I started bass fishing in early September, read somewhere to diary outings so started documenting all outings on 9/12. Since then had ups and downs in the two ponds closest to me, but what has eluded me is catching anything on the northend of our south pond, this pond is kinda barbell shaped, northend finishes in  large circle. These are neighborhood ponds with fish and some decent sized.

 

I have tried the northend of south pond a dozen or more times and always got skunked, throwing worms, spinner, chatter, frogs, jerks, cranks, jigs in am, afternoons and pm..Over past week I have been throwing topwaters between 4-5pm as the fish are hitting the surface all around me but I never could elicit a strike.

 

Well last night since weather dropped to mid-50's I decided to slow down and throw a 1/8 oz Blue Fox in-line shallow spinner during time they were hitting surface, roughly 5pm.  I got there late and they were just ending hitting surface but on third cast caught almost 12" large mouth with slow retrieve on very old 5'5" Shakespeare UL trout rod/reel on 4lb test, I was casting to center of northend of pond where I usually see surface activity during this time.

 

I stayed another 15 minutes and ran out of time and didn't repeat, but this was first time throwing an in-line spinner for bass, actually had to go out and buy it on lunch that day.

 

The pond gets pretty good pressure so maybe different presentation was trick, or just luck?  Depending on how the Ohio game is going this afternoon, I may try again tonight.

 

What's interesting is in looking over my outing notes the only thing clear is that I cannot notice a pattern (or I am missing it due to my in-experience). Somedays one presentation works, next day with same conditions it may or may not.  

 

 

 I would encourage you to Keep taking your notes - I believe they can & do prove quite valuable over time.

 

 But remember to have realistic expectations.

 

The great thing about this sport is that there is 10 life times worth of information to learn and only one lifetime to do it in.

 

No one catches them All The Time - but knowledge & experience certainly increases ones chances.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

I would encourage you to Keep taking your notes - I believe they can & do prove quite valuable over time.

But remember to have realistic expectations.

The great thing about this sport is that there is 10 life times worth of information to learn and only one lifetime to do it in.

No one catches them All The Time - but knowledge & experience certainly increases ones chances.

Good Luck

A-Jay

Well said