real_horror_show

i tried the senko worms for about 2 weeks, didnt get a bite. Took them to the river with me this past sunday and the SMB couldnt stay off of them. I caught 15 keeper size in about 1 hours time. Cant wait to go back and do it again!

The 6th? i would love to make it, but i work in a restaurant that serves brunch, so thats a no go for me. Really wish I could make it though. and @Ninja, I tried it out yesterday. Got in the canoe and paddled up river to the rock walls, caught a bunch of Smallmouth and Redeye's. Had never caught either before, alot of fun! Cant wait to try it when the stripper are running, heard alot of good things from co-workers.

I was just wondering if there is anybody from Columbia, SC. I just went to the Congaree boat ramp for the first time today to do a bit of scouting. I didnt have my boat today, so it was mainly from shore and the floating dock. I could see a lot of what looked like Silver Carp in the water, but didnt see any bass. If there were LMB around, they sure didnt want any of what I was offering.

thanks guys for all of the replies, price range is $50-100 for rod and reel.

I am really in need of a new rod and reel. The one I have is one of those combo sets you would buy at wal mart. I am on a tight budget, but know that I want a quality rod and reel for catching Big Largemouth's. I am very fond of baitcasters but would settle for a nice spinning reel. Any suggestions?

Hey RW, I was so frustrated with the small lake I have been fishing that I was about to give up on it. Then I came across this post and my hope has been restored. I can't wait to get out there and try this. I'm using a 6'6" MH rod on a baitcaster with 8lb test...will this be okay? Cant wait to pick up some Senko's and IKA's and hit the water. I will post the results, hopefully some pics(if they are big enough to take pics of) Thanks for keeping this thread up, you have restored hope in this frustrated noob.

What I mean by they are hanging at 6-10 feet, they are suspended in the water between 6-10 when the actual depth is between 15-20 feet. I have caught fish here and there...a couple of Largemouth, a couple Crappie, maybe a perch or two...lots of bluegills. I want to catch more largemouth. I go out at least twice a week on my boat, but fish of the dock just about every night. My PB was a lucky one and was out of a different body of water, a farm pond. I guess im just frustrated because the fish are few and far between...I know they are out there, they just are not taking any of what I am offering.

so this: https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=34.071325,-80.935837&spn=0.000453,0.00066&t=h&z=21&layer=c&cbll=34.071325,-80.935837&panoid=zpjWzonOoHVrB283xMgq-A&cbp=12,344.99,,1,2.01 is where i have been fishing. I have a boat and I am able to go anywhere in this lake, except for the shallows which are covered in a thick grassy bush kind of like this: http://www.google.com/imgres?start=64&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=677&tbm=isch&tbnid=VVmzyHLEOMitnM:&imgrefurl=http://www.aquatic-experts.com/freshwater_aquatic_plant_11.html&docid=GzGTSzjLnGIt0M&imgurl=http://www.aquatic-experts.com/AQUATIC-EXPERTS%252520IMAGES/FRESHWATER/FRESHWATER%252520PLANTS/FRESHWATER%252520PLANTS%252520APURE/PLANTS%252520CANO%252520MORROCOY/IMG_1996%252520cw.jpg&w=800&h=600&ei=BVFJUIWrAYS89gTg6oG4DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=397&vpy=125&dur=1112&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=184&ty=79&sig=103423582464151819597&page=4&tbnh=148&tbnw=196&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:19,s:64,i:214. The shoreline of this small "lake" is full of everything you would thhink a bass would want. The water is stained, cant see bait past about a foot. The water temp ranges from 80-83. The lake, at its deepest point is 22 feet. The fish are hanging out between 6-10 feet. I have tried everything, and all summer long, the biggest LMB i have caught have been in the 2-3lb range. I have tried everything that I have, live minnows, crickets, worms, cranks, spinners, buzz, plastic worms, plastic lizards...only baits I havent tried are tubes, jigs and craws, mostly because I dont know how to fish them. I have tried drop shotting, c-rigging, t-rigging, cranking....name it, tried it. Does anybody have any advice, what can I do? I have tried the channel, tried the creek beds, tried the flats, tried the drops, tried Fishing through cover, I am just at a lost. Other people I have talked to say they know that the big boys are out there and that they can be caught but nobody is really offering any info on what to use to catch them. I have only been fishing for a year, but just in the last 5 -6 months have I become really serious about it. help a noob out! Attached are a few pics of the lake itself.

i have never caught a Spotted, so LMB it is. Love catching these guys/gals

nice catches man, really nice.

let the fish take the bait, wait a second and them set the hook, but not too hard...thats the biggest mistake a lot of us noobs make.

i've been fishing the matted grass beds with a 6 inch pumpkinseed lizard, been killing 'em.