BassChump

Thanks for all the advice everybody. I truly appreciate it. First of all, as far as the girlfriend is concerned, right at the moment she isn't my girlfriend although we are talking. Yes she is definately a keeper. The only thing more fun than bass fishing?? Bass fishing with her and I guarantee you that if I caught a bass or two, she would be right back in the rear seat and all would be well. Not sure if it would be as a girlfriend or a fishing buddy but I know she would be there every time if we were catching something and that's a good thing either way. I do have a fish finder with temp and I've seen some fish in areas so it isn't that I can't find them, I can't get them to look at my stuff. Kinda like my girlfriend. hehe. Presentation??? Color???? Or is it just that I SUCK?? lol The water clarity on most of these coastal lakes is usually pretty good. I'd guess 6 to 8 feet. The next good day we have I'm going to fish Sutton as that warms up really fast so I'm guessing it may be pushing 60 or better but I'll know when I drop the boat in or throw a temp gauge in there. It's supposed to be only in the mid 50's for the next couple of weeks around here so I'm not hopeful we will get a rise in water temp anytime soon but you never know around the Oregon coast. Sutton is actually 2 lakes joined with a small canal that one boat can just fit thru. It's my understanding that the back lake is much better fishing. I have been water skiing on that lake a million times so I know it pretty well but I have never actually fished it. It's not well known although I do know some tournament guys that tell me they have fished it before and caught plenty of bass out of there. My business partner is best friends with Jay Yelas so I get a few tips from him now and then although I try not to bother him with my petty problems. He is a busy guy and I'm guessing the last thing he wants to do is talk shop with a newbie so I leave him alone most of the time but he has been helpful for sure. Hmmm!!!! Dynamite???? That certainly would be a foolproof method although I think the men and women in the little green unforms might not take kindly to that and to top it off, I had dated a women from the ODFW and if it doesn't work out with my girlfriend, I would like to look her up again so I don't think she would appreciate knowing I would go nuclear on the fish. Anyway, keep the posts going. It's a big learning curve and I'm trying to figure it all out so everything helps. Thanks again

Thanks for the responses. I was getting pretty frustrated knowing there are fish in these lakes and not getting a bite every time I went out. Sorry about not listing the lakes. Here is a list of lakes that I fish. All these lakes are within a 15 minute drive from me in Florence Oregon. Munsel Lake. My favorite as it is a proven bass lake, it's easy to get to just down the street from my office, I've caught bass there before and it's convenient for me. Lots of drop offs and downed timber in the water. Fairly deep at spots. Around 80 feet in some places but there is a large flat on the northwest side of the lake that goes out almost to the middle before it drops to deeper water. This flat is only about 8 feet deep. The flat itself is probably 50 acres with docks along the bank. Sutton Lake A relatively small lake, probably around 200 acres and very shallow. The water warms much faster in this lake than all the others because it's such a shallow lake. Deepest is around 25 feet. This lake is not fished much but does have bass in it. Weeds around the banks with a little downed timber on one side of the lake. Mercer Lake Another coastal lake that has produced some nice bass but not very well known and not fished much as it doesn't have great access. I again have not fished this lake but took a look at it yesterday and I'm planing on dropping the boat in here when we have a day that isn't going to blow sideways rain. Siltcoos Lake A well known bass lake in the area with tournaments during spring and summer although this year, I think they have moved the tournaments to the next lake because of a water quality problem late last year. I think it killed off a bunch of fish. This lake is large and very shallow. Takenitch Lake. One of the best known lakes in the area for bass. Honestly, I haven't fished this lake yet but am hoping to soon. It's a relatively large lake that has lots of tournaments and from what I understand it has produced some big fish. Tenmile Lake Another larger coastal lake that has lots of tournaments here. I took the boat here just last week but I could only spend an hour on the water so I can't say much about it from a personal standpoint other than the beer was cold at the local tavern. Those are the lakes I'll be fishing in so if I didn't give enough information, let me know or look them up. Thanks again for all your help. I was getting kinda fed up but I feel better now. hehe

Yes, guys are catching a few here and there but certainly not a lot just yet. We have pretty weird weather patterns here on the Oregon coast. Sunny and warm one minute, blowing sideways rain the next. Usually the guys pulling off the lake say they got one in the boat and just a couple of bites. I'm hoping it picks up soon.

