Bass identification
| Largemouth bass | Smallmouth bass |
| Large mouth (back edge of mouth extends past the eye) | Smaller mouth (mouth doesn’t extend past eye) |
| Dark, broken horizontal bar pattern | Vertical bars |
| Light green to dark olive, generally gets lighter and turns white towards the underside. | Brown or golden brown to olive or light green, underside is cream to white, often with golden specks coming down from the sides of the fish. |
| Adults average 10–18 inches | Adults average 8–13 inches |
| MA record: 15 lbs. 5 oz. (28 inches), Sampson Pond, Carver, 1975 | MA record: 8 lbs. 2 oz. (22 inches), Wachusett Reservoir, 1991 |
Life history and food sources
In northern climates like Massachusetts, male largemouth and smallmouth bass typically reach sexual maturity when they are between 3 and 5 years old. Spawning occurs from late spring to mid-summer, usually peaking around mid-June. To prepare for spawning, males move into shallow water to build nests by sweeping a 2–3-foot-wide area. Largemouth generally create their nests in 1–4 feet of water. Smallmouth create rock-lined nests near some sort of structure like a boulder or large stump in 2–20 feet of water. Bass are territorial, so their nests are often spread out by at least 30 feet. Males aggressively defend their nest while females move in to deposit their eggs. Some females release multiple batches of eggs throughout the spring and summer. Once the eggs are deposited and fertilized, males continue to guard the nest while hatching and juvenile growth occurs. After hatching, the young remain in a group for about 3–4 weeks and then slowly leave the safety of their father’s guard. Initial growth is rapid; however, juvenile survival rate is low.
Largemouth food sources
Juveniles feed on small aquatic insects and other small invertebrates until they’re big enough to feed on other fish. Largemouth bass are effective ambush predators and eat small fish along with other food items they may encounter including small mammals, frogs, or even birds. Largemouth bass even eat smaller largemouth when resources are scarce. Feeding occurs mainly in spring, summer, and fall months and decreases as their metabolism slows down in colder temperatures.
Smallmouth food sources
Smallmouth bass have a varied diet of zooplankton, aquatic insects, crayfish, and fish depending on their size. While juveniles feed primarily on zooplankton and aquatic insects, subadults and adults quickly transition to crayfish and fish. Some populations are known to consume primarily crayfish. Feeding occurs mainly in spring, summer, and fall months and decreases as their metabolism slows down in colder temperatures.
When to target bass
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are primarily caught during the spring, summer, and fall months while they are spawning and feeding. You can catch bass during the winter months in deeper water using slower action.
- Spring: Target pre-spawn bass in spring when they are actively feeding. Both largemouth and smallmouth can be found in shallow waters while feeding heavily prior to spawning.
- Late spring/early summer: Largemouth and smallmouth spawn, depending upon water temperatures.
- Summer: After spawning wraps up, target smallmouth in deeper water where larger fish seek cooler water. In general, largemouth are still found in shallow waters where they are actively feeding.
- Fall: Target smallmouth and largemouth back in the shallows as they feed prior to winter.
Where to target bass
Largemouth bass can be found in most bodies of water in Massachusetts. Smallmouth bass populations are more patchy due to habitat requirements. In general, large- and smallmouth bass can be found actively feeding in shallow, warmer areas of a waterbody during spring and summer. Bass become less active during the winter and move to deeper water.
Largemouth bass habitat
Largemouth prefer the shallow and warmer areas of small or large lakes and occasionally large, slow-moving rivers. They seek out structure such as submerged vegetation, fallen trees and stumps, or docks and boats. They can tolerate a wide range of water temperatures from freezing all the way up to 90°F.
Smallmouth bass habitat
Smallmouth bass typically prefer cool, clean lakes and large, swift rivers. They take cover in cool areas beside large boulders, rocks, stumps, and fallen trees. Unlike largemouth, smallmouth bass tend to avoid areas of dense vegetation. They can tolerate a relatively wide range of temperatures, but their preferred range during the summer is about 68°–70°F.
You can also check out a list of MA that produce trophy-sized bass.
Selecting a spot on the water
Each waterbody is unique and bass behavior will vary but generally these are valuable considerations and great starting points for locating fish.
Largemouth
Finding largemouth bass in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs
Largemouth are generalists and can be found throughout lakes and ponds. They like areas with thick aquatic vegetation where they can hide and hunt. Often, these fish will be found in almost impenetrable vegetation, that is incredibly shallow and warm. Largemouth also can commonly be found stacked on downed trees, submerged wood, or rocky areas. On hot sunny days, largemouth often move a little deeper until the sun sets and the temperature drops. Dusk and dawn provide some of the best fishing during the warm summer months.
Finding largemouth bass in rivers and steams
Look for largemouth in slow flowing areas like stagnant side channels, shallow weedy backwaters, or deep slow-moving holes along banks. Both largemouth and smallmouth are frequently found where one stream joins another. The influx of oxygenated water and nutrients congregate many species of fish and insects and offers bass a good opportunity to hunt.
