21 replies to this topic

[BassBoy10]

Hello bass fisherman, im new to the sport and need help. I've been fishing the local neighborhood lake and havent come up with much. I have access to a canoe and the lake. Please help, all thoughts GREATLY appreciated!

[Missouribassman95]

Wacky rigged senks.

[Traveler2586]

BB, Try the "Article's" section of the forum. Look for the green bar at the top of the forum page, on the left is "Article's"; the first subject in there is for beginners.

[sdoug805]

Hello bass fisherman, im new to the sport and need help. I've been fishing the local neighborhood lake and havent come up with much. I have access to a canoe and the lake. Please help, all thoughts GREATLY appreciated!

+1 on the wacky rigged senkos, there's a lot of great information on this site on how to rig and fish them. I like to fish suspending jerk baits this time of year in the cold water until the lilly pads start to come in, and then it's top water frog time for me.

If you're not sure where to look for the bass, you can't go wrong with fishing structure. Look for downed trees, wood poking up out of the water etc. Weed beds provide great cover for bass. It can be tricky fishing weed beds at first, texas rigged worms are a good way to work weed beds. A great and simple lure for fishing weed beds also is the johnson silver minnow. I like to fish a half ounce one with a 4 inch swimming grub as a trailer. Can't go wrong with it, just a simple slow retrieve and don't let it sink.

[scrutch]

Wacky rigged senkos can be a nightmare for a beginner unless you are using a weedless hook. For you to succeed, it is really important that you spend as much time in the articles and FAQ's sections of this site. There is more information there than you can imagine. Do exactly what some of those articles tell you and then come here and post some of your questions for us to help you out. Good luck! Looking forward to reading some of your results!

[Nitrofreak]

BB, Try the "Article's" section of the forum. Look for the green bar at the top of the forum page, on the left is "Article's"; the first subject in there is for beginners.

X2

Lot's of great info to help you out.

If you want us to help you out, we need some help from you, more info about the body of water and what you are using to fish with will give us what we need to give you better advice.

You can't go wrong with a T-Rigged worm for starters, when you look at the water, how dark or clear is it, this will help you with the color you need to use, the darker the water, the darker the bait should be.

Don't rush yourself, take the time to fish the bait, slow action type twitches will get their attention.

[Traveler2586]

If you want us to help you out, we need some help from you, more info about the body of water and what you are using to fish with will give us what we need to give you better advice.

You can't go wrong with a T-Rigged worm for starters, when you look at the water, how dark or clear is it, this will help you with the color you need to use, the darker the water, the darker the bait should be.

Don't rush yourself, take the time to fish the bait, slow action type twitches will get their attention.

X2

Look to the shoreline or weed-line for clues as to how the bottom drops off; if you see wood in the water near a drop-off-thats good. Read about structure fishing and also how the weather affects the fish.
Learn what the bottom is like around the shoreline; get as long of a pole as you can safely handle in your boat and probe the bottom to see what it's made of, is it muck ~~ is it hard ____ is it sand & gravel . Bass will spawn on hard, rocky, or S&G this time of year.
Ask someone in charge of the lake or pond if there is a map and what type of forage (bait-fish, crayfish, etc) is in the lake.
Read something about Bass fishing every night just before going to sleep, it's relaxing, and will give you good dreams

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Look for a post from Roadwarrior re: pond fishing. It's a good starting point. Basically slowly drag a senko and fat Ika along the bottom parallel to the bank at increasing depths. If no bites come after coving it well, look for new water.

[Traveler2586]

Also, Learn to fish a lure well, learn how it works, how it feels, how to clear a snag, etc. Same thing for your rod & reel combo.
Pick something, a worm, a jig. a crank, a spinner, whatever, and go fishing; leave everything else at home; learn that bait.
Next time out try another bait - but only that bait. Sometimes you can get so hung up on what lure, what color, what location, you can loose the joy of fishing and not learn anything in the process.

[BassBoy10]

Thanks guys. went out today and caught myself 4 largemouth with a rapala shad. Had a great time, this is defiantly my sport

[scrutch]

Thanks guys. went out today and caught myself 4 largemouth with a rapala shad. Had a great time, this is defiantly my sport

You may not realize it yet, but YOU'RE the one who's been hooked! You will never be the same! Let me introduce you to a lil guy called the bait monkey!

[NBR]

BB10,

Hard to give you specific advise to a general question. We don't know where you live, do you fish streams or lakes, are the lakes man made or natural do you have a boat? If you live in the deep south bass have probably spawned where I live the ice is not off of some lakes and the bass are most likely still in their winter time deep haunts and pretty sluggish.

Traveler 2586 is right on. Provided with a little more informtion the guys here are likely to provide you with over kill of information.

[BassBoy10]

I went out today and choked a largemouth with a craw. I couldnt get it out and its happened a couple times now. Is their a better way to try and get it out?

[Michael DiNardo]

Fish in the evening, use a black Jitterbug and reel it slowly around the shoreline, near wood, near weeds, near any cover. If this fails find new water.

Mike

[sdoug805]

I went out today and choked a largemouth with a craw. I couldnt get it out and its happened a couple times now. Is their a better way to try and get it out?

I de-barb my hooks for catch and release fishing. It makes hook removal a lot easier, especially with treble hooks. A good pair of long nose pliers are also an essential piece of equipment to have on the water with you. They make hook removal much easier, and trust me if you catch something with teeth you'll be happy you have them