Understanding Bass Forage

When it comes to fishing for bass, it's important to understand the different types of forage they eat. 

Matching the hatch by using lures that imitate these natural food sources can greatly increase your chances of success. Following is a quick summary of the most common forage for bass and the common artificial lures that imitate them.

Golden Shiners - These small fish are a favorite of largemouth bass and can be found in many bodies of water across the country. When looking for artificial lures to imitate golden shiners, try using jerkbaits, soft swimbaits, squarebill or lipless crankbaits in a gold with black back color pattern.

Blueback Herring - Found in larger bodies of water, blueback herring are a favorite of both largemouth, spotted, and smallmouth bass. To imitate these baitfish, use swimbaits, lipless crankbaits, blade baits, or topwaters like poppers or walking baits.

Alewives - Similar to blueback herring, alewives are a popular food source for bass in larger bodies of water. Try using swimbaits or different types of crankbaits to imitate these baitfish.

Chubs - Found in streams and smaller bodies of water, chubs are a common food source for both smallmouth and largemouth bass. Use crankbaits or swim jigs in natural colors like brown or green to imitate these baitfish.

Crawfish - Crawfish are a staple food source for bass in many bodies of water. Use crankbaits, jigs, chatterbaits, or soft plastic craws in natural colors like brown or green to imitate these crustaceans.

Threadfin Shad - Another common baitfish in many bodies of water, threadfin shad are a favorite of largemouth and smallmouth bass. Try using small spinnerbaits, paddletail swimbaits, or lipless crankbaits in silver or white colors to imitate these baitfish.

Gizzard Shad - Gizzard shad are larger baitfish that are found in many larger bodies of water. Use larger swimbaits or larger lipless crankbaits in natural colors to imitate these baitfish.

Perch - Perch are a common food source for bass in many bodies of water, particularly in colder water temperatures. Use diving/lipless crankbaits, minnow-style baits, or jigs in natural colors like green or yellow to imitate these baitfish.

Bluegills - Bluegills are a favorite food source for largemouth bass in many bodies of water. Use topwater lures like crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, poppers or walking baits in natural colors like green or blue to imitate these baitfish.

Understanding the different types of forage for bass and the lures that imitate them can greatly improve your chances of success on the water. Experiment with different lures and techniques to find what works best for the specific body of water you're fishing each time you're on the water.