Some Questions From A Beginner...

[Outdoor Zack]

I'm very new to bass fishing.  I've a handful of them, mostly by accident, using panfish tackle.  But I'd like to get better.  I've got a few questions, and if you wouldn't mind answering them, it'd be appreciated very much:

 

1.  What rig (line, bait or lure, weight, hook, etc.) would you recommend to someone who is new to bass fishing (particularly for largemouth)? 

2.  Do you have any advice for fishing from shore or a dock (as I don't have a boat yet)?

3.  Do you need different tackle for largemouth and smallmouth bass (if so, what do you recommend for each)? 

 

Please understand that I've always fished for panfish before, never bass.  I know these questions may seem silly, but answers to them would be very helpful.  Thanks in advance.

[MIbassyaker]

1) Lots of things worth trying, but a wacky rigged stick worm (like a senko), and a surface popper like a Rebel Pop-R may be a good start. These should be very easy to pick up for a panfisher.  Get used to letting lures like this fall and/or sit for a bit before moving them. Bass often hit things like worms as they fall. And they'll often watch floating lures for a few moments before deciding to strike.

 

2) Find cover. Don't be afraid of making short casts to weeds, logs, under docks etc. And don't ignore very shallow water if there is good cover or shade there.

 

3) you can get by with the same gear and baits for both species -- a medium or medium light spinning rod/reel combo with 6lb -10lb mono line is fine to start. However you'll tend to find smallmouth and largemouth in different locations as they tend to prefer different habitats. Your waters may be different, but I catch smallmouth in rocky rivers and streams, and I catch largemouth in weedy lakes and slow-moving river backwaters.

[davecon]

Keep it simple. Don't fall prey all the latest fads and hot new lures.

I take it you're in the northern latitudes (I'm in central Florida so Georgia seems pretty far north to me) and I don't have a clue about smallies so take my suggestions with a grain of salt.

Assuming you use ultralight for panfish, using the same setup, try the following _

4 inch worm with the lightest slip sinker you can find.

Weightless senko, 3 or 4 inch.

Original Rapala minnow - 3 or 4 inch.

Rapala Shad Rap no. 5.

Don't get caught up in colors!!!

For the plastics - black in lowlight, watermelon in brightlight.

For the hard baits stick with silver or gold depending on water color.

For a newbie the options can be overwhelming. Just keep in mind that the manufacturers are fishing too, it's just for you.

I've been doing this for a long time and have come full circle, back to the basics and I'm catching more fish than ever before.

One more thing - don't take this sport too seriously, just have fun trying to fool those dumb little fish !

[Outdoor Zack]

1) Lots of things worth trying, but a wacky rigged stick worm (like a senko), and a surface popper like a Rebel Pop-R may be a good start. These should be very easy to pick up for a panfisher.  Get used to letting lures like this fall and/or sit for a bit before moving them. Bass often hit things like worms as they fall. And they'll often watch floating lures for a few moments before deciding to strike.

 

2) Find cover. Don't be afraid of making short casts to weeds, logs, under docks etc. And don't ignore very shallow water if there is good cover or shade there.

 

3) you can get by with the same gear and baits for both species -- a medium or medium light spinning rod/reel combo with 6lb -10lb mono line is fine to start. However you'll tend to find smallmouth and largemouth in different locations as they tend to prefer different habitats. Your waters may be different, but I catch smallmouth in rocky rivers and streams, and I catch largemouth in weedy lakes and slow-moving river backwaters.

 

I've definitely got a few things to try next time I'm out.  Thanks.

[Outdoor Zack]

Keep it simple. Don't fall prey all the latest fads and hot new lures.

I take it you're in the northern latitudes (I'm in central Florida so Georgia seems pretty far north to me) and I don't have a clue about smallies so take my suggestions with a grain of salt.

Assuming you use ultralight for panfish, using the same setup, try the following _

4 inch worm with the lightest slip sinker you can find.

Weightless senko, 3 or 4 inch.

Original Rapala minnow - 3 or 4 inch.

Rapala Shad Rap no. 5.

Don't get caught up in colors!!!

For the plastics - black in lowlight, watermelon in brightlight.

For the hard baits stick with silver or gold depending on water color.

For a newbie the options can be overwhelming. Just keep in mind that the manufacturers are fishing too, it's just for you.

I've been doing this for a long time and have come full circle, back to the basics and I'm catching more fish than ever before.

One more thing - don't take this sport too seriously, just have fun trying to fool those dumb little fish !

 

I'll look for a couple of the lures you mentioned.  I know I have a pack of scented plastic "swimbaits" (I believe that's what they're called) in my tackle box.  I'll try them out as well.  Thanks a lot. 

[scaleface]

Prerigged swimbaits are one of my favorite lures when fishing from bank. Every once in awhile when Im driving by a certain lake I will fish along the dam. I cast the swimbait out to various depths and let it sink to the bottom. Then when retrieved it follows the contour of the bottom from deep to shallow. Its a good bait fished like that and bass along rip rap are often spread out at different depths. This way the bait is presented to a lot of fish .

