10 minutes ago, Alan Reed said:

Well this list is pretty long. I started the year not having seriously fished in my life. So I started with the basics in the winter. Wife got me a nice pole and a baitcasting reel which was my preference.

I got out on the water in the spring and it was a struggle. I was trying different things and different locations but just couldn't put it all together to catch fish. If I did catch one then I might get 4 fish in entire time we were out. 

When I started fishing it was with Texas rigged worm. Then I started to venture out to RAT-L-Traps and spinner baits but never really had much success.

 

In the midspring I got medium light rod with spinning reel. That opened up the option of the Ned Rig and that really started to get things clicking. Went out my first time with the Ned and caught 7. Now that I was catching fish I could start developing patterns. Once I new where the fish where I started going back to the TX rigged worm and was catching bigger fish consistently 

Several of the lakes around me have a large amounts of Pads and Hydrilla so to cover water I started using a white fluke. First time out I was fishing the edges of the channels in the hydrilla and caught 17 LMB. Now I was dangerous I could catch fish on a moving bait and could finesse around cover and structure.

 

As things progressed I starting catching fish on Spinner baits, buzz baits, and different types of soft plastic worms.

 

I did my first fishing tournament and got 9th out of 63 which I was proud of but then I learned all the top performers caught the big ones on frogs. So I made a point. To go out and catch a fish on a frog. Let me tell you it was a struggle. I would have fish blowing up on it. Either they  pulled it under slightly and I reacted and pulled it out before they really had it or many many times the fish just knocked the frog but didn't take it under. It took me a good 3-4 times going out focusing on the frog until I caught my first one and it was about a 3lber. 

Late summer I started fishing a chatterbait. That turned out to be a big fish bait for me and I was regularly catching fish 2.5 to 3.5 lbs with it. As fall started to set in I started working a square bill crankbait. I loved fishing it around wood and it was amazing how I could almost always tell when the bait was reacting in a way a fish wasn't going to be able to turn it down. It would bang into some wood and pop around or over and would stop for a second while I either paused or had to get get the line caught up. And as soon as it was start to move again a fish would wack it.

I also got a fish finder on my Kayak and started to figure out how the fish relate to the underwater features.

 

The combination of everything coming together and cementing the fact that I feel I moved from being someone that fishes to an angler occurred on the Friday before Thanksgiving. That's when I fished a new body of water and found an underwater creek channel with my depth finder. I then swam a chatterbait on the edge of the drop off into the channel and hookuped with my 4.75 PB. Which in Indiana is a really good fish.

It's been a really good experience and learned so many things throughout the year.

 

You're a fast learner.  Mighty brave too ,starting out with baitcasting!

What i learned this year in bass fishing is that although you are not the number of fish or size of fish that you would like, every day on the water is still a blessing. We live in a free country and the best country to have the freedom to do what we like and have hobbies like the amazing sport of bass fishing that we all know and love. This year was a good year of fishing for me and my buddies, although recently the bite has been unbearable and not where we would like we still go bust the banks for a good time on the water. 

 

A thing that I personally need to improve on in the new coming year is when I am out there and maybe not having the best luck, is to make every single cast that i make count. I constantly find myself on a tough day casting just to cast rather than actually casting to potentially catch a fish. Although it may get tedious, i will catch more fish making casts that count.

 

God Bless 

Wear a lifeVest while fishing , i learned the hard way .

Did you drown?

 

I had a refresher course in life this year. My wife had major cancer surgery at 45. My mom&dads health declined even more. My dad 74,still fishes tourneys,but at times he needs help. This year,hes lost 2 rod setups, due too his ability to grip things,esspecially in the cold. He says hes done,once they are gone. I wont let that happen,as he taught me how to fish. Im going to be trading about half or more of my tackle for reels(he will only use a certain old shimano). I know in time they too will be lost, but the trade will be worth it in more ways than one. I was fortunate too fine a member in Bass Resource,to make this happen:) I will continue to find more of the same reels,just in case.

 

What did i learn again? Just like fishin,things change, and you gotta change. My family is and always will be first. Theres always someone worse off than you. My wife is 100% cancer free so far ,i am blessed in all aspects.

Im at work right now, on a very slow shipping day,what a nice day : )

Drop Shot.  Stay with one lure for longer and not keep switching.  But, that was only some days.

Soft plastic swim baits in lily pads, and, I can tell you for certain, color does matter. My most productive color is rainbow trout and I can guarantee these bass have never seen a rainbow trout.  I never catch many fish but 95% of the time I catch some fish.

soft plastic swim baits and jerk baits how to fish and how well they work