RMcDuffee726

Trueeeeeeeee.

In the exact same situation. I can't even tell anymore, and even if I could it probably only takes a second to make the switch. Everyone has their own preferences though.

I have got my PB from this pond, so it was very interesting.

Alright guys, I always go to you in my toughest situations so don't let me down now! In New Hampshire the Fall Bite is on without a doubt, but I ran into a strange occurrence today and I'm screwed. I literally don't have any idea what to do without all of your help. Story time; I go to this pond, which is shaped like a horseshoe (Everybody envision a horseshoe). Now a horseshoe has two ends to it, everybody get that? Great. So imagine you're fishing a horseshoe pond and the two ends of the horseshoe are about 13-15 ft in depth. The rest of the pond is about 5-6 ft in depth at the most. So essentially I'm dealing with a pond that is crazy shallow besides two very noticeable pockets, and by the way the water is ultra clear. Today I went fishing (10/10/15), but yesterday (10/9/15) New Hampshire got wrecked with very cold weather and a ton of rain. When I hit the water I instantly assume the bass would have pulled out to the deeper two pockets of the pond due to the freezing cold weather and rain that occurred on (10/9/15). I never got a bite, and I threw everything (techniques include) in those pockets. I hit every technique as hard as I could and didn't get bit once. I also never saw a single fish anywhere in the pond, even in the shallows. My main question to you is "what are the fishing doing?" The pond literally has two deep pockets and that is it. How could I have not seen any fish anywhere shallow, yet catch nothing deep either. I'm truly dumbfounded. I'm curious to all your opinions on what fish would do in a super shallow pond when there is a severe cold day before fishing. I can't even fathom it. They can't truly go deep and "transition" as many bass pros would say. I just need some guidance because I have come across this situation before and I might as well just get off the water because I'm useless in these scenarios.

I always support the one Local tackle shop I have around my house, I always find that they have stuff Bass Pro Shops would never carry and they also do my reel maintenance which is super clutch. I don't hate Bass Pro shops by any means, I just wish they carried a little more variety. Somebody above said they favor big companies (Strike King and such) and I understand why. It was just such an odd situation I encountered I felt like I had to make a post about it.

So I want to start a discussion, I mean any store can be decided to be compared but I just have noticed some things from my Walmart visit to my Bass Pro Shops visit. So I went to Bass Pro Shops in (Hooksett, New Hampshire) and I was surprised by the lack of variety that they carried for certain styles of fishing. I went to pick up a few new jigs, and was very disappointed. They seemed to only care a few types such as football, finesse and maybe a few swimming jigs. On top of the lack of variety they also all seemed to all have rattles on them. Literally the Bass Pro Shop was exclusively selling jigs with rattles. I went up to the counter and asked a Fishing Representative about the issue and he responded "Well the fisherman seem to only want the ones with rattles, so that is all we are selling."...What? At this point I was astonished. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I then decided to go on over to the fishing line section to pick up "Berkley Vanish 17 Lb. Fluorocarbon" and they didn't carry it. Once again my face turned ghost white and I decide it was time to leave the store. They also didn't have any Berkley Line in general. Conveniently there is a Walmart that is located directly across the Bass Pro Shops parking lot so I decided to head over there. Well, when I went over there I found everything I was looking for. It seems so odd to me that a Walmart would carry a much more variety of certain fishing items such as jigs. I guess I look at Bass Pro Shops sometimes and feel that I'm only going there for the name. I deep down think Bass Pro kind of sucks. Maybe it is just the one close to me that sucks, any thoughts? I usually will just do my buying through ***.com

I tend to use a 7:1:1 ratio baitcaster for my jigging rod. I like having the ability to crawl a football jig, but also burn a swim jig when the occasion calls for it. 7:1:1 would be excellent gear ratio for Texas Rigging too. I believe the problem may be with cranking. Granted I am not the largest crank-bait fisherman (getting into it more now), but I know KVD uses a 5:1:1 for his cranking, and some angler prefer a lower gear ratio as well. I bet the best medium for you would be a 6:?:1 as Rippin-Lips suggested above. Good luck & cheers!

I'm a righty, yet I use a Right Handed Baitcaster. I just enjoying fighting fish with my weaker hand, and having the power in my knob turning hand. There is no wrong way to do it. Like everyone else above said, whatever feels more comfortable is the correct way to do it.

Thanks for the info! I learned how to fish on a baitcaster so I am very good with them now.

I unfortunately do not have a sonar unit, but thank you for the great information! I'm for sure gonna use this.

Thank you!

Thank you!

What's up guys, I always seem to come here at the start of a new season to try and get advice on a new technique. So basically, I started fishing three years ago, but have never got into cranking before, so I really need help. I live in New Hampshire and Fall is coming upon us quick, and I have heard this is a great time to use a crankbait? I'm really new to this so I actually have no idea where to even start. The first question I have is what should I throw a crankbait on? I have heard a MH 7'0 with a reel that has a 5:1 gear ratio and also to use 10 to 12 lb fluorocarbon line. Does that seem right? What am I looking for when throwing a crank? Do I throw a crankbait in deep water or shallow water? As you can see I am really clueless on this whole technique. Any video links, personal tips, words of advice, literally anything will help my cause. Bassresource is where I have developed all my fishing skills and I assume this time will be no different. Thank you guys, and tight-lines!

Great mount Hootie, put a smile on my face reading the post.

Jigs catch absolute monsters...learn a jig. When I say learn a jig, I mean live and breathe only a jig for all season. The payoff is absurd.

Here's some of my better fish. You have some nice catches!

College and fishing brutally go hand and hand.

I'm lost.

Got out for 20 minutes tonight. Caught a nice one and had to leave right after, I wish I could have stayed!

That's the same situation and feel I had. That's what I meant. Thank you for providing a different response.

Only thing you can do is "grind" out hours on the water. Three years in and I'm finally beginning to understand what I'm doing and also making critical decisions on the water to catch fish. It's a hell of a journey, enjoy it!

Got on the water for a little while after work. Today was gorgeous, and the bite was on! In total I landed 6 fish all coming from around 12 feet on a black & blue swim jig.

What's up guys? So essentially I have found myself throwing a jig more and more, but I feel like I am doing it wrong. My first technique is to throw it, let the bait fall, sit on the bottom and then drag it about 5 inches and pause it for 3 - 5 seconds. The next technique I use it to just slightly hop the jig off the bottom while constantly reeling it back to me. I'm primarily throwing swimming jigs (yes I do swim them), but I'll occasionally drag a football head as well. So, I'm just curious what techniques work for you guys and if you would be willing to share them with a fairly new jig fisherman? Tight lines and I'll appreciate any responses! P.S I'll take advice for throwing jigs into cover & also open water.

I really want to get a jon boat because I'm finally using more rods. I usually will bring my soft plastic rod and jig rod in my kayak but keep more in the car if I want to paddle back and switch out my gear. Small ponds are awesome though. Really get to pick apart the entire pond and also have a great opportunity at catching some goliath fish.