Can you lay out some bass fishing basics for beginners like myself?

The first thing you are going to need is a good rod and reel. I would say for a beginner a Quantum Ultra light rod will do find with a regular ultra light reel. This setup is great for those are just beginning to fish for bass. The light rod will allow you to feel the bite easier than if you were using a heavier rod. Try to find a five-foot rod until you become more accustom to feeling the bite. You are going to know when you have a bass with a lightweight rod. As far as your bait, you can use a spinner bait or a crankbait. You will have good luck catching the bass with any bait, really. Bass are easy to feed. They usually strike at anything that moves in the water. Just remember it is the way that you present the bait to the bass. Cast your line and then slowly reel it in. The one thing you do not want to do is make to many ripples in the water. This will disrupt the bass and they will move to safety. Most of the bass waters have local baiting shops and sporting shops where you can get a map of the waters. This is a good way to see where the best places are to fish for the bass. You do not need any special equipment until you practice and make sure that fishing is what you want to do. Have a great time and catch a lot of fish.