skekoam

So my son just got a few swim baits from a generous member and we went out to a lake yesterday just to test it. The thing looks amazing in action, but was wondering what the best way to retrieve them is. Seems like the best action occurred if we let it sink a bit, rod tip down with a very slow retrieve and small twitches in between. If the retrieve was too fast, the bait would essentially come to the top and skip along the surface. FWIW, I'm taking about swim baits the size of the baby bull shad. Thanks!

Seems like I need to get on some SMB. Wish they were around my parts though.

Figures. I was at DSG store last night and you literally have to walk around for 10 minutes to find someone to help you there. I only saw 2 guys working the register and 1 in the shoe dept. This is at a huge store too.

Thanks. Sounds like I need to change hooks. I don't eat trout and want to release them without harm.

For the record, I don't consider myself a trout fisherman at all. Ive caugt maybe 20 in my lifetime. Over the weekend, my son and I visited a lake in Arizona that had been stocked a few weeks prior. Through advice, I used a carolina rig set up with a small 3 pronged hook and powerbait. Towards sunset, we were catching trout on every cast and 90% of the time the fish almost swallowed the hook. A guy next to us wanted the big ones, but it was very difficult to unhook the small ones. Were we doing something wrong here or is it just normal given the type of bait/hook used?

I wish there was a go-to lake/pond for us. Anything local is less than 30 minutes, but the pressure is so high that you are never guaranteed a fish or even a bite. I'm seriously considering a move just to get onto more fish. My wife just doesn't know it yet.

We are headed up to Henderson for a golf tournament this weekend and curious if there are any recommended ponds to try some fishing in the area? Thanks!

I just wanted to take a minute and thank @BoatSquirrel for sending my son a few small swimbaits and other goodies to try out. I've learned a lot here thus far and the members are amazing.

You are obviously a lot more handy than I am. My son asked for a bass boat for x-mas. he's only 9

My son wants to buy a swim bait and I don't know where to start. I've heard of Huddleston etc.., but they have so many options. I need something he can handle on his shimano slx xt and 6ft8 dobyns med heavy with 10 lb YZ hybrid line. Thanks guys.

I could see possibly listening if I owned a boat, but around my parts fisherman are stacked on top of each other from the bank so no music for me out of respect for others. Plus, it would be one more thing to worry about. I much more enjoy hearing birds chirp and my son griping that he backlashed his reel again.

Congrats. I want to move just to catch fish like that.

So its true his trips produce 50+ fish a day. I can't wait to visit him one day.

I'm probably the only guy on this site who hasn't caught one with a jerk or crank bait. I love throwing them though.

I did the skiff rentals a few weeks ago and had a blast with the kids. the boats are a bit shoddy for the price, but I guess they are fine in the harbor. Next time, I'm coming prepared with baitcasters and some plastics. It was touch dragging bait on the bottom with the current and seaweed.

So I recently put some 8lb and 10lb hybrid on our spinning and baitcaster reels, respectively. I'm noticing the line memory issue is really bad. Is this normal or is there something I can spray on the line to help with this? thanks

During the break, my son and I rented a small boat and cruised around Newport Bay trying for Calico. We only had two baits to chose from- shrimp and squid. I will say the shrimp caught double the fish vs. squid. Needless to say, we found that these bass were a lot easier to catch than LMB. I think we fished for 4 hours and caught about 10 fish. Only bummer was I had one of me cheaper rods resting on the side of the boat and something huge took it out of the boat and under water while I was trying to untangle my son's line. Lesson learned. I want to try it again with some small plastics and baitcasters, but was wondering what works best? I hear a lot about using a Big Hammer and Jig head. Thanks!

I'm headed to El Cajon this weekend for a golf tournament and found that Lake Jennings is somewhat nearby. Appears like they stocked trout recently, but hows the bass bite there from shore? Any good spots or insights would be appreciated. Otherwise, I will probably just have my son try for trout to catch something. Thanks guys.

Thanks for all the recs guys. My son is one happy campers. Shimano xt and dobyns fury

My son and I did to test his new rod and reel. Sad thing is we only caught a catfish. Ughhh

So my son and I were playing golf today and we started walking the bank at one if the ponds and smelled something horrible. Right at the bank there was a dead bass. Looked to be about 2 lbs. next to the bass was some line and a bobber. The fish was whole and not fillet or killed by a scavenger. This ticked me off to think that someone killed the fish and just left it to rot. Do you guys think he was maybe gut hooked and couldnt be saved or do people really just catch and kill bass for kicks?

fatso right there. congrats!!

I was looking at the curado 70 and they are sold out at must reputable online stores

If you think trout fisherman are bad, have you encountered cat fisherman? ughhh... A few weeks ago, I saw two guys almost get in a fist fight over a stinkin catfish. Geeeze.

I have the slx dc right now. I'll try to throw a light set up and see what happens next time I fish.