Smallmouth
Finding smallmouth in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs
Smallmouth are not present in every lake and pond. When present, they are often found in rocky areas with steep drop-offs. Shoreline points or points off islands can attract prey that then attract smallmouth.
Finding smallmouth in rivers and streams
In large rivers, smallmouth bass may be found taking refuge from the current and hunting in eddies near the river’s edge or near large structures like boulders and logs. They may also hide in deep holes. In summer, smallmouth spend bright daylight hours in deeper water and move to shallow water to feed in the evening and overnight. Shallow sand flats and areas with aquatic grasses can also be productive when fish are feeding or spawning.
Smaller rivers and streams can provide some of the fastest action for smallmouth (though fish are generally a little smaller). Smallmouth can be found more evenly spread through all areas of these smaller rivers and streams. Look for fish in breaks in the current—behind structure, in bends of the river, or in deep holes.
Rod and reel
When targeting bass, it’s important to have sufficient gear. Medium to medium/heavy action fishing rods paired with braided line from 8–20 lb. will give you the necessary hoisting power you need to pull fish from structure or aquatic vegetation. For mono line, 12–14 lb. is typical. If fishing for smallmouth in cold, clear, deep water you could use lighter line. Medium rods are sufficient for most anglers. If you’re throwing heavy lures or lures (such as frog lures) deep into vegetation for largemouth, then you should use heavier action rods with significantly tougher braided line.
Spinning reels work well for bass fishing. Many anglers use them because they are easy to cast and don't tangle easily.
Baitcasting reels are preferred by some anglers, but can be tricky if you're just starting out. Baitcasting reels have their spool perpendicular to the rod allowing for minimal friction as the line comes off the reel during a cast. When setup properly—and with practice—baitcasting reels make for longer, smoother casts. Baitcasting reels offer the benefit of simply pushing a button to cast, which makes repeated casting simpler. Baitcasters are also beneficial when fishing with live bait, as some have “clickers”, which makes a clicking noise to notify the angler when drag is being pulled by a fish. The downside is that baitcasters tend to tangle more and require more frequent adjustment.
Bait and lures
Live bait
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are quick to consume a variety of live baits. Running live baits weightless, or on slip bobbers, regular bobbers, or on bottom clinging slider rigs will all work. Live baitfish can be hooked below the dorsal fin or even lip hooked.
Popular live bait for largemouth: Night crawlers, crickets, shiners, grasshoppers, and live frogs are popular for live baits.
Popular live bait for smallmouth: Crayfish, hellgrammites, and shiners are the preferred bait to target smallmouth, but any live baits will work.
Artificial bait
Unlike live baits, artificial lures require the angler to retrieve, or “work” the baits to create action that mimics a fish or prey item. For example, rubber worms attached to a worm hook (using a Texas Rig or Wacky Rig) are typically fished using periodic twitches or jerks, followed by a slow retrieve to reel in slack. Hard baits and blade baits are typically fished using more of a steady retrieve, to mimic a fish swimming through the water column.
There are endless options when it comes to artificial lures that can be used for bass fishing. The main types of artificial lures used for bass (and other species) are:
- soft plastics
- rubber worms, salamanders, frogs, flukes
- weighted soft plastics (swimbaits, rubber curlytail and bucktail jigs)
- hard baits
- crankbaits (deep-diving, shallow diving, lipless)
- topwater poppers
- blade baits
- spinnerbaits
- buzzbaits
- spoons
- chatterbait, bladed jigs
A useful way to select artificial baits can be to think about them seasonally.
- Spring, when bass are feeding heavily, use jerk baits with long pauses, or slowly crawl crawfish-mimicking jigs. Tubes and weightless rubber minnows are also good bets.
- Summer, when smallmouth go deep, use blade baits, weighted jig heads with rubber baitfish style lures (like a Zoom fluke), or even slow sinking rubber worms to entice them in the deep. Largemouth will be active in the shallows in summer which is a good time to target them with topwater lures (chug bugs, jitterbugs, poppers, frog imitations, and spooks) especially during the early morning and late evening. Rubber worms are also great during summer for catching largemouth bass.
- Fall, switch back to some of the same approaches used during the spring. It can also be beneficial to match your artificial lure to the type of daylight, for example using bright colored lures when the sun is shining, and dark colored lures when it’s overcast or dark.
Hard baits/lures
MassWildlife staff suggestions for hard baits/lures that work for both largemouth and smallmouth.
- 2–3-inch (¼-⅜ oz.) topwater jitterbug. Best fished at first light or last light, just past vegetation line.
- The Rat-L-Trap is a great lure to locate fish in a new waterbody. They sink fairly quickly allowing the angler to target fish both deep and shallow depending on how fast you retrieve. This lure rattles loudly to attract predatory bass from a distance underwater.
- Yo-Zuri pin minnows (all sizes) are floating jerkbaits with bold and shiny color patterns that attract hungry fish from a distance.
- Rebel Pop-R is a classic standby for early morning and evening topwater fishing. It’s best used during warmer months when fish are actively feeding in those low light conditions.
