I'd Like To be Converted....?

[gonfishn]

Most of my Fishn Buds Know that I Live for Musky,Northern and Walleye, But have never Taken Bass Fishn Seriously. <br /><br />Most of My Rigs and Lures are for the Heavys. So here I am and ready to Learn from the Masters.<br /><br />Some help on Techniques,Rigs and Terrain would be of great help. I realize the Bashing I'm Going to have to endure but Rookie have to expect this. <br /><br />Magazine are OK but some OJT from the Bass Addicts out their is the best way to go.<br /><br />I could use a couple more tackle Boxes anyway....

 

[495v]

Re: I'd Like To be Converted....?

Howdy Gonfishin. Let me share a few tactics with you. My most productive is definately the rubber worm. Pitch these things right up on shore around cover and just slow roll them almost as if you were jigging. Very productive almost anytime of year. Top water is the best though. Early mornings or late evnings with a chug bug, hula popper, Zara spook, or an all time favorite, buzzbait. Recently I've been using a big Muskie buzzbait for my largemouth. I found that you can cover alot of water with long casts and only the biggest most active fish will hammer them. I was up in Green lake a month back and the guys in my boat are all throwing rubber worms, hooking bass but smaller ones. I got tired of it and picked up my muskie rod with the biggest buzz bait I had. The action was unbelievable. These guys would get hits and a little fight, but I had the biggest, badest bass just exploding on my buzzbait. They were upset because neith of them had a big rod or a big buzzbait. Their loss. When I go up to Winnie and cast big mepps, I often run into the bass holes. Casting a #5 mepps around the grass, I hooked three bass in under 5 minutes, all over 5lbs. If you can fish for gator eyes, you can do the bass thing. I'm faily new to Muskie fishin', so if we meet at Winnie next year, you can take me for some muskie's and I will get you a few big bass. For your info, last year we got a 6.5lber, turned her free to catch again.

 

[bKelly]

Re: I'd Like To be Converted....?

gonfishn,<br /><br />Start simple, I learned as a kid using spinner baits and plastic baits(worms and tube baits).<br />A good MH action rod ( 6' - 6'6") and a good line. I like Berkley Trilene but what ever you like is fine. I prefer baitcasting gear but that is just me. The saftey-pin spinner bait is very versatile. It is almost fool proof. It can be a cast and retreave lure. It can be burned along the top, slow rolled, jiged on the bottom, and any thing in between. It fairly snagg proof and comes in many styles. <br />Now dont take this wrong, I fish plastic baits also. Plastic baits requier more concentration. A bass can pick up a worm and you will never feel it. You have to watch the line close, if it starts moving or jumping there is a fish on. True a bass will crush a worm, but if the only bass you are catching are the ones that hit a worm, you are missing several fish. A texas rig is a easy technique (gung fu) to use. There is a post somewhere on rigging plastics, Ill try to find it.<br />Top water is the most rewarding. You see the strike...Caution...You must wait until you feel the fish pulling before you set the hook, this can be hard. If not you can pull the lure away from the fish.

 

[bKelly]

Re: I'd Like To be Converted....?

Here is the plastic lures Topic:<br /><br />www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=000437

 

[gonfishn]

Re: I'd Like To be Converted....?

Thanks 495v,bKelly for the tips. I've heard of Texas Rigs and Poppers but could never figure out what pace to use them (fast or Slow). Never thought of using my bigger Mepps for Bass though.<br /><br />Sucker Bay had some nice Lunkers pulled out this year 495v. Hard Cranks over the Weed Beds seemed to work the best. Your on for next year.

 

[Scoop]

Re: I'd Like To be Converted....?

