Bass baits -- when most anglers hear those words, the images that come to mind are mostly of plastic worms, spinnerbaits, topwater plugs and the like. Often forgotten are baitfish and various critters that bass think of as good food.

Early in the year, when low water temperatures equate with low metabolism rates in bass and an unwillingness to chase most lures, a well-presented live offering ranks among the best tools for tempting fish into biting. Note the words "well-presented." Contrary to what many lure specialists believe, using live bait isn't simple and doesn't automatically put fish in the boat. Success requires selecting the right bait, rigging and presenting it properly and putting it where the fish are. Live bait fishing also commonly involves active approaches, which defy stereotypes of sitting in a single spot and staring at a rod tip.

Let's look at some of the finest live baits for bass, when to use them and the best techniques for presenting them effectively.

Shad
How do bass fishermen begin the process of searching for bass? Often, they search for shad. If shad are stacked up in an area, it's likely that the bass are nearby. That's especially true during the winter, when both the baitfish and the bass often look for modest temperatures, and they tend to pile up in areas that offer a degree or two of added warmth. Such areas might be the deepest water in a lake, or after a string of sunny days, they might also be over sun-baked shallow flats.

Whether deep or shallow, the bass and their favorite food often will be together, and there's no more effective way to get those bass to bite than to put a live shad on a hook and dangle it among them. For stationary approaches, shad can be hooked through the back, just behind the dorsal fin. For slow-trolling, which is an excellent way to present live shad, it's better to hook the baitfish through the nostrils or into the bottom lip and out one nostril.

Because bass are so fond of shad, they often will slurp them down pretty quickly, so it is a good idea to use circle hooks. Anglers using circle hooks will land a good percentage of the fish that bite, and most bass will be hooked in the corner of the mouth. A great hook for a live shad is a 1/0 to 3/0 Daiichi Improved Circle.

The indisputable downside of shad as bait is that they can be difficult to keep alive. A large, round, well-aerated bait tank is needed for keeping large numbers of shad alive for very long. Lacking that option, the best plan is to carry modest numbers of baitfish and to change out the water occasionally.

Crawfish
Crayfish, crawfish, crawdads, mudbugs -- call them what you like. Bass just call them dinner. Virtually every crankbait and jig ever created comes in crawfish color patterns, and soft-plastic manufacturers make countless crawfish imitations. Each of these baits has its advantages, but for sheer fish-attracting ability, it's hard to beat putting a real live crawfish at the end of the line.

The biggest challenge related to fishing with craws during the early part of the year can be attaining them. Some bait stores carry crawfish, but often not until at least mid-spring. They can also be caught, either by flipping stones in a creek or along the edges of a pond or by baiting and setting a crawfish trap around rocks, downed trees or other cover in rivers or lakes. (Check local regulations related to catching crawfish and using them as bait.) However, catching crawfish is also much easier after the water warms.