Beggining Bass Fisherman Needs Help
 

Hi everyone, I am trying to get into Bass fishing. What can you guys tell me about any sites that might help me. I'd like know what the difference between a spinning and casting. And how to work all the different baits, like crankbaits, and worms that kind of think your help would be very apperciated. Thnx

RE: Beggining Bass Fisherman Needs Help
 

To be 100% honest with ya the best way to learn to fish is by just fishing. Bass fishing is vary simple, dont let all the shows scare ya there is not all that much to it.

Get your self a med action rod and a mid sized spinning reel (the guys at the shop will know what ya need). I would outfit it with 6 or 8lb test.

Keep your tackle simple, get some power baits (hooks to match and some waits), and some crank baits (top water and divers, divers have a bigger nose blade). I dont use much else (dont fish bass all that much), but have never had a problem putting them in the boat.

Good luck, and don't be afraid to ask alot of questions, the guys on here have lots to share.

RE: Beggining Bass Fisherman Needs Help
 

Hi everyone, I am trying to get into Bass fishing. What can you guys tell me about any sites that might help me. I'd like know what the difference between a spinning and casting. And how to work all the different baits, like crankbaits, and worms that kind of think your help would be very apperciated. Thnx

There is enough guys on here that can answer any questions you may have. I've been fishing for bass for over 40 years so I can start withsome answers. The others can join in.If your totally new at this I would leave the bait casters alone. They can be frustrating and you can lose alot of line. I would start with 2 different spinning rods. A medium heavy { I like Walmart's Lightening Rod} fo rworm fishing 30.00 and about a 6 1/2 foot Medium spinning rod{ Walmart's Lightening rods have those too.} I've got mine in my hand. The reel on it cost about 30.00 I LOVE IT!! Abu Cardinal 103...Get a medium sized open faced spinning reel. With a deep spool .The deep spools have less restriction /thus cast farther.YOu can buy 2 one for each reel.

Here are my top baits
!. Rubber Worm { Texas rig} NOrmally I use 10 pound Trilene fishing line. If you are in open water and have your drag on the reel properly set you can bring in bass. IfI'm in heavy structure I use 20 lb. Fireline. I use that when flipping in brush. If you don't know about flipping or Texas rigging let me know and I will reply. I normally use a 6" curly tail worm. Bass pro has the colors I need. Here are my favorite colors.
Black with curly blue tail.
Red Shad
Black with green tail chartrues
NOte ...If you are using a spinning rod you may need to use a tiny snap swivel to keep th eline from twisting up. With a worm this size you will need a #3 or # 4 worm hook. You can get 50 for about 6,00 at Bass pro. I use steel blue Mustads. They have a little bait holder at the top of the hook shaft. I always use the lightest bullet sinker I can cast. Usually 3/16 ounce. I buy the plain lead at Walmart and then spray paint them black when I get home. If you are flipping you will need to put a tooth pick in your bullet sinker to keep it from sliding around . Jam the tooth pick in the hole and break it off.

2.Also when you can't find the fish I make long cast with a 3/8 opunce White Rooster tail {Can be ordered from Cabelas} 1.99 Let the lure fall to the bottom and make a quick fst sweep motion to get the lure blade turning .Reel just fast enough to keep the blade turning and NO FASTER. I've caught many big bass doing this.AS well as a 13 lb catfish.Fish in the clock method. Cast to 12 o clock one o clock etc. You are simply looking for fish.

3. If you want gut wrenching action..In shallow water 1 - 5 feet of water. Cast out a silver Torpedo top water lure. Cast long and let it sit for a few seconds. Then...pop it slowly from sideto side. ALWAYS be ready for a hit which is a big splash. YOu will be tempted to set the hook right away .DON'T!! you will need to wait about 1 full second after he iakes it .

