Bass Fishing for Beginners: 3 Lures That Always Work

Three lures cover most of what a beginner bass angler needs: a weightless soft plastic stick worm, a spinnerbait and a squarebill crankbait. This lesson covers the setup, how to rig and retrieve each lure, where and when to throw them, and how to hold a bass. No lure catches fish every time; these three just give a beginner the best start.

Chapters
0:00 Three lures cover most of what a beginner needs
0:17 The setup: medium spinning rod, 10-12 lb line
0:35 Lure 1: the soft plastic stick worm
0:54 Wacky rig: hook through the middle, slow fall
1:21 Lure 2: the spinnerbait
1:44 Spinnerbait retrieve: steady, bump the cover
2:04 Lure 3: the squarebill crankbait
2:25 Squarebill retrieve: bounce it off wood and rock
2:47 Where and when: cover, seasons, time of day
3:09 Holding a bass; season, size and bag limits
3:34 Recap and next lesson

The plan:
– Setup: medium power spinning rod (6.5-7 ft), 2000-3000 reel, 10-12 lb mono; a starter combo with 8 lb line will do in a pond
– Stick worm (5 in, green pumpkin): 1/0-2/0 wacky hook through the middle, no weight; cast beside docks, trees and weed edges and let it sink on a slack line (most bites come on the fall); line twitches or moves off, reel up the slack and lift
– Spinnerbait (3/8 oz, white/chartreuse): cast past the target and reel steadily, just fast enough to feel the blades; run it along weed lines and past stumps and dock posts and let it bump the cover
– Squarebill crankbait (dives 3-6 ft; shad, bluegill or crawfish colors): reel steadily past rocks, stumps and laydowns and let it bounce off cover; slow down when it ticks something; if it hangs, give it slack. Two trebles – pliers, fingers clear
– Where and when: cover (weed edges, lily pads, docks, fallen trees, rocky points); shallow in spring and fall; early, late or a little deeper in summer; a dozen casts, then move
– Handling: thumb on the lower lip, vertical or belly supported with the other hand, never angled one-handed; wet hands, pliers, quick photo, back in the water

Before you fish: Check your state/local fishing license, season, size and bag-limit rules before you fish (bass seasons, minimum sizes and bag limits vary by state). Wear a life jacket around deep or moving water; never fish alone on slippery rocks or jetties. Handle hooks and fish spines carefully; keep a first-aid kit.

Sources (checked October 15, 2026):
– Minnesota DNR, How to catch a largemouth bass: https://dnr.state.mn.us/gofishing/how-catch-largemouth-bass.html
– Iowa DNR, Largemouth Bass Fishing: https://iowadnr.gov/Fishing/Fishing-Tips-How-Tos/How-to-Fish-For-/Largemouth-Bass-Fishing
– BassResource, 6 Must Have Bass Lures for Beginners (Tyler Brinks): https://www.bassresource.com/beginner/bass-lures-beginners.html
– Tackle Warehouse, How-to Choose Your First Rod for Bass Fishing: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/bass-fishing/how-to/how-to-choose-your-first-rod-for-bass-fishing.html
– Tackle Warehouse, Squarebill Crankbait Gear Guide: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/bass-fishing/gear-guides/squarebill-crankbait-patterns-techniques-for-bass-fishing.html
– Outdoor Life, How to Fish a Wacky Rig (Derek Horner, Apr. 17, 2026): https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/how-to-fish-a-wacky-rig/
– Field & Stream, How to Fish a Wacky Rig: A Beginner’s Guide (Shaye Baker, 2026): https://www.fieldandstream.com/stories/fishing/wacky-rig-guide
– Outdoor Life, How to Fish a Spinnerbait (Derek Horner, Apr. 3, 2026): https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/how-to-fish-a-spinnerbait/
– Bassmaster, Frugal Angler: Spinnerbait (Russ Lane): https://bassmaster.com/how-to/news/frugal-angler-spinnerbait
– Field & Stream, How to Hold a Bass – 3 Ways: https://www.fieldandstream.com/conservation/how-to-hold-bass/
– Prices checked Oct. 15, 2026: Yamamoto 5-inch Senko 10-pack $7.49 (Omnia Fishing); Strike King KVD Elite 1.5 squarebill $8.99 sale (Tackle Warehouse); Booyah Covert 3/8 oz spinnerbait $8.49 (Discount Tackle).

Photos (Wikimedia Commons): “Early Morning Bass Strike” and “Foggy Fishing Morning” by Cdwarren01 (CC BY 4.0); “Daiwa frearm 2500 2” (spinning reel) by JaredMcKenzie (CC0); “Unterschiedliche Gummiköder” (soft plastic lures), “Spinnerbait” and “Verschiedene Crankbaits” (crankbaits) by Danndorfer1914 (CC0); “Largemouth Bass, Brushy Creek, Round Rock, TX” (iNaturalist), “Florida Bass, Orlando, FL” (iNaturalist) and “Florida Bass, Rainbow River, Florida” (iNaturalist) by an iNaturalist contributor (no rights reserved) (CC0); “Kayak Fishing on Bear Creek Lake” by Virginia State Parks staff (CC BY 2.0); “Carolina Morning” by Don McCullough from Santa Rosa, CA, USA (CC BY 2.0). Licences: CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ ; CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Photos cropped, zoomed and color-adjusted, with text added.

Fishing Made Simple is a beginner fishing channel. Always check local fishing regulations and licensing before you fish. Narration uses an AI voice.