Violinguy

There will be as many opinions as people but here is how I organize mine. I use a small-ish tackle bag by Plano. It holds four of the stow-away boxes (or whatever you call 'em). The boxes have 1. terminal tackle, 2. crankbaits, 3. jigs, jig heads, trailers, etc., 4. panfish lures/baits (just in case). In one side pocket I have a Mepps spinner kit. I also have 5 or 6 bags of soft plastics, Senkos, tubes, Culprits, and whatever else I want to use. There is one larger outside pocket for pliers, scale, and other tools/gear. I like using the bag because I can substitute the stow-away boxes based on how I'm fishing or what I'm fishing for. It's easier to carry around than a traditional tackle box. I just sling it over my shoulder and I'm off with both hands free to carry rods. Also, it's way more quiet than a hard tackle box, less likely to spook fish when I put it down (I fish from shore mostly). As for baits/lures, again you'll have differing opinion but... Must haves: soft plastics, a few crankbaits, jigs, and spinnerbaits. You don't need to break the bank or buy the entire BPS catalog, but a couple of each will do. Also, some decent terminal tackle. Good hooks for plastics are a must. Here's a quick snapshot of what I use. Obviously it's not everything I own (not even close) but it's what I take on any particular trip.

First thing - you said "fishing from docks" in your post. I read a great post earlier today about fishing from shore and how you DO NOT want to actually set foot on any dock. It spooks the fish big time. Read it here -> http://www.bassresou...-9#entry1429765 As for getting started, you want a basic selection of baits; soft plastics (Senkos, Yum Dingers, tube baits, etc.), crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and jigs. Good terminal tackle (hooks and weights etc.) is a must. Don't go overboard on lures until you've fished a bit and have seen what shapes/sizes/colors work where you do your fishing. Just make sure you have a few of everything to get started. As for techniques, read the link I put up above. You want to be stealthy, and that applies to your lure presentation as well. Just hurling jigs or crankbaits into the lake and letting them splash obnoxiously will also spook fish. The spooked fish go to deep water where it is tougher (for shore anglers sometimes impossible) to get to them. Also, read this -> Guaranteed to Catch Bass. It's a great forum post and makes awesome sense. Browse the forums here and you'll never be without something to read that will help you. Especially the "sticky" posts. Good luck!

OK, I'll bite. License fees are used for many things like maintaining public fishing areas, state and county parks/boat ramps, enforcement personnel, and overall improvement of the state's fishery. IMHO, if you want to take advantage of public fishing areas, park ponds, and other non-private fishing spots, you should suck it up and spend $16 (Georgia) every 2 years. If you are only fishing in your back yard, then do whatever you like.

I can't wait to test that theory. I've been reading for 2 days but between @#$%y weather and a messed up septic tank, I haven't been able to get out. That changes tomorrow. Great job on the fish! I caught my first few bass on Senkos last week. There's no looking back now!

As much as you might want to, this is bound to lead to a confrontation that you don't want to be a part of. Sooner or later, you will run into a total nutjob and could get hurt or worse. Here in the south, more people carry guns than not. In GA, where I have lived for 2 years, I have seen many people just walking around wally world or Academy sports packing. Nothing wrong with it, especially since it is within the law, but when you add a firearm into a situation where you are confronting a fisherman who is fishing illegally (allegedly), bad things will happen. People fishing outside the regulations/laws need to be reported for sure. Confronting them, no matter how much of a badazz you think you might be is never a good idea. Obviously, no offense intended. Safety is always the #1 concern with me. Just like when I'm driving. I don't worry about me. I worry about the other guy.

Outstanding! Thanks ClackerBuzz! The second link actually answered a followup question that I had: When do you abandon a lake/pond? At what point do you just say "there aren't any fish here?" Now if I can only develop a little patience. I've been fishing plastics almost exclusively and have started to get a little confidence and some meager skills.