NOTE ALWAYS GET IN A HABIT OF SETTING THE HOOK STRIGHT UP OVER YOUR HEAD AND NOT SIDE WAYS..And why is that?? Because the softest part of the fishes mouth is in the side of his mouth. The tough meaty part is in the roof of his mouth. Set the hook good. On spinning baits they nearly set themselves....and always keep a tight line {Rod bent real good} When a bass is given any slack he normally gets off. So all the way to the net A TIGHT BENT ROD.

Weedless spinner bait. If you are in sticks, lily pads and weeds you cannot use a Rooster Tail you will need to use a weedless spinner baits. I mostly use white in color with a simple Colorado blade. or willow leaf. Fish this lure just fast enough to turn the blade, When you think you've snagged a telephone pole:)Set the hook and have fun.

I use alot of different baits but those I use the most. They all have thier purpose. Bass are mostly active in the morning and evenings but will feed during the day at times. YOu will need to check the moon phases to see when that s. During the the day they mostly stay toward the deep bottoms. Most bass are comfortable in a bout 7-10 feet of water. When deep I use a 1/4 ounce crome with blue back Rattle trap or deep diving crank bait.

When fishing is slow...and there is a light wind or any wind;)I will hold two rods and drift 2 rubber worms in about 10 foot of water looking for fish. When you get a boat...invest in a fish finder. That will show you where the break offs , sand bars and structure is lessening the odds of finding fish. I've noticed the best time to fish for bass is the week before the full moon.
There ..I just gave you most of my secrets .:)
God bless,
Chuck7

RE: Beggining Bass Fisherman Needs Help
 

We all know alot from experience, but it all depends on the region you live. Fishing North from South are very different, but also so similar. Chuck7 put it very well for ya, I don't know if I could type that much! If you have questions, just ask!

RE: Beggining Bass Fisherman Needs Help
 

If you are married or if you arent rich don't get into it. The addictiveness of bass fishing is like a drug and you will need a ten step program to get you to stop;).

The guys abouthave given you some real good info to get you started. Good luck and remember there are no rules on how you have to fish with this type of lure or that type of bait(other then DNR rules I mean) so if you find something that works go with it.

RE: Beggining Bass Fisherman Needs Help
 

If you are married or if you arent rich don't get into it. Duck butter

Not to be a disagreeable ole cuss but I have to disagree on the money part. The addiction part I'm in 100% agreement.;)While in college and my wife was home schooling we had 2 cheap 19.95 Wally World cheap rods. My newly wedded wife and I would walk around a large lake about 3 nights a week and catch 1 or 2 bass a week. One day I saw an old man pull up to a patch of cat tails and catch his limit of 10 bass in about 45 min. with a new technique I had herd about but not seen in action...Flipping.I was sold. My wife and I made a big investment. We bought a 10 foot jon boat for 100 dollars. She would hold a book in one hand and flip' sling bass in the boat with the other. We always bought the same worms from Wally World black and blue. I used a paddle with no electric motor.I caught more trophy bass in those days then I do now with my up graded tackle.
Chuck

RE: Beggining Bass Fisherman Needs Help
 

well luckly i am not married, i am not even out of high school yet. And I found a thing on Bass Pro Shops website about cheap tackle box. I also found some good stuff on there. But info chuck gave i would have never found on their website thnx. I do have one question though what is flipping? I have heard about I just dont know what it is or when and how to use it. If anybody could explain I would very grateful. thnx.

ps.
I have a problem with casting really far, any ideas on how i can cast farther, any techniques i should try?

RE: Beggining Bass Fisherman Needs Help
 

Sure...I 'll tell ya how to flip.

Most use a real long pole ..not me I want control. 6' is it for me. I used to use Medium Heavey I plan to start with Medium this year.