- Classic Mepps, Rooster Tail, and Blue Fox spinners will all catch bass when they are active and hungry. Best to use these in spring and fall when there is less aquatic vegetation present.
Soft baits/lures
MassWildlife staff suggestions for soft baits/lures that work for both largemouth and smallmouth.
- 3–4-inch ( ¼ –⅜ oz.) storm shad swimbaits are great for catching both species of bass.
- 7-inch zoom black rubber worm, using a Texas rig (worm hook and bullet sinker). Very slow retrieve and “pop” it along the bottom. Great for year-round fishing.
- 5-inch green pumpkin/black flake Yamasenko worm. Fished with a 3/0 worm hook rigged weightless. Cast it out and let it sink, fish usually hit it on the drop.
- ⅜ oz. football head jigs with skirts (black/blue or green/black colors) paired with paca chunk crawfish trailers for lakes with less vegetation. This bait mimics crawfish moving along the bottom and will catch big bass in lakes with rocky and less vegetative habitat.
- Spro Frogs have a soft body and weedless rigged hooks. Toss them deep into summer aquatic vegetation and slowly retrieve. Pair this lure with a heavier rod and line combo.
Swimbait fishing
One of the more popular styles of bass fishing that has become much more common in recent years is swimbait fishing. Swimbait fishing is unique in that the angler utilizes heavier rod and reel combos to throw massive heavy baits that are intended to target larger bass. This style of bass fishing is preferred by trophy bass anglers as it eliminates the potential for by catch of smaller bass or other species. Due to this selectivity, swimbait fishing lends itself to be a game of patience. An angler will spend long hours exhausting their arms throwing large baits in hopes of only one two quality bites. Here are some simple tips to guide you if you’re interested in trying your hand at swimbait fishing.
Rod, reel, and line
Most swimbait anglers utilize heavy baitcasting rod and reel setups to handle the large baits that are associated with swimbait fishing. Baitcasting reels in the 200-300 size will functionally be able to handle large swimbaits with their gear ratio. Pair a heavy action baitcasting rod with this reel to give you the rod backbone to handle continually casting heavy baits (and hopefully hauling in some trophy bass). It is important to note that although there are many super expensive versions of baitcasting rods and reels, there are plenty of affordable options available too. You don’t need to invest in a top tier combo.
Due to the nature of throwing heavy baits, it is advised that anglers stay away from using braid on their baitcasting reels while fishing swimbaits. Braid is expensive and a pain to replace, and if you use it in a swimbait setup you will find yourself having to cut it out and replace too frequently. 20lb monofilament line is your best bet. It is super affordable, and easy to replace if your baitcasting reel suffers extensive backlash while fishing.
Baits
Swimbaits are unique compared to other lures in their size and application. Some swimbaits can be massive and weigh multiple ounces. The idea behind swimbaits is that you are mimic actual forage in the pond or lake you’re fishing. These baits are great at tempting trophy size pre spawn largemouth and smallmouth during late spring (mid/late may to early June). That pre spawn phase is when you have a greater chance of connecting with large trophy size fish that are more wary in other times of the year. Below are some examples of common swimbait types that you may want to try.
- Soft swimbaits are readily available to anglers from a host of different brands. ‘Live Target,’ ‘Keitech,’ and ‘Real Prey Swimbaits’ are common brands. There are many variations in soft swimbaits, but most contain a paddle tail which mimics real baitfish prey, and moves significant amounts of water when being retrieved, which will pull in curious bass. They are often segmented to help the bait look like a real baitfish when swimming. When you research and shop for these soft swimbaits, you will find a variation in price points. More affordable baits will catch just as much as the expensive ones; the expensive ones just tend to have more intricate color or design patterns that mimic live bait as close as they can.
- Wake baits are where the swimbait craze began according to many anglers. These baits are large jointed topwater lures that simulate large prey to hungry trophy bass. They are also some of the simplest to master, so are a great place to start for a budding swimbait angler. These baits are tossed and simply retrieved slowly along the surface. Two commonly utilized wake baits amongst anglers are the ‘MS Slammer,’ and the ‘Spro BBz Rat.’ Of course, there are other options as well. These baits tend to be a little pricier due to their size and quality, so its important to run these lures on that heavy baitcasting rod and reel to reduce the likelihood of losing lures.
- Lipped crankbait swimbaits come in many different forms. They are like the soft swimbaits in that they are usually segmented to allow for a true to life swimming presentation. They differ in their material. Lipped crankbait style swimbaits have hard bodies, and a crankbait lip which allows the bait to dive to a depth where you can target bass at greater depth. The tails on these baits are often hyper realistic and made of that same harder material. A lot of anglers prefer these as the crankbait lip helps to create an easy presentation with a consistent retrieve, and they can get a little deeper in the water column to help target some of the larger fish when they are further from shore. There are many affordable versions of these that can be found at a local tackle shop or even large outdoor stores like Cabelas or Basspro. There are also a lot of small time tackle companies building their own expensive and handmade versions as well, such as ‘Psycho Gill.’ Start on the lower end of the price range, and work your way up to the handmade lures if you really enjoy this style of swimbait fishing.