Slefler

thanks for the responses guys. Yesterday when I went out there I fished as slow as I could dead sticking and just barely bumping along the bottom. I can't begin to tell you how many articles I've read on fishing cold water and they all reiterate to fish slow so I got that down and I'd have to remind myself as the fishing progressed and I'd start to get antsy. I haven't tried any crankbaits yet, I've been trying to find some to buy but there are some many choices I get "lost in the sauce" on which ones I'd like to try let alone which color but as you said it's more presentation than color (I've read numerous threads concerning this argument I'm not looking to start that debate lol) so I'm not sure which ones would work best, any suggestions? I'll pick up a Shad Rap when I buy my next batch of lures. the same goes for jerkbaits, I've looked at em all on TW but I've yet to make a decision and everyone has their own preferred lures I've noticed when reading the different forums and boards on the topics of jerkbaits and cranks. All I'm left with is about 15 different lures to choose from and a confused feeling on not knowing which ones would work best. I'll also be ordering some jigs from Siebert Outdoors really soon to try out, I like his color selection. I have a couple SK Football Head jigs in varying colors and sizes but I haven't committed into throwing one just yet. I recently bought the VMC Rugby Head to use as a shaky head and I got some Roboworms and SK Finesse worms for it and also during my next batch of tackle I really want to get Megastrike Shake2 Pro Model to try out. I subscribed to BassResource's YouTube channel and watched all his videos which were awesome and extremely helpful!

I've thrown spinnerbaits a couple times as did my Pop who goes out there with me occasionally. I've gotten nothing on them and he had a fish but lost it at the bank. We used chartreuse/white and chartreuse colors without a trailer. The water temp is still ice cold even down here in Texas that's a reason I didn't throw a spinnerbait this most recent time. I've tried walk-the-dog type baits when I get out there in the early morning as well as jitterbugs but nothing doing. I recently bought some scatter rap minnows and a scatter rap Shad but I haven't tried them yet. I'm still in the update process for my tackle box so I don't know which cranks to get or jerkbaits for that matter. I've been fishing since I'm could walk but never too serious about bass until last year and during this winter I started reading and researching about it trying to learn but it's like drinking from a fire hydrant.

A little background( this will probably turn into a novel so I apologize ahead of time) I have a local pond that I started fishing last summer and has produced bass of nice size more so than any other pond that I fish since I don't have a boat. It's a pretty big pond I'm not sure of acreage. There's a track around it I used to run that went around the waterline and didn't deviate to any other trail, it was 2 ,lies to make one loop if that helps in judging size. It's stained(?) water clarity I can see about 2-4ft down but it doesn't have the brownish muddy hue to it. Ever since late fall and early winter the bite has just shut down almost completely. I went this evening for about 2 hours until the sunset only catching one bass about 1lb. I caught it using a Texas rigged Rage Tail Craw in Falcon Lake Craw color. It was very cloudy and about a 10mph wind blowing. Only 3 lures that I've used has produced bass for me, the most successful being a Texas rigged or weightless stick worm in the watermelon seed color. The other being a Rage Tail Craw Texas rigged as well as a Texas rigged Zoom Lizard. It's bottom composition from what I can tell is only what I can call "grassy". Hang ups happen every now and then. The deepest part is 60ft deep the way I learned this is a long story so I won't bother with telling it. The species in there is LMB, bluegill, catfish, crappie, tilapia, Shad, golden shiners, and crawfish. The point of this novel is I am in dire straits, I no longer know how to fish for them let alone what to use, I want to learn different techniques but I'm not sure what else to use in this body of water. Suggestions? Tips? Advice people be greatly appreciated! The gear I use is 7' med-hvy rod with 12lb mono on a shimano Curado is what I almost always use until I build my "arsenal".

I've yet to find 10 lures that produce for me. I've found 2, a stick worm in watermelon seed and rage craw. I'll find more as time passes and I learn more lol.

Their rods are also on sale. That Crucial price looks too tempting......

