I am new to fishing...well not really, but just now starting to really take it seriously. I love it. The problem is I cant catch anything. I live in a little town called Atascadero. We have a pretty small lake. I know there is plenty of bass and cat fish. There are lots of grass areas around the shore and alot of structure (concrete walls) in some areas. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a lure or something that can get me started catching bass. There are also shallow areas  with brush and tree branches with really muggy water. I know people have to see things for them selves but Im lost and any advice would be greatly appreicated. Thanks alot.

Texas rigged soft plastics should be good for bass. You might even get a catfish once in a while.

How Y'all Are?  

Master the fine art of fishing plastics & you will have an ability to catch bass anywhere on planet earth.  

WELCOME! Like Catt said, softplastics will even catch bass in China!

Welcome aboard!

What tactics & baits have you tried so far ??

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome.

WELCOME ABOARD!!!!!!!!!

Welcome...

Greeting's!!

Do like the other's suggested, Plastic's and Fish 'em SLOOOOOWWW!!!

Welcome!  I suggest that you go to this site's Home Page and then scroll down to the Beginners section.  It has a LOT of information.  I read every article in that category, plus many other articles available in other categories before I ever became a member.  There is a gold mine of information here.

Welcome to the site.

Welcome.  Like everyone else said learn to fish soft plastics.

Welcome!

The soft plastics suggestions are spot on.  Patience is a virtue when it comes to summer fishing as I have found.  When fishing as a non boater in my old club in FLA I always tried to go against the grain.  The Veterans in the club had some of the "dumbest" techniques I thought but nevertheless produced the biggest and most numerous catches.

Read up in the forums here....I am just getting back into Bass fishing and have "relearned" a great deal.  Try to hook up with a local club or find some members here that fish in your area.  I have done that and (thanks Rebasser!) have really given me alot to try and look forward to!

Regards,

Mike

welcome

Welcome! In addition to a Texas Rig, you can also try a Zoom Fluke.. Get a white based color to mimic a shad. Fish it weightless, rig it so the hook is "tex-posed". You can fish this in the grass, along the edges of the grass and along the concrete walls.. Make sure and fish it slow, and let the fish take the bait to ensure a better chance of a solid hookset. GOOD LUCK