Bass Fishing Newbie, Help!

[CC268]

Hey guys, so I just started fishing about a year ago. I have only done small trout fishing here in Northern Arizona. I mostly fish Oak Creek in Sedona and the Verde River (Clarkdale to Verde Valley). For trout I have only ever used small spinners, 1/32 oz. I have done fairly well, but sometimes it is hit or miss, and I only get the small ones. I noticed a guy fishing the Verde yesterday who was fishing for bass...he caught 8 throughout the day and they were huge compared to what I am used to. 

 

He was using some big gear...he had something super similar to this:

 

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/hard-bait/spinners/beetle-spin

 

He had one of those half triangle looking things with a really big silver spoon on one side and a big hook on the other side with some other stuff...I think it is called a spinner bait

 

Like I said...the only thing I have in my tackle box is small spinners and some split shots. I currently have a Shakespeare Ugly Stick Light - Medium Action, 6 foot with a Shimano Solstace 2500FI reel. 

 

My Questions are:

 

1. Is my rod strong enough for bass?

2. What pound line should I use? I plan on picking up another reel...should I get another Shimano Solstace (don't want to get too expensive)?

3. What should I try for lures, etc? (plastic worms, spinner bait, spinners, etc)

[scrutch]

Read, read, read!

Start here...>>>>> http://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/

[CC268]

I have read a few of those articles, I will continue to watch videos and read. 

 

I have learned the Texas and Carolina Rig and will get a variety of lures...plastics, crankbaits, spinner baits, and maybe some jigs.

 

I will ask someone at Bass Pro what they recommend as well and I will get another reel...either a baitcaster or another spin reel.

[Darren.]

Like I said...the only thing I have in my tackle box is small spinners and some split shots. I currently have a Shakespeare Ugly Stick Light - Medium Action, 6 foot with a Shimano Solstace 2500FI reel. 

 

My Questions are:

 

1. Is my rod strong enough for bass?

2. What pound line should I use? I plan on picking up another reel...should I get another Shimano Solstace (don't want to get too expensive)?

3. What should I try for lures, etc? (plastic worms, spinner bait, spinners, etc)

1. Yes, an Ugly Stik Lite, M action is plenty strong for bass, though not particularly sensitive. It would do fine until you can afford something better.

2. A Shimano Solstace is also fine. I'd get a 2500 size and spool it up with braided line around 10 or 15 lb test. Next, I'd learn to tie a leader on the end of the braid using an Albright knot.

3. Definitely try out some soft plastics. I'd look at bass pro for some Gary Yamamoto Senkos, or Yum Dingers, or Bass Pro Stik-o worms in "natural" colors like watermelon, green pumpkin, black, and so on.

Next buy some Gamakatsu Wide Gap Finesse hooks in size 2, and 1 (in hooks, 2 is smaller than 1 until you move up into the 1/0, 2/0 and so on. Then hooks get bigger as you go up.

Tie that hook on your leader or braid with a Palomar knot.

Then hook your worm perpendicular to the hook, in the center of the worm.

That's the "wacky" rig and it is deadly. Awesome for beginners and seasoned pros alike.

[CC268]

1. Yes, an Ugly Stik Lite, M action is plenty strong for bass, though not particularly sensitive. It would do fine until you can afford something better.

2. A Shimano Solstace is also fine. I'd get a 2500 size and spool it up with braided line around 10 or 15 lb test. Next, I'd learn to tie a leader on the end of the braid using an Albright knot.

3. Definitely try out some soft plastics. I'd look at bass pro for some Gary Yamamoto Senkos, or Yum Dingers, or Bass Pro Stik-o worms in "natural" colors like watermelon, green pumpkin, black, and so on.

Next buy some Gamakatsu Wide Gap Finesse hooks in size 2, and 1 (in hooks, 2 is smaller than 1 until you move up into the 1/0, 2/0 and so on. Then hooks get bigger as you go up.

Tie that hook on your leader or braid with a Palomar knot.

Then hook your worm perpendicular to the hook, in the center of the worm.

That's the "wacky" rig and it is deadly. Awesome for beginners and seasoned pros alike.

Thanks I will try some of those, although I am not sure how to do the palomar knot...seems hard even from watching the videos on youtube it was hard to understand

[Darren.]

Thanks I will try some of those, although I am not sure how to do the palomar knot...seems hard even from watching the videos on youtube it was hard to understand

Most fishing knots look daunting at first, but the Palomar is one of the easier knots.

