FreddoB

So tonight I'm out buying my "VERY FIRST"chatterbait to throw tomorrow. You better believe I bought two (hee hee)!! I just found this thread, but with all the cramming myself full of everything bass fishing, I've learned that the chatterbait has the "potential" to get bit. "Potential" being a key word. Thanks for the info from those that mentioned the retrieve. I hope to have great success tomorrow. What if I loose both? I'll have to switch baits for a while... Regards - Freddo

GREAT information to all! Thanks! So now this newb bass angler might "want"some wind?!? Say what!?! OK bring it I'm trying these tip and tricks. QUESTION: How is it that the wind will drive bait fish toward the the areas it's heading to (the forage is underwater)? I'd like to understand this! Thanks and regards - Freddo

Late last year I started targeting the black crappie in the lake in our community. It's got lots of great "keeper" sizes. Delicious! Last weekend I got into a school of smaller ones all around 6" or so and what a hoot. Being to to learning their ways, I realized and was able to "practice knowing there were so many in the mood to bite, that the like the baits slow and typically hit on a pause. I read it (or watched it) and my honey hole last weekend confirmed it. Now to find the school of larger slabs. Here, so far, they cannot resist the Arkie Sexee Tail Shad (Tennessee Shad color) I'm throwing! LOVE IT!

Awesome pic and thanks for sharing. His little hands holding those baits! Precious! My youngest, now 16, fishes with me. Nothing better than seeing him hook up. His PB largemouth he got through the ice and he has a bigger PB than me (for now)... Sure I like catching fish and I "might" hook more than he does but I share every bit of everything I know hoping he'll be a better angler. But we "all" know there's nothing better than learning by "fishing". But back to the kids... These are times that we'll never get back. Take many pictures and catch many fish! ENJOY!!!

I use a 5' St. Croix Avid UL rod and an old Shimano reel (the old reel for now) when fishing a 2" rubber bait (like a BPS Pro Baby Shad; Arkie Sexee Tail Shad; Bobby Garland Baby Shad; etc.). I've hooked into some large pickerel and WOW. Hang on! I don't purposely fish for the monsters with the UL but it can handle "some"of them with correct drag, line, etc. You'd be best to get some "other" combos for different techniques and fish sizes you are targeting. I have 10 lb braid on my UL and while it's the same diameter (says the manufacturer) as 2 lb mono, it casts quite well with just a 1/16" jig head and the baits I mentioned above. This year where I fish, this is getting everything to bite. Toss these around and see for yourself. For bait color, start with Tennessee Shad (Arkie's I get a Wally World). I hope you do well!!

@12poundbass leave the poles HOME?!?!? I understand what you are saying and @Scott F too. Thanks to both of you. So far I'm finding knowing the depth is great. I'm displaying water temp but not familiar enough with bass behavior vs water temps so that's not a help yet. I want to use the down scan and the traditional sonar side by side. I'm finding that it helps me to see the difference between what are fish and what are weeds/plants/sticks/etc. I suppose I'll have to make a play date with JUST my finder and the manual. Are SNACKS allowed if they don't distract me? Again - thanks!!!

Hi All, While fairly new to bass fishing and very new to kayak fishing, I was fortunate enough to be able to pick up a Garmin 53cv echoMAP. I've had it out only three times and want to get proficient with it. My transducer is "in the water" (not shooting through the hull) in a RAM mount. Any tips/tricks/settings that are best would be GREATLY appreciated for this fish finder newb! Thanks in advance! Best regards - FreddoB

The arches occur when you are moving over the fish as the return gets stronger and then weaker (from what I've heard and read). All the same, I too say "fish". Did you catch it? Best - FreddoB

A separate battery for a finder is less than $30 bucks. I bought a 12V 10 AH that'll power my finder for a weekend easily. I just purchased a Garmin but they are all descent. Just know what you want and/or need. It's easy to spend a lot but sales abound! I picked up a 5" screen because I wanted a split display and didn't want to have to squint a lot without my "cheaters"on my face to see the screen. So fat I'm happy. Just knowing the depth I'm finding is huge in the fishing game. HTH - Freddo

Welcome... we have a similar story. I fished for trout growing up and then took about a 25 year break from fishing hard (as I call it). I got into fly fishing about three years ago but last fall bought a kayak and it's all about bass and crappie now. FUN - FUN - FUN... This is the place to learn bass stuff! Read/fish/fish/read... Have more of a blast! Regards - FreddoB

For sure move heavier stuff up front. Maybe your trolling motor battery can go up there. Years ago I had a 14' Sea Nymph. With my 9.9 Mariner and gas tank in the back (I didn't have a heavy seat), and me at about 120 lbs back the, if I opened it up on a lake, most of the boat was out of the water. it never happened but I "thought" a a stiff gust under the boat would have flipped me. My son has an "old" alum. semi-v and it's only about 11' but HEAVY!!! It's pretty stable so it also might have to do with the width of the boat too! Having never owned a jon boat, I can't speak for them. But after reading through this thread, I'd consider one. In the mean-time, distribute weight as best you can.

My first time ever out with a plastic swimbait was on my b-day (5/18) and I used a 3.8" Keitech FAT Swing Impact (bluegill) on a weighted swimbait w/spring (Eagle Claw) and while hoping to get a big LM, caught many pickerel. The action is fantastic and a new "go-to" bail for me. I'll try some others like the Rage Swimmer but if these Keitech's are available in the shop, I'll buy more! I learned that we need to use a bait "a lot" to build confidence in it. I'm getting to where I want to force myself to take only one or two different baits out for a day and make it happen. I'm referring to baits and techniques that I know work because guys in this forum and YouTube'ers catch fish on them. The more we work at something - the better we get. Persistence pays off and hopefully with a new "PB"! Best - FreddoB

Thanks all! I look forward to spending time here learning and sharing as I can... I'm WAY up north in Sussex County. Quite close to the NY border. Lots of water up here to poke around in so learning of them and accessibility for the kayak. Thanks! A green pumpkin craw got me my PB last year. That was an EXCITING start to learning to use soft plastics for sure! I appreciate the input! Best regards - FreddoB

Welcome... Read, try, fish, fish more, read more, fish..fish...fish... You will get better. I go out with guys and they get flustered each time I hook up. I share my baits, my methods, etc. A lot of "catching" fish is knowing what you are doing. Of course the fish need to bite. I joined this forum today to get better at bass fishing and the resources here seem endless. Have fun and remember that the more your baits are in the water the more you're learning what works! - FreddoB

Hi All, I stumbled on this forum looking for trailers for a chatterbait I'm thinking of buying. I grew up a trout fisherman and always dreamed of catching lots of bass with consistency. New to kayak fishing opened the door for great fishing opportunities. I'm only starting to catch more bass lately but want to start trying all these techniques I read about. I'm sure I don't need to go broke buying every bait, in every color, for every condition, but this forum seems to have lots of great "resources" so I'm in! Thanks for all of you that post to feed into this "safe" addiction I call fishing! Work is overrated is my motto each time I'm out there on a lake! All the best; be safe; tight lines! - FreddoB