New to bass fishing.

[raven174us]

Hey all. Since I'm getting close to finishing my boat I'd like to into bass fishing. For the longest time we have just pan fished off the banks. I'm learning new things everyday about bass fishing. My question is what would be a good set up to start an 8 year old on? I was thinking about teaching my son how to use a spinner real and set up a plastic warm to start him on. I'm still learning myself how to use artificial bait. I'm hoping we can learn more together.

 

[Starcraftguy1]

Re: New to bass fishing.

You know,I would get some 1/8 oz. jigheads,and some 3" curley tailed grubs,different colors,and let him and you cast them out,and learn how to get your bait where you want it to go.They are cheap,and they will catch fish.And you will soon learn where you have to cast to.And also where not to cast to.lol.And how to get unstuck,when you are tired of tieing on new jigheads.Have fun,nothing can get a kids attention like catching some fish.Good luck to both of you.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: New to bass fishing.

If all else fails, and you really need to catch some fish or have your son catch some, use a real nightcrawler on that jig. Works like crazy. Bass love 'em. All fish seem to love 'em.

For 8 year olds, catching fish is the deal. They don't understand our adult fetish with useing artificial baits. They just want to catch something.

 

[raven174us]

Re: New to bass fishing.

Yeah, if my son is not getting any bites he gets bored and is ready to go do something else. I have plenty of jig heads and grubs so I'll let him try those out. Then go to the nightcrawlers. Hopefully that will spark a new love for fishing for him. His short attention span is going to be a problem on the boat. :redface:

 

[mars bar]

Re: New to bass fishing.

I was on Erie today and smacked some really nice smallmouth (smallies) the biggest was a 6.5lber thought it was a carp LOL. like the Vice Admiral says jig withe a nightcrawler suspended from a float in the current near the Peace bridge did the trick. Ya baby!!! They'll generally take most live baits, minnow on a jig, crawfish (watch the pincers) hooked through the tail, leeches YUCK! For lures I prefer salted tube jigs in different colours (colors) haha your local bait shop should know what ones are hot as the season goes on. One of my all time favorites is a minnow on a florescent green maribou jig bounced of the structure. Look for structure, docks, rock piles, fallen trees, stumps. Once I lost a nice plug on a fallen spruce tree with lost of branches (cover) I came back with my snorkel and fins and retrieved my lure only to find several Huge bass under and in the fallen tree. good luck and move alot

 

[Don Dickinson]

Re: New to bass fishing.

i agree with ca ... a nightcrawler or worm on a jig is probably good. i did teach my 8 year old to cast last summer. he had the best luck with an ultra light (with a small closed-face reel) and a little beetle spinner. cast it out and keep the beetle spinner over the weeds. he got a few little large mouth that way. a few crappies too (early in the season).

-don

 

[CATransplant]

Re: New to bass fishing.

Yeah, the beetle spin is a sure-fire lure for kids with light outfits. It's been around for years and still catches fish.

I also like other small spinnerbaits. They're pretty much weedless and fish respond well to them. You can fish them by simply casting out and retrieving at a steady (or unsteady) pace, and they are definite bass magnets, especially in the weeds.

Very few kids have the patience to fish soft plastics or jig and pig rigs. They like to cast. They like to reel in. If they get hit once in a while, they're happy. They're happy with a 1-lb bass, too. They're happy with catching one sunfish after another.

When I take young kids fishing, my only goal is to get fish on the end of the line for them to catch. The finesse stuff comes later. Once they're in their teens and can handle something other than a closed-face spincaster, you can begin teaching them techniques that require longer casts and more patience.

But, even for myself, there's always an ultralight spinning outfit in the boat. When none of the other fish on the lake are cooperating, I head for the weeds and hang tiny jigs with soft plastics or worms on them under a bobber. Fish are guaranteed to bite. I never get skunked.

 

[raven174us]

Re: New to bass fishing.

Right now we just go hit the banks and hang a nightcrawler from a bobber.
We catch lots of Bluegill that way. But he gets bored real easy. We went out a few days ago and I tied a small jig head with a grub on it and he spent more time watching the small bluegill chase it then anything. I think trying new things is helping cause we were able to fish much longer this time around.
Thanks for all the info. Its really helped me out allot.

 

[idrownworms]

Re: New to bass fishing.

