FreddoB

AWESOME! I feel like this all the time everytime I hook up out there on the water. It's all SO GOOD! When they bite a topwater, that's just STELLAR stuff! Thanks for sharing your excitement. I'm here at my desk eating lunch and fishing vicariously through these stories and daydreaming of being back on the water.

I'm happy to have helped this number grow recently! This is the best place I've found for bass fishing information and support! Thanks to all that pitch in!

One thing for sure - if they are panfish like bluegill and pumpkin seed - those will feel like a small machine gun fire on your bait. As I started learning "bass fishing" when I got bit like that, I'd throw a small crappie bait and prove it out. I've found, as mentioned above, that even a "tap" deserves a hookset attempt. You'll learn by trying and trying and trying. You will get to know the differences over time. I've probably freaked out many a small fish thinking it was a monster that picked up my bait when I tried burying the hook. I like the "one tap" idea mentioned above!!

I fish until I can't fish any longer! Basically, I'm like the Energizer Bunny angler without the batteries. I might stop because I'm typically in a kayak and after I've been out for "many hours" I just "feel" done for the day (but this is RARE). I don't get bored fishing even if the bite is off - I just throw something else I have in the tackle trays. I'm forced off the water only for other commitments, nightfall, bad weather, or the aforementioned "feeling done". I joke that I'm "ripped" from my chest to my neck (and that's about it) due being a kayak fishing fanatic and a worship drummer at our church. That said, my arms never get tired from paddling and casting all day which is a major plus.

St. Croix Mojo Bass MJC74HF (Heavy/Fast 7' 4") rod, Lew's SD1XHL reel, and PowerPro 65# braid. "Sweet setup"! I used it for the first time yesterday and the time on the water went TOO FAST!

Hey NiX - Yes sir - I agree! I never fished a jig until this year. Same with chatterbaits. Both work well for me and I'm building confidence using both but want to concentrate on fishing a jig like I fished for trout way back. The "idea" of "building confidence" in a bait, any bait, hit me like a brick this past winter as I crammed off the internet before hitting the water this spring. Growing up as a trout fisherman using only UL tackle, I knew my game well and was so confident in my gig that I would go out with one hook size (tiny), one bait type (salmon eggs in one style), one split-shot size ("B"), and catch them consistently if they were biting. I hope this doesn't come across as bragging; not my intention here at all but to make the point being: *KNOW your game* as we are both learning! Now I force myself to go out and throw a single bait or two all day (two different setups so no tying/untying). All of you guys rock sharing your experiences, bait preferences, and rubber meets the road stuff. THANK YOU ALL!

Uh oh Catt... You mentioned, "You want the motion to be similar to & as fast as working a shaky head..." and...well... I have "zero" (0) experience with those so ya see, I'm a newb but will look into those next I suppose. Time to get on the lakes and bring ONLY the jigs and just get good with them; learning to become confident with 'em! My new setup (not spooled up yet) will have what's needed to get them out of the cover if I do "my" part. Thanks again and to all for the jig images and explanations...all helpful!

So -- if the cast into the nasty stuff "does" keep the line in the water (it makes total sense), is hoisting this fish "UP" the approach to take after the hookset? Just cranking the reel and hoping for the best doesn't seem right to me. What's the suggestion for doing "after" the hookset? Thanks!!

Hi and thanks to "all" that posted their comments. I knew I'd learn here and I have... Lesson #1: "Get closer". This might be a big part of my learning curve. I might be fishing these laydowns out too far lessening that angle and going more horizontal; need to try closer and more vertical. Lesson #2: "More time out there". I'm a proponent of 'hands on experience' and looking forward to getting that 'feel' of what's going on under water at the jig so I might not snag up often. Lesson #3: All the above and more from all those that responded... Thank you! On the same topic, after hooking into a fish in a laydown is "up" and "out fast" the best tactic for getting the fish out of the cover? When I see a situation like fishing a laydown, even knowing it holds fish a lot of the time, the thought of getting it out of there once hooked is daunting at times. More thoughts? Much appreciated and thanks!!!

Hey All, As a newb to jigs, I've read a lot and watched a lot and use weedless (???) jigs. They catch bass! Lately, I've throwing SK Hack Attacks. Why are my jigs hanging up on wood when I "read" that they're "for" heavy cover like wood? They seem like they'd easily pull around the stuff without hooking up. Hooks are for fish lips only! Note that these jigs I'm tossing are not modified and I'd really like to put them into the laydowns on the lake I frequent to pull out a monster or two (...or more). Tricks and tips welcome and appreciated! Thanks!

My wife and I kayak together on occasion and she's never complained when I bring the "fishing gear"; she does not fish at all. On Saturday, we went out and I purposely did not bring gear to fish with and just paddled around the lake with her. I shared with her how I appreciate that she never complains about me fishing when out together and she doesn't mind paddling around and enjoying being out there. We "know" each other and the open communication is why we just celebrated 26 years together. If she ever asked, "Would you leave the gear home this outing?", I'd call it done! This works for us! "Choices" and "luck" are mentioned above in this thread and I totally agree that "we" determined the outcome a lot of the time based on choices. But then we are all individuals and our wives are all different. The woman I married works with me and me with her... SHE's AWESOME; but not just because she let's me go fishing, she's truly a blessing! One more note... My Dad lived to 75 and it's still hard losing someone close. NEVER stop spending time with those important to you. The fish will bite when you get back to the place you enjoy fishing. We get one go at this thing called life! Make it matter!

I've retrieved them slow, fast, erratic with pauses, varied retrieve rates, but always with a trailer. These chatterbaits simply produce fish. I have no favorite retrieve that I find works best but having to guess, a slower and steady. I once was burning the bait in to recast and big pickerel grabbed it...surprised the tar out of me! I've only used the Z Man Original in 3/8 oz. so far...

Here, the Walmart sells Z Man Original ChatterBait. I bought a 3/8 oz. (black/blue) and Berkley Havoc Grass Pig Jr.'s (Black-Blue Silver Fleck) for trailers. If you try these, buckle up! I do great with this combo but any matching color trailer should work. The Grass Pig Jr's were not as expensive as others I've seen recommended for trailers. Buy two if you can swing it just in case one kicks butt and you lose it to something that's not a PIG FISH! 1 on the YUM Dingers 5" Green Pumpkin... wacky rig; another stellar bait!

Green Pumpkin... the holy grail of color for bass baits it seems. No argument here, they bite what I'm throwing in that color! I haven't heard of Blair lake and wow, 2 acres! The lake I live by is about 37 acres and seems small compared t some I've paddled. It looks like that lake can get "weedy" so you might want to learn "punching". That's next on my bucket list, followed by frogs, followed by, who knows?!?

I'm learning too but I can offer you keep the rod tip down (close to the water) and force the fish to roll over; NEVER slacken the line. Here's the hard part if you are any part as "green" as I am while fighting these "jumpers".... WE'RE EXCITED! Make it a point to concentrate on the "fight" after the hookset. My son and I were out on our local lake and the bass were biting well (wacky rigs and jigs/trailers). This gave me lots of opportunities to "learn" to fight them. But as I've been told here in the forum, we'll still loose some. I don't get them "all" in the boat and doubt I ever will but more will make it in with time. Time and experience will help. For me, realizing I needed to "think" about how to fight these fish is as important as learning new baits and techniques to get them to bite. It's all part of the passion of an angler. When I was learning to fly fish, setting the hook in a trout was a new lesson in science and physics for me...go figure!