Bass help

Question
I have just started bass fishing with plastic baits. I need help in choosing a
specific bunch of worms, minnows, etc., and on how to use them. I usually fish
for smallmouth with crankbaits. The reservoir has few structure, and i usually
fish from shore.

Answer
Hi Theo,

I'd focus on three soft baits.  

The first would be a 3" curly tail grub like a Mr. Twister or a Kailins Lunker Grub.  Fish them on a plain old 1/16 to 1/8th ounce jig head.  It doesn't get much simpler than that, but it's deadly and very versatile at many depths.

The second would be a 4" plastic worm.  Have some straight tails and some curly tails.  These can be fished along the bottom with either a jig head (as mentioned above) or Texas rigged if you have weeds or timber to go through.  Four inch worms match up well with a 1/0 or 2/0 offset worm hook.  You will also need some 1/16th or 1/8th ounce sliding bullet sinkers to round out the Texas rig.

Last but not least is the "wacky rig" worm.  This technique is absolutely deadly and works everywhere in the country.  You will need some 4" Senko type worms.  There are a million different brand names now and they all work fine.  Yum Dingers, Tiki worms, and on and on.  They are all the same type of worm.  Tie and offset worm hook on your line.  No weights.  Then find the center of the worm and put the hook right through the worm.  Cast it out and let it settle to the bottom.  Now lift the rod a foot and shake the rod tip and let it fall back to the bottom.  Watch the line for the tell-tale thump that the Bass took the worm.  Set the hook.  It a great system and works if the Bass are active or not.  It works shallow, it works deep.  Believe it or not, even with the exposed hook it rarely gets hung up in the weeds.  Here is a great article on wacky Worming.  http://www.bassdozer.com/articles/pierce/wacky_worm.shtml

Good Fishing!!!