jb_adams

After futher reading about the thermocline (refreshed my memory), I understand more about how water temperature affects where the fish are due to comfort level. The only thing I can relate temp. of water and color selection is the deeper they suspend, the darker the color bait. Here is where I'm still confused. Many people here have mentioned "seasonal patterns" and seasonal bait selection. Can somone outline a bare basic guidline to seasonal bait selection? For an example: March - May spawning bass prefer crankbaits, c-rig lizards, and spinnerbaits; June - August bass prefer deeper crankbaits and topwater in late afternoons. Something basic and simple like that. I'm lost when it comes to winter fishing too so a year round seasonal outline would be very helpful. Thanks a lot guys!

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1157388229/0 In the thread listed above, the question arises of thinking like a baitfish. I recently heard a very experience angler say that water temp, color of bait, and thinking like a baitfish will catch more fish. I know color makes a difference. And I agree water temperature makes a difference because the thermocline moves. I don't understand exactly how that works and I don't understand how this effects bait selection. Does color and temp. go hand in hand? Does cooler temp mean different colors? I also have a hard time understanding why the darker the water the darker the color, the brighter the water conditions, the brighter the bait. Why is that? I would think it would be the opposite.

I've often thought of Jim as one of the smartest most experienced guys here. Now I know he's just plain crazy! I guess your suggestions makes sense but it sure keeps the ladies away and creates a good diet program too. Man, that's just nasty! I think I'll keep learning the hard way! ha ha! ;D As far as the videos, I think it's a good idea. I may give it a try myself.

Welcome to the forum Joe! I can tell you first hand that you won't find a better group of guys anywhere on the net. I have NEVER had such support and good advice on any sport ever! These guys are all top notch. If you hang around here long enough, you see that really quickly and become an addict like the rest of us.

Once again Jim, your detailed answers and obvious experience to bass fishing has me in a state of awe. I know there are very technical things that can be done in bass fishing but when you start talking about fishing at 45 degree angles over areas where it appears that you can see under the water better than the fish.......you just loose me every time! I keep thinking to myself, "how does he know there's an underwater creek channel there?" Then I remember the key ingredient to successful fishing....."Experience!" I hope that one day, I will be able to acquire a fraction of the knowledge that you have. Your answers are always technical and precise. There is always a reason of why you choose what bait and where. You don't rely on instinct or "a good feeling" about using particular bait. You're using your previous experiences. I haven't gone night fishing enough yet to even pretend I know what I'm talking about but I will definitely keep those tips in mind when I do. Once again Jim, Great tips!!

I think he just described Beaver Lake perfectly!! ;D I may try some of these techniques Ouchitabassangler just described next time I'm out. My fear of crankbaits may have to be conquered. Fear you say? Yep, the fear of loosing a $5-10 bait within 5 casts. It's happend many times before. With experience and time, I'll learn to overcome the hangups and learn to fish effectively with them.

Thanks for the input George. I guess as a beginner I still get frustrated when I read answers that says things like, "I like using X bait in X situation but it depends on various conditions. WHAT CONDITIONS!??? :'( It's a lot easier to learn when presented all the information. As far as when and where to use a C-rig, I hear that it's just about always productive in open water where the weeds are not too thick. Thanks again George!

Very detailed description George! ;D I still don't know when to fish fast or slow or what "various conditions" are for the C-rig. I like the mud trail analogy that fivebasslimit posted. I totally agree with his post. Are there any other conditions that could be used when fishing a c-rig? What about time of day? A C-rig could work for all conditions night or day right?

Here's a good question to add to the on-going C-rig threads (some of which I started... ). I've heard this many times but never got the reasons for changing, "I use a slow retrieve unless conditions cause me to change my retrieve".... WHAT CONDITIONS??!!!! :-? You guys never give us the rest of the story! I'm dying to know what conditions would change the retrieve speed. Is the the obvious, weather, how well the fish are biting, time of year, etc.? If it's the weather, exapand on it. Just answering "weather conditions have a lot to do with it". OK then, what weather conditions? Some of us new guys are still learning the weather patterning techniques and this thread would make a good addition to the "C-rig archives. Just a suggestion here but, shouldn't there be a direct link to previous C-rig threads or a FAQ on the C-rig in the fishing tackle forum?? Just a thought. I'm still learning the benefits of the C-rig myself and I love to follow up on new threads about it. Tight lines guys!

I too use the pause and pump method and I agree that the feel is sometimes mushy. Like you said, swings are free!

