Hey everyone, after reading a bunch of articles on this website, I finally decided to join the forums. I am here in need of advice to catching my first bass; its been a month already and all ive caught were some sunfish. Ive been fishing every weekend at a large private lake, but unfortunately I don't own a boat so I'm stuck fishing off the bank. I currently use a spincaster reel on a 6-1/2 ft rod and have had no success with spinner lures and bass (havent tried anything else tho). The lake is called Packanack Lake incase anyone wants to look it up (I can't post links yet because I'm new here). But yeah... I really want to catch a bass and I'm getting really frustrated with these smaller fish. This weekend I'm gona try a small pond called Barbours Pond (15 acres) and hopefully it will be worth it. In preparation for future fishing weekends, I was hoping I could get some advice/tips for both small and large lake bank fishing... so yeah, please help me out :'(.

Up at the top of the page on the home page, there are articals re: catching bass, I took the liberty of providing a link for you. Read as much as you can, as thses will really help you get going.

http://www.bassresource.com/beginner/beginner.html

Good luck... 8-)

My first bass came 2 years ago on a spinnerbait, before that day I was always optimistic about catching one. Stay positive, keep trying, keep learning. Every time I go out I want to come back home with at least one new thing learned.

There is a thread by Road Warrior, it is colled something like "guarantee to catch fish" or something like that, look it up and follow his instructions.

Listen, go somewhere that sales lures and get yourself a couple of 1/2oz Rat-L-Traps(or other lip less crankbaits) if you don't already have some. A few colors to consider are chrome/black or blue back, natural shad and fire tiger if the water is pretty stained. Just cast and retrieve it back. Be sure to change your retrieve speed until you find out what they want that day. These have never failed me anywhere! Also, look into some spinnerbaits in white/chartreuse and shad patterns. Work these the same way. Best of luck!!!!!

Listen, go somewhere that sales lures and get yourself a couple of 1/2oz Rat-L-Traps(or other lip less crankbaits) if you don't already have some. A few colors to consider are chrome/black or blue back, natural shad and fire tiger if the water is pretty stained. Just cast and retrieve it back. Be sure to change your retrieve speed until you find out what they want that day. These have never failed me anywhere! Also, look into some spinnerbaits in white/chartreuse and shad patterns. Work these the same way. Best of luck!!!!!

I've been using a white spinnerbait and no luck with that, before I leave for fishing I'l pick up two crank baits I guess.

more advice anyone? thanks for the responses

Roadwarrior has a great post that he usually copies and pastes into these types of threads.  I will see if I can find it.

Listen, go somewhere that sales lures and get yourself a couple of 1/2oz Rat-L-Traps(or other lip less crankbaits) if you don't already have some. A few colors to consider are chrome/black or blue back, natural shad and fire tiger if the water is pretty stained. Just cast and retrieve it back. Be sure to change your retrieve speed until you find out what they want that day. These have never failed me anywhere! Also, look into some spinnerbaits in white/chartreuse and shad patterns. Work these the same way. Best of luck!!!!!

I've been using a white spinnerbait and no luck with that, before I leave for fishing I'l pick up two crank baits I guess.

more advice anyone? thanks for the responses

Make sure they are lipless crankbaits with loud rattles. Don't give up on them man, they produce!!

Here ya go:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1158577137

8-)

Here ya go:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1158577137

8-)

Ahh there is the famed thread.  Nearly 15,000 views haha  

Listen, go somewhere that sales lures and get yourself a couple of 1/2oz Rat-L-Traps(or other lip less crankbaits) if you don't already have some. A few colors to consider are chrome/black or blue back, natural shad and fire tiger if the water is pretty stained. Just cast and retrieve it back. Be sure to change your retrieve speed until you find out what they want that day. These have never failed me anywhere! Also, look into some spinnerbaits in white/chartreuse and shad patterns. Work these the same way. Best of luck!!!!!

and thus starts his life long battle with the bait monkey...... all because one faithful day, we all told this guy to go out and buy more...... of everything.... lol

I dont know how much this applies to you, because i dont know about the cover you're fishing. but I got my first bass on a horny toad. REALY simple lure. toss it over lilly pads on braided line (to prevent snags in the weeds stems) and reel it in fast enough to keep it on the surface...... keep tossing it long enough & ull aggravate a fish into taking it under.

Spinner baits are a good starting place too........ I also had alot of success to start with using texas rigged ribbon tail worms (7inch).  Basically baits that you can just toss to likely bass hot spots and reel back in........ I shore fish most of the time. And What i can say is this.... "Weeds, Downed Trees, & Docks are your new best friends! Fish any of them your lure can reach!

Good luck. and let us see when u land that first one. no matter how small or large! ;D    Now Get Fishing! You've Got That First Bass To Catch!!!!!

thought id show u my quick progression...... all these fish were ethier shore caught or landed from cover that I could reach from shore but decided to hit while i was in a rented canoe on my favorite small lake.

Your probably better off not catching one, because when u do your life and your pocket book is about to go for a ride. At times it will consume every thought going through your head, but it is well worth it !!!

try a tx rigged worm. or a topwater such as a torpedo. slow retrieve then pause or do a twitch retrieve.

wacky rig a senko and just walk the shorline casting in the morning if you can.....its gonna get you that bass

senkos wacky or regular and top water poppers produce on all ponds for me.

you might wanna try using some rattle traps. Rapala, strike king and other company's make them. they're inexpensive lures that are very successful for me

throw a buzzbait early and late and a fluke anytime...if its like any other small lakes or ponds i have ever fished...you will catch more than just the first one...see if you can find some zoom fluke threads...throw it out and jerk jerk ...reel ...count to 3 then jerk jerk reel...count to three ect ect...if that doesnt work mix it up a little...try a smokin shad or pearl white color...cheap and effective

wow thanks for all the advice everyone! i haven't viewed this thread in a while due to a busy schedule and im about to go get me some lures. i decided that im gona try texas rigged senkos and a lipless crankbait (hopefully a Rat-L-Trap if i can find one at Kmart). il tell you guys if i end up catching anything.

Don't forget worms like roboworms either..

I kinda lerned its where you place the bait and locating the bass more than what you throw at him. just fish docks brush and any  layed down trees are great to throw jigs at,

make your bait look natural in the water

and read RW's Thread

keep going youll get a lunker soon and an empty wallet sooner.

I started out spin casting (Zebco 33) after using same gear for Bream. The 1st bait I bought was a Mepps #3. I think it was a bucktail with silver blade. Caught a lot of Bass with it before trying something else. You can work them by casting them out and reeling them straight back in. This will catch fish or you can twitch them with rod tip, yo-yo or retrieve them fast enough to keep them just under the surface making a bulge in the water. Other than getting hung-up easily GREAT lure for just starting out. On top of all that they are pretty inexpensive, $3 and change. They WILL catch Bass ...

skillet

Your probably better off not catching one, because when u do your life and your pocket book is about to go for a ride. At times it will consume every thought going through your head, but it is well worth it !!!

X2 LMAO!

unfortunately the local kmart did not have senkos or lipless Rat-L-Traps.... so i ended up using the same spinner that brought me no bass and i recieved the same results, although i did stay in the same lake... maybe its the lake and not me?... i dont see cover or anything like that so i usually just end up casting everywhere i can, moving from place to place and still nothing...

Is anyone else catching bass..?

Btw, K Mart isn't the best place to buy tackle ect, try a local sporting goods ect.

yeah for real...if not a sporting goods store...at least go to walmart lol....check some your local marinas..they will have stuff and can probably steer you in the right direction