When Bass Resource was down for a few days, I posted trip reports on a Maine bass fishing page on Facebook. At that time of the year, I was enjoying 40-bass mornings. Several respondents were quite persistent in wanting to know where I fish.

I didn't name my pond or my pal's pond, but I wanted to post: "Fish anywhere. Bass fishing is excellent in Maine."

I assert this having fished about 15 local bodies of water. At all but two, where I only caught 15 and 17, I had 40, 50, 60, and even 70-bass mornings. I've only settled on my pond and my pal's pond because they're close and I have boats at both ponds. They are NOT the best ponds or bogs I've fished in the area. They are simply the nearest and most convenient. I don't catch bass like this at my pond:

But the bog above is half an hour away, as opposed to the five-minute drive to my pond or the 12-minute drive to my pal's pond, and I can't leave a boat at the bog.

Another bog is closer and it's where I caught my PB, but to reach it, I have to drive down a dirt road and then haul my canoe over a hilly meadow and through the woods. I turn 70 next month and whereas I lugged my canoe over hill and dale when I was 67, I feel different now.

My point is that there's nothing special about my pond or my pal's pond beyond what they mean to me, having spent so many mornings and evenings on them. Fishing-wise, they're simply average for my area.

And having fished the Midwest for decades, largely on the big river (Mississippi) and the big lakes (Superior and Michigan), that big water also gave me some moments that surpassed what my pond and my pal's pond can produce. Imagine wading up to nearly your neck and having to look up at four-pound smallmouth jumping. Or hooking two smallmouth at a time, again and again, as I rowed around bridge pilings.

Those Facebookers asked the wrong question in "Where?" They should have asked, "How?"

Whether the Midwest or Maine, I've always had the smallest boat on the water and I used and use that lack of size to my advantage, but you guys know this. What you might not know is that there's good fishing here and there and pert near everywhere in Maine. And the Midwest can deliver breathtaking fishing too.

So, rather than trying to find Al's pond or Andy's Menderchuck, learn when they explain how they catch the bass they do. Al will tell you about bouncing crankbaits off wood and I'll tell you that if you don't see bass revealing their locations when you launch, you're not paying attention.

Dang! You’re making me wanna move to Maine - I just couldn’t handle the cold weather. 🤣 The small lakes & ponds I fish in west TN and NW Mississippi aren’t nearly as fertile & productive as what you’re describing. And now that it’s super hot weather, we’re lucky to bag more than 10 fish on a trip.

I get what you’re saying tho. They aren’t asking the right questions. But around my neck of the woods, location can sometimes be pretty important. Not too many public places that aren’t either severely pressured or have great populations of bass. 🥴

42 minutes ago, wdp said:

But around my neck of the woods, location can sometimes be pretty important.

No doubt. However, at least in Wisconsin, there was fertile public water that brimmed with bass. @Lottabass has found such water in Iowa too.

The reason I have always liked to head north to so many bodies of water has been my assertion that the northern fish have a very short season where feeding is easier before they get icebound and have to struggle more. As for giving away locations, it’s not an issue on big public waters but small private bodies of water invite the critics to downplay any advice due to un pressured fish. When I was guiding, I freely gave all my locations and baits because of 2 reasons. 1. Good spots always refresh and 2. You ain’t gonna catch another man’s (or women’s) fish. 😉

There are different levels of How and Where. In terms of public waters everyone knows the top lakes around here. Tell me what lake you had a good day on when the lake is 30,000 acres is not telling me much. Telling me exactly where on the lake is more useful information. Also telling me you caught the fish on a Texas rig is not that useful. Tell me the exact bass behavior pattern that you identified and I can use my own preferred equipment and skills to catch the fish.

Success is found in the details.

I live and fish on a 45,000 acre lake and getting "where and how" out of most other locals is a rare accomplishment; we seldom even ask (or tell).

The cut throats I fish around, I take what they say in one ear and out the other.

For me, as I continue learning to fish for bass, it's not just How, but Why.

I don't yet understand why I would use a texas rig vs a bladed jig. Or why a drop shot is more appropriate instead of a ned rig in a certain circumstance. All sorts of things like that which I'm trying to absorb. I've fished enough for trout to understand Where doesn't matter so much as knowing How and Why.

.I struggled to catch bass at first just because of inexperience. I liked it so much that I didnt get discouraged. Now I'm pretty consistent. I wish I knew what I was doing back when lots of giants roamed our lakes.

The what is important , scaleface.

I'm not a jealous person, but I must admit I do get jealous reading ole swampy's post 😍

Maine holds a special place in my heart, my parents took me up there in the 60's to a cabin on an unnamed lake.

It had a boat and motor to use and here as a 15 yr old kid I was introduced to Smallmouth bass.

Never had caught or even seen a smallie until that time, caught a few and weighed em on a fish de-liar, it said 5 lbs, never had caught anything that big or fought that hard before.

Haven't been back there in 50 years, but the memories are still strong.

Anywho, living my whole life in New Jersey the availability of public water is somewhat limited, which is compounded by being in the most densely populated state in the US (1300 people per sq mile)

So if you happen to find a smallest body of water that holds decent fish ya keep yer yap closed 😀

The first time I went up to the Adirondacks I was blown away by the amount and size of the water up there. We'd be fishing up there a hardly see another person on the water, that rarely happens here in Joisy.