BASS FISHING: TOP 5 TECHNIQUES THAT ACTUALLY WORK
From drop-shotting to topwater frogs, these proven bass techniques will help you land more fish on your next trip.
Bass fishing has more techniques, rigs, and lures than any other freshwater fishery — and that can be overwhelming. The good news: you don't need to master all of them. These five techniques cover the full range of conditions you'll encounter and will put bass in the boat consistently, whether you're fishing a pressured suburban lake or a remote highland reservoir.
The Techniques
Drop Shot
IntermediateRecommended Setup
6–8 lb fluorocarbon, size 1 finesse hook, 1/4 oz drop shot weight
The drop shot suspends a soft plastic bait at a precise depth above the weight, keeping it in the strike zone longer than any other rig. It's the go-to technique for pressured bass in clear water and deep structure. Shake the rod tip gently to make the bait quiver in place without moving the weight.
Best For
Clear water, deep ledges, suspended fish, post-frontal conditions
Pro Tip
Keep 12–18 inches between the hook and weight for most situations. In deeper water (20+ ft), go up to 24 inches.
Topwater Frog
Beginner-FriendlyRecommended Setup
50–65 lb braid, 7'+ heavy rod, wide-gap frog hook
A hollow-body frog walked across lily pads, grass mats, and open water produces some of the most explosive strikes in bass fishing. The key is patience — wait a full second after the blow-up before setting the hook. Most beginners miss fish by setting too early.
Best For
Heavy cover, lily pads, grass mats, early morning and evening in summer
Pro Tip
Walk the frog with a slack-line, side-to-side rod tip motion. Pause it near any opening in the cover — that's where bass are waiting.
Texas Rig
Beginner-FriendlyRecommended Setup
12–17 lb fluorocarbon, 3/0–5/0 EWG hook, 3/16–1/2 oz bullet weight
The Texas rig is the most versatile bass setup ever created. A bullet weight slides freely above a weedless hook rigged through a soft plastic — crawfish, creature bait, or stick worm. It punches through thick cover without snagging and can be fished at any depth.
Best For
Thick cover, laydowns, dock pilings, rocky banks, any depth
Pro Tip
Peg your weight with a toothpick when fishing heavy cover so it doesn't slide away from the bait on the fall.
Spinnerbait
Beginner-FriendlyRecommended Setup
14–17 lb fluorocarbon or mono, medium-heavy rod, 3/8–1/2 oz spinnerbait
The spinnerbait is the most forgiving lure in bass fishing — it deflects off cover, runs weedless, and produces reaction strikes from inactive fish. Slow-roll it just above the bottom in cold water, or burn it near the surface in warm water. White and chartreuse are the all-time top colors.
Best For
Stained to murky water, windy banks, shallow flats, post-spawn
Pro Tip
Trailer a soft plastic chunk or swimbait on the hook to add bulk and slow the fall. A white or chartreuse trailer is almost always the right call.
Ned Rig
Beginner-FriendlyRecommended Setup
6–8 lb fluorocarbon, 1/16–3/16 oz mushroom jig head, 3" ElaZtech stick bait
The Ned rig is the most consistent finesse technique in bass fishing. A small mushroom-shaped jig head with a buoyant soft plastic stands upright on the bottom, imitating a feeding crayfish. Drag it slowly across rocky flats and ledges. It catches fish when nothing else will.
Best For
Clear water, rocky bottom, post-frontal conditions, finicky fish
Pro Tip
Use ElaZtech (Z-Man) plastics — they're buoyant and stand up on the bottom. Regular soft plastics lie flat and lose the rig's signature action.
Quick Tips
TIPS FROM THE WATER
Fish the shady side of cover in summer — bass use shadows to ambush prey and avoid heat.
Slow down in cold water. Bass are cold-blooded; their metabolism drops and they won't chase a fast-moving bait.
Set the hook with a sharp upward sweep, not a wide side-sweep. You'll miss fewer fish.
When you catch one bass from a spot, stay and work it thoroughly — bass school by size and there are almost always more.
Keep Reading
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