Please forgive me if this is covered in another thread. I've been reading the forums for the last two days and haven't seen my question tackled yet (get it? Tackled?) I fish almost exclusively from shore and have been looking for new water to fish on near Atlanta for the last year or so. Now, I'm not asking for honey holes or anything like that, but I would love to know some strategies when arriving at a brand new lake. I'm also not asking about the big lakes like Lanier or Alatoona or the like. I'm talking smaller ponds, 20 acres or less. I started fishing again when the boys started playing baseball at various parks that happened to have ponds. So far, I'm doing ok, but I would like to do (and get) better. Thanks! VG

Me too. I'm 99% bank fisherman and have only caught fish with plastics, cranks, and spinners. Never jigs. I think my next tackle order will include a few just to expand my repertoire. This has been a ver informative read.

Most bass will become sluggish when the water gets over 80 degrees. Here in GA, you can catch them in the summer, but it's almost as tough as winter. The fish are deep, deep, deep, and only come to shallow water at night when it cools off.. In the north, summer bassin' is not quite as tough as down this way, but the same rules apply. What I've read is when the temp gets up there, fish slow because unless you land a bait on the fish's nose, he won't eat it if he has to chase it. The only hogs I ever caught in the South in the summer were on shiners (live) in FL.

I was thinking the same thing. Those are super fun to catch fish with. Topwater fishing is really exciting when the fish are active.

LOL, so did I.

Any LM north of the Ohio river over 3 or 4 pounds is simply awesome. When I lived up north, I always said there are big fish to be caught, you just gotta find 'em. That one is a beaut! The only problem I've ever had catching a PB or near PB is, I expect to catch one on every cast for about a week. Really nice work!

This could not be more true! There are a few baits that follow this rule, but none more weird looking than spinnerbaits. Until I started getting good a fishing soft plastics, I caught most of my bass with spinnerbaits. Having another confidence lure in the arsenal is a terrific feeling also! VG

Bingo. Seriuosly, fishing alone can be extremely theraputic. Just alone in nature. However, sometimes it's nice to have friends with you for pictures, advice, medical emergencies, etc. With cell phones today, it's not as critical, but there are a lot of the same saftey issues as camping alone.

Back in the late 80s-early 90s, my college roomates and I would fish a small lake in a park in suburban Hartford, CT where we would catch a handful of 1-2 pounders each trip. Always from shore. As we got to know the lake better, we found a great place to wade so we could get to a dropoff where we saw some big fish hitting the surface from time to time. All three of us caught at least one 6+ pound bass on plastics at this spot (the biggest was around 8), but we all knew there were bigger fish out there. Knowing the state record in CT, I would think that this tiny lake, that doesn't even have a name, can produce a bass near or larger than the record fish (12-ish pounds). However, I definitely don't want the entire world descending on this place. If that happened today, with cell phone cameras and digital scales, I don't believe I would do anything other than take some photos and weigh it and throw it back. Then I would tell anyone who would listen that I caught a big fish and leave it at that.

That is awesome! My 4-year-old has a fishing derby in a couple weeks, and he'll probably destroy his Iron Man setup in the process. lol

Try a Mepps Agila spinner. I know it's kinda of a trout bait but if you get the variety pack Mepps sells there are some good colors. Saw this a few posts back. Great advice. The larger Mepps kit (the Basser? or something) works great, especially in rivers. And you may get a nice trout for the same price. Funny story. I was fishing with my dad in Maine at a fishing camp after graduating college. We were on a gigantic lake that was no more than 6 feet deep anywhere, and after about an hour of fishing (with a guide), the only bait that caught any fish was an orange Rapala floating minnow. Not blue, not silver, only orange. About an hour before leaving the first day, I got hung up and lost mine (my dad and I each had one). I caught nothing that hour (tried just about everything I had) while my dad kept reeling in one 3-pounder after another. I grabbed a new Rapala before dinner that night and the next day we caught about 30 fish each with just that one lure. So here I am 20 years later, and every time I fish for SM, I tie on an orange Rapala. Sometimes it even catches fish! lol Seriously, my personal favorite would be spinners, tubes, and of course Senkos. VG

Hello all! I'm back to fishing again after many years away. I fished a ton as a child, then hardly at all until college. Then, hardly at all until this year. I'm really enjoying re-learning how to catch fish again, especially with all the crazy equipment that is available since the last time I bought any (early '90s). Senkos? @$#%! yeah! lol VG