Returning To Freshwater.

[Chief Brody]

Hi fellow anglers and anglesses. So...daughters are in middle school, don't do police work or ride firetrucks anymore, and Wife wants me out of the house. I NEED to get back to the fish. PLEASE suggest some spots near Libertytown, MD for bass or trout. Bank/wade fishing is fine; I have a canoe if needed. Totally clueless on local fish geography. All catch & release. Anybody willing to play guide gets lunch on me. Wife, middle school daughters, 2 cats...I CAN'T HANDLE THE DRAMA ANYMORE !!! I'm 100% spincaster...not smart enough for a fly rod. I appreciate any and all hints and leads.

We're gonna need a bigger boat...

[georgeyew]

Welcome. You might have better luck on the regional forum. But it looks like you have a few places near you that sounds promising....once the ice thaws.

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

 

If you decide to get more involved you need to consider replacing the spincaster with a spinning

rod & reel. Spincasters for the most part are for people who don't fish. To ramp up the learning

curve spend some time reading the "Articles" and watching the "Videos" at the the top of the page.

This will get you started:

 

"Just Getting Started"
Guaranteed To Catch Bass
I just cant catch bass
Learning to fish on your own

 

[Bluebasser86]

Welcome!

[macmac]

Spend some time at Wal-Mart fishing isle chatting with the other folks there.  Some will  be tight lipped, some not.  Also hang around at tackle shops and research the folks there, both owners and customers.

 

As for spin casters, I like the new Zebco 33, they have improved greatly over the old 33's.  Just bought one for the wife, ( new and improved model about 30 dollars, and tried it out.)  Works very well and seems to be well made.

An ideal reel for her types of finesse presentations.  I do use the open faced spinning gear and as for catching bass, brim and trout, we are quite equal in catching.

 

 

[Fisher-O-men]

Welcome. You might have better luck on the regional forum. But it looks like you have a few places near you that sounds promising....once the ice thaws.

Ice?  What is this "ice"??? 

[Chief Brody]

Thanks, MacMac. Just my personal experience, "WalMart fishing" is hit or miss...mostly miss. I usually know what I'm looking for, and my inquiries are usually met with "if we carry it, it should be over there..." Gee, thanks.

I do have a decent spinning reel, with a reversible crank and drag knob on the butt of the reel. I'm pretty anal about stripping it down and caring for the innards. Probably comes from my Jersey Shore saltwater roots where neglect equals corrosion.

Serious questions: 1. I believe the lighter the better. I need new line anyway; what lb.test can I drop to for general bass angling? 2. If I fall into money I want to upgrade my rod. I'm thinking one piece 6 1/2 to 7 foot medium action. Yes? No?

[Munkin]

Hi fellow anglers and anglesses. So...daughters are in middle school, don't do police work or ride firetrucks anymore, and Wife wants me out of the house. I NEED to get back to the fish. PLEASE suggest some spots near Libertytown, MD for bass or trout. Bank/wade fishing is fine; I have a canoe if needed. Totally clueless on local fish geography. All catch & release. Anybody willing to play guide gets lunch on me. Wife, middle school daughters, 2 cats...I CAN'T HANDLE THE DRAMA ANYMORE !!! I'm 100% spincaster...not smart enough for a fly rod. I appreciate any and all hints and leads.

We're gonna need a bigger boat...

 

Cunnigham Falls State Park is where I would start personally. There are both bass and trout in the lake and it is easy to fish from shore.

 

Allen

[Chief Brody]

Thanks Allen. Think it'll ever get warm enough? :-)

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

[Munkin]

Thanks Allen. Think it'll ever get warm enough? :-)

 

Sure hope it warms up soon! I would be happy with just getting the snow and ice off my boat cover at this point.

 

Allen

[macmac]

Bass Pro has a Graphite Series rod.....MH is my best shot for a very light feel.  I also use Bass Pro Excel brand line in 4 and 6 lb test.....green color.  I also agree with you on the lighter the better, both on rod, reel, line and lures.

I make jigs and most are tied on 1/24 ounce leadheads, some on 1/16 ounce and only a scant few on 1/8.

 

 Aside from light jigs, i also fish some soft plastics, weightless.  Most of my fish by far are caught on a Zoom Speed Worm in watermelon/red glitter with the tail pinched off and rigging with a 2/0 worm hook texposed.  Falls very slowly and is retrieved with many pauses per cast.

 

Good Fishing, Mac

[Chief Brody]

Thanks, Mac. Sounds like you found a "go to" rig for the finicky lunkers. Judging from the climate here, I have plenty of time to research and shop before any cast of mine lands on liquid water. This is nuts.

Brandon "Chief Brody."

[troutbum1]

Welcome to the forum. Where is Libertytown . I live in North East , MD, on the N.E.river. Stripers , lg mouths and smallie's I fish the N.E., the flats, all bodies of water near me. Trout, I only fly fish for them.

[Chief Brody]

Hey "Bum",

If there is a Nowhere, Libertytown is in the middle of it. It's in the middle of Frederick County. No gas; no water/sewer; lots of farmland. It does have the Monocacy River (more of a large creek), plus lots of ponds and streams. I just need to find out which ones will yield fish.

[Munkin]

Thanks, Mac. Sounds like you found a "go to" rig for the finicky lunkers. Judging from the climate here, I have plenty of time to research and shop before any cast of mine lands on liquid water. This is nuts.

Brandon "Chief Brody."

 

Finesse worms, senkos, baby brush hogs in watermelon and green pumkin

Flukes in white and albino

Popper with white belly

Small white buzzbait and spinnerbait

 

These are the basics for fishing around here and they can be bought at Wal-Mart. I haven't fished for trout in years but can say I have caught just about every gamefish in this state on a white Roostertail spinner.

 

Allen