- When your side of the bathroom sink looks like a tornado hit it but your tackle box is immaculately organized and labeled. - When your reading material for time spent on the "Porcelain Throne" is nothing but bass magazines. - When you have a folder designated "Fishing Material" on your computers desktop. - When half of your apps on your phone are fishing related.

"1/0 or 2/0 size should be what you use." Thanks I appreciate it. Now since they are relatively thin even though they are "fat" worms, would I use a offset round bend or would you recommend an EWG? Once again thank you.

What size/type of hook would you use if one were to Texas rig a Roboworm straight tail fat worm that's 6in? Sorry if I strayed too far from the original topic.

You're more than welcome. Yea watching that show made me jealous. I've never fished from a kayak I can't imagine myself doing it, I'm too active and bass fishing while sitting down just sounds alien to me. I'd like to try it one day though just to see if I might like it. You have more guts than me fishing Raven out of a kayak with the gators up there, although they've thinned them out, I don't think I'd be able to focus on fishing knowing those things were lurking somewhere below me. I want to make it up there and fish it. I know they have two fishing piers, the one past the horse stables is the shallow water pier and they also have a deep water pier on the NE side of the lake.

Welcome Merrick! I also live in Houston and I know finding spots where you are allowed to fish is quite frustrating (well for me anyways) but Google Earth, like you said, is an excellent tool to find some. I also have an app for the iPhone that I've used to help me find decent and fishable ponds called Fishing Spots created by WeatherSphere, if that helps you find it. I've only fished two golf courses in the Cypress area but I didn't get so much as a bump. If you don't mind the drive and if you havent been up there already check out Lake Raven at Huntsville State Park, I've heard of some monster bass up there and it was also featured in a fishing show although I can't remember the name of it.

I don't blame them, I, myself, would never attempt to, looking over your shoulder the whole time would take away from the experience.

HA! Yea really, I wouldn't even know who to start the "buttering up" process with.

Well there goes that idea, haha. Thanks I appreciate it.

Has anyone been to one of these shows? I would love to take the trip to Orlando this summer to check it out but would it really be worth it? Do you have to purchase tickets and if so how much do they run? I'd greatly appreciate to hear any first hand experiences from previous Icast shows. Thanks

I used them last summer, I used the juvenile green color and I Texas rigged them. I only used them for maybe an hour and a half and I caught a catfish lol. After hearing about your success I might have to try them again this Spring.

Excited about this new reel but I'm more excited to see how low the prices drop on the Curado's and Chronarchs. Eventually I'll have to try one of the new Curados after the hype dies down and there are more reviews on how they preform.

Too much of their own products, granted I understand it is THEIR catalog. I stick to TW if I want to drool over stuff and I like to be able to read the reviews on products.

About it being a "Party" lake that is.

All the different coves at Raven scream "Fish me!" with all the lilly pads everywhere you turn. I've also heard that about Conroe.

On the topic of tournaments I personally have zero experience/advice. I've fished since before I could walk but it was always crappie fishing. Last year I was bit by the "Bass fishing bug" so I'm still trying to learn just about everything lol. All I can say about Conroe is that it can get VERY choppy. I was on a friends pontoon boat last year and the waves were crashing over the bow. If you'd like a fishing buddy PM me, I'd be more than happy to trade tips or techniques (probably not tell you anything you don't already know) with you as well as split the cost of gas lol.

Welcome to Texas! About Conroe I don't know a whole lot seeing as how I don't have a boat so that makes fishing it a little difficult. Although there's a small lake in a Huntsville State Park called Lake Raven I've heard is really good. I used to work at Gander Mtn and I had a repeat customer come in every month rantin and ravin about how big the bass are there (using black worms). Beware of gators though. I myself haven't made the long trek up there to fish it from either of the two fishing piers they have there. Back to your original question Conroe sure looks fishy, in a good way, from what I've seen a lot of trees that jut out out of the water and under it. There are 1-2 bridges that go across the lake and I've heard the north bridge is usually a good place in spring/ early summer. Ask anything else I'll do my best to help you out.