Some key baits and specific practical tips for using them to catch more bass.

Story and photography by Matt Williams

Stocking a tackle box for bass fishing may seem like a daunting task for someone who is new to the game and just beginning to assemble an arsenal. It also can get expensive pretty quickly, especially if you are a sucker for baits portrayed as silver bullets.

If you forget everything else you read here, remember this:  There is no need to own 10 of every bait style out there, in every color under the sun, just to catch a few bass. Play it smart and stick to the basics.

Here are a few styles of baits every bass angler should always have handy, along with some proven advice for fishing with each one:

Spinnerbait and Chatterbait

The spinnerbait is equipped with a rubber skirt that pulsates and blades that spin on a wire frame as it moves through the water. Fish see the flash, hear the sounds and feel the vibrations of the spinning blades cutting the water.

Spinnerbaits will work in muddy water or clear, deep water or shallow, or in areas with heavy or sparse cover. You can fish it vertically around ledges, pitch it to stumps and bushes, or slow roll it near fallen logs and over grass.

Sizes range from 1/8 ounce to 2 ounces or more; the 3/8 to 3/4 ounce models are the most popular. Blades are available in three styles, but willowleaf (elongated like a leaf) and Colorado (oval shaped) are the most preferred.

Willow blades provide flash and give the bait some “lift,” which helps in shallow water situations. The Colorado is favored in deep or muddy water, because it displaces more vibration the bass can see and hear. White, chartreuse/white and chartreuse are color chart staples.

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