OK guys. I've tried everything you said. The waters I'm fishing are known bass lakes. I've fished several hours at a time, I've fished all day. I've fished in sunny weather, cloudy cooler weather, wind, no wind, early, mid day and evening. I'v used senkos, rattle traps, verticle jigs, medium heavy action poles, I've fished deep and shallow, I've fished the bank with lots of cover, and after weeks and months of this, I have caught NOTHING. While I'm new to bass fishing, the law of averages should allow me to catch SOMETHING, ANYTHING. But the only thing I've caught is a trout when I threw an aglia for a few minutes on an ultralight rod and reel. Granted, it was a big trout, 3.5 pounds and it was great fun on an ultralight so that made me happy that day but other than that, NADA, nothing. What could I possibly be doing so wrong that I can't buy a bite???? The water temps are in the mid to upper 50's. I've read everything on this site, I've tried to implement what I can given my budget and I can't catch a thing??? I've been out on several known good baxx lakes in the last few months and I'm very familiar with one of them. I caught lots of small bass late last year on this lake just after I bought my boat when I had no tackle at all and no knowledge of anything. It was long before I found this informative site. The only thing I was tossing was a #2 Blue Fox that was gold in color but this year I can't catch a cold and I don't know why. I should, just by luck, catch SOMETHING. My girlfriend loves fishing probably more than I do and she won't even go on the boat any longer because we never catch anything. I love fishing with her and she is great fun but I miss having her on the back of the boat. I joke with her that the fish can just smell girl on what we are throwing and that is spooking the fish in the area. lol. Unfortunately I know that not to be true but there is something going on...... Any suggestions and help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm a long time carpet layer and unfortunately I gotta tell you that it just takes a small scraper and time. Wish I had better new for ya.

Actually I know the answer to that. I know all kinds of useless stuff but I won't bore you with it here.

I was sitting here looking at my boat longing for a break in the weather so I can get on the lake again. I haven't caught a bass since last October but I've tried any day it's not pouring sideways rain. Anyway, I was thinking that I should just go trout fishing but I really yearn to try my luck again for bass. My question is why do all of us get hooked on bass. They hook us so we can hook them???? Why do we spend all the time, effort and money to buy a boat with one purpose, spend usually an equal amount on tackle, drive sometimes for days to get to good bass water when we could just as easily go just down the road, catch some trout, catfish or whatever and probably with more success??? I'm just curious how we as otherwise normal people, get all googly eyed when even the word bass is mentioned???? It's all I want to do lately even though I'm usually not very good at it? Is it just the great scenery, the bragging rights, or is it more subliminal? I was at Wal-Mart the other day, met a guy behind the counter and he noticed I was buying some bass lures. We ended up having an hour long conversation (with people waiting behind me, lol) about bass fishing. I live in some of the best salmon and sturgeon fishing in the country. I get 40 lb salmon in my backyard in the fall yet I would rather fish for bass. What makes all of us so crazy of bass?????????? Just something I was thinking about.

Personally, yelling at the fish sounds like a strategy for me......... Does it work for everybody? Even a quiet, shy guy like me???? Won't the fish detect weekness????? Or would it be best to just slap the fish into submission??? (in a loving, catch and release sort of way of course) ;D

I forgot to mention that my engine is a 1984 model. God only knows how many hours on this motor. It's an 85 horse and it was owned for years by an avid fisherman so I'm assuming it has some miles on it but the compression is still 150, 145, 150. I've owned it for about 6 months but I can't complain about that. It's been good to me so far and I think I got my moneys worth already. I'd go for it if the price is right!!!!!!!!

Yes, Force engines are simple and that's one of the things I like about it. I can fix just about anything on it with a book and simple wrench set but at least it has enough technology to have electronic ignition so I don't have to mess with points and wear items much. It's beautifully simplistic. Works for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Idiot baits????? Hmm. I'll take a stab at it and venture to guess I would qualify. Sounds like it was made for me. lol.

Late last year I bought a 17 foot Trophy bass boat with an 85 horse Force motor. Everyone I talked to didn't like them either but I got the boat for $1000.00 so I took a chance. I'll admit that so far, it's the most simple, best running outboard I've ever owned. Starts on the first crank every time and I'm out on the lake at least 3 times a week. I've been very happy with it. My marine mechanic friend tells me they really aren't bad motors as long as you don't ever try to run them lean or heat them up. He says that the only thing really wrong with them is the metal that they are cast with. Just a little softer but as long as you adhere to the above, he tells me they are good motors and so far, I would agree. No problems at all except an impeller. 17 bucks and an hours labor and I was back on the water.

