schplurg

That's how my sex dreams always end - a bit too early.

I'll just say that after my first full season of serious bass fishing I must now consider how good the fishing is wherever I decide to move next. I need to move and there will be bass there. I also have a fishing kayak now, a Youtube channel, and I might make a fishing video game (I'm playing with it now actually, and I want realistic bass behavior to be a huge part of it). And I think about fishing every day.

Put a smile on my face which I really needed.

You guys are crazy. Seems perfectly fine to me .

I asked a fish once if he thought my crank bait looked like a Perch since it was called "perch", but I got no reply.

GoPro Battery problem: Buy a portable USB charger and plug the GoPro into that and it will last all day.

Thanks, I will watch this tonight. Went fishing yesterday evening. First time fishing for bass this time of year. I used a jig and tried to swim it above the bottom, then tried hopping and dragging with different length pauses. Had a stick worm/YUM dinger as a trailer. All black and blue (skirt/worm) I got no bites but this lake is tough on the best of days so I am not discouraged.

I had some of the best fishing of the year the very next day! A lake I never catch bass suddenly gave me one of my best days ever - so far. Two days later same thing, then again a few days later. I actually felt like I knew what I was doing! So this is what fall is all about? I like it!

It's ridiculous. ETA: One guy tries to blow up a plane with his shoes and 20 years later we still have to take ours off to get on a plane.

Walmart. You say you want to try some cheap lures, you can get Zoom Super Flukes for a few bucks a bag (anywhere) but you can get crankbaits that work for $2 each at Walmart. I caught my PB (5.25 in my avatar) on a fluke and tons of LM including my second biggest with various Walmart/Ozark Trail hard baits. They are comparable to BPS cheap baits. I haven't bent a hook or damaged one yet. I've lost many but that's my fault. At $2 a pop it's not a big deal. One cool thing about cheap baits is I'm not afraid the throw them into snaggy areas. Not all of my baits are that cheap but I use these a lot.

I'll have to travel a few hours to trout fish. I also plan on doing some winter bassing. This was my first full season of bass fishing. Bass fishing here in the South Bay Area sucks during prime season, so winter should be downright aggravating I wonder what other winter fishing is to be done in Cali - anywhere from the Bay Area up to the Motherlode lakes and rivers. I only mentioned trout because I know people do it. I plan on learning about winter fishing for different species here. Maybe try stripers a few times on the delta.

I thought the OP wanted DVD's or BluRay, that was my first thought. The other thread is Youtube videos which is not the only way, or the best way, to watch videos. I understand both sides of this but to me they are different threads with more eyes looking up at the sites sponsors

I don't think my lake has any bright solid-colored chartreuse fish swimming around with big plastic bills and two hooks dangling from it but they bite that too

Doesn't anyone here fish for trout or some kind of winter fishing? I never plan on storing my rods, I'm gonna learn how to fish for other things.

Pretty sure I replied to this already, or a duplicate thread. I'll save everyone from my opinion this time.

It's just a study. As for the trout example above, couldn't the opposite be true? That all of the smarter fish never got caught and that by eliminating the ones that do get caught (the dumb ones) you are actually leaving the smarter fish to breed and make more smart ones? It's a much simpler explanation.

Forget the bird.... $150 for a swimbait? That's the crazy part! Someone probably trained it to steal expensive baits. Was it a Dodo bird? A bird stole a perch right after my friend threw it back in the surf a few months ago. Got that on video, but the fish was real (and free).

Looks lame to me. Maybe if it was inside the glass stuck to the bottom but this? Nah.

I'd love to see a state by state fee comparison, then cross reference that with the overall management of the water bodies. Who has the best facilities, cleanest etc. Ours should be right up at the top because we probably pay the most, but that is not the case. I'm looking online at Florida boat ramp fees and many of them have none at all. I'm actually very interested in this. I'd love a rundown of various launch and lake use fees from posters in other states. And don't tell me "They pay for it in their taxes then" because Cali has the highest taxes around. We pay out of both ends here... You don't use it? You still have to pay taxes. You want to use it too? You have to pay a fee as well. For everything. And yes this stuff makes me angry, I'm sorry if it shows. This state is one big rip-off. To all: How much do you pay to launch and fish, and where?

