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Posted

Hi Folks,

 

So far as I can tell, bass fishing is a bit down in this area.  One weekend when I went to "my" lake, I saw a teenager tossing a large frog, but that was it.  His buddies were using live bait, and nobody (yous truly included) caught absolutely nothing.  I've never seen a day like that when the water seemed totally devoid of any fish activity.

 

Anyway, I've long thought it would be fun to fish with someone who prefers totally opposite techniques than I.

 

For example, I love topwater and plastics, plastics being first.  I imagine bass always watching the plastic and therefore fish as I would if I were sight fishing.  It produces well for me.

 

Topwater is fun, and in my experience, produces almost as well as plastics.

 

I like to fish anything that's lifelike.  I'm still baffled as to why walking the dog works with Spooks and such as I know of nothing that make that motion (sick frog, maybe?) but they work well.

 

I know there are a lot of folks that like the reaction strike, using insane speed reels of 30ipt or more (I have exactly one of these reels; a 5600c4 Mag).  I never could get that to produce well.  Others can, however.

 

I'd like to see this in person, swap techniques.  However, I have absolutely no idea how to find anyone who is into bass fishing around here, let alone those who use specific techniques.

 

Reading only takes one so far, then one has to see the subtle actions of the technique in person to master them, or sometimes even understand why they work beyond the generic "reflex bite."

 

Any ideas?

 

Regards,

 

Josh

Posted

I'm a die hard Power Fisherman. The first thing I reach for is a bait I can cover water with and quickly. My partner is the complete opposite, his first pick is always a Jig or Worm, slow and methodical. Fishing with him has really helped my overall sucess by forcing me to go slow when needed. Brian.

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Posted

Join a fishing club. Doesn't have to be a tournament club. That will put you in contact with guys who fish all different ways. You will pass on some of your techniques, and you will pick up some of theirs. It has worked very well for me. If you can't find one, start one.

  • Like 4
  • Super User
Posted

Join a fishing club. Doesn't have to be a tournament club. That will put you in contact with guys who fish all different ways. You will pass on some of your techniques, and you will pick up some of theirs. It has worked very well for me. If you can't find one, start one.

Yeah this^

Posted

I'm more of a power fisherman and my fishing partner is more finess. There are many days when I'm covering water with topwater or a chatterbait while he's throwing a swim jig or plastic. It works out really well when we're trying to locate fish.

One tournament we were on a lake where all of the other fisherman said they'd never had any luck on topwater. We started the morning fishing around some docks surrounded by lily pads. I scored a couple of keepers on a buzzbait while my partner worked the edges with a jig.

My absolute favorite thing is pitching docks. But if I'm not doing that I love looong casts covering as much water as possible.

  • Super User
Posted

I'm a dyed in the wool junk fisherman with a heavy lean to the power fishing side. My tournament partner is a drop shotting fool. Works great for us, I let him do what he does best back there and it's one less rod I have to have on the deck, or thing I have to worry about.

Posted

I'm more of a power fisherman and my fishing partner is more finess. There are many days when I'm covering water with topwater or a chatterbait while he's throwing a swim jig or plastic. It works out really well when we're trying to locate fish.

One tournament we were on a lake where all of the other fisherman said they'd never had any luck on topwater. We started the morning fishing around some docks surrounded by lily pads. I scored a couple of keepers on a buzzbait while my partner worked the edges with a jig.

My absolute favorite thing is pitching docks. But if I'm not doing that I love looong casts covering as much water as possible.

Yessir!

And the best part is that i can power fish when needed and you can go finesse when necessary!

Posted

Fishing  an event like a ABA Weekend Series or FLW BFL as a coangler is a great way to learn other techniques.  For about $100 you get a full day with somebody you've likely never met.  It was very helpful to me when I began learning new techniques and bodies of water.  

Posted

Join a fishing club. Doesn't have to be a tournament club. That will put you in contact with guys who fish all different ways. You will pass on some of your techniques, and you will pick up some of theirs. It has worked very well for me. If you can't find one, start one.

 

Another vote for this. I tend to be a junk fisher myself and I found the last two years of tournament angling have really taught me a lot. Thanks to my local club I moved from talented amateur to a more refined reader of water and chooser of techniques (though I still do fall back to finesse a little too often).

  • Super User
Posted

You just got to try different things.  Club fishing might help - but there isn't any substitute for choosing a technique, acquiring appropriate gear & baits and trying it out for a while.  Thinking that you can learn by observation will only take you so far.  Any fishing technique known to man - there are articles out there explaining it somewhat.  You've got to fill in the blanks with your own experience.

 

 

A few questions.  Got a boat?  There is a fairly significant learning curve to learning how to fish from a boat as opposed to the bank.   Buy a boat or find a buddy or acquaintance who has a boat.  Option B would be to find a private lake where the owners keep a boat on it and ingratiate yourself so that you can fish that lake and borrow the boat.   This is what I did when I was transitioning from bank fishing to boat fishing.

