Gear checklist · 11 items

What to Bring Largemouth Bass Fishing in Tennessee

Largemouth are in every Tennessee lake and most farm ponds.

The checklist

Largemouth Bass gear checklist

Largemouth are in every Tennessee lake and most farm ponds. One medium-heavy casting setup covers soft plastics, jigs and square bills; a spinning rod handles the finesse end. This list is the box that works from Reelfoot to Chickamauga.

RodUgly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rodStiff enough to set a hook in grass, tough enough to live in a truck bed.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

ReelAbu Garcia Black Max baitcasting reelAn inexpensive baitcaster that casts cleanly once the brakes are set.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

LineSeaguar Red Label fluorocarbon, 15 lbSinks, holds up on rock and riprap, and nearly disappears in clear water.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

Soft plasticZoom Trick WormThe Tennessee standard on a Texas rig or weightless along docks and grass edges.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

Soft plasticStrike King Rage Tail CrawFlip it into cover or trail it on a jig when the bite is on crawfish.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

CrankbaitStrike King KVD 1.5 square billBang it off stumps and rock in 2 to 6 feet of water in spring and fall.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

SpinnerbaitBooyah Pond Magic spinnerbaitA small, cheap spinnerbait for stained water and windy banks.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

TopwaterHeddon Zara SpookEarly summer mornings over points and grass flats.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

HooksGamakatsu EWG offset worm hooks, 4/0For the trick worm and craw. Sharp out of the pack.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

WeightsTungsten flipping weights, 1/4 and 3/8 ozSmaller than lead for the same weight, so the bait slides through cover.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

ToolsRapala fishing pliersHook removal and split rings. Keep them on a lanyard.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

These are affiliate links. Buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it is how the site stays free.

Where to use it

Tennessee water for largemouth bass

59 lakes and rivers on this site hold largemouth bass. These are a few; each page lists every public access point.

Where to use itBarren ForkPublic access, limits and what else swims in Barren Fork.See the spots →Where to use itBoone LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Boone Lake.See the spots →Where to use itCalf Killer RiverPublic access, limits and what else swims in Calf Killer River.See the spots →Where to use itCenter Hill LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Center Hill Lake.See the spots →Where to use itCheatham LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Cheatham Lake.See the spots →Where to use itCherokee LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Cherokee Lake.See the spots →

Bigger purchases

Gear compared for largemouth bass trips

The electronics, motors, boats and batteries that cost real money, compared side by side with the Tennessee water each one suits. Affiliate links.

Fish Finders

BudgetGarmin Striker 4$120 MiddleHumminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G4N$700 TopGarmin LiveScope Plus LVS34 bundle$1,500

Compare all 6 →

Trolling Motors

BudgetMinn Kota Endura C2 30$150 MiddleMotorGuide Xi3 55 lb Freshwater GPS$1,150 TopMinn Kota Ultrex QUEST 90/115$3,500

Compare all 6 →

Lithium Marine Batteries

BudgetLiTime 12V 100Ah LiFePO4$250 MiddleBattle Born 12V 100Ah$850 TopDakota Lithium 36V 63Ah$1,700

Compare all 6 →

All gear compared

Other checklists

Gear for other Tennessee fishing

Smallmouth Bass Crappie Bluegill and Panfish Catfish Striper and Hybrid Walleye and Sauger Trout Musky Kayak and Float Trip Bank and Pier Fishing

Common questions

Largemouth Bass gear questions

What do I need to go largemouth bass fishing in Tennessee?

The 11 items on this page: Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod, Abu Garcia Black Max baitcasting reel, Seaguar Red Label fluorocarbon, 15 lb, Zoom Trick Worm, Strike King Rage Tail Craw, Strike King KVD 1.5 square bill and the rest of the list above. A Tennessee fishing license for anyone 13 or older.

What rod for largemouth bass?

Ugly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rod. Stiff enough to set a hook in grass, tough enough to live in a truck bed.

What are the best lures or baits for largemouth bass in Tennessee?

Zoom Trick Worm, Strike King Rage Tail Craw, Strike King KVD 1.5 square bill, Booyah Pond Magic spinnerbait. The list above says when each one works.

What is the best all-around bait for largemouth in Tennessee?

A Texas-rigged Zoom Trick Worm in green pumpkin or junebug. It catches fish in every lake on this site, in every month from March to November.

Do I need a baitcaster for largemouth?

No. A 7 ft medium spinning rod with 12 lb line will fish everything on this list except heavy flipping. A baitcaster helps with accuracy and bigger baits once you have the basics.

How much does a largemouth bass setup cost?

A rod, reel, line and the first three or four baits on this list is a modest start; the rest can be added a trip at a time. Prices are on Amazon, and bait shops in the county you fish carry most of it too.

Are these affiliate links?

Yes. Each link goes to Amazon with this site’s tag. It costs you nothing extra and pays for the site. Nothing on the list was chosen for commission; it is what works on Tennessee water.

Can I buy this gear locally instead?

Yes. Every county page on this site lists the bait shops, marinas and big box stores that carry tackle, with phone numbers and directions.

Keep going

More Tennessee water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.

Guides by water Licence and limits