I fell in love with fishing when I was about 5 years old. My folks belonged to a poor mans country club and there was a small manmade lake. My dad bought me a mini-bike and it was a private country club so it was legal at that time for me to ride my mini-bike on the roads. Anyway, dad took me fishing one morning and we caught a bunch of bluegill. After that, I would just wake up at dawn and you'd see me cruising to the lake with one hand on the throttle and the other holding my tackle box and rod. Dad,s long gone now and the country club is now decrepid but I'll admit right now and right here that those were the happiest times of my life fishing for bluegill out of that little 3 acre pond and I've been chasing that happeness ever since. Got side tracked for a few years but I'm back again with a bass boat in tow. I haven't caught much yet but I think it's going to be a fun summer trying. Please tell me there is a Santa Claus???

Great!!!! I try all those different type of retrieves. There are a few rocky drop-offs into deep water that I'll try those around. Could you guys explain the what type of conditions to use these on??? Along the weed line, etc.? In the last post Sam said that I'll lose some of these in brush and cover. Do I fish these in downed timber??? At least in the lake I fish in, that would be deadly because there's lots of timber and it's stacked pretty heavily. I don't see how you could throw into stuff like that with exposed hooks. I'd lose it every time.

I was at Walmart the other day getting shoes for my daughter and while I was there I wandered over to the fishing stuff. I'm new at bass fishing and I have very little tackle. Just some normal lures ( Aglias, roostertails, blue fox, etc.) and of course my first purchase for bass was some Senkos. Anyway, I've heard you guys talk about Rattle Traps so i picked up a couple. Can you tell me how to fish these, what conditions, etc???? The lake I usually fish is small, probably less than a 100 acres, cold right now. Water temp around 49 although I was in a shallow cove on the northeast side of the lake later in the day and the water temp in that cove was 54. I'm on the Oregon coast so it never gets very warm here until May or later so it's usually cooler and LOTS OF RAIN. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Woohoo!! If you guys can help me catch a few bass, this is definately going to be a fun summer.

I really appreciate all the help. I always have fun when I get on the lake. I try fishing the downed trees for most of the time but the water is still pretty cold so if I don't catch much, I fish for trout and that saves the day. lol. I'm going to take all your advice. I have some Senko worms and some spinners but I'll get a few of the other things you guys mentioned and work on better presentation. I think this is going to be a fun summer. So many lakes within 10 minutes drive. So many lakes, so little time. lol.

Hello, I've posted a few things on here but I am very knew to bass fishing. I bought a used bass boat on a whim and have enjoyed every minute of it. It's an older 17 foot Bayliner Trophy bass boat with all the stuff and everything works as it should. Got a great deal on it for only $1000.00. Very happy with it so far. I have caught lots of trout, plenty of blueback in the local river. We have LOTS of lakes that have good bass fishing from what I understand. There is one lake that I like in particular just down the street from my office although I have fished several of them. My question is pretty simple. I watch all the threads and hear everyone talk about all the different lures, worms, etc. that they use and frankly I don't know what many of them are or how they might be used. Can you guys give a basic explanation of the different kinds of lures, how to use them (weights, lengths of leaders, casting and reeling techniques, etc.) and what the general conditions you would use these different setups with???? I know it sounds pretty basic but for us new guys, it sure would help. Just the basics to get us started!!!!!! In my circumstances, the lakes that I usually fish in would be smaller lakes less than 100 acres. Lots of downed trees in the water with a few areas that have some reeds and lilies, typically cooler temps. The water temp in my favorite lake is currently 48 degrees and probably never gets warmer than about 62 degrees. These lakes are usually no deeper than 50 feet at best although there are a few spots that get to 70 but most of the lake is around 30 feet with some large flat spots protrude almost to the middle of the lake that are only 10 feet that drops off suddenly to 40 feet. It's not fished heavy nor is it well known. I have caught quite a few small bass there late last summer after I got the boat and I know there are some studs in there. Just haven't landed any yet. As I said, new boat, new to bass fishing so the only thing I have used so far is a smaller Blue Fox lure that was gold in color. Caught a lot of bass with it around the edges normally around the downed logs but just smaller ones. I used a 4 inch Senko in there at the end of summer and caught the largest bass I have caught. Probably no bigger than about 2 pounds but it was lots of fun. I didn't even know I had it until I started to reel it in and then it suddenly took off. lol Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I've asked this a couple of times but got no responses so I'll try this again. I bought an older (1985) bass boat that has a Mariner 626RL trolling motor mounted on it. I have two questions. How much thrust would this motor have and I really need to find out if this electric trolling motor needs to be lubricated. There is an allen screw on the bullet housing just behind the prop but when I unscrew it, I don't see or feel anything in there so I don't know what that screw is for but it's about the size of a zerk fitting so it makes me think it's for lubrication. If so, what kind of lubricant does it require? Thanks in advance for any information.

