Ohio Dave

welcome fellow buckeye. Practice with the reel and make sure that you catch some videos on proper set up with it. I really struggled with the first reel I bought (it was just plain a junker from one of those big box places) Just like with spinning reels you generally get what you pay for These guys have helped me a ton and its a fun place to check in with!

Ohio has been the definition of a mixed bag of weather. I had to literally mow my yard in the snow Saturday. Temps bounce up and down and more rain is in our forecast. Aside from the obvious of moving what might you all look to as a strategy. water temp has never topped the 50's even on the warmest stretch. Bassing has likewise heated up only to turn back to ice. My approach has been lipless cranks and jigs. Jigs have been the only producer to date for me. any Suggestions on I might have better results with: especially on the colder stretches

The easy solution is to look at the FLW for help. They have a program for high school teams and have done some good work in helping states jump into high school bass fishing as a varsity sport. If you are or need to go without a group like the FLW then I would treat it just like any other club. Have a mission, organize meetings that forward that mission, and delegate work so no one person has to do it all. Dave Bowers Bellevue High School Bass Club advisor

Just got off the phone with the owner of Sebert jigs (also a sponsor here) He put a nice jig package together for me to give away as a prize in our fishing club. Very helpful recommending sizes and colors. I am really impressed with the customer service!

thanks guys: do you all through cranks on mono too? I wondered if the softer rod would let me stay with florocarbon (which keeps my life simpler) or if the soft rod still really works better with a traditional mono line ???

Here in ohio there aren't that many places that I would look to a crankbait deeper than about 10 feet. Fish in the Marinas and bays maybe that 10' mark. the above ground reservoirs I think I would be on a jig for deeper fish Am I crazy??

I don't want to start any sort of shouting match as I know these topics are sensitive to some folks. As i shop for a new crankbait rod (first time I am getting a rod specific for that task) I know that some of this will simply be personal preference, some differences are a matter of the quality of the components, etc. I think what I am really asking is what are the qualities that I should look for in a good quality crank bait rod and what will I lose out on by not going to higher end quality.

Mark did not do anything personally at the Detroit show: I certainly would not mind meeting him or at the very least hearing him give a talk on local bass fishing. I was just being whiny about how hard it is to actually see him in person. Having him in on Thursday, and for only one time slot: it bummed me out a bit. The Toledo Bass Pro did the same thing a few years back: he was only in for just one time slot and it was not very easy for most guys to make. They don't bring anyone in now at that store: they just make the guys in the department do the talks.

I think it would be Bill Dance: I grew up watching him on TV and really fell in love with the sport because of him. I love that he puts all of those crazy bloopers of himself out ever so often. A lot of guys could really teach me a ton about fishing but few can tell a story like Dance. Jerry M would be in the top five as well. My first thought actually went to Mark Zona but I don't know what to make of his appearances like at the Detroit fishing show. One night only and one time only..... I have never met any of these guys so its really a crap shoot as to who would be the most fun to spend a day on the water with

that is huge: stock up on the tp and cocopuffs. Looks like the beast will not push to Ohio though. I would bet on it sliding and staying north in Canada

great work young man, I won't tap on the nail already driven home pretty good: they speak the truth though. As a coach; I want you to enjoy the finish but also to take careful notes about what did and did not work for you and well as what you can take away from the winning patterns. Those notes are our version of Saturday morning football films. I manage to learn a little something every time I fish with someone and every solo trip. keep the mind and notebook open and ready.

Heard many good things about New London Res. Might try to sneak over yet this fall myself if my surgery recovery goes a little better. great idea about pairing by ability. A nice trend I have noticed is that the better the kid is the more likely they are to share what they know. Being paired up with someone better than you is always my wish. Although, as you teach, you realize that there is so much more to learn at the level you are at. I have learned so much more teaching my science subjects than I ever did as a student.

Thanks a bunch Felix I do have a boat just not one that is safe on Erie. Its one of those 10' plastic jobs but is a load of fun to fish with on smaller water. Sadly there is only room for one other person though so its hard to get guys out on the water and work with them as I could from a bass boat. I have a pretty decent background in bass fishing and really do enjoy the sport. Some of my students only fish for cats or pan fish etc and that is perfectly fine with the club too. For students who just want to have fun and have zero interest in making a team and competing: my mission is to support those students by providing more knowledge and fishing partners.

just got to push it north now!! I think too many guys see the shows that are largely southern based and don't realize that there is great bass fishing in their back yards.

The reservoirs around Bellevue are good as are a few lakes in the area. We don't have a way to fish Erie which is amazingly sad as its one of the very best bass lakes in the world not owning a bass boat myself makes it really tough for the kids to get out on the water rather than just shore. But if you can catch bass from shore day in and out then when you finally have a chance to be in a boat its that much more fun. I really appreciate all who have take time to share their thoughts. A panic box or confidence box is a fun conversation regardless of experience. Now we got to get more states off the snide and make competitive bass fishing an official high school sport. It would be a heck of a lot less head aches in terms of getting and keeping a couple boats for the students to be able to fish on as school representatives.. The FLW does hold a High School Championship for Ohio but its not sanctioned and really should be up on the big lake anyway not the Ohio River where no students north of Columbus ever get to fish that far south.

