Roger, The Smiling BassHole

Welcome! I agree with Darren. Spinning is a lot easier to learn than baitcasting. My fishing buddy uses spin cast reels, which he loves. As for rods, I love my new medium-heavy weight rod, since i can really "bury" the hook! Tight lines and let us know what you decide to start with and how soon before you have more rods than you can carry!

Well, you don't say how old you were when you learned to walk, but obviously before you were 11.... Looks like you've found your passion! And I certainly understand your concern about trying to beat your 11 year old self's bass! But you still have some time. BTW, the largest bass I've ever SEEN (not one I caught, mind you) was just over 6 pounds. Ever SEEN. Tight lines!

Time to GET some pictures! This sounds great! Best part is you got the boat from your grandfather! Team9nine, I agree with Crypt. That's awesome! And lots of great photos here. So how stable is a jon boat in waves and wind?

Welcome Holden! Wishing you great success!

Thanks, Fishnkamp!

@fishnkamp How do I find Max Gain's website?

This looks like a fun spot to float tube! Years ago, I fished a MUCH smaller pond with a tube, and caught a zillion half-pounders. They were fighting each other for the fly! And if one got off, another quickly grabbed hold. About 3 years later, there weren't as many bass there, but those left were much more decent sized. Anyway, I'd say definitely fish it! And, if possible, get out there in a tube (check the regulations, sometimes no contact with the water is allowed). Tight lines!

Hey Daniel! Welcome to the site! I fish from a Hobie Float Cat 75. I'll try to put a photo on, but sometimes I have issues doing the photos here! I can also be challenged to find where the fish are. I just recently acquired a FishHunter. It's a portable fish finder that sells for $250. I haven't completely mastered it yet, but it does find fish, but then I can't seem to catch them! I'm not sure if they could be small bait fish, but that should mean bass anyway. One of my favorite places to fish has a lot of weed growth at the end opposite of the put in (of course!). I love to go right up to those weeds, and throw a frog, Wiggle Wog, or Weed Demon in the weeds, and then let it sit, sit, sit, sit, TWITCH, and bam, there's a bass. Not every time, sure, but often enough to keep me interested! I also love to throw spinnerbaits through the vegetation, and get hits that way too. I used to fish worms a lot, but haven't done those as much. I understand about the wind. One day the wind was blowing 13 mph (which is described as a light breeze), which was enough to keep me from being able to move forward against the wind! I just let the wind blow me back to shore. Hope you have some great fishing adventures ahead! Maybe the winds will die down later in the summer.

I also agree with getting out on the water. It's nice if you can get something that will take a motor, even just a trolling motor. I fish from a Hobie Float Cat, which is a hard side pontoon float craft. Like a float tube but a bit higher. Since I haven't been able to afford a "real" boat, I started out with float tubes, and then got the Hobie Float Cat. Depending on your budget, there are some very nice small boats you can get for not too much money. And a kayak or canoe are great ways to start! KEEP A LOG. I got injured last year, so missed most of the fishing season. So while recuperating, I did a lot of study to increase my repertoire this year. I am also keeping track of each fishing trip, so I can later analyze what I did, where, when, and the results. By the way, I've been out fishing 12 times so far, and caught just 1 bass! Did catch some other fish (a peck of pickerel!), and saw little ducklings, goslings, and other interesting natural views. Just remember, fishing is fun! Catching is a gas, but first you have to go fishing! Tight lines! Roger, The Smiling BassHole

I'm 63 and got back into fishing recently, though not after 45 years. Great questions and suggestions above. I'll tell you what I learned reading and listening (on videos) from the Pros: Step 1: Find the fish. That's where your electronics, or in-depth knowledge of the water. Step 2: Find what the fish are biting. Could be worms, could be lures, etc. Remember, you have 8 hours to do Steps 1 and 2. (At least in a tournament!) Best of luck to you and let us know what you do and how it works! Tight lines! Roger, The Smiling BassHole

Understood! All that wasted time, NOT fishing. Though I did have a long stretch of years when I didn't fish. I was moving around with very little cash and no equipment. But happy to be able to fish again! Even though I still need more money! (No boat!) Tight lines! Roger, The Smiling BassHole

It was a birthday fish come true! Only caught one, but it was 2.88 lbs. As I've said before, a 5 pounder!

