There is a first time for everything, right? I have been asked many times by interested friends to “teach” or show them how to bass fish. So, what do you show someone who has never picked up a fishing rod before? While there is never a guarantee of a fish biting any lure, there are a few tried and true lures that are easy to use and will keep a beginner casting and reeling rather than untangling backlashes and unsnagging lures. Here are my top two favorite beginner bass fishing lures:
Texas Rigged Soft Plastics
Texas rigging a worm, creature, buzz frog or other soft plastic is one of the most versatile beginner bass rigs you can put in someone’s hand. This weedless setup ensures a higher probability of success and fun for the beginner angler. You can use a Texas rigged soft plastic in shallow to deep water, so a beginner can use it to cover a larger area of water. You can also use this type of rig at various speeds, from “dead sticking”, or just letting the lure sink to the bottom slowly top a fast retrieve along the top foot of water. A beginner angler could use a Texas rigged soft plastic set up all day! I always have one ties on to this day, and probably always will.
I have caught some of my biggest bass on Texas rigged worms! I still choose to use a simple Texas rigged 4″ worm when the fishing is tough. My favorite way to flush out the big bass in the Summer months is to skip that little worm way up under a dock to the shallow water and let it sit there for 10 – 15 seconds before reeling even once. Try it for yourself and be ready to set the hook!
Spinnerbaits
A spinnerbait is a great beginner search lure. It is another weedless rig, so a beginner can confidently cast and retrieve. Its flashy, thumping blades are a perfect contrast to the quiet, subtle soft plastics. Once again, its easy to use in many different ways, from slow rolling to waking it across the top of the water. The varying weights can also have the lure running in different depths of water, and the variety of blade shapes and sizes change the sound and flash created to attract bass.
Spinnerbaits quickly became my go-to lure as a beginner – I could cast them alongside logs and lay downs in shallow water or slow roll them along inside weed edges or down a ledge in search of interested bass. The rhythmic thump of the blades are a great learning tool, too. When there is any change in that thump, set the hook! There may be a bass nibbling.
Hooked…
Both a spinnerbait and a Texas rigged soft plastic have only one hook. For a beginner, I see this as an advantage. Why? Worm hooks and spinnerbait hooks are generally larger than treble hooks. There is only one point using the force generated by your hook set also, so it usually ensures a better hook up. One hook is also easier to remove from the fish, and three times less likely to end up in YOUR fingers during the process. A trailer hook can be added to a spinnerbait, so now you have two single hooks for the fish to bite if you want to increase the odds a bit.
Other Considerations
Of course, you will need to still show your beginner how to use the rod & reel. For kids, I highly recommend beginning with a spin-casting reel. Its a push button, easy to use enclosed reel that is almost foolproof. Click, cast, and turn the handle to retrieve. This is also fine for an adult if you have one available. A spinning reel would be my second choice, especially for the soft plastic lures. Baitcasting reels can be a little tricky for beginners and can result in backlashed lines that are no fun to pull out.
Bass fishing is a fun, relaxing hobby and sport. Teaching an interested person with simple, easy to operate lures and techniques will make their first few bass fishing adventures enjoyable and successful. You will now have the benefit of one more friend to go fishing with, too!