SMROA1983

So I live in southern New England and I’m having trouble recently finding bass. I found areas with a ton of empty spawning beds and there’s bluegill on the beds sometimes. If I go out deeper or try around docks and other structures I can’t catch anything. Anyone have some ideas I could try? I don’t have a fish finder and would really like to find them without one. Thanks, any input helps.

So I caught a nice 2.5 pound bass yesterday on a fluke. He choked the hook pretty bad and it didn’t really take me long to get it out and it wasn’t out of the water very long. As soon as I released it I knew it wasn’t going to make it. I felt guilty because I’ve had plenty of fish that have a gutted the hook and I get it out and they swim away fine. Eventually a snapping turtle ended up eating the fish right near me. Has anyone had good luck crushing the barbs on the hooks or using barbless hooks. I just want to avoid having this happen again.

Excellent ideas! Thanks. Hopefully I have better luck next weekend.

So I’ve been fishing craws, green pumpkin worms and Ned rigs. I was doing really well up until recently. Maybe I’m just not fishing in the right spots because the fish moved. Maybe it’s after the spawn and they want other things? Any ideas for what baits to throw in south shore area mass right now?

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm headed out tomorrow to give it a try again I’ll let you know how it goes!

So I’ve been doing great catching all sorts of bass up until about 3 weeks ago. It’s been colder at night and today it was 30 degrees out when I got up at 6 am. I am pretty new to bass fishing in the fall and I’d really like to know what I could do to try to find them. I live in south shore mass if that helps. Any advice would be good. Just don’t want to put the fishing stuff away just yet. Thanks

Anyone have any tips for fishing black water ponds? I have good luck in clearer water but a lot of the ponds around me are black or very dark. Not just stained or muddy but like pitch black.

So I’ve been doing pretty well recently finally landing some good bass in some clearer water ponds. I have a lot of really dark or black water ponds around me and I’ve had no luck. I’ve seen a lot of videos on muddy or stained water but I can’t find anything on black water. I mean it has almost no visibility after any bait hits the water. I’d love some new ideas if you’ve got some.

So I got myself a small bass boat and went out yesterday with my son on a pond near me. Very dark water and weeds along the edges. Tried around some lily pads and out from shore a little. Tried a wacky rig for awhile and got nothing. I had some bass jump at my frog at the lily pads but no real bites. Tried a couple of top water baits because it was getting dark so I figured they would work better. Still nothing. How do I know where to fish for them because I’ve tried everything I’ve watched and read about where they’re supposed to be in the water and nothing has worked. I refuse to quit until I figure this out. It has become my mission in life to find the bass lol. Any advice would help. Thanks

I figured as much but I couldn’t get there any sooner today. Hopefully the rain will stop this weekend for a little while so I can try again I wanted to but I couldn’t get there any earlier today

So today I went out at like 9:30 this morning and I used a weedless hook and I wacky rigged a green pumpkin senko and cast in various places around lily pads and weeds and open water for 2 hours. Nothing. Texas rigged the same worm color for another hour. Nothing. I tried a top water frog pad crasher for awhile after that and got 1 bite but didn’t hook it. Just think nothing will work for me.

I have tried the wacky rig but the only thing is where I live the ponds have a ton of weeds and grass. So every cast I’m pulling off 2-3 feet of weeds. I’ll have to try that kind of hook though I’ve never done that. Thanks! Medium heavy rod, 6:4-1 baitcaster, 10 pound braid. Whopper plopper, frog, spinners, chatterbaits, jigs and senkos. I’ve also tried the Ned rig but I have a lot of weeds and grass where I live and the water is very dark. A couple of different jerk and crankbaaiys also.

I’m wondering if anyone can help me because I’ve been trying to fish with artificial bait since April and I’ve caught 1 bass on a frog in lily pads. I’ve tried every color worm it seems and many different top water and other types of lures. I live in south shore mass and I’m bank fishing. Hanson,Hanover and pembroke mostly. I’m just getting frustrated because I’m seeing people nailing bass all day doing the same things I’m doing and I’ve got nothing to show for all my efforts. Any advice?

So I’ve posted here before about not catching anything and sadly my luck hasn’t changed much. Except for 1 bass I caught on a frog in heavy lily pads I’ve got nothing. I can catch fish on live bait all day long but any artificial lures… nothing. Just don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I’m bank fishing on the south shore of MA. Hanson, pembroke, Hanover mostly. Anything would help, just about to hang it up and find a new hobby.

I’ve tried Texas and wacky. Swivel and no swivel. 3 different size hooks. I use braided line if that matters. Bait casters and spinning reels. Haven’t tried a Ned rig yet

So I’ve been struggling all year with non-live bait(senkos, lures, top water etc). Only thing I’ve managed to catch is some small perch and bluegills with a worm and a bobber. I live in south shore mass and I’m mostly bank fishing or sometimes from a kayak. I’m about ready to throw all my stuff away and quit but any help would be good. Just looking for some ideas or maybe some fishing spots where I’ll have better luck. Thanks

Thanks for all the advice! My issue now is I still can’t catch any fish! I’ve tried every possible bait(except live bait) and caught nothing this year. Been fishing since March and nothing. The only thing I’ve caught is a couple small sunfish and a small perch with worms. Pretty frustrating. About to throw all my rods and lures away lol!

I’ve been fishing the whopper plopper for a while now with no luck. Does the time of day matter because I usually can’t get out until after 9am? Also I have a perch 75 and 110 because my local bait shop said that was good for my area. Are there better colors I should use that would help? I live in south shore mass and I’m bank fishing if that helps.

Thanks! I guess I’m not sure how far to cast out because I’m used to fishing closer to shore and I don’t usually start fishing this early in the year. I also don’t really know how deep the lakes and ponds are that I’m at. Can’t wait to try some of these suggestions and get out there again!

That sounds like a good idea. I think that’s the only thing I haven’t tried thanks!

Sorry I’m in south shore mass. Tried Hanson, pembroke, Halifax and Hanover. Pretty dark water I’d say.

Hi I’m new to this forum and I thought I’d try to ask and see if anyone can help. I’ve fished like 5 times in April and I haven’t even gotten a bite yet. I’ve tried green pumpkin, watermelon red flake and white fluke senkos. I’ve tried 2 different whopper ploppers and various other baits. I’ve also tried shiners and worms. Just wondering what I’m doing wrong.