Gonfishn, If I can suggest a great book on the subject. Easy read, relatively inexpensive, but with a huge amount of information.<br /><br />Bass Wisdom, by Homer Circle ISBN: 1585740365<br /><br />He was an editor for Sports Afield magazine for decades. He has put every bit of 50 years of Bass Fishing information in this book. Heck I sound like I get a commission on this book. When I was new to bass fishing, I purchased this book. I couldn't put it down. My wife was making fun of me for being boring enough to read fishing books. Everything you need is in this book. Bass anatomy to color of lures in different areas of the US. I can't recommend it enough. I don't think it goes through drop shoting, but there are other sources for that. Take the ISBN number I provided and do a search on that at Amazon.com There are a couple reviews there (I didn't write those reviews), and a few pages you can preview. Good luck on catching some bass.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: I'd Like To be Converted....?

I've had 6" smallies break water 3 or 4 times!<br />Bass is my hands down favorite. <br />there's nothing like a 5lb. bass jumping 2ft. in the air...<br />I notice you are in Ohio, are you thinking about<br />smallmouth? Lk Erie has great SM fishing up this<br />end of the lake. anywhere from 10-20 feet of water<br />we drift leeches and crayfish with good success.<br />you guys have by far the best Walleye fishing<br />around though in S. Lk. Erie as it's a bit deeper<br />down there.<br />have fun,<br />M.Y.

 

[gonfishn]

Re: I'd Like To be Converted....?

We have a few of the Smaller Lakes in S. Ohio that only allow 10H. I have a Side Kicker which I thought would be good to try to learn some techniques. I imagine their is alot of Structure underneath which should help me adjust to different settings. I've caught Bass in the Past but more often by mistake than skill.<br /><br />Thanks for letting me look inside and areas to do some research.....

 

[bKelly]

Re: I'd Like To be Converted....?

gonfishn,<br /><br /> Topwater retrieval usually depends on the attitude of the fish. If the fish are very active a faster retrieve can be used. <br /><br /> Zara Spooks work good “walking the Dog” this takes some practice. The “Walking the Dog” technique is a zigzag retrieval of the bait. When you cast let the bait settle down and get still, with a quick twitch, the lure will dart to one side. While the lure is still in motion another twitch of the rod turns the lure in the opposite direction. It is important to allow slack line in-between jerks all the time reeling in the lure. It’s a jerk-real-jerk-real retrieval. <br /><br /> Chug Bugs are fairly easy; it just requires quick jerks of the rod tip. Allow a small rest in-between jerks. The time in-between depends on how aggressive the fish are. The more aggressive the fish are, the quicker you can fish the lure.<br /><br /> The buzz bait is probably the most exciting lure used. It’s simple, cast and retrieve, keeping the blades on top of the water. The closer you can run the buzz bait to structure without getting hung the better. Also with buzz bait, cast past your target and bring it by the target. If you are getting short strikes try using a trailer hook. <br /><br />I hope this helps some

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: I'd Like To be Converted....?

Spinner baits and plastic worms are the top two choices for lures and both are tied at number one. My biggest fish are caught on worms while I can usually hit the numbers game on spinner baits. You will need a variety of worms to match conditions but as far as spinner baits go I like two colors in this order white and chartruce.<br />Now on a personal note why bass? I catch catfish big enough to eat my biggest bass which was over 10#.

 

[gonfishn]

Re: I'd Like To be Converted....?

Howdy PF.... I have never Taken Bass fishn on the serious side. When I go up North, Musky and Northern are what really gets my Blood Boiling. <br /><br />We have quite a few Smaller Lakes around here that offer some excellant hookups if you have a Side kicker under 10H.<br /><br />Have to drive 100m or more to get into anything what I call serious fishn.<br /><br />The Ohio River offers some great whisker fishn. I have did some Blue Cat Adventures but you need a Come along to pull some of those monsters up...<br /><br />Up North this year a Large Mouth hit and come flying out of the depths and since then my interest has picked up.<br /><br />Trout is going to be my next Adventure someday. <br />Saw people fishing in ankle deep water and pulling these treasures out when I was in Ashville on vacation.<br /><br />Lets face it any type of Fish and I'm their.....

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: I'd Like To be Converted....?

Trout are fun but I actually think that is more because of the location than the fish. I like to fish first and can and will fish for anything. The key to doing that and still having fun is using the right tackle to suit the fish. You don't use a flipping stick with 30# line to bream fish if you know what I mean.