zhorseshoerz

I'm a newer bass fisher and I'm looking to put together a decent all around type rig. I don't really have the cash to put 6 or 7 rigs together for a fishing arsenal. I would like to get a baitcaster and it seems that most of you agree that Daiwa's are hands down the best. But are they only the best if your holding a Steez? What's the best Diawa B/C for less than $150? Or is there a better way to go for that kind of money?

For better or worse, I fish strictly from the shore...in florida....the lilly-pads eat more senkos than the fish.

Btw, I noticed that you're a youth member. Maybe ask your parents how they might plan to feed you if they were to get laid off and still have to pay the mortgage.

Well, that's the argument I'm getting anyway. It's from the mind of a woman. I didn't stipulate that it was a particularly sensical argument.

Idealy I would catch and release every fish I land. But now my fishing partner is demanding that since we're in supposedly hard times, that we should take any good size bass home to eat, which I guess is fine. But I have since realized that I don't know how to humanely kill the fish before I fillet it.

Has anyone fished here? If so, what do y'all typically typically throw? For those who don't know but may be able to offer some insight, the water is super-clear, hence the name. There are a ton of logs and lily pads along the banks and the water moves fairly quickly. I fish exclusively from the bank...for better or worse. I've pitched a smoke w/ silver flake Senco t-rigged weightless around the logs and pads. I've cought a couple small bass, less than 1/2 lb. The problem with the logs and pads is the fact that if I want to pitch to them, I'm basically on top of them from the bank. And, as you might imagine, the fish shy away from the shadow that my 6'5" frame throws upon them. Since the water is super clear the fish can definitely see me. I've tried a 1/4 oz. jig w/ a pumpkinseed Netbait Paca Craw trailer but haven't gotten so much as a nibble. I've had success w/ this jig on some other ponds but none the river. There are plenty of shad and smaller bluegill around, so I've thrown a glass rap and a lipless that are pretty natural towards the middle of the river, but it seems that the only thing I catch successfully w/ these are mountains of hydrilla. I also have some smoke shad flukes, but the current drags them right into the pads, resulting a snagged bait. I'm a fairly new bass fisherman, so any insight on my situation would be great.

I saw that Gander Mountain has what looks like a music CD case with several ziplock bags just like the ones your worms come in. It's kind of a pain in the butt sticking your hand into 20 bags of nasty pork fat smelling worms to switch them over at first, but it has proven to be quite handy for organization.

I moved to Ocala, Florida a couple months ago and started bass fishing. I went to a friends pond that hadn't been fished in years. As you might imagine, I could throw in a tin can and catch a 3-4 lb. bass from a half-acre pond. So now, I've been to the banks of the Ocklawaha River, Lake Wauberg, Horseshoe Lake, and the lake in city park near the square in Ocala without a single bite. I've thrown bubble gum finesse worms shakyhead. I've thrown 5 inch senko's wacky, 4 in Chartreuse worms texas rigged, kreature bait with a florida rig, chug bug's, sr7 glass rap. lipless cranks... I've watched about 1000 fishing videos on youtube. I watch about every fishing show I can find on VS. I don't proclaim to know ANYTHING about bass fishing, but you'd think I'd get a bite at least. So, what am I missing. Obviously there's something.