Bass aren't the only fun fish to catch. Try crappie fishing at night hang a light over the side of the boat and use minnows. Liked to do it when I was 8 and I still like it 40 years later. oh yeah remember warm clothes and blankets it can get cold on the water at night ( warning it isn't legal in all states so check first)

 

[Geodopolis]

Re: New to bass fishing.

I hear ya about the short attention span. My 7 yr old son asks me to take him fishing every day. When I take him, he lasts about 1/2 an hour and doesn't want to fish any more. I always fish an area that he can catch sunnies on one side of the boat and I have an opportunity for bass as well. I'm usually too busy helping him take his fish off the hook to get many fish myself, but that's A-ok with me. We also bring a GameBoy or some other toys for when he's gets bored, then it's "help daddy fish" time. We have a blast every time. In MN, I've caught some monster bass on tiny panfish jigs under a float tipped with an inch of crawler. Good Luck and just keep it simple and fun. George

 

[raven174us]

Re: New to bass fishing.

LOL I was just telling my wife the same thing about getting a gameboy to bring on the boat. She plans on bringing her a book so when she doesn't want to fish she can just lay out and read.
Luckily my wife helps with putting worms on my sons hook but I still have to take the fish off for both of them. I don't understand why she will put a piece of a night crawler on a hook but she won't take a fish off.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: New to bass fishing.

I agree with CAT that catching fish period is the most important thing for any kids under 10. By the way CAT I'm impressed that you never get skunked...that is quite a feat. I look forward to those days, with the flooding we've had it's hard to find the fish.

My three-year-old is as happy as can be catching little Bluegills with a bobber. Once he can hold onto the pole a bit more we'll get him started on 10-20lb salmon.

Bass aren't the only fun fish to catch. Try crappie fishing at night hang a light over the side of the boat and use minnows. Liked to do it when I was 8 and I still like it 40 years later. oh yeah remember warm clothes and blankets it can get cold on the water at night ( warning it isn't legal in all states so check first)

Do the bugs get pretty bad at night with the lights on? This year's been horrendous for mosquitoes here in Michigan and just having my fishfinder light on the lowest setting brings 'em in droves.

Just curious.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: New to bass fishing.

The only reason I never get skunked is that there are always sunnies in the weeds. When all else fails, I'll catch one of those, so I'm not completely skunked.

I'm not too proud to hang a little jig under a bobber from time to time.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: New to bass fishing.

I've been skunked every time out this year. All my local lakes that I could troll around a 2-4' 3" Rapala minnow with tonnes of catches (walley, bass, even the odd bullhead) is now turning up nothing. Switch to different soft baits with jig heads...nothing, spoons...nothing, shad-raps...nothin, just bad all around. I've tried everything in the tackle box. I think switching to braided late last season for the salmon was a bad idea. So I picked up a medium/light rod real combo today (shimano at bass pro) with some 8lb flouro and I'm gonna do the ol' worm on a jig...cause I give up. I have no idea what else to try.


Ian

 

[kenzmadie]

Re: New to bass fishing.

Don't forget to have some top water lures in there. I have a firetiger "Topknocker" from Bass Pro....the small mouth and large mouth bass love them, especially if there is a little wind making some ripples on the water. For me, the best part of fishing is watching a fish come up and hit a top water lure.

 

[lakeorbay]

Re: New to bass fishing.

Lot of good suggestions here. If your son is ready to cast and do some traditional artificial bait bass fishing, you can't beat a weightless Texas rigged Yamamoto Senko. 4" or 5". Green pumpkin is an all around winning color. Fish love em! They are loaded with salt, so fish tend to hold on to them longer and give a beginner more time to feel the fish and set the hook. Careful, fish love em so much they will swallow it, so get ready to land some gut hooked fish. Good luck.

I'm taking my little ones camping and fishing next week. If I don't get them on some fish, I'm going to feel like a failure. I have some bass fishing skill, but when it comes to other species, I need some work.

 

[raven174us]

Re: New to bass fishing.

He has started trying the spinner beetle and likes it. He hasn't caught anything on it but he tries. I don't have my boat on the water yet so we are still sitting on the banks. So he will use it for a while and then change over to a worm and bobber to catch something. I'm still trying to catch something on artificial bait myself. I've tried a few different worms on a texas rig but no luck.
Best news though is I'm just about done with my boat. I just have to put the rub rail back on, new fuel lines and I want to put a trolling motor on it.