You basically double the line, thread the doubled line through the eye of the hook and then tie a loose overhand knot and stick the hook through the looped side of the overhand knot. Slowly start pulling it tight and use a bit of saliva to moisten the knot as you pull it tight. Then clip the tag end leaving maybe a 1/4" tag.

[CC268]

Yea I will watch some more videos, glad I got some good knowledge on bass fishing from all the videos and reading I have done today. I feel like I have a decent basis when I go bass fishing.

[WRB]

Hey guys, so I just started fishing about a year ago. I have only done small trout fishing here in Northern Arizona. I mostly fish Oak Creek in Sedona and the Verde River (Clarkdale to Verde Valley). For trout I have only ever used small spinners, 1/32 oz. I have done fairly well, but sometimes it is hit or miss, and I only get the small ones. I noticed a guy fishing the Verde yesterday who was fishing for bass...he caught 8 throughout the day and they were huge compared to what I am used to.

He was using some big gear...he had something super similar to this:

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/hard-bait/spinners/beetle-spin

He had one of those half triangle looking things with a really big silver spoon on one side and a big hook on the other side with some other stuff...I think it is called a spinner bait

Like I said...the only thing I have in my tackle box is small spinners and some split shots. I currently have a Shakespeare Ugly Stick Light - Medium Action, 6 foot with a Shimano Solstace 2500FI reel.

My Questions are:

1. Is my rod strong enough for bass?

2. What pound line should I use? I plan on picking up another reel...should I get another Shimano Solstace (don't want to get too expensive)?

3. What should I try for lures, etc? (plastic worms, spinner bait, spinners, etc)

Your rod is light for most bass lures, the beetle spin can work for you. Your reel is very good.

You need to scale things down if you plan to use your current tackle, considered ultra light for bass fishing.

You don't need a lighter leader when bass fishing, 6 lb mono is OK tied direct to the lures.

The simplest rig is the split shot rig or a finesse C-rig that I call a slip shot rig.

Here is what you need to get started;

1. Package of size 1 Owner #5133 hook.

2. Package of 3/32 oz and 1/8 oz Mojo sliding weights.

3. Package each of Roboworms 5 1/2" curl tail worms in oxblood with red flake and MM II.

4. Package of BB size round split shot.

Slide the mojo weight up the line then clamp on the round split shot. Now pull the line through the split shot about 3 feet, then cut off any line that is flatten by the split shot. Tie on the hook with a Palomar knot. Slide the split up the line about 24" and lightly reclinch the shot so it holds the mojo weight up the line.

You are ready to rig the worm;

Insert the hook into the nose of the worm just past the barb, then rotate the hook so it comes out the belly of the worm, should be bout 1/4" from the nose. Now pull the hook until the eye is about 1/8"from the worm nose, rotate the hook so the point is towards the worm belly and slowly pull the hook eye into the nose of the worm until it's covered with plastic. Now place the hook next to the worm on the outside nd look where the hook bend intersects the worm belly, this is the spot where the hook point needs to be inserted through the worm body, The worm should be straight with the hook throught the worm. Pull the hook back a little so the point is sticking out a little, pinch the worm then stick the point into the soft plastic . We call this skin hooked. You are redy to bass fish.

Simply cast this out as far as needed, let it sink to the bottom and very slowly drag the weight along the bottom, stopping about every 3' for a few seconds. If you feel taps or ticks reel faster and sweep the rod back hard if you feel any weight. Good luck

Set your drag with 2 lbs of tension.

Tom

PS; you have good bass tackle shops in your area.

[PondBoss]

Also what I think is a great tip:

 

Study up, but don't take what you read as gospel,  Every piece of water though it maybe similar is different.  Trial and error will be your biggest learning tool.  Take me for example, I totally tend to do the opposite of what most people on here say to do.  I still catch fish and do quite well.  Fishing is Apple to Oranges but when it comes down to it it's still fruit.  

[Tuckahoe Joe]

If your having trouble with your knots, this site here has little animations for pretty much every knot used for fishing.  It really helped me out when I first started.

 

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

[NWI-Bassin']

Buy spinners for bass . I've seen kits made specifically for bass and they work pretty good. Your setup is fine.

[WRB]

The reason I took the time and effort to post a detailed specific rig and presentation for light spinning tackle is; it has a long history of working everywhere for new bass anglers.

The Verde river is a seasonal water way that dries up or goes underground most of the year. The bass live in ponds along stretches of the river bed, during dry periods. The Phoenix area also has several golf club and park ponds or small lakes with a bass population, plus several larger lakes on the Salt river drainage and lakes Alamo, Pleasant, San Carlos and the Morman trail lakes. All these waterways can be fished from shore with light tackle.

