Chris-W

This neighborhood lake is my primary fishing spot and it's been giving me trouble this summer! I have caught 5lb bass here before and the primary forage is bluegill. Much of the lake is 6-8 feet deep with the deepest point around 15 feet. Senkos have been the most successful but I'm trying to gain confidence on the classic search baits that everyone recommends (spinnerbaits, squarebill crankbaits, etc) which I've never caught fish on. I've tried fishing early in the morning, middle of the day, and evening and no matter the time, lure, or presentation I've used, it's been really tough lately. Just curious how everyone else would attack this lake. I take a Bass Raider 10E out most of the time so I have access to all of the areas you see in the pictures. Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone! I just received a new pair of Strike King S11 Bristol polarized sunglasses from Amazon today after reading great reviews about them online. When I look at the lenses from the mirrored side, there are fairly noticeable darker bars that run through the middle 2/3 of the lenses. Is this expected or did I get a defective pair? I assume it has to do with the polarizing but was surprised to be able to see it so noticeably. Does anyone else own these that can confirm if this is a defect or if it's expected? Thanks!

Well thanks SO much for the encouragement everyone. I had been getting pretty discouraged out there, so glad to know it's definitely expected at times in the summer. Not going to keep me off the water though

Wayne to clarify, there are a couple of downed trees which would make it impossible to drive over, but wouldn't sidefinding or side imaging help on those scenarios?

Hey everyone! I need help choosing a fishfinder for less than $200 that will help me locate structure (and fish) in a shallow lake (deepest point is 12 feet, but much of it is between 6-8 feet deep). If practical for my budget, Id like to be able to see the structure and underwater cover of certain parts of the lake that are impossible to drive directly over because of the cover, so that's side imaging right? Or does down imaging also fan out to the left and right of the boat a little bit? I'd like for the unit to be portable because I'll be using it on my father-in-laws bass raider and don't want to have to drill or run cables or anything. I've been looking at the Humminbird Fishin Buddy 120 unit (http://www.humminbird.com/Products/120-Fishin-Buddy/) because I think it meets most of my requirements, although I realize the "side finding" is not the same as side imaging. Does anyone have any experience with the Fishin Buddy 120 or any other portable fishfinder in a shallow lake that's been helpful for location structure, baitfish etc? Is the side imaging feature available on units in this price range or would I have to spend significantly more? Thanks for any guidance you can provide!

Where did the bass go, indeed. . I've never caught a fish with the search/reaction baits you mentioned in this lake but I have tried them varying the location, presentation and time of day. I need to keep using them so I start catching and build confidence in them because I know they are the classic search baits. I thought that search/reaction baits are for aggressive bass and due to the heat and time of day, the bass are more likely to be lethargic and finesse tactics (C rig, T rig) would work better. Is this understanding wrong? I have considered a portable fish finder but never used one. That particular model appears to be discontinued now. Do you know what the most comparable unit that they sell now is? The lake I fish is 12' at the deepest in case that matters. . Yes I have access to a bass raider 10E for this lake. The deepest parts are around 12'. There are a few kids that fish the lake sometimes but I wouldn't consider it heavily fished at all. Senkos are the only thing I've had luck on but I'm trying to expand my lures and approaches to the popular search/reaction baits mentioned above. Thanks for the encouragement! I feel better knowing that I've set myself up for more of a challenge fishing at this time of day, but with my schedule this will continue to be the easiest time for me to break away. There are a few downed trees in the lake that I feel must hold bass but I've never caught one there. Just need to keep on it, vary the approach, vary the lures, and get better at accurate casting!

I am trying to keep my confidence up, but my last 4 trips to my most accessible (neighborhood) lake have only produced 1 bass for me. I know there are 5lb bass in there because I've caught them before but I just can't get them to bite anything lately. I'm usually there in the middle of the day on the weekends (2-4pm) but have also fished early morning and late at night with no noticeable increase in bites. I've varied my lures (reaction baits and slow Carolina rig/weightless senko) and my presentations and I'm getting skunked most of the time. I've worked the grass lines and the deepest spots (creek channel) too. I usually only have 2-3 hours when I go fishing so is this just expected with summer bass fishing, or am I missing something? Time for a new lake or new approach?

Would love to hear what's working on Lake Acworth. Are there decent numbers of bass in there? I'm not trying to break any records, I just love catching fish . Planning to at least go bank fishing there soon and probably take my father-in-law's bass raider out there. Are there any decent spots accessible from the docks or banks? Thanks in advance!

Had never thought of this approach, will have to try that!

Update on freshwater fishing on the island, the golf course used to allow fishing after hours but it has been prohibited for a few years now. There is another decent sized pond across from Villas by the Sea, but it's heavily overgrown with very little access to bank fish. Also, crocs are plentiful there so be careful if anyone goes there. I've heard there is a pond by the 4H center on the island where fishing is allowed, but haven't made it over there yet.

