• Bait can often catch bass when lures will not.fishing image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com
  
  A trip to any sporting goods store will quickly reveal the heavy emphasis placed on artificial lures for bass fishing. Perhaps it is for this reason that many bass anglers overlook the effectiveness of bait, instead relying on metal or plastic lures. Bait fishing can be extremely effective. So effective, in fact, that most professional bass organizations heavily regulate the use of bait in their fishing competitions. Fortunately, most bass baits can be located with minimal effort and are straightforward to use.
  
  

Night Crawlers

• Night crawlers are without question the most popular bait for bass in the United States in 2010. They can easily be found in tackle shops, sporting good stores and sometimes even markets that are close to the water. Use the biggest night crawlers that you can find, and be sure to inspect the worms before purchasing them to ensure that they are all alive. Pierce the hook through the night crawler only one time to allow the night crawler to move while in the water. Avoid using a weight when fishing with night crawlers unless fishing on the bottom of the water. Fishing without a weight is sometimes called “fly-lining.” Without a weight, the night crawler can slowly sink to the bottom of the water source. Be alert for strikes as the worm descends.
  
  

Crawdads

• Crawdads can be just as effective as night crawlers, and can usually be purchased at the local tackle shop. If crawdads cannot be purchased, try finding some in a small pond or a drainage ditch and using a small piece of raw liver attached to a hook to catch them. Crawdads are typically attached to the hook at the tail, as crawdads swim backwards. Bass are known to strike at crawdads several times before ingesting them. So allow the fish a little time to run with the crawdad before setting the hook.
  
  

Shad

• Shad are the most common type of bait fish in the United States and can be an excellent bait selection for bass. Because finding shad in a store is often difficult, anglers typically catch their own as they are fishing. Look for a spot along the shore or dock and twitch a gold-colored hook in the water. Shad will often strike at just the hook. If they do not, apply a small amount of bread or stink bait to the hook. Hook the shad through the lower and upper lip. It is usually not necessary to use a weight, but if a greater casting distance is desired, use a small split shot weight. Cast the bait close to the shore next to visible cover, such as a partially submerged log or bush. Note that a single shad may be cast approximately three or four times before it must be replaced.