Can you lay out the basics of bass fishing for a beginner like myself?

First, you must find yourself a good rod and reel. I like the five-foot Quantum Ultra light with a standard ultra light reel. This is a good setup for a beginner. The reason for this setup is so you can feel the bite. Once you are comfortable feeling the bite, you may want to move to a seven-foot Platinum pole, but it is farther down the road. Another reason for the shorter pole is so you can feel the fight of the bass. You need to study the pull and learn how the bass reacts when you hook it. The bait can be just a few simple crankbaits and some spinnerbaits. Bass are not fussy about what they bite at like some other fish. Color is not an issue for a beginner as well. I would suggest about two or three of each would do very well. Bass will bit at night crawlers and even small minnows. When you present the bait, you want to do it quick and then reel the line very slowly in so as not to disrupt the water. The bass will strike if they see a live bait slowly moving in the water. Before going out on the lake or the river, check with a local bait shop to find out what areas are the hottest for that day. Remember that bass will move from day to day sometimes. You can find them with a fish locator, but for a beginner, you do not need expensive equipment until you know for sure this is for you.