In reply to a few posts up from mine - I don't think a fish can pass any knowledge to its young. A fish that has been caught 5 times and released has no way of sharing such info, and knowledge does not enter the DNA in such a way. If anything he's a dumber fish for being caught so many times

Haven't been fishing long and 2019 was my first real bass fishing year. So I have too many to list. But I'll try: first bass not caught on a popper. Last summer was my first time and all on poppers. first 4 pounder. first 5 pounder. first time kayak fishing. first and only time having an argument with another angler haha. first surf fishing (perch). first baitcaster. first time in a jon boat and small aluminum v-hull. first time I left my 2 rods on the bank when I walked the half-mile back to my truck. first time running back like an idiot to get them

I carry dollar-store reading glasses in my tackle. I can tie without them but I usually wear them to avoid even minimal frustration. And when the light dims I definitely need them for knots. I'll just shove them in my pants pocket sometimes too. Like I said they were only a dollar. My Dad gave me his old glasses. They're polarized with little "reading glass" inserts at the bottom. Pretty funky looking. But they slide off my face too easy so I never use em. Cool idea though.

I've learned just about everything from Youtube and the internet. I just started less than 2 years ago so maybe I'm a good "case study". I didn't even know a palomar knot 2 years ago. I first began with stripers because I lived by the Delta. I tried for black bass but never got any in my area (bank fishing). While I striper fished I watched a ton of bass fishing videos, including most of the ones here at BR. I mean it was like hard core research. I had a lot of free time and I watched sometimes a few hours worth a day, easily. I didn't see what the fuss was with black bass until I caught my first LMB. He smashed a popper and boy I was more hooked than the fish after that! NOW I get it! Oh I came across the Googans and some of that. I actually liked the enthusiasm of some of the young anglers, didn't like some other things. I found Roland Martin, Tactical, and BR. Bass Resource was a biggie. No BS here, just fishing instruction. Thanks, Glenn! Then I moved back to the Bay Area about 6 months ago. I've been bass fishing every few days like clockwork since I moved here. The only problem is that the fishing here really sucks. After spending time on the water I've narrowed down the baits and presentations I like. For now. My most successful are cranks, T-rigs and poppers. In fact almost every bass I've caught has been on one of those. I'm starting to try jigs more now, and I've played with buzz baits and others. I've never caught one on a stick worm. There IS a ton of info but I sorted it out, just like everything else on the web. Over time you figure out what is comfortable for you and what you might try later in the future. I concentrate more on bass behavior. To me it's the most important thing. I feel I can catch them on a number of baits if I know where to find them. Bank fishing is limiting, but I managed to pull a 5.25 pounder out of the ponds here, and that's a d**n fine fish for this area. Got another half-a-pound less a month later, same exact spot. The hard part is getting through the skunks. That is where experience and confidence pays off I think. I worry "What if I never catch another one? What if I'm just a big phony as an angler?" The confidence would at least keep me more positive, and I'll bet a lot of anglers quit at that point. But I fish constantly and am focused on it. I love it and I never give up. I went to one lake 24 times before catching a bass. It's only 2 miles away, but even then I'm surprised I never gave it up. Actually I did quit that lake but I went back a few days later and caught more bass than I've ever caught in an hour. What the...? I've watched some tourneys and I think I've learned enough to not be a pain in the butt back-seater on a bass boat. I've also watched my progression in my own videos. I can tell by my own behavior that I'm more capable, handle fish better, don't freak out every time I get one (I am like a kid though) than in my older vids. Finally, I don't think this is causing the lakes to fill up with noobs because I really don't see many people outdoors at all. When I was a kid we'd take the boat skiing, and on the way to the lakes we'd pass by other boaters and as kids we'd wave back and forth to each other from the cars. I rarely see boats going anywhere now, at least here. In Cali less people fish every year. I think the trend is for people to sit on their phones instead. Cali is also doing its best to keep people from having any fun at all, especially on the water, so there's that too. I guess this post is long enough. ETA: To answer the question - yes I think the internet is extremely beneficial to new anglers. Sure time on the water - but at least you know some things you can try when you get there. I almost feel guilty because I can hold a pretty good conversation about baits, techniques with any bass angler and not feel like I'm in over my head, so to speak. I think it would have taken many years to achieve the same level 40 years ago. The only real difference between the web and books and TV from the past is that there is a ton of info readily available at any time. There's always been "too much info".

Cool responses! I was on a bad skunk when I caught that little guy in the OP so his size didn't matter too much. I thought it was hilarious. And it was the only fish of the day for two of us. I actually appreciate every fish I catch. I mean I inspect it, comment on it's colors (Youtube channel). Didn't have the cam on for this or I'd show the video. I'm happy to catch anything where I live! First time on that lake too so - bonus!

Mine is this tiny bass I caught about a month ago. I didn't weigh it, probably less than 2 oz? Little sucker grabbed my popper - all I heard was a little "bloop" and I'm like did something just bite by bait? Couldn't even feel it. I'm proud of this aggressive little fish! He's gonna be a tough one if he hasn't been eaten by now. What's the smallest bass you actually landed? I know this can't be the record here! And it wasn't foul hooked either.