Being a trout fisherman, you know about inline spinners like Panther Martin and fire tiger is a good bass color.

The standard safety pin shape bass spinner baits require heavier tackle, as most bass lures.

My advice is try the slip shot rig along break edges; deeper water next to shallower water with cover like cat tails or weed beds, any brush or tress, bass like shaded areas or rocky areas with deep water nearby.

It's always a good idea to stick with one presentation until you learn how to fish it, then try others. Too much too soon only leads to frustration, fishing should be fun!

Tom

[Grizzn N Bassin]

start reading!!! and listen to wrb that's pretty much some it up.

[CC268]

Thanks guys, I have read a ton of articles and watched tons of youtube videos. I made a sheet for myself on Microsoft Word on how to rig and use the Drop Shot, Texas Rig, Carolina Rig, Jig Rig, Shake Head Rig, and maybe another one I forgot. I will go to bass pro and pick up stuff for each of those rigs so I at least have the stuff to do it. I will look into a baitcaster, but I will ask the guys at Bass Pro what they recommend. I have heard people recommend 6 pound line all the way to 20 pound line...so not sure what I will do there, but I will get some more recommendations.

 

I have a large list of things to buy....I won't buy it all but at least some of it...here is my "shopping" list:

 

** these were all recommended buy other people:

 

 

Trout:

- Ask about

- Small Crank Baits

- Fox Vibrax Spinners

Bass:

- What pound line?

- What reel?

- Doulock Snaps

Texas Rig:

- Bullet Weights: 1/8, 1/4, 3/8

-EWG Hooks: 1/0 – 4/0

-Plastics: Worms, Lizards, etc

Carolina Rig:

- Glass Bead

- Barrel Swivel

- Egg or Bullet Sinker: ½ oz or bigger

Drop Shot Rig

- 1/0 - 2/0 Hooks

- 1/8 - 3/8 D/S Weights

- Straight Tail Worms

Shakey Head Rig:

- Shakey Head Hook 5/16 oz

- Robo Worm

Jig Rig:

- 3/8s & 1/2 oz Football Jig Heads

-1/4 oz Darter Jigs,

-Standard Round Ball Jig Heads – Small – Medium

-Swim Jigs

 

Spinnerbaits:

-Terminator – Natural and Shocking Colors – GOLD BLADES

Plastics:

- Berkeley Power Bait Plastics

- Curly Tail Worms – Different Sizes and Natural
Colors (green pumpkin, black, black and blue,       motor oil, chartreuse, white, and
pumpkin with chart tail etc.)

- Zoom Lizards – Couple Sizes and Colors

- Crawdads - Paca Craw, Rage Speed Craw, Berkeley
Chigger Craws

- Creature Baits - Sweet Beavers or Yamamoto Hula
Grubs

- Straight Tail Worms – Drop Shot Fishing

Crank Baits:

- Rapala Floater 7

- Rapala Shad Rap 7 - Black and Silver

- Rapala Husky Jerk – Chat or Silver - #7 or 10 -
Silver, Good For Pike

- Rapala XRAP – Suspended Jerk Bait

- Bomber Flat A

- General Crank Bait

- FLW Tour – Bright and Neutral Color

[WRB]

Sometimes you can lead a horse to water, it's hard to get them to drink.

Good luck.

Tom

[CC268]

Sometimes you can lead a horse to water, it's hard to get them to drink.

Good luck.

Tom

I added your 4 items for the split shot rig as well and added it to my rig document on word for my reference

[BigOnFishin]

I would suggest sticking to a spinning rod and reel combo, mainly because you don't want to be overloaded with having to learn how to use a baitcaster in addition to learning about lure, line, and color selection. Once you have a pretty good understanding of those things, then start focusing on getting a better rod and reel. Spinning reels (as you know from trout fishing) are fairly easy to work, so they will be one thing less to worry about. Just be sure to have your drag set nicely to your line test weight and rod strength. Also, stick with smaller lures for now. Like 6" worms and smaller sized crankbaits should work fine. However, since you are fishing in a creek and river, rocky areas like that should be fished with smaller Jigs, In-Line Spinners, and texas-rigged plastics. I am not familiar with either bodies of water but that is the gist of rocky creek and river fishing. If you can, try to find a local pond and practice a little.

Good luck!

[CC268]

I got myself a nice BPS baitcaster reel and rod combo and got myself a practice plug. I learned it within 10 minutes haha. I didn't find it hard at all and I actually really like the bait caster. Caught a big pike yesterday on it!