Thanks, Nitrofreak! I've been out 3 times so far: 1. Skunked. But did have ice form in my rod guides (outside temperature did rise to mid-30's by the time I left). 2. Skunked. But no ice! And I still had a good time. 3. Fish on! I caught a 2.88 lb. bass. Or, as I like to say, "A 5 pounder."I tried to upload a photo earlier without success, but it looks like I did manage this time? We'll see! I fish from a Hobie Float Cat 75. And I'm recovering from a patella tendon rupture (slipped on a bank while fishing last year!), so I only stay out a couple of hours at a time for now. But my home lake is 5 minutes from my bedroom, and sooner or later the water will warm up to near 60 degrees (I don't have a thermometer because I'm too cheap to pay 20 bucks for one, since I have to fish in the water no matter what its temperature is). My dream is to win the lottery and buy a Hobie MirageDrive Pro Angler, but to WIN the lottery I'd have to buy the tickets, and I seldom do that either. I'm off tomorrow, so I'll try again! Thanks for the welcome! Just joined the forum, though I've been reading articles from BassResource for quite a while. (Since I couldn't fish, I researched fishing!) Tight lines! Roger, The Smiling BassHole

Of course you're skunked if you don't count the fish you DO catch! Trolling is a legitimate way to fish, so I say "Fish On!" Let me ask you this, did you have fun getting that striper in? And the whole point is having fun, right? That's what THIS BassHole thinks! "As you think, so shall you become." If it worked for Bruce Lee, why not we BassHoles? Maybe it's better to get out there BEFORE the action starts as opposed to AFTER it's all over? Share what techniques you are using, and how do you fish DIFFERENTLY during the spawn? If you're not getting results. Last year (before I went and tore my patella tendon, ending my fishing season early) I could SEE the fish cruising, but generate no interest. I spoke with a young man at my local Bass Pro Shops, and he turned me on to the Red Eye Shad. Then I started catching some fish! Have you experimented with drop-shotting? That's a technique I learned about I'm wanting to try. Great advice! I fish from a Hobie Float Cat 75, a pontoon "boat." I have no electronics (dream of getting the FishHunter!"), so the tip about watching birds to locate bait schools is awesome! Now, can I get my butt out there (the Hobie is all BassHole powered). And I LOVE the advice to slow down and pick apart areas. I've been fishing 3 times this year (the first time I got ice in my rod guides!), and the last time was on my birthday. No action, so I went out a bit deeper (the water was blissfully calm) and dragged my Red Eye Shad slow and deep. Thought I snagged a rock, but turned out to be a bass. 2.88 lbs., or as I like to say, "A 5 pounder!" Keep your chin, and rod tip, up and keep going. The water's warming and so will the action. Roger, The Smiling BassHole

Some very nice fish! I'm off on Monday, AND it's my birthday. I've been fishing my home lake (Webster Lake in NH). Sunday the water was 53 degrees, so soon it will be in the pre-spawn as well! Have fun snagging those pre-spawns! Tight lines! Roger, The Smiling BassHole

Ward, Whoooo-hooo! Haven't seen my local late in the past few days. I do know that Lake Winnipesaukee ("smile of the Great Spirit") had ice out on March 18 this year, beating previous records. "Ice out" for Winnipesaukee is declared when the MS Mount Washington can cruise to all of its ports. So, floating ice can still be on the lake. But I ain't complaining. The record LATEST ice out was May 12, 1888. Should be deep into bass fishing by then! Tight lines, my friend! Whatcha catching? Roger, The Smiling BassHole