When I first started bass fishing many years ago, I was overwhelmed and wasn’t sure what gear and tackle I needed to get started and how to approach bass fishing.
I ended up wasting a lot of time and money on things that I didn’t need and used tackle and baits that wouldn’t work.
For that reason, I have put together this bass fishing setup guide to help anyone that is new to bass fishing and needs some help getting started.
In this article you’ll learn about the key bass fishing gear that you’ll need, the must have lures and baits, and everything else you’ll need to know to help you get started, and more importantly, help you catch some bass.
Must Have Bass Fishing Gear
If you ever walk into a tackle shop, you’ll notice that there is what seems like an endless amount of bass fishing gear available. There are literally hundreds of rods, baits, lures, colors, and weights to choose from.
With so many options it can be a challenge to filter through all the clutter and find the things that you really need.
To help you get started I have put together the following list of the must have bass fishing gear, tackle, and baits that every bass fishing angler should have.
Here is a list of the must have bass fishing gear that every angler needs:
Bass Fishing Tackle and Gear Essentials
Rod & Reel
First and foremost, the obvious and most basic thing that you’ll need is a fishing pole (rod and reel). Now, if you are just get started the odds are you haven’t had any experience using a baitcaster which is completely normal and not a big deal at all.
If you are in this situation I would recommend going with a spinning setup. A baitcaster can be difficult to learn and may be more frustrating than it is worth when you are just starting out.
You can always pick up and learn a baitcaster further down the road when you gain some more experience. (If you are interested in the best baitcasting combos for beginners, check out this article here)
Fishing with a spinning rod and reel will allow you to fish a lot of the basic soft plastic baits and lures that are needed to catch bass.
If you are looking to buy a new spinning rod setup specifically for bass fishing, I would recommend going with a 6’7” to 7’medium action rod with a standard gear ratio.
In my opinion one of the best options out there the Lew’s American Heroes Spinning combo, but there are a ton of solid spinning combos out there.
For more idea on some great entry level spinning rods check out this article: Best Spinning Rod & Reel Combos Under $50
If you already have a spinning setup that you have been using to catch trout or other species you can use this to catch some bass as well.
Fishing Line
Now that you have a good idea of the type of rod and reel you’ll need to catch bass, let’s go over what kind of fishing line you should be using.
There are a ton of different line options out there to choose from. On a spinning rod the most popular are fluorocarbon, braid, monofilament, and a combination of braid and fluorocarbon. Here is a simplified break down of each:
Fluorocarbon = most sensitive, clear and ideal for clear water situations and it sinks
Braid = is the strongest, smallest diameter per lb. test ideal for
Monofilament = it’s the cheapest, it floats, ideal for top water baits and lures
The best fishing line is going to really depend on your personal preference and the type of baits/lures you’ll be using, the type of structure, and water you plan on fishing.
If you plan on fishing in ponds or somewhere that has heavy structure, I would recommend going with braided line (10-20 lb test).
On the other hand, if you are going to be fishing in clear water, then fluorocarbon (6-8lb. test) would be the ideal choice or a braid as your main line and a fluorocarbon leader.
Another all-around great line option would be a 12-pound test monofilament because it is versatile and can work in most situations.
Recommended Fishing Line
Baits and Tackle
There are literally thousands of bass fishing baits and tackle you can choose from, so where do you start? If you are just getting started into bass fishing don’t over complicate things and keep it simple.
Here are some basic rig and tackle I recommend that is great for learning and to help you gain more experience, and most importantly, catch some bass.
By far one of the most versatile bass fishing rigs and the one I would recommend starting with is the Texas rig. The Texas rig consist of a bullet weight, wide gap hook, and a soft plastic worm or creature bait.
The Texas rig is weedless so that you won’t get hung up in structure and it’s a great way to catch bass for those that are just starting out.
Here is an ideal Texas rig setup:
- Worm Hook (3/0 or 4/0)
- Bullet Weight (1/4 ounce or 1/8-ounce weight)
- Soft Plastic Worm (Senko) or Creature bait (but any soft plastic bait will work)
Although the Texas rig is a phenomenal bass fishing rig there are a lot of other great options out there. Here is a list of some basic bass fishing rigs that are easily to learn and flat out catch bass.
Best Bass Fishing Rigs for Beginners
Tackle Boxes
Just like anything else there are a ton of different tackle boxes and bait storage options out there. If you are going to be bass fishing, I’d recommend starting out with a 3700 utility box.
These are exactly what a lot of the professional bass anglers use, you can get them cheap, and it’s a great way to store all of your bass fishing baits and tackle in one place.
They are a flat clear box, so you can see what’s inside and they come with removable dividers so that you can customize them as you need.
They are also small enough to fit into a backpack which makes them easy to carry around and store. As you add to your bait and tackle collection you can always buy more.
Line Cutter
In bass fishing you’ll be constantly tying on and re-tying different rigs and lures, so having a solid pair of line cutters is a must.
My favorite is the Boomerang Retractable Line Cutter, but a pair of nail clippers or scissors can work just fine as well.
You just need something that will allow you to easily cut off the tag end of your fishing line when you tie on a lure or bass fishing rig.
Whatever you decide to use make sure you always remember to keep it with you and handy because you never know when you’ll need to re-tie.
Hook Remover/Pliers
For the most part when bass fishing, removing a hook from the mouth of a bass is easy and straight forward and, in most cases, you’ll be able to do this by hand.
However, there are some instances when a bass can absolutely choke a lure and you’ll need a hook remover or some pliers to be able to safely remove the hook.
Having the right tool will allow you to quickly and safely extract deeply buried hooks without harming yourself and the fish – giving it a better chance at survival if you release it.
The ideal hook remover is the CrazyShark Aluminum Hook Remover but if you are on a budget or are looking for a cheaper option a standard set of needle nose pliers can get the job done.
Hat & Sunglasses
Protecting your face and eyes from the sun is not only important for your health but can also play a key role in being able to see and identify fish and key structure.
Any type of sunglasses will help, but polarized fishing sunglasses are a game changer. They will cut out the glare and provide the best protection while fishing.
A solid pair of polarized fishing sunglass will also help you see beyond the surface of the water making it easier to spot and catch fish.
These are especially important if you are fishing in clear water or when you are sight fishing.
When you are just getting started you don’t need the top of the line fishing sunglasses by any means, but having a decent pair of polarized glasses can make a big difference and are worth investing in.
Final Thoughts
In this article we have covered the basic gear and tackle needed for bass fishing. I hope you have found this information to be helpful and that you use it as a guide as you get started in your pursuit of some bass.
Don’t be like me and waste a lot of time and money on rods and reels, tackle, and lures that you don’t need or simply don’t work. Keep it simple and stick with the basics and as you gain more experience you can experiment and try new technique and lures as you go.
Tight Lines!