If you want to be successful when you go fishing for bass, it is important to consider the bait you'll need and the techniques you intend to use. Bait for bass has a wide range of possibilities, and you may want to try several different ones to see which one produces the best results for you. Here is a brief guide to choosing fishing bait for your next excursion.

The best bass bait by far for a variety of circumstances are jigs. These baits can be productive in several water clarities, ranging from murky to clear. They are also excellent choices in water temperatures under 60 degrees when bass bury themselves in deep cover and become inactive. What is a jig, and how does it work?

This bait basically consists of a heavy lead head with a single hook. Attached to the hook will be some sort of skirt or trailer that will present attractively to the bass, making it appear alive in the way that it moves through the water. If you have a weedguard, you can use them with great success in dense cover, where you'll find the biggest bass. Because they are discreet, they can be dropped into bass territory just like a live crawfish or baitfish without a major disruption. There are a number of different types of jigs, in all sizes and color, so you need to choose the right one to act as your bass fishing bait.

Weight can vary quite a bit, and the various sizes will be effective with different line types. For example, lighter weights ranging from 1/8 ounce to 1/2 ounce work well with light line and spinning tackle and are best worked in clear waters. On the other hand, murky waters call for larger jigs like 3/8 and 5/8 ounce varieties that should be paired with baitcasting tackle and heavy line. If there is a lot of heavy wind, it can be difficult to detect bites on a jig that is too light, so you may want to opt for a larger, heavier variety in these cases. Of course, the lightest jig you can get away with in any circumstance will be the best bass fishing bait in any circumstance, since you can easily feel when it touches the bottom and when a fish makes contact. However, maintain a range of weights in your tackle box between 1/8 and 1/2 to assure you have what you need for any application.