Fishing for Bass

I would offer advice but as my friend once told me - "fishing for bass is an art. If you were a bass artist you would not be starving but would have died several years ago."

Needless to say I still give it a try occassionally though I prefer Trout in freshwater and Salmon in marine environments. A lot of good advice here but definately know what sort of an area you are fishing in would provide a lot of additional resources. You best bet though is find a talkative local fisherman and offer to buy him a beer/coffee and discuss the best way to catch them.

Bass are easy to figure out once you get to know the lake/region your fishing.   Hard part is getting to know the "x" factors such as moon phase, water temp, light conditions, water clarity etc.   I can fish the same lake, with same lure on different days and have completely different results based on these factors.    I LOVE the Horny toad frog as of late, but that would not do you well up in the northeast.    Great advice already mentioned and still have not seen a 7.5 inch Gambler worm in red shad go untouched in many parts of the Country.  Live bait is always an alternative and although not my style, it does have big advantages...

I bass fish all the time. One of my favorite plastic rigs is a wacky rig. Pick up some 5 inch stick worms (Zoom, BPS brand, Senkos) and some finesse hooks (just ask at your local tackle shop). Stick the hook right through the center of the worm so it hangs horizontal. Cast next to cover and pop it slowly up and down. If you see the line tighten, set the hook. You won't always feel the bite. 

If you want to catch bass pick up some white spinnerbaits and wacky rigs and keep at it. 

Putting time in on the water and soft plastics.  I used to do quite a bit of bass fishing then discovered saltwater, now land locked I am going to have to revert back to freshwater for awhile

I know virtually NOTHING about fishing.......but can catch bass with ease.

I use the smelly rubber worms. Either black or white depending on if its sunny or cloudy out.

Cast, wait a bit, slowly reel in. 

Of course it helps that the lake that our cottage is on is positively bass fishing heaven.........

I have never eaten any fish that I caught, cannot seem to bring myself to,  but always wondered if bass are good eating? 

I've used a #6 Rapala, white-colored spinner, a crankbait, an artificial top-water frog, but at my favorite "no-wake", spring-fed freshwater lake at my in-laws I use live nightcrawlers on a #6 or #8 Eagle Claw hook and bobber set, or (if lucky enough to catch a couple) live frog in lieu of the nightcrawler.  Those 14" and bigger bucketmouths love the live bait.  However, in tournaments, they don't allow live bait, so it's a matter of knowing the water (murky, algae, clear, warm, cold, etc.) and weather (overcast, bright and sunny, rainy, etc.) and identifying the proper artificial for the conditions.

A huge Google hit results -
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&biw=1259&bih=878&q=fishing+for+bass&oq=Fishing+for+bass&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=50969l53547l0l58500l20l16l2l2l1l0l250l1844l0.9.3l12l0

And how do you keep the Sunnies from picking at the worm

Only one way that I know - knowing where the bass "hotspots" are from years of fishing the area.  If not knowing the area, then maybe ask a local for some tips.
Just found this little tidbit - http://petitepets.com/blog/package-bees/how-do-i-avoid-bluegill/?doing_wp_cron

Catch a small sun/pan fish, hook it through the back of its fin, throw it in.  Wait.... Wait..... The bass will take off with it and you'll know its a bass, the other fish will not attempt to bite since they are the same size.  Here are the results... but this was with a bluegill hooked through.

race, er, i mean fish report attached below

i guess you have to wait...gotta figure out how to shrink the photo (the fish is just that big)

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