Most spinning reels these days come with an extra spool. You will need to put some heavier line on between 12-20 dependin gon the shoreline structure you will be fishing in. Structure can be rocks, brush, sunken trees, trees growing in the water and heavy weeds. Once you hook up with a green fish{ Fish that has plenty of fight in him} he will immediately go for cover to wrap your line off thus getting off. I'm not sure about up north but down here bass spawn from Jan.-May . They are spawnin gright now in Florida. When the bass spawn my frioend they fix a crator type nest{ Called a bed} as close as 1 foot of the shore. You can usually sneak up on them standing up in your boat. You slowly toss your rubber worm in teh bedding area. The bass does not want the foreign object in her bed so she will pick it up asnd either swallow it or pick it up to move it. When the line is dtraight and moving I lower the rod tip {To get maximum leverage } and set teh hook straight up over my head. During the spawn is when the serious huge bass cn be caught. Otherwise the old mamas are out in the deep water and then have to be caught at night or with wild shiners.

OK ..here is the rig. Slip your line through a 3/16 ounce bullet sinker. The pointing part will be facing the rod tip. It will slide up and down the line. Next....tie a # 4 Worm hook on. There are knots which give better strenghth and reduce breakage . The improved clinch knot and the parlamar knot. Take the # 4 hook and go straight down the middle of th eworm about 3/4 of an inch. Then...pull the hook out and stick the point into the rubber worm itself. This makes it weedless so you will not hang up the lure. This is the #1 money making set up when fishing in Florida. Most of the time I'm fishin gin maybe 2-5 feet deep and can not see the bottom. Simply pitch your worm in around cat tails or other structure.{Bass love making nest in sandy areas.} Cattails grow real good in such areas.there letting it hit the bottom. Jig the rod tip up and down lightly about 2 inches off the ground. {Graphite rods aer very sensitive..the best for flipping}When you get a hit it will often feel like a 2 inch fish. It will be a light touch or you feel like you could be caught on atiny branch .MY FRIEND THAT IS A BASS. He has your worm in his mouth. I reel the slack down toward the fish WITHOUT the fish feeling me .{This of course is happening in about 2 seconds;)}. I aim my rod tip at the direction that my line is now moving and set the hook straight up. If it's a hog you will wish you had a net. If you have heart trouble do not do this. The action is quite intense. A 7 pound bass will rock you and your boat.He will be green and exploding all over the place.

RE: Beggining Bass Fisherman Needs Help
 

Some advice from the pros on flipping.

Dearman: If I have to fish my five favorite bass-fishing techniques that I feel I always catch bass on, the first four will be flipping. Just kidding, but the reason I'm so strong on flipping is because flipping produces a better grade of bass than any other technique I've found. In the early years of tournament bass fishing, we were fishing for a 10-bass limit. So catching numbers of bass was important. Now almost all bass-fishing circuits have a five-bass limit, which means you have to catch five really-big bass to win. Year-in and year-out I've seen on the tournament circuit that the biggest bags of bass are caught on flipping more often than any other fishing method.
C7
Note...you do not have to have a boat to flip. I've had waders before and quietly gone along the shoreline pitching in worms. Remember ..I live in Florida. Now it did freak me out to see snakes balled up in the cold cat tails sunny themselves. Then!!!!!! I seriously almost stepped on a 12 foot gator embedded in the mud. [:-]I bought a jon boat.

RE: Beggining Bass Fisherman Needs Help
 

If you're new, start with cheaper equipment. I have thousands and thousands of dollars wrapped up in my rods/reels alone. Here are a few pointers from me, who was in the same situation you were a few years ago...

Start cheap, but not too cheap.

Buy 1 decent rod and reel. Shimano Stradic spinning reels are awesome, but you don't need to go there yet. Any Gander Mountain or BPS series rod will be just fine for you.

Buy a few different standard lures. A few crank baits, a few top water frogs, a few spinner baits, some soft plastic worms/minnows.

Watch the shows that fish for fun...not tourny fishing.

Buy a book or two on bass fishing..or fresh water fishing in general. I used to bass fish 99% of the time, now it's 50% bass, 30% muskie/northern, 20% other like brim and walleye.

Buy a cheap plastic boat and a cheap trolling motor..and hit up a few small lakes (less than 100 acres).