid