Bazoo

I mis-spoke here... upon reflection, it was Rock Bass and not Bluegill that I've caught on the pocket frog.

I went to Freeman Lake today, and I had a couple bites on my spinnerbait. Within 30 minutes of getting there I had the first, but nothing for another couple of hours, including moving spots and trying a fluke a while with intermittent spinnerbait fishing. Then another strike right before leaving. I had a conversation afterwards with my fishing buddy, where he was telling me about my concentration in correlation to the passing of time. I often think less time has passed than what actually does. So I often fish a lure longer without a bite than he or my wife does. I have always heard you should stick with it, but now I'm thinking, perhaps I should change things up instead of toughing it out. The lake I fish is pretty heavily fished, so often times I think that the reason I'm not getting bit is because of the pressure, and not because of lure choice. How long do you give it before trying something else: a) after you get there? b) after the last strike? Do you normally try another size or color of your lure type before changing or do you just change types?

I'm working on the thread and am 15 pages in, but I have some anchoring questions. I've been using a mushroom anchors when fishing shallow to hold my spot and I'm wondering: How much line should I use for water in the 3'-6' range? When using 2 anchors, my buddy and I have tried different amounts and it seems that about 3' extra line is about right. Is that about what everyone else has found to be right? What about when using 1 anchor? Should I use a bit more line? When anchored with 1 line, we spin pretty good with mild wind, would a fixed rudder stop this or just make the spin slower?

I am 15 pages into this thread now Some good info in there that I'm soaking in and learning a lot.

I ended up meeting a gent at the lake and we got to talking, and exchanged a bit of spot info. I got a lead on a new spot, and made a new friend that seems as passionate about fishing as me. Praise God. I did tell him about BassResource too!

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't have a problem with adjustment and use of budget reels thus far. I'm learning about the differences between different models though as I'm really only experienced with a couple.

An excellent thread with many tips and a great amount of information, thanks to all who contributed. I learned baitcasting 25 years ago, and never got really good, then I took about a 12 year hiatus from fishing and just started back earlier this year. I employed a strategy from the concealed carry of a firearm, which is daily practice. With a firearm you practice your draw, and either live or dry firing. I have found that with casting, it's much the same if you want to get to a high level of proficiency. After taking it back up, my thumb picked up where it left off, and with almost daily practice, I'm pretty decent currently. I go for close and mid range accuracy, and occasionally distance. I practice overhand and roll casting and pitching regularly. I need to start practicing with the spinning reel too, because all the constant baitcasting practice has made me much better there. My favorite thing to practice baitcasting with is an old spinnerbait. Not only does it make a satisfying thump when it hits target, but its nearly snag proof in the yard, which brings a new level of confidence in the lure when throwing it into thicker stuff.

Thank you. That's a bunch of info that is right up my alley and I appreciate it.

A few decent ones lately. 1/4oz trap, Nomad squarebill, KVD Hard Knocker, and an H2OX popper. A 1/4oz jig too. I'll have a lifetime of swivels and assorted hooks in styles I never use before its over.

Just finished it, thanks for the tips. A lot of what you said was conformation to what I've been learning.

Thanks, I didn't know that. I've never really messed with the brakes in baitcasters much. I learned on a round Abu Garcia Ambassadeur, which had brakes but I never messed with them other than taking it apart and seeing them on occasion. I have had a couple low pros, but I haven't even thought about the brakes until I opened this one and saw it lacked them.

Thanks. I knew it was a budget model, but I was unaware that baitcasters were made without centrifugal brakes.

I believe it was 77º yesterday. We have started getting a lot of yellowing leaves, but still a long way to go for us. It's been quite warm lately. The lake we were at closes at sundown, and we didn't have time to fish that spot thoroughly, though we started getting into the bass. The boat is quite stable, and the seats are pretty comfy too, it's a Buster Boat, one of those plastic bass boats. I've had it about 3 or 4 months and I'm still figuring out what I like and don't like about it and what I can do to make it better.

I have acquired a used, but seemingly lightly used Lews reel. I took the side plate off, and there are no centrifugal brakes like the other reels I've seen. Does this model not have centrifugal brakes, or has someone removed the assembly? I appreciate the help all.

Took the bass buster out for a spin earlier. My friend caught a clam, deep rolling a spinnerbait, no pic of that one though. I have caught a clam too, many years ago.

WOW, thats pretty cool, thanks for sharing that. That's some crazy stuff right there. Still got the rod and reel?

I cast 1/4 ounce lures with a baitcaster, my Abu Black Max combo, using 10 # Big Game line. If I remember correctly, I have specifically used the 1/4 ounce Beetle Spin. The rod being graphite makes it harder, a fiberglass rod loads differently and works much better. I sometimes also use a cheap zebco fiberglass rod, since I don't have a decent quality glass rod. That combo, usually accompanies me when I'm bank fishing creek banks with plenty of cover, partly because of the casting qualities of glass, partly because it's shorter and easier to handle in cover. I digress, if you use a 1/4 ounce Beetle, and you use a reel you're familiar and comfortable with, I think you can do it just fine.

@VolFan Wow, thanks. It'll take me a while to read through this one!

@TotalNoob thanks for posting this thread. Any updates? hows the pond prowler treating you? I got my first small boat, a buster boat, earlier this year. I've taken it out before and been on one previously, but I'm still learning a lot about them. Interested to learn how the bottom has held up being beached on the fine shale/gravel stuff.

Thanks flyfisher. I've been trying to search for threads that are related, but I haven't tried pond prowler in the search terms. I'll give that a go.

I notice that the foam inside the pontoons are wet if I touch them. Water isn't standing in the hull, but I am wondering how much water is in foam. I'm considering rigging up the hair dryer to one of the holes to circulate and dry the foam, reversing it after a while to better dry the other. Is this of any concern? If it's 50 pounds of water, that'll make a big difference when moving the boat, if it's just 5 pounds, not so much.

I haven't had much in the way of baits lately. I lost my only Chatterbait a while back, but about a week ago, found a good condition replacement hanging in a bush that was easily accessed. Today, my boy was playing in the shallow part, and climbed up on a log, and found this Googan Squad Jr Scout. It has a bit of rust on the hooks, but otherwise is in good shape. I must admit that it's quite fun finding lures and then identifying them.

Congratulations. I have one that is 4, and another on the way. It's never too early to introduce them to fishing or other activities for which you want them to build a passion.

Pretty cool, thanks for sharing. I see baitfish schools on the surface at my local lake, but I am not sure what they are. Is there any way to determine what they are other than catch some of them?

Thanks for the heads up, that was a good read. I've not done any camping fishing, but I've been dreaming about it.