 

It is all a matter of research, experimenting and fine tuning your gear.  Nearly any gear issue can be solved by throwing money at it.

 

After all this, if you are looking for a place to start - I'd recommend a Ned rig.  There is a bunch of information out there as far and what is and what isn't a ned rig.  Pick and choose.

 

More questions.  Is there a fishing tackle store near you?  Go there with the intention of striking up a conversation with whoever is there.  I've gotten access to really nice  watersheds through idle chit-chat in the Walmart tackle aisle.  What kind of community education resources are in your neighborhood?   Nearly every college has a communiversity program - most junior colleges do as well.   Maybe the high school has a continuing education program - maybe there is a high school fishing team.  I don't know what resources are in your area, but if I lived where you live, I'd find out.

 

The links section of this forum shows 10 different bass clubs in Indiana and I'm guessing that isn't an exhaustive list.  Just some stuff to think about and maybe help you out.

  • Super User
Posted

It's been my experience most bass club members are very competitive tight lipped anglers that don't share what they know. You are better off reading and watching informative information on sites like this.

The mistake I see anglers making is trying new lures and presentations as a last resort in lieu of learning those lures when the bite is good, the bass are active.

Bass are very forgiving fish and will respond to a wide variety of lures and presentations. Learn new techniques and broaden your fishing skills enjoying your time on the water.

Tom

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  • Super User
Posted

It's been my experience most bass club members are very competitive tight lipped anglers that don't share what they know. You are better off reading and watching informative information on sites like this.

Tom

 

Not all clubs are like that. Tournament clubs, probably are like that. I've been in a few fishing clubs (none of them did tournaments) and I always found everyone to be more than willing to share what they know.

 

 There are different ways for people to learn things. Some people can read about a subject and understand it. Some do better listening and some need to put their hands on the object to get the full benefit. School teachers are aware of this and employ all 3 methods so everyone in the class can understand. Personally, I do better when I hear someone telling me then when I read about it. Hands on also works better for me than just reading about it. If you can use all 3 methods to learn about fishing methods and tactics, more will probably stick with you. Do what works best for you.

Posted

I second the idea of talking to folks in the fishing isle at Walmart, or at the nearest baitshop.  Some folks won't join in a conversation as they are in a hurry, but some enjoy talking fishing greatly and you can learn a lot.  Sometimes I volunteer information to fellow shoppers at Cabela's or Bass Pro, then after I have shared my ideas, I ask them questions and they are often helpful in return.  My first contact question is simply, "Do you like bass fishing?"  Then, if they say yes, I ask if they have 5 minutes and if they do i share one method of catching bass.....I hold up one pack of Zoom speed worms in Watermelon Red. Then I take one out of the pack and pinch off the tail at the narrow spot. (It's OK if you are sincerely going to buy the pack anyhow.)  Then you tell them about fishing the tailless worm weightless.  Rigging Texposed with a 2/0 bent shank worm hook is a little tricky to just talk about so it is a good idea to have a pack of hooks on hand so you can demonstrate the texposed method of rigging.  Once that's done, I teach them about 2 presentations that work very well.  

 

The first presentation is done with a spinning rod and open faced reel........using a sidearm cast makes the lure skip well.  I use a skipping cast to make the bass in the area think something is feeding on the surface and as they turn their attention to the surface commotion, you are letting the lure fall by giving it a little slack.  It falls slowly down being weightless and gives the bass a goodly amount of time to spot the lure falling slowly and helplessly to the bottom.

I wait a good 15 to 20 seconds with the lure on bottom and then lift it slowly until the lure is about two feet above bottom and if nothing is on, let it fall once again.....another pause of 15 seconds, then the second lift about two feet up.  if nothing is on this time, reel in at a moderate speed and cast to another likely spot.  

 

My wife uses her own presentation and also does very well with the bass.  She casts a regular overhand cast, lets the lure fall to bottom, pauses 15 seconds, but doesn't lift the lure.  After the pause, she simply cranks her reel with a slow, that is a s l o w 1/2 turn of the reel handle, and then waits another 15 seconds watching her line carefully until cranking another s l o w 1/2 turn.......then pause.....she does this patient presentation until the worm has traveled about ten feet on bottom, then reels in at a moderate speed and tries another spot.

 

Most folks want to put a weight on the line but as the worm has no tail, it has very little wind resistance and you will be amazed as to how far it will go with the overhand cast.  Flies like an arrow on a mission.

 

Now, you can share some of your very own information to "break the ice" but in giving a fisherman something he will probably share in return......  You are also free to use my ideas if you'd like.  Even if you don't learn a whole lot at one time, each little bit helps us to grow in our abilities.  Good Fishing, Mac

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