If you decide to use the spray glue, the best in my opinion is stuff called "Wolf Grip" and it holds better than any spray glue I have found by far. Good stuff. You can get it at most carpet installer supply places. Even some carpet stores carry it but I've never seen it in any retail outlet. It usually runs about 8 bucks a can but it's a large can and it works great. Let us know how it turns out. Good luck.

Great! It should last you a very long time. Just use a blowdryer to get it good and warm and you should do just fine. To cut it, just use a regular utility knife and keep the edge sharp by either keeping a sharpening stone on it or just replacing the blade when it starts to cut hard and that's what works best. In the corners, you can use a putty knife or some similiar blade type tool to tuck in the edges once you cut it. If I can be of any help, just let me know.

That depends. If you leave the carpet in place but don't glue it until later, that's fine. Just use the blow dryer or heat gun, reheat it to make it plyable and glue it. If you use an actual heat gun, the temp coming out of the nozzle is up to 1500 degrees so don't get the backing too hot or it will melt the carpet. Also the top of the carpet (the fuzzy part) melts at a lower temp than the back so I would suggest just using a regular blow dryer. That usually doesn't get hot enough to melt anything and it will get the backing of the carpet plenty warm enough to mould around the corners. If you are going to cut the carpet in then remove it and put it back at a later time, personally I would advise against that. In theory, yes the carpet should lay out the same way when you put it back on but unfortunately it has been my experience that most of the time when you go to relay the carpet, it just doesn't fit quite the way it originally did when you cut it in and you have to really work it to get it back into shape. I would suggest to cut it in and glue it in place the 1st time. I promise you it will save you a lot of work and heartache. Also remember that all carpet is directional. Even the marine stuff. Not that critical on a boat but if the different pieces of carpet (ie, the tops of the storage doors, etc.) are laid in a different direction, the color of the carpet will not look the same as the rest of the carpet. Also it won't feel the same when you rub your hand across it. Most carpet manufactured in the US today has arrows or lines printed on the back to let you know what direction to install it. Are you using the rubber backed marine carpet or the nylon backed carpet? (action back is what it's called in the biz). The nylon backed carpet is quite a bit tougher but it's typically more expensive and harder to install. The rubber backed stuff probably wouldn't even need to be warmed up to mould around the edges. It's pretty plyable in any temperature. Hmm, I'm rambling on so if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help.

Well, finally a subject I can talk with some authority. I'm 48 and I was a carpet installer since I was a kid until 4 years ago when I finally opened an RV dealership. I've carpeted boats, motorhomes, travel trailers, mobile homes, new homes, remodels, etc. When it comes to carpet, I've been there, done that!!!!!! I'm assuming you are wondering how the carpet completely covers the edges of the "hole" in the deck looking from above. Carpet gets more plyable the warmer it is. Take a blowdryer and heat the bottom of the carpet at those edges and make your cuts in the carpet but only within an inch or so from the side. That way when you start to fold it under the lip, it will bend and actually stretch just enough to make it completely around the lip without showing the wood, aluminum or fiberglass underneath. If you get a good quality glue, it will hold it just fine. Read the directions carefully concerning the glue. Most adhesives for carpet must get "tacky" before you adhere the carpet. In other words, the glue must be partially dried before you put the carpet to it. Another good idea is to take some kind of roller such as a small vinyl roller or even a piece of PVC pipe and use this to roll the carpet into the glue. Put pressure on the pipe and roll it all over the carpet as you're installing it. That spreads the glue and squishes into the backing of the carpet so it won't come of down the road. Hope this helps and it answers your question.

I have an old Mariner trolling motor that is working fine but I don't know if I'm supposed to lube it at all. There is an allen screw in the bullet just behind the prop and when I unscrew it, there isn't anything in there that I can see. Is that for putting grease into or is that not necessary on an electric motor??? I'm on a tight budget so I need to make this work as long as I can. Preventive mantainence. Any answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Here is my ride. $1000.00. Everything works great. Not fancy but it works for me. 8-) Did I do ok??? I know those aren't bass but a guys gotta do what a guys gotta do to keep the line tight if ya know what I mean!!!!!!!