Few other types of fishing are as popular as bass fishing in the United States. The fish itself is tender and succulent when eaten, and the harvest of these fish is not impossible but can present a challenge to even highly experienced anglers. Knowing how to be successful at bass fishing in the United States begins with knowledge of the makeup of the bass itself, from physical aspects and habits to mental abilities.

First of all, it is important to understand that bass have all the same five senses as humans, though they are used in different ways and transmit information back to the brain for different purposes. This is mostly because creatures, aside from humans, tend to have more primitive brains that do not respond with the ability to reason. Instead of thinking and acting, bass are programmed to simply react based on something that happens to change their environment.

When you go bass fishing, keep in mind that a bass' eyesight is fantastic and is probably the most important sense that a bass uses. Bass seek food on sight, with a retina made up of cones to recognize color and rods for black and white. The eye is configured to receive up to five times more light than the human eye, allowing them to make out shapes and colors even in dark, murky waters. They do not have eyelids, but their eyes have the ability to change shape to make necessary light adjustments, and their field of vision is a full 180 degrees. Bass can easily discriminate between colors and sizes, so you must be prepared with your bass fishing bait and use plastics that are close imitations of real bait in order to catch these fish. You should also opt for the thinnest line possible that still holds up against the weight and strength of the bass so that it is less likely to be seen by the fish.

Hearing is another prime sense of the bass, with one organ along the lateral line of the fish for hearing sounds nearby and an ear system inside their heads. The lateral organ can pick up the sound of the displaced water molecules from an object swimming past and pin point with deadly accuracy the source and location of the movement. The ears can react to sound from long distances, meaning that if you are not careful with your boat and its motor, you can easily spoil your bass fishing fun by scaring away your target.