Chug Bug

So far you old guys are blowing my theory with t-rigging and crankin in the 70's. My grandfather must have been a lousy angler! Anyway, you all are lucky. I didn't start seriously bass fishing until I was 26. I just can't imagine how obsessed with this I would have been if I had experienced it as a teenager

I'm retired so I have zero commitments. I fish golf course ponds every evening and go out on my partners boat once a week. I know I have it comparatively good to most of you guys that have to try and make time to go. Sorry :'(

I've noticed so many youngsters on this site (early teens/teens) and something came to me. I am turning 40 soon, and this is going to sound like a dumb question but.... Do any of you guys my age or older even RECALL bass fishing when you were teenagers? I went fishing all the time with my grandfather up until my early teens, and we sure as hell weren't fast fishing artificial lures or doing anything that required any kind of presentation. I don't think I even remember coming across a bass. It was all salmon eggs and bobbers for us. Anyway, my point being, I didn't discover the bass fishing that bass fishing is today until my late twenties. I sure would have loved doing what I am doing now when I was a kid. Anyone remember back that far?

Look for anything "different". That is..something that separates an area of the pond from the rest of it. A weedy area, an overhang of branches from a tree, a point of land that sticks out into the pond, a stream or creek inlet, etc. Unless this pond is super shallow at the banks, try to cast parrallel to the shoreline. If you are going to be fishing this time of year during the daylight hours, you may need to slow your presentation down a bit. This is unfortunately a bad time of year to begin fishing. If you can go out at dusk you will be more productive. Good Luck, you'll love bass fishing sooner or later.

I had always considered it a generic term. If you got the lure to the fish, it was in the strike zone

Congratulations to all the winners. Congratulations to all the young men on this site who did not win, but have performed some selfless act for another. You guys all should be proud of yourselves. It's amazing this age of the internet. I am just turning 40 years old, and can only imagine the benefits I would have reaped as a youngster to have access to this kind of a site. Congrats again guys!

It sounds like all you fish is topwater. Have you tried sub surface lures at all with any luck? Welcome to the board!

I agree somewhat with RockvilleMDAngler. I always thought the team type coverage of the ELITE series was a little over the top. Those classics where the pros enter the arena on their towed boat for the weigh-in seem ridiculous.

Anybody here haunted by a break-off that would have easily been your PB? Also, did that particular break-off make you drastically change the way you land fish, or equipment choices?

I have heard the same thing from many people. Hook will rust away in 2-3 days max. I also try to cut the shank of the hook close as possible when no other option is available. I wish the general public could see the concern that the anglers on this board have for the welfare of the fish they catch.

If you don't have problems fighting and landing the fish, you can mash down the barb with pliers. This helps. I recently tried removing a deep hook through the last gill plate and it worked surprisingly well. Just have to keep your hands from shaking for fear of injuring the fish.

Cool! Who left their suv on the deck?

East Bay. I'velived in Maryland now since 92' but I was born and raised in Oakland till my mid-twenties. Cool, progressive, tough town. 8-)

Welcome, are you from the Oakland/Richmond area?

I fish a pond nearby that sounds similiar except for the water clarity. I have had some success with burning a spinnerbait just over the top of the weeds in the area where the weeds don't quite reach the surface. Topwaters may produce early morning late evening as well. Have you been able to get any results punching a heavily weighted soft plastic through to the bottom?

O.K. Name is Mike, Live in Maryland. Fishing actively since 1995 or so. I am a 39 year old male, and I am happy to be aboard.