J@k3 01s3n

Should be a great week for fishing. I'll echo spinnerbaits,cranks, and buzz baits, adding carolina rigging is not a bad choice on a windy day. If you can find a couple spots sheltered from the wind though, and get a t-rigged something in there, fish there. I usually concentrate on those kind of spots for as long as they produce on windy days. I catch a lot of bass by fishing soft plastics with the wind, so that I can still maintain good feel also.

I think maybe you just need a second hobby. I play guitar, and enjoy doing those 3d puzzles. These come in real handy on those nasty days, or days that are just not convenient enough to go fishing. Sometimes you just need a break. I'd even recommend taking your boat out one day with no fishing gear, and just enjoy your peaceful surroundings for a day. I'm sure you'll come around, heck with the kind of fish I see you post up time after time, I'm sure you couldn't stay way for too long.

I would say what is probably happening is that you are feeling that tick on your line and setting the hook too early. Its really important when you're using a texas rigged worm to pay attention to the difference between a tick and when the bass actually picks it up and turns with it. There might be just one bite and then a pick up, or sometimes I feel 3 or 4 ticks before they pick it up. If you set the hook before they turn with it though, you are actually just pulling the bait out of their mouth. Next time you miss though, leave the bait there, and just give it a gentle shake. Usually an interested bass will still come and grab it. Otherwise, you should be able to cast back to the same spot and get him the second time around. Last but not least how are your hooks? Are you using the right size for the biat you're using? Are they sharpened? If not, I'd grab a diamond sharpener from walmart, or at least pick up some Gamakatsu or Owner hooks. Try some new things next time, and let us know how it goes. Good luck!

Well, my wife got me for my first father's day a nice 8ft inflatable boat that handles a 30lb thrust motor. I know, I know, its an inflatble, but it'll do nicely until I get my pickup this spring(suprisingly very stable). Anyways, now that I can get out in the water I am kind of stumped. I usually fish starting at about 5am at the latest, and hitting the banks holds up real nice in this small lake until about 10am. The problem is though, I have no real idea what it is to fish deep water for bass. I know I'm missing out on some good action, but I've never had, or known someone who had, a boat to fish in. So can you guys help me out with some suggestions? I know c-rigs are talked about, and dropshotting, but I have no real experience with any deep water fishing techniques. Also I was wondering if I could get some tips on what to look for without a fishfinder or map, as I am waiting for the park to get me a depth map. This is a highly pressured little lake from the banks, and I still commonly catch 3lbers there. NO ONE fishes from a boat since nothing over 30lbs is allowed, so it could be a real treasure. Hope you can help!

I guess it just needs clarification. When I state my hookup ratio, I am talking about fish on for at least a couple seconds that then throw the hook because of poor hook sets, not just bites or ticks.

I didn't really take to much offense to the ad. I did think it was odd, but don't you guys remember a month before when they had KVD and others do the commercial where it looked like their lures were stuck in their faces? It was kind of like that where I just thought, "that was strange" but nothing more. Personally though, I don't and probably won't use gulp baits. They just plain suck to me. I can get a lot more fish out of my money with Yum and Zoom baits.

I do keep track, to try and see if I'm improving at all. Last 3 trips: 1- 6 hours 12 landed 4 missed = 75% 2- 4 hours 8 landed 3 missed = 73% 3- 2 hours 4 landed 2 missed = 67% I think for me it just depends on the kind of fishing I am doing. With soft plastics I normally do well, as I pay attention to every little tick, and I usually land around 70% on a good day. Its harder to detect bites sometimes with carolina rigs, and I don't always have large hookup ratios with crankbaits. The worst for me is topwater, as often they just flat out miss. I also have TONS more luck with a sweeping hookset rather than a straight up one. I bet you could improve your percentage by just making sure that you are using sharpened hooks. Do yourself a favor, go to walmart and buy a sharpener. I always thought that using new hooks I'd be fine, but my hookups have significantly improved since I started sharpening my hooks. If you don't feel like sharpening though, I find gamakatsu to be just about the best out of the package.

