Hey guys, now don't laugh at this question. I'm interested in seriously taking up bass fishing. I've fished pretty much all my life with a bobber so I've become dependant on it. How can you tell when you get a fish on your hook if your not fishing with a bobber?

If you're holding the rod in your hands, which is pretty common, and you don't feel a fish hit the line; check to see if you still have your hands <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> If you're setting it down, which is what I'm use to, the tip will jiggle up and down very rapidly with very short strokes. It doesn't move side to side like it does in the wind, and it doesn't move up and down slowly with longer strokes. If it does that it's the current (I usually fish on the Maumee river) before the sinker really sets good. To get an idea of what the jiggle will look like, grab your rod about four inches from the tip and press it down with your other hand. Flick it with one finger kind of like turning off a light switch. After you get use to it, it's pretty easy to tell the difference between a fish messing with the line, or the current and wind. And if your entire pole starts to spin and seem to move with people walking by; that might be your younger brother stepping into your line and dragging it. But that's a whole different story <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle> Take care and God bless.

Brandan

HeHe...Thanks for the reply. I'll have to try that...<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Here is another method. When you cast out and your line is sitting in the water, take your finger and pull a little line out from in front of the reel, just enough to make the line slightly tight. Then, when a fish hits, you will feel the line pulling on your finger.

Good Luck This Season: Buck Magnet
P.S. Only Chuck Adams can sit at home and see deer so get into the woods. =;^)

Scrape,
Just use a graphite rod. You'll feel it in your hands when a fish is &quot;looking&quot; at your lure<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>.

Welcome to bass fishing! I'm betting that all of us could tell you a story about not realizing that you were getting bit. It's an experience thing somewhat, but fish bite differently in different situations.

i also use a bobber sometimes I use ultra light pole and reel and the smallest bobber i can find otherwise I use poppers and fish a lot with rubber worms hooked weedless and slowly pull them through the water and when they bite I have no problem telling that a fish is on <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

find someone who has a pond overstocked with bass... get a cheap $1 white spinnerbait from walmart (put a 4&quot; grub on it as a trailer) and have at it.... u'll get used to setting the hook and the feeling of a fish hitting in no time..

_ _ _ _ _
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WELL IF YOULL DEFINATELY FEEL IT TUG ON YOUR LINE MOST BASS HIT YOUR LURE OR WORM BEFORE IT HITS THE BOTTOM AND TAKE IT AND RUN WITH IT, THATS WHEN YOU WANNA SET THE HOOK. KEEP PRACTICING AND YOULL SEE. BUT BE AWARE IT ADDICITING <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>, TRY LIKE OTHRS SAID A GRAPHITE ROD AND SOMEGOOD LINE.

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