Thanks Catt, much appreciated

Thanks again guys, much appreciated. Sounds like more of you have this sort of box but under a different name. If the kids hear a lure works from the pros and super experienced guys: They are going to believe they work and toss the lure. I think in the big picture that is what it is all about. Helping the kids build confidence in a group of lures and open their minds to the need to read their conditions. Believe me, getting the kids to use four different lure types and read their conditions successfully would be quite the accomplishment

if you are a friend or family member of his please allow me to extend my condolences and to let you know that by no means am I the only one saying prayers on you(all's) behalf.

Guys, I really appreciate you all taking time to share your thoughts, lend advice, and for the more than kind words: I am not at all sure my wife would agree that the world needs more Daves though LOL. Way back in time I learned to bass fish nearly completely on my own. I watched Bill Dance and Jerry's shows: thought bass like that only existed down south on private ponds but still fished. The first bass I caught was a 16 incher who tail danced the lily pads and felt like a whale on my zebco 600 I caught him on a plo jockey pre jigged worm. The point of this trip down memory lane is that for many years after that I did not bass fish with anything but those worms. If I can put 3 or 4 bait types into their hands that they are likely to have at least some success with on most occasions then the students are going to be less reluctant to try new baits and patterns to grow and improve. I also want them to develop a little laminated card to be taped to the inside of this box that asks them some questions to think about while making the switch to another lure type. I was thinking something along the lines of The lure I am using now is the______ I think its not working because______ (color, size, action, depth) I would maybe break it down a bit more but that would be the general idea.

most of the kids are going to be pretty sparse when it comes to baits. Many don't have a dad or don't have a dad that fishes (so blessed that I grew up with a fishing loving dad in many more ways than just the obvious here) one of the BR crew ;went through his bags and sent us a big box of plastics which got me thinking about not only panic bags but a bare minimum that would get the kids out and give them a fair chance of success regardless of the time of year or their experiences. I like hearing both sides of the aisle here. Those that have some "go to" set and those that think the conditions should be the go to kit. Early on, especially if the young person does not have a load of experience (very likely in my case) having a few lures you really feel good about will make the difference in being able to catch a couple and have some fun v. being shut out.

Ike's paper on his panic box is a very good read. I would not have thought about hair jigs or in-line spinners but they do make sense. I will be printing that article out for the students to read as well

The confidence kit is not going to be sold as something better than thinking your way through the situation: but as something that evolves as the student does. It was not that long ago that I would have only stocked that senko worm and two hook styles. Now my kit would have four basic baits that I have a great deal of faith in. But my students are not going to have that level yet. I want them to have a simple set of tricks that they can turn to and maybe even a little card they write to themselves that reminds them about the back up plan box and how to use it. I am thinking three basics: a robo worm in maybe a wilder color to drop shot. A pumpkin senko that is medium rather than the four inch. and maybe a swim jig and a shad body that looks bait fish ish Give them the assignment of using that box when plan A fails and to think critically of why A failed and what if any success the back up gave: let the box evolve but keep it very simple. I don't see the box working if it becomes a grab bag of the whole tackle box

A-Jay, Of course you are right but building that knowledge basis takes a great deal of time. I preach that as the number one to be looking for and working toward. If I were telling an adult I would be saying those words too but I would also offer up something they can believe in right now to get them going and keep the faith as it were. I liken it to learning to play guitar: learning hand placement, notes, music theory, music history, guitar types, the inner workings of amps create a magnificent foundation upon which to learn how to play. But if you can't play a couple songs to impress the girls right now you will get bored and drop it. LOL

Hi fellow bass fishermen, Some of you may know but just in case: I am David Bowers, I coach a High School Bass team here in Ohio. One of the winter projects I want my students to work on this year is to create a single tray "confidence" kit. A box you can reach into and know that you are going to at least get a few even if you can't work your way on to the podium. Any fish are better than being blanked. (at least that is my view) I have my own ideas but know that some of you are much more experience in competitive fishing and/ or are just plain better than me. I would like to hear the must haves for this 911- the student can't seem to buy a bite save the day from being skunked kit.

Brother I have been down this road: My first BC was from Dicks and it was a junker: i tried for a whole season to get that thing to cast without backlashing or knotting up and got nothing but frustration. Why well here is my list of shame: One I used the line that came with the reel (not so good) Two: I was too embarrassed to ask on a site like this telling that I had bought the Friday night blue light special; Three: I had no clue how to adjust the dumb thing to different weights and wind conditions: Since then: I have swallowed my pride and asked for help, found a friend to fish with to help with fine tuning and invested in a much better reel for not that much more money. All that made all the difference in the world Honest to goodness, please buy the best you can afford right now and spool it with a quality braid or florocarbon: save the pennies for a better rod later. Go out with someone experienced in their use to help you dial the reel in to suit you. I bought my first Lews Tournament Pro two years ago and it so blew the doors off the high end Bass Pro shop models that you would not believe it. You certainly don't have to spend that kind of money but there are certainly advantages to the higher price points for every brand. I believe it is mostly true for both rods and reels. now go fish and have some fun!