I just took up fishing and I really dont know what to do. I have tried looking for tips to get me started, but dont really know where to look. My problem is, with all the baits and lures available I do not know what is the best for me. I know alot is personl preference, but suggestions would be greatly appreaciated. Here is some basic info to point me in the right direction.

1. I fish mostly in ponds ranging from less than 1 acre to over 40.

2. The water is about 45 degrees right now, and mostly cloudy.

3. I do not have a boat, so I fish from shore. One lake does have a dock that extends about 50 feet from shore.

Any help is better than what i know now. Thanks.

You've come to the right place to learn how to catch a fish. Welcome aboard!

try fishing flats with brightly color crankbaits now like red rattletraps and blue and chartuese crankbaits if the bottom of the lake is mud.  If the lake bottom is rocky try a shakey head worm in green pumpkin (zoom makes good worms for this) with a 1/8 to 1/4 ounce wieght.

When summer rolls around try fishing that same worm on a wacky rig around weeds.

Problem solved!  ;D lol

well lately i've been fishin a pond near my house alot and rat-l-traps have been working well but try some norman crankbaits..good luck fishin...oo and one thing i learned when i first started is to not expect to catch one everytime cause fish come with experience

well lately i've been fishin a pond near my house alot and rat-l-traps have been working well but try some norman crankbaits..good luck fishin...oo and one thing i learned when i first started is to not expect to catch one everytime cause fish come with experience

Amen to that! Esp the part about the rattletraps  

Thanks for the advise. I will definatly try em' out. Looks like I'm going to Wally World in the morning.

look for the cotton cordell super spots!!!

How Y'all Are    

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

Pick up some 1/8 - 1/4 oz spinner baits for those ponds also.

Welcome!!

Welcome! You can't go wrong with a Rat-L-Trap!

Now that I have an idea of what to get, now I just have to figure out how to use them. Something tells me thats going to be the fun part.

hi and welcome.

WELCOME to the forums!!!

                               As Ever,

                                skillet

Welcome!!!!  You've found the right place to learn.  The amount of information here is astounding.  Go get you 2 or 3 rattle traps and spinnerbaits.  Pick up some 1/8-1/4oz bullet weights and a couple of packs of plastic worms.  Those are fish catching baits that are a great place to start.  Once you get those figured out start watching out fo rthe bait monkey.  He is fierce.  Good luck.

Hello and  

The water is usually gin clear after ice out. I would use either a : 9 Origianl Flosating Rapala or a smaller Silver shad rap on spinning gear, light line.

welcome...

still here with no luck yet, lol.

Welcome to the right place. Please check out our beginners section in our library of articles. Just look up at the top of the page and you will see the Fishing Articles section.

Go Senko and get a boat! You'll definately catch more fish. You could probably pick one up cheap on craigslist. And while you're at Wally World, grab some Berkley soft plastics.

Read!

-articles in this site

-In-Fisherman "Handbook of Strategies" (species specific)

-In-Fisherman magazine

-BassMaster magazine

try this post here:

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

and

and good luck next time you go out

The soft plastics are a good option. Try the green pumpkin color lightly stained water (you can see your bait about 12- 18") If the water is very dirty consider Junebug color. If you hang those and can't get to it, it doesn't hurt so bad. By the way, the closer you cast to bushes,trees and docks the better the chances to catch one. They hate it when cast our lures there.

Be patient and stay after it, that is what we all do. Good luck  

hey man i see that you are at ft leonardwood missouri. i lived there when my dad was stationed there as a drill sergant. he was a combat engineer. but anway we fished the big piney and the gasconade alot back then. we still go to fort lenardwood every yr to visit with old friends. but those two rivers are excellent for wading for smallmouth and largemouth in the back waters. i like to use topwater like poppers or shallow running crankbaits thrown to the shady spots in the river by any rock or wood. tube baits and spinnerbaits also work well and hollow body frogs for largemouth. but if you have any questions feel free to ask.

With all the rain and flooding lately, they have closed the big piney area until the water recedes. Spring Mill has been closed for about two weeks.