Well I'm going fishing with a BassResource.com member this Saturday! Granted Jolicious might not be my first choice (nudge, nudge!) but he'll do! ;D (j/k) At least he is local and not very far away. Looks like we might start fishing more often and might learn something from each other. Now I would love to fish with just about anyone on here but I would say a few names I can remember eaisly and that's KU Bassmaster, Avid, Lightnrod, J-bass, DEFINATELY ouchitabassangler, and Glenn. There are others that I know but I just can't recall right now. If I left your name out, it's only because my memory is horrible! :-[ Now for some reason I come up missing, try looking in the bottom of Beaver Lake! Joe might have thrown me out of the boat for talking too much!

Well everything I have read and been told is that the weight depends on the depth you're fishing. For water up to 10ft. deep, I see no reason for a 3/4oz. egg sinker because they just catch everything on the bottom. Plus they make an awfull splash in the water. Sounds like you just threw in a big rock. I use a 3/8-1/2 swivel sinker. It is pear shaped and has a swivel built in at the top to tie the line. It doesn't catch along the bottom as much as the egg sinkers. For water over 10ft in depth (like 20-30ft), I could see the benifit of using a 3/4oz. or 1oz. weight. There are plenty of C-rig posts here which I'm sure has much better information. One thing I learned recently about C-rigs is that you can add brass knock plates or brass weights to use with glass beads. It acts similar to a rattle on a jig and helps attract attention to the bait. Does it work? I haven't tried it yet but I hear it works great.

OK, I stand corrected yet again by people who obviously know a whole lot more than I do. I'll learn to keep my newbie mouth shut one of these days so I don't embarrass myself further! Then again, how else would I learn huh? Thanks for the tips on the underwater currents. Sounds like very very good information. Now, to clarify the drag and pause method. Is this a medium speed drag or a quick flinch or jerk measured by the leader size? I usually twitch it back to me once or twice and pull it half the leader or the leader distance in one twitch. Is this too fast? It seems to be working on occasion.

Sounds like a good tip for river fishing. There is very little to no current on Beaver. Not enough to impart action on a worm anyway. Sounds like you have heavily fished that area for many many years. Thanks for the tip! I am still learning to expand my skill of patience. It's the most important virtue or skill in fishing.

6" a minute!! MAN! That's slow. You have more patience than Job! I bet it works for you though. Makes me want to give it a try. If I know fish are there and they're just not biting, that sounds like a good torture presentation. Stick it in their face till they bite! ;D By the way, since I've been posting here at BassResource.com I have learned to keep it simple as a novice angler and now I have learned that there are many different variations of the c-rig from brass bead knockers to all kinds of rig tricks and customization for rattles, etc. I am now determined to make the c-rig a vital part of my fishing techniques. Start with the basics, master it, and then move on to a new type while having an ace in your back pocket that you know you can catch fish on a slow day.

I do not consider myself experienced on the C-rig but thanks to many fellow members here and all of the good advice I received ( ), I am confident that you will catch fish with the drag and pause method. I like to jerk it or tug it twice to get the bait back higher in the water and create a little erratic action like a senko of fluke, then I let it settle and fall for about 10 seconds, then I repeat and jerk or tug two to three times. Nothing hard, just moving the rod tip about 8-12 inces. I like the idea of fat fish vs. slow fish. I want to just catch fish so, I'll stick with slow since the fish locally are very picky.

To bad she's not human, she has the potential for the perfect wife!! ;D I tend to talk too much when doing anything, golf, fishing, etc. When I go with someone who really wants to fish, the no. 1 rule is talk softly and quietly and not that much. We're there to fish, not become the next Bill Dance Outdoors. Yes, I talk to myself too..... :-[

I got up how early this morning for this??? (joke) Being a beginner, I start changing baits thinking that will produce bites. After doing this many times, I know better. If they aren't biting on one to two baits, they are there or they aren't biting at all. You could be doing something wrong too that's spooking them. I'm still learning but when the fish aren't biting, go to the basics, slow and natural presentations like a c-rig.

