Ratherbfishing

Modern electronics have made it easier but, unfortunately, we don't always know if we've found the fish until we catch them. I'm unsure WHERE this fits in the equation but it is true. It's also maddening when you find the fish (with electronics) but then proceed to zero out. Stupid fish. ; )

It's nice that you are thinking of him. First advice: As you already seem to recognize, if you don't know much about the hobby, don't attempt to buy directly. At an office Christmas exchange, I had said I liked fishing gear. So what do I get? Red and white round bobbers, bait holder hooks, and a polystyrene stringer. Ugh! Anyway, yes, I recommend gift certs from places like Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas (actually also owned by BPS), and Tackle warehouse.

About anytime the bass bite is really slow. And sometimes I target the other species specifically. But not too often. About 4 or 5 times a year.

If I'm using a curly tail worm (especially one with a red or yellow tail) OR a Gulp worm and the bluegill are driving me insane, I'll usually wait a little longer (or "weigh" the bite) before I set the hook. I probably could/should attempt more hook sets BUT I can't catch a fish if the lure isn't in the water (or is zipping right past them) either. It's kind of a case of six or one half a dozen or the other).

To me a "jerk" is someone who actively interferes with another fisherman's free access (on public waters) to this resource OR is simply unpleasant and/or unfriendly to other fishermen. Having said that, no, I'm not a jerk. They have as much right as I have to public waters and I am as pleasant as peach pie. As far as telling them WHERE the fish are and/or WHAT to use, etc, I'm rather unlikely to do the former but relatively likely to help them with the latter. IF they have a 5 gallon bucket or a stringer, I generally assume they are keeping fish (which is fine within their legal limit) but I am generally less helpful still.

I bought a pelican boat from a friend (one I met on this site). He threw in a very similar unit from Humminbird (free of charge). There's absolutely no sour grapes because I didn't ask or expect it but it didn't work (broken). Just sayin.'

Yeah, I'm more "summered out" than "fished out."

The motor you used didn't seem efficient? Mostly pond fishing.

Am in the market for a new trolling motor (old one crapped out on me). The choice of companies are slim pickin's (Minn Kota and Motor Guide) and most models I've found seem to always have SOME deliberate flaw built into them (cheap switches, thin gauge wire, pot metal brackets, etc)-something that always wears out or breaks prematurely (made to be broken). On Amazon, however, I see a company called Newport Vessels. Have any of ya'll tried them and, if so, what do you think?

Red goes on positive (+), black goes on negative (-). (I'm just being a smart alleck).

I hate to be accused of being a "hater" (actually, I really don't care) but I have yet to meet a spincast reel I'd give the nod to. Note: if someone wants to GIVE me one of these, I'd give it a fighting chance but I'm certainly NOT shelling out a benjamin for one.

I thought I was the only one who did this. : ) Like the OP, I think it's after I feel a bite on a soft plastic (or sense it with the force), bring my rod up, it loads up on a good fish. The OTHER thing that is MOST gratifying is when I've "figured them out." There's nothing like finding a good, solid pattern to make my day.

Is it unusual to get skunked? Nope. Especially on pressured lakes with limited access. Is it unusual to get skunked quite a lot? Mmmmm... perhaps a little. But summertime can be a real challenge, too. As is usually the case, the bass will not be everywhere BUT they will be, IMO, in places that are harder to access (or locate) and do not have to chase as often as food is more plentiful. Hang in there!

I'm a big fan of the diminutive Moss Mouse made by Snag Proof. In white. It rarely leaks, doesn't cost "more than it ought" and has great hook up percentages.

Yowza! Good thing you were there! Fires can be devastating! Give yourself a pat on the back!

I was just being...facetious.

Not to make light of a tragic situation but there's something funny about "...when they got to weigh-in...". I know tournament fishermen are fanatics but geesh!

The latter is (or can be) a slow, protracted death.

I suppose by switching species, I do not force myself to be a better bass angler but sometimes it's just nice to catch something else, regardless. My only issue with Musky and big pike is how much work it is to land them and then release them safely-not that I have THAT much experience on the subject. ALL of my muskies have been "accidental." It sure would be nice if getting TOO the lake(s) wasn't so much work. I'm not averse from some traveling but especially in the summer when the heat becomes nearly unbearable, I hate to drive a long distance to turn around a few hours later OR to pay for it with heatstroke or sunstroke. Half of my kingdom for lakefront property on a good Nornern U.S. Lake. But I digress. That's another topic for another thread.

I'm not trying to flame or otherwise troll but I believe, in addition to dead fish, that "dying and/or disoriented bass" should be added to the equation. Just because a fish is not dead at weigh-in does not mean it won't later die or be so disoriented as to be negatively impacted. I'm not a tree hugger and I don't have any longitudinal studies upon which to refer but I believe (since the OP asked our OPINION) that tournaments (where the fish is removed from the lake) DO have a negative impact-particularly on small lakes. If each boat has a marshall and the fish are quickly weighed/measured and returned to the water, I believe the impact is minimal.

Sometime you should resist switching to a smaller bait. I've caught some relatively "giant" crappie on big baits including Chigger craws and Keitech Fat swing impacts. The larger crappie (especially) tend to think they are bass.

On a different spin (no pun intended), up in Canada there is a guide who refuses to guide for anything except walleye. He won't guide for bass. I suspect it's because he'd rather drift in a boat and drink beer. He isn't the hardest working fellow I've ever met-though beer does seem to motivate him. Growing up on the limited ponds/rivers I had available, crappie were as rare as hens teeth so I especially like them now. But I go north (when I can) primarily to catch species I can't or don't often catch here (pike, musky, walleye and larger smallmouth). It's fun to mix it up a bit. They are fun. I big one will REALLY pull.

When the crappie are biting/locatable I'll drop about everything else to fish for them. A black crappie glistening in the sun like an emerald is about as beautiful as any fish I know.

Amen!

How many of you would (for the moment or perhaps the day) stop fishing for largemouth if another species (crappie, white bass, pike/muskie, etc) could reliably be caught? Although I am a huge largemouth fan, I am also thrilled with other species as well. About the only species I do not care for (no offense intended) is carp and small panfish. But I'll put down my bass rod if I can catch other species for at least awhile. But eventually I would go back to largemouth.