Hi,

 

I'm pretty new to fishing for bass, I've only caught one and that little guy was barely 6" caught on a basic nightcrawler while I was trying to fish the bluegill spawn. I've always wanted to catch bass though, I just never know what I'm doing. I shelled out some money for a Daiwa Tatula 6'8" medium power spinning rod with a Penn Pursuit III reel, equipped with 10lb Berkley Trilene XT mono. My local pond is 100% rock, bank fishing only, and is super pressured. I've thrown swimbaits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, even Texas rigs haven't had a single tap. I'd like to try and catch a bass before winter sets in. On this pond the main forage is shad, bluegill, and crawfish. What else can I try to get a bass this fall?

Senko

 

Have you thought about trying other places?  What part of Chicago do you live in?

There's a couple of other ponds around the area that I've tried, but no luck there either. I'm very close to Ohare, so far I've tried Opeka, Big Bend and the DPR right next to it, and Beck.

Welcome to the forum

Welcome!

1 hour ago, chicagolandangler said:

There's a couple of other ponds around the area that I've tried, but no luck there either. I'm very close to Ohare, so far I've tried Opeka, Big Bend and the DPR right next to it, and Beck.

Beck was a fantastic bass lake some 20 years ago which was the last time I fished it. 

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

Beck was a fantastic bass lake some 20 years ago which was the last time I fished it. 

I do see people posting a lot of Beck bass on the Fishbrain app but most of them are fishing from kayaks. I don't have that luxury.

3 minutes ago, chicagolandangler said:

I do see people posting a lot of Beck bass on the Fishbrain app but most of them are fishing from kayaks. I don't have that luxury.

In April, before the lake gets choked you can walk the shoreline and do well. The further you walk the better. 

 

Welcome!

 

Might give the Ned rig a try if cover allows it.

Welcome! I can’t offer much help but I was always curious how fishing would be off of navy pier, if it’s even allowed. I could just imagine the looks you would get on the blue line train headed downtown with a fishin rod. ? 

 

I’d drag a senko or fluke around, weedless with built in action. The fluke mimics dying baitfish which is what you want this time of year. Texas rig it weightless so you can swap from senko to fluke without retying. The senko just throw out and let sit, leave for 15 seconds and reel in. the fluke you can do the same but implement small twitches of the rod tip when the bait falls. Space your twitches out and experiment with cadence and speed. Twitch, pause for 5-10 seconds, twitch, repeat. 

49 minutes ago, r83srock said:

Welcome! I can’t offer much help but I was always curious how fishing would be off of navy pier, if it’s even allowed. I could just imagine the looks you would get on the blue line train headed downtown with a fishin rod. ? 

 

I’d drag a senko or fluke around, weedless with built in action. The fluke mimics dying baitfish which is what you want this time of year. Texas rig it weightless so you can swap from senko to fluke without retying. The senko just throw out and let sit, leave for 15 seconds and reel in. the fluke you can do the same but implement small twitches of the rod tip when the bait falls. Space your twitches out and experiment with cadence and speed. Twitch, pause for 5-10 seconds, twitch, repeat. 

Fishing is allowed on the north side of Navy Pier. The parking garage even has "fishermen" rates but you have to leave prior to 10am. Boat fishing is not allowed on the north side since 9/11 because the plant that provides the drinking water to Chicago is located a stones throw away.

The biggest problem with shore fishing Chicago's harbors is getting access. 

Welcome to Bass Resource! It's already been suggested but I'll second it. Read all you can about the Ned Rig here on Bass Resource and give that a try. It's a fish catcher!

 

On a side note, Da Bears are now in sole possession of 1st place in the NFC North. BEAR DOWN!!!!!!

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

A-Jay

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