Someone has already mentioned this in previous posts. I'm still trying to locate a chart for the lake that gives topo information. That's far easier and much less work. Now I just need to find the map. Someone said the local Wal-Mart might have them. On a similar note, that of not having fancy equipment and boats: I heard an old joke that is still a good one. To keep it short, a big Bassmasters tournament came into town at the local lake. Big names and sponsors were there with boats and rigs and all the works. One ole redneck drove up in an old beat up late model 50's pickup and an old Jon boat with an old 5 horse Mercury drove up and wanted to enter the contest. The judges searched the rulebook and couldn't find any exclusion so they let him enter. At the end of day one, the ole' boy came back with a boatload of fish. He got to pick out which ones he wanted to weigh. Everybody was astonished. The next day, he came back with another boatload and this time the judge wanted to know his secret and insisted on going out with him on the next time out. So, the ole' boy showed up late again like everyday before that, got the judge and they headed out. He pulled into a little quiet cove where no one was fishing and dropped the anchor. He pulls out a small metal tackle box and pulls out a stick, lights the fuse and hands it to the judge. The judge is now scared to death and screams, "This is dynamite!" The old boy says, "yup, you gonna fish or we gonna have to swim back"!! Sorry for being off topic. It was too good to not pass along and it just fit right in!

If it were my boat, I'd probably do it. I don't see myself buying a small trolling motor right now for a boat that I am borrowing for the season. I have been tempted believe me.

UPDATE! ;D I tried using a C-rig and within the second cast I felt a little bite. The next cast, same thing and I must have missed the hookset. The worm stayed rigged on the hook both times. The third cast I landed a decent largemouth!! Crystal clear water up to 8ft deep and a watermelon candy trick worm C-rigged landed a fish within 10 mins. Thanks again to everyone who posted and for all the help. I just wanted to pass along the news. It felt great to actually catch a fish using the c-rig. I know it's the most fundamental and basic presentation but it has never worked for me until now. I have to say that all it took was one fish for me and now I want to try it all the time. I downsized my sinker weight to a 3/8oz. swivel weight and that has helped me keep from snagging rocks and other things. Like I said, I have lost more c-rigs than caught fish so I just gave up on them. Too much not tying to just loose it within 5 casts. On paddling: I have tried sculling before but I gave up too quickly. I'll give it a shot again sometime though. I usually try to paddle very quietly anyway and become extra quiet with no splashes as I get close to the spot I'm headed to. I like to coast in slowly. I would bet my payload is too heavy too. I tend to be over prepared because I hate doing anything and not having tools or supplies to work with when I need it. Just a personal issue.

FYI.... I got in a fight with the bait monkey and told him to go away because he was a little lier. He's mad at me now and not speaking to me. Since I have a tackle box FULL of new baits, I need to learn how to master them!

Well dangit!! Now I don't have an excuse other than plain ignorance!! Thanks for sharing the advice. I guess I am going to have to get out in a few new coves and work a little harder. I have noticed my paddling skills increased a lot lately! ;D So in summary, everyone says to learn to find the fish by knowing the terrain, and then decide on bait presentations based on time of year, water color, depth, temp., weather conditions, moon positioning, how I hokey pokey, if I comb my hair from left to right or right to left, etc. Seriously, I see that I have a ton to learn. I'd love to have a 10th of what you guys know. Thank you very much to all that have posted to this thread. I appreciate the advice very much!

I've been on Lake Ouachita before. BIG LAKE! ;D There is some pretty good fishing there too if you know what you're doing from what I hear. My Father-in-law lives in that area and he gave up on that lake. I think he was more into catfish though. Thanks for the tips. I think you're right about the drops and suspended fish. I have heard that from a few locals. That just makes it harder for me being in a non-motored jon boat. I get nervous being out in deeper water without a motor and all of the skiers and other "yahoos" running up and down the lake. If I had a boat with a motor, I'd feel a little more comfortable because I could get out in the open easier and leave easier. As of now, it's just me paddling. The back coves don't bother me. The wind is what kills me. I fight the wind on the open lake paddling. Again, I'm so desparate for a boat that this one is barrowed. If it were mine, I'd be saving for a trolling motor, depth finder and trailer. Since it's borrowed, I hope to get a boat next year. In the meantime, the "SS Jon Boat" will keep me on the waters and trying to gain more experience which is where it all counts. If you get good adivice, then you can apply it towards your time on the water and get the experience. Thanks again guys! I feel much better! ;D

Very good tip!! ;D My uncle taught me the difference between a squirrel running in the woods and a deer running in the woods so I know what you're talking about. I see small hits and usually account them to small panfish, carp, and catfhish. The larger splashes where you see the fish completely jump out of the water are bass to me. When I can see a white belly, green and black back, that's a bass. I haven't thought of the multiple hits being bass. I usually thought that was a fish that was not catching what it was striking at. That makes sense though. Thanks! Well, I tied on a C-rig and plan on leaving it one of my rods. Until I can afford a boat of my own, it will be my depth finder. The Jon boat I have is borrowed from a friend. He was nice enough to let me use it this summer. I close on my first house this July so after that, hopefully next season will see at least a boat with a motor and trailer! ;D