My Favorite time of the year! Thanks for your comments BigTex

I second the suggestion of a 4" renegade worm. Texas rig it with like a 1/8 sinker. I like tequilia sunrise in murky waters. It'll only run you about $1.25 for 15 of those little guys. On pressured lakes I fish it in obvious structure spots first(docks, reeds, grass, holes in lilly pad beds, etc.), then just kind of toss it into shallow flatts or shady spots from trees. I always have some color of these on because they ALWAYS catch fish for me. Another suggestion is to go to your local Wal-mart, Dick's, Gander, etc., and go to the bargain bins. These are full of yesterday's news lures, and basically stuff that is just not selling this season, or last in some cases. It sounds strange, but I pick and choose from these bins, and have many times caught bass on them because the bass simply haven't seen the action of the bait before. Another suggestion is to just eliminate from your arsenal what you see everyone around you throwing. Most days if I see three guys tossing buzzbaits, I am probably not gonna use that lure on a heavily pressured lake. I know it won't work on every lake, but it sure is great when it does!

I don't usually complain at all. I figure my strict catch and release just helps balance out another guys catch and keep attitude. I think that for fisheries to survive, it is ideal to have a good mix of people like that. The only time I really get p'ed off is when I see fish all over the bank because some dummy kept them in a bucket in 90 degree weather and they died before he was done fishing. >

I usually go bassin alone too. Mostly its because no one really likes to fish for as long of a period of time as I do. My wife tends to get bored after a little while(she's getting better), and my father-in-law only throws hula poppers and rat-l-traps, and so after about an hour or two of nothing he gives up. Its not that I don't like to fish with others, but I don't like the burden of time constraints. That said, I do like to take my wife, son, and sister bluegill fishing. We all catch plenty and have a good time. I also will go bobber fishing for whatever the water offers with my family a couple times a summer. Its all a matter of balance for me. I have my serious bass fishing days, and then I have my leisure days with the family.

I'd cast past the bed and roll a t-rigged 5 or 6" lizard real slowly right through the bed. Weight it down with a heavy 3/4 or ounce bullet to keep it on the bottom. I give it little shakes and pauses as I'm going through. It makes it look like the lizard is trying to eat their eggs, and I rarely find the bass less than willing to strike once it hits their bed.

Water level could make a big difference too. Is it noticebly shallow/deep than last year? Even 6in difference can make a difference as to where the bass will be. I know I have a place I thought I had figured out, I went their the other day and the water line was way higher, so I had to reevalute what I needed to do.

I suggest switching up lures then. Not just colors, but lures. In a small pond the bass seem to "know" your lures after a while, they just won't bite them. I'd give your go-to's a break. Switch it up a little, even try some minnows if it's allowed, just to give them something different.

Are you keeping the fish you catch?? That would make a BIG difference IMHO. Especially in a small pond. I have a freind with a pond that I used to fish, and we could fish it every day of the summer and catch bass. We just never were allowed to keep anything. Maybe try using some lures the bass haven't seen? I know this was a big factor for us sometimes.

Just so you know, This is assuming: -All places fished have no motorized craft rules, or have a large no wake day fishing zone. I know it will not allow me the room and veiw of a pedastool seated jon boat, but this think can get into some tight spots, and I see know problem throwing a spinnerbait, or working a c-rig, etc. I know I won't be able to flip or pitch very easily, but to get out on the water should make a big difference. The banks are heavily pressured. No one is using boats on these lakes. Hopefully jsut getting out past the casts of bank fishermen will help me hook up with some good 'uns this year.

Well, after a lot of consideration of things mentioned by posters on this site, and some talking with the wife, I think I have come up with a little better of an idea. For about $100 I can have this puppy. It accepts a trolling motor, is 10ft, and can esily carry what I need. Just a little caution will be needed. So, do you fellas think this can get me through this year's fishing?