Point taken . I've never had much luck with saltwater fishing so I was hoping to fall back on what's familiar if the saltwater bite is tough. Fished the surf at high tide with squid, mullet and shrimp for 3+ hours before and after high tide yesterday and only caught a tiny catfish and 10" white fish. Meanwhile, my father in law caught 3 sand sharks, 2 sting rays, a catfish and a spotted bass fishing 10 feet away from me with the same bait. Sigh..... Update on freshwater fishing on the island, the golf course used to allow fishing after hours but it has been prohibited for a few years now. There is another decent sized pond across from Villas by the Sea, but it's heavily overgrown with very little access to bank fish. Also, crocs are plentiful there so be careful if anyone goes there. I've heard there is a pond by the 4H center on the island where fishing is allowed, but haven't made it over there yet.

I'm headed to Jekyll Island this weekend and curious if anyone knows of ponds/lakes on the island that hold bass. Much appreciated!

We're going in a week so I'm following this thread.

Hey fellow Bass Raider owners! My father-in-law owns this boat (the 10E model) and is looking to add a pole light 3-4'. For those of you that have added on, what model did you go with and how easy was it to add? Is there a Pelican brand one I need to be looking for, and any generic brand will do? Thanks in advance!

Got skunked tonight too so I'm with you brother! What a bummer because I was trying to fish different sub-surface baits after reading how effective they can be at night, rather than my standard senko or top water lures. I got bites on senkos and a hollow body frog but no landed fish. I was fishing a private lake that was calm as glass too! I guess it's bound to happen now and again. Still sucks though. We'll get them next time!

Thanks ATX. I'm brand new to jig fishing and don't know where to start! What style (football, swim, etc) is most versatile, what weight is most common and what trailer would you recommend if there are no craws in the lake? Weed guard or no? Favorite brand/color? Thank you!

Any favorite color on the rattle trap or deep crankbaits? Do I want to just target the deepest spot of the lake with the deep crankbait or work the banks and back towards the middle of the lake?

Thanks for all of the input everyone! For now, I'm going pickup the black max/vengeance combo because it's just too good of a deal to pass up. After rebate I'm effectively only paying $10 for the rod, and everyone seems to agree that the reel is decent/good. It will give me a more sensitive rod than what I have now and the baitcaster setup to start learning. When it's time to upgrade my spinning setup, I'm definitely going to refer to this thread!

What squarebill do you like (brand/color)? If max depth is 12' do I want to get one that goes right around that depth? Thanks!

Hey guys! I most frequently have the opportunity to fish between the hours of 2-5pm right now (Summer in GA). The lake that I usually fish is a neighborhood lake (approx 12ft+ at deepest) with a few docks, nice thick grass banks, no lily pads but can definitely hear frogs at night, fairly stained water and it's stocked with 1-7lb largemouth bass. There is one bank that stays shaded all day due to tree cover, and there happens to be a deeper channel off that bank as well so it's been a favorite spot. What are everyone's top 3 producing lures/rigs for midday (2-5pm) summer bass fishing? Please provide the brands/colors/weights and presentations that have been most successful for you. Thanks in advance!

After doing more research, I keep seeing a quality 6' 1/2 - 7' MF spinning setup being recommended as the most versatile. The Pflueger President spinning reel keeps coming up ($60) but that would only leave me with $30 for a rod (Berkley Cherrywood has been recommended in this range, anything else worth looking at?). Should I focus more on getting a better (more sensitive) spinning rod now with my $90 and keep the cheap Shimano reel I have, or would the President really be worth the investment now? Decisions, decisions. Thanks again everyone.

Thanks for all of the input so far. I just wanted to add that I'm not married to the idea of getting a baitcasting setup if my money would be better spent on just a better spinning rod, one that's more sensitive, higher quality, etc if it makes more sense for the type of fishing I'm doing (pond vs a big lake). If this changes anything, the deepest point of the lake is around 14'. Thanks guys!

Hey guys! This is my first post here. Already I have come across such great information, so thanks for everyone being so willing to share! I live in Kennesaw, GA and I've been fishing for a couple of years now. 99% of the time, I fish in a neighborhood lake that has 1-5lb+ largemouth bass is in. I fish both from the bank and from a small boat, about equally. My most successful baits/lures have been Senko worms, pop-r's, 5" floating minnows and stickbaits, though I haven't built up any confidence in crankbaits, spinners or jigs yet. There aren't any lily pads, although I've had some strikes at a hollow body frog as well. The water stays pretty stained with a green tint, so green pumpkin and watermelon black flake Senkos have been the best color so far. There are a few good grass spots/lines and a couple of docks on the pond. I only have one spinning rod/reel right now (Pflueger Criterion 6'6" M w/medium action and Shimano R4000 (4.1:1) series reel with 12lb Trilene XT) and I have $90 to spend, so I was wondering if the Abu Garcia Black Max/Vengeance Baitcaster combo for $80 at Dicks (w/$20 mail in rebate) would be a good way to spend my money to expand my gear. My biggest complaint with my current rod/reel is that I'm missing the little bites on Senko's and gut hooking bass WAY more frequently than not. I am also not able to reach the opposite bank when bank fishing, but am pretty sure I could with a baitcaster. I was thinking the Vengeance rod would be much more sensitive than my current rod (less gut hooking), and the Black Max reel would give me longer, more accurate casts from the bank, while allowing me to retrieve spinner baits, crankbaits, buzz baits at a better speed. Let me know your thoughts on this purchase, or if the $90 would be better spent on just a more sensitive rod, different lures (crankbaits, spinners and jigs that I don't have), or something I'm not even thinking about! Thanks in advance.