Largemouth Bank Fisherman From Fort Riley, Ks.

[Rhino68W]

My name is R.j. and I am relatively new to bass fishing. I am a soldier stationed at Fort Riley, KS. I started just a few months ago and thanks to the numerous amounts of videos online, I already have a very decent knowledge base to fish with. I normally cruise to local ponds and small lakes and bank fish. On any given day I can catch 3-4 small to decent sized fish in just a couple hours. I primarily throw small spinnerbaits, texas rigged worms, wacky rigged worms, top water frogs, and a crankbait every now and then. These have seemed to give me pretty good success in various places. I recently started throwing soft plastic creature baits, but I feel that from the shore line it is difficult to target those larger bass that with a boat I would be able to flip the lure to. 

 

I am very much so an amateur and will take any tips you guys can offer! I only have 1 good baitcasting rod/reel and 1 "okay" spinning rod/reel. I don't make all the money in the world so building up my arsenal is taking a while!!!$$$

 

I've included a picture of a decent fish I caught this morning in a weedy pond with a frog. 

 

Hope to get some advice from ya'll, and maybe give what little advice I have.

[gulfcaptain]

Although I'm on the West Coast, fish quite a few city park ponds.  Big fish are not out of your reach by any means.  My largest fish (all of them) have come from less then 30ft from the bank.  Observe the weeds and look for deep pockets or quick breaks closer to shore....can indicate deeper water.  Save up and and get a dedicated flipping rod and learn to fish the grass/weeds with confidence.  You would be suprised how many fish over 4lb sit right off the bank tucked away in the weeds. Creature baits work great and make perfect pitch flip baits and check out Siebert Outdoors website as he has awsome prices on tungsten(once you start fishing these you will be supprised at what a difference it makes over lead especially in weedy conditions) and has awesome colors in punch jigs. And if you're looking for a bigger profile, the DB Rage Craw will give you a big profile with a 4" bait and they hold up pretty well. 

[Rhino68W]

Thanks!!! I have a question though. One pond that I fish quit often has a rocky drop off that goes from 3 feet to about 8-10 feet. I have decent lucky with wacky rigs and spinnerbaits in this area. Should I try a texas rigged creature bait? I am unclear on what kind of structure is below, but I know its a consistent hotspot for bass.

[Glenn]

Welcome Home!

[gulfcaptain]

Being rocky, you may want to look at a swing head jig....Bifflehead or any of the others that have a football head and rig a creature bait to them or a football jig. But odds are if you catch them there with other baits they will eat them as well. If it drops off that fast, fall may bring you an added bonus.  Look at fishing one of the smaller umbrella rigs at that place (5 wire work best if you can fish 5 hooks, if not a couple dummy baits instead) and fish them like a spinnerbait.  You will be suprised at the size of fish that will inhale an A-Rig but will pass up a spinnerbait.  Nature takes over and they have crush them.  Good luck and as Glenn said, "Welcome Home"

[A-Jay]

Hello R.j. and Welcome to BR ~

 

A-Jay

[whitwolf]

Welcome!

[Darren.]

Hey RJ, welcome aboard!

[EmersonFish]

Welcome to the site.

As far as that drop-off goes, I like the idea of a football head jig as well, as a means of learning what might be down there structure/cover wise, while still having an opportunity to catch fish. You might lose a few jigs in the process, but that's part of it. And that drop-off will likely give you access to fish throughout most of the year.

See you around the boards.

[00 mod]

Welcome to the forums!

 

Jeff