I am a new father working 50 hour weeks to take care of family while wife is on maternity leave. Taking on a second job is not an option. I think you will be suprised on how well this boat works for me. Most places that I fish have a no motor rule anyways. That means there is no wake, and so you could pretty much float around in a cardboard box. It is just a boat that is cheap(all materials=$85). Its to last me this summer, and then next year if I move back to illinois, I can buy a jon boat. I can't really pull a jon boat around with my pontiac grand am anyways. P.S. Wherever you guys have seen jon boats for $150 you are lucky. Around here they sell for that with holse in them.

Those are just pictures of one-person skiffs, as stated before. What I am building is just under 8ft.(bout the size of a small pelican bass boat). Its gonna have the basic jon boat feel, and has a load capacity of around 450 pounds. The boats are somewhat crude looking, but there is a good sized group of people who use these all the time, for fishing even, and I haven't heard of any bad situations. Cart7: the gunwhale is extended on that boat. The purpose of the elevated box was to give that extra room. It is completely sealed. A little more floatation in the back(styrofoam filled?), and he'd be running pretty decent from what I hear.

It's hard for me to explain that where I live it is extremely difficult to find anything like that just lying around. I live in a part of michigan that is all about lake michigan. As a result most fishing in this area is salmon related. I drive 45minutes to 2hrs to find small bass lakes and ponds, because most places are stocked with salmon, trout or pike. It was nice when I lived in illinois, and living there I could have seen that as a possibility, but not all parts of the country are littered with unused jon boats. Imagine going to walmart and seeing 85% of the fishing section is spoons, salmon spawn, and giant rods and reels. Its hard to be a basser up here, and so building a boat really is the best option I have found thus far.

Posting some pictures just to give folks and idea of what I'm talking about

Well, I'm just another in the group of bank fishermen. Not! This will be my first year fishing from a boat, and I'm so excited! Its not the prettiest, but its gonna get me on the water. I have heard suggestions of float tubes, but I looked into it, and for a decent setup, I'm looking at almost $200. I just didn't like the idea of not being able to have anyone with me either. I also looked around, patiently, for a used jon boat, and couldn't find even a junker at a reasonable price. All I can say is LBH you are pretty lucky to find such a good deal. So, with those two methods exausted, I have taken matters into my own hands. I am building my first boat. I think this might really be the answer for fisherman looking to get off the banks with minimal investment. I will post pics and such when I am finished, but I figured I'd just put the idea out for those who are still stuck in my kind of situation. A hint for those looking around: search for mouse boat or one sheet skiff. These are not what I am building, as they are meant for one person, but can be made for between $70 and $100. I know they're not bass boats, but with just a small investment, I feel I'm going to have a much more sucessful fishing season. Plus, it sure helps to pass the time while I wait for the right weather!

Well, I'm finally back cruising the forums again, and its good to be back. Its been a long winter with no bassin' and no internet! Still got 'til the last saturday in april before it's legal to go bassin' up here. :'( Oh well, I wonder if the DNR would believe I was bluegillin' with a baitcaster? Just wanted to say hi again everyone, look forward to a great summer of fishin'!

I had never fished a gravel lake, but there is one that looks pretty nice that I stopped at the other day. I know there were bass there because they were jumpin' that day. I threw a bomber model A for a while, nothing... a bomber long A jerkbait, nothing.... pumkin berkley tube 3", berkley power worm 5", yum dinger 3" and 5", buzzbait, spinnerbait... all nothing! I have had bad days, but 4 hours and no bite is a real bad day, especially when i see the bass jumpin'. My question I guess is, what do you think I was doing wrong? I don't know much about fishing gravel lakes, so maybe someone might have some ideas or tactics they find successful in gravel lakes. I know its also possible that I just happened to get skunked that day. Well, thanks in advance for the help!

I'm in West Central Michigan for those that asked. Grand Rapids/Holland area. I appreciate all the hospitality, and I welcome all of your ideas. While we're at it, maybe someone might have some fall tactics for river smallies?