Best New Bass Fishing Tactics to Try in 2025
Bass fishing is always evolving. What worked five years ago might still catch fish — but if you want to stay ahead of the curve in 2025, it’s time to shake up your approach. With new gear, refined techniques, and a deeper understanding of fish behavior, this season is all about dialing in your tactics and fishing smarter, not harder.
Here are five of the best new bass fishing techniques to try this year — and how to make the most of them.
1. Finesse Power: Heavy Ned Rigs and Compact Jigs
In 2025, finesse isn’t just for light tackle. More anglers are using compact Ned-style baits on heavier gear — think 1/2 oz jigheads, beefed-up hooks, and braided line with fluorocarbon leaders. It’s a deadly combo when bass are pressured but still need a big presentation to commit.
Try This Setup:
Pair a high-sensitivity Walton RCT casting rod with a compact football Ned or finesse jig. The extra sensitivity helps detect subtle pickups, while the rod’s backbone drives solid hooksets.
2. Forward-Facing Sonar + Hover Bait = Game Changer
This might be the most talked-about trend in bass fishing right now. Hover-style mid-column swimbaits paired with live sonar allow you to present baits in ways fish haven’t seen before — suspending over structure, tracking individual fish, and triggering strikes with precise movements.
Tip: Use a longer spinning rod with a soft tip, like those in the Walton Rods RCT spinning series, to keep the bait naturally hovering without overworking it.
3. Coffee and Confidence Casting
It’s not just about technique — it’s about routine. More anglers are leaning into their pre-dawn prep and treating those quiet moments as essential to their day. The right mindset, a thermos of Dripfish Coffee, and your go-to rod in hand? That’s how confidence starts before you even hit the ramp.
No exaggeration — many seasoned anglers say their best days start with a hot cup and a clean cast.
4. Shallow Water Wake Baits on High Pressure Days
When everyone’s fishing deep, go shallow. Wake baits and topwater plugs over weed flats, stumps, or rock just under the surface have been catching more big bass under high-pressure conditions. It’s a throwback technique that’s roaring back in 2025 — especially in clear or early-season water.
Rod Recommendation:
A medium-action Walton RCT casting rod gives you the right balance of distance, action, and hook control when bass slash at surface baits.
5. Bank-Hopper Tactics: Fishing Like You Did as a Kid
There’s a growing movement of anglers taking bass fishing tactics back to the basics — bank hopping ponds, creeks, and public access spots instead of launching boats. Mobile tactics, packable gear, and minimalist setups are redefining what it means to be a serious angler.
You don’t need a bass boat to catch big fish — just good instincts, a solid rod, and a backpack full of essentials.
Pro Tip: The Walton RCT spinning rod is lightweight, versatile, and perfect for pond-hopping missions. Toss it in the truck next to your cooler and your coffee.
Final Cast:
Fishing in 2025 is about refinement — blending bass fishing tactics with modern tech with timeless feel. Whether you’re experimenting with sonar-driven techniques, downsizing your jigs, or just getting back to your roots, the tools you choose matter. Gear that performs. Coffee that fuels. And a rod that feels like an extension of your hand.
Real rods. Real roots. Fished everywhere.
Fueled by Dripfish Coffee. Powered by Walton Rods.