Break out your cellphone and get ready for the bass fishing break down. There is no reason to let this fish be a pain in “bass!” We have some easy ways to get your rod bent with a bass jumping on the other end of the line.

1) Location

Your cell phone can be key in finding some of the hottest bass fishing that Florida has to offer. All smart phones now come with Google Earth/ Google Maps, and by changing the settings on this app to satellite instead of public transit, you can find every ounce of water that is out there.  You might have a big lake or park nearby you to fish, but you should definitely be able to at least find small ponds accessible to you. Look for the ponds that are a little darker in color on the map since these are the ponds that will be a little deeper and tend to hold larger quantities of fish. Once you have found a pond or lake to fish, make sure you don't charge down the bank and scare away any fish you were planning to catch. If there is one thing that we’ve learned over the years, it is to be quiet like a ninja when approaching these ponds!  Big fish tend to sit near the shore either on a bed or in heavy cover to keep them protected. So, walk down as slowly and quietly as possible, then cast parallel to the shore line.

2) Artificial bait

Selecting the right bait is key to great bass fishing, but it can also be a bit confusing. If you stick to some basic rules, you can catch a lot of fish. Artificial worms are great “go to” bait, but remember these tips in picking color. If you’re fishing really clean water, watermelon red, green pumpkin, and watermelon work very well. If the water is darker, use black blue flake, june bug, or purple grape. Some professional bass fishermen may recommend numerous color combinations, brands, and lengths, but this can become overwhelming and confusing. Just stick with the basics to start, and build your box as you go. Remember, they didn’t get the name bassholes for nothing!  A good, easy, and painless way to rig a worm is with a 3/0 offset worm hook, and rig it weedless. (Shown in the following fish tip.) Lilly pads, cat tails, bull rush, and hydria beds are all places that provide the perfect cover for bass to hide. A weedless rigged worm is ideal for fishing these areas.

Another type of artificial bait that you may want to consider using is a frog. Working the frog across the surface can be a very effective way to lure bass out from under cover.

3) Natural bait

Live bait such as live worms, shiners, and small blue gill also work very well on bass and often actually out fish artificial bait. Using bread and very small gold hooks, like a size 10, is the best way to go about catching live bait. A cast net may catch more, but once you throw a net in the pond, you can’t turn around and fish for bass. They will be long gone! A 3/0 shiner hook or circle hook with a small float that keeps the bait just above the grass and weeds is the best way to rig the live bait. And, it is very important to remember that when using live bait you must give the cork a 3 second count when it goes under before reeling down on the fish.

4) Rod and Reel

Lastly, a great rod and reel combo that we recommend for versatile bass fishing is our Dogfish Stik Signature Series 701mfs paired with a Shimano Stradic 3000 spooled with 10 to 15lb power pro line. This outfit can not only be used to bass fish, but can be used as a crossover from freshwater to saltwater.