[the reel ess]

If you'll walk in to the closest Bass Pro Shops and ask them what bait they sell the most of for bass, you'll get a 6" or 7" Texas Rig plastic worm of their brand. At one time I'd caught more bass on this in purple color than all other baits combined. Then I branched out into basic crankbaits in the shad or chrome colors. When I was a teen, I had a combo for the T-rig and another for the crankbaits. This covered most of the water I fished and most of the fish's moods. Then I branched out to spinnerbaits, Carolina rig, topwaters and other techniques.

 

For the first combo, a MH spinning combo, 6'6" long, with 10-12 lb mono will do for an all-around most versatile. Again, you can branch out from there. If you want to buy a BC reel at this point, same criteria applies. But the spinning will allow you to cast more light baits.

 

Start with what's comfy to you that catches fish and move forward. Some days you won't need but one lure. I usually take 5 combos with me and only use 2. One is a T-rig because they'll bite it even when they aren't biting. The other is a quick reaction-type like the Rat L Trap or the aforementioned crankbait. I'll also generally take a topwater bait and a spinnerbait.

 

For weight on the T-rig worm, use as little as you can get by with given the water conditions (roughness) and wind. Start with 1/8 , 3/16 & 1/4 oz bullet weights to cover the basics. You just have to maintain contact with the bottom. 3/0 or 4/0 Texas rig worm hooks will suffice. Buy a premium brand and you'll be glad you did. They'll set a lot easier.

 

Watch the videos on this site and YouTube for advice on any technique you're interested in. If you have access to an overpopulated, underpressured pond, try these out there first. You'll gain confidence in it faster.

 

My current best baits (mind you, I fish mostly in about a 20 acre reservoir):

T-rigged Craw

T-rigged Trick Worm, weightless

Rat L Trap

A popping topwater, like Pop R (early or late in the day)

 

These have caught 90% of my bass since the water warmed.

[Outdoor Zack]

Prerigged swimbaits are one of my favorite lures when fishing from bank. Every once in awhile when Im driving by a certain lake I will fish along the dam. I cast the swimbait out to various depths and let it sink to the bottom. Then when retrieved it follows the contour of the bottom from deep to shallow. Its a good bait fished like that and bass along rip rap are often spread out at different depths. This way the bait is presented to a lot of fish. 

 

Sounds like a good approach.  I'll try it!

[Caliyak]

#2: try a kayak. Its fun and gets you to the spots you want to fish. Plus, cheaper than a boat and no standing in line at the DMV.

I told me nephew to start with senkos until he feels comfortable then move on to another set up. So, take it slow. I'm in Cali so what are smallmouths? LOL

[Outdoor Zack]

#2: try a kayak. Its fun and gets you to the spots you want to fish. Plus, cheaper than a boat and no standing in line at the DMV.

I told me nephew to start with senkos until he feels comfortable then move on to another set up. So, take it slow. I'm in Cali so what are smallmouths? LOL

 

I've got a little kayak (6 or 8 footer, I can't remember).  I've never fished from it in particular, but I have used one of similar size to fish but I wasn't able to stay still long enough to fish.  I had a marabou jig on the line, just a little bit weight, and a float, which I had been using to catch panfish and one little smallmouth earlier that day.  No luck at all...  Any advice?     

[Caliyak]

I've got a little kayak (6 or 8 footer, I can't remember).  I've never fished from it in particular, but I have used one of similar size to fish but I wasn't able to stay still long enough to fish.  I had a marabou jig on the line, just a little bit weight, and a float, which I had been using to catch panfish and one little smallmouth earlier that day.  No luck at all...  Any advice?     

 

Well, you have to move up in kayak size. Most fishing kayaks come with great seats, plenty of space and more control. I had to teach myself to relax and enjoy but be happy because I was no longer restricted to the shore. If you have a Dicks sporting, REI, Bass Pro or any big sporting good store around, go sit in the kayaks and get a feel for the one you like. You will find one that fits you.

As for LMB, go get some stick baits or senkos and get comfortable with them. Use them in all situations unit you find your groove. Then move on to other plastic like a 7-10 inch worm, drop shot, creatures and craws. Just like when you started with pan fish, you learned how to fish for them and all your gear was for them, It's the same thing. I hope that made sense. 

[Outdoor Zack]

Well, you have to move up in kayak size. Most fishing kayaks come with great seats, plenty of space and more control. I had to teach myself to relax and enjoy but be happy because I was no longer restricted to the shore. If you have a Dicks sporting, REI, Bass Pro or any big sporting good store around, go sit in the kayaks and get a feel for the one you like. You will find one that fits you.

As for LMB, go get some stick baits or senkos and get comfortable with them. Use them in all situations unit you find your groove. Then move on to other plastic like a 7-10 inch worm, drop shot, creatures and craws. Just like when you started with pan fish, you learned how to fish for them and all your gear was for them, It's the same thing. I hope that made sense. 

 

You make some very good points.  A don't worry, your point about using simple tackle until I figure my "niche" makes perfect sense to me.  Like you ad the others have said, I'll start simple and move up from there.  Thanks a lot.

[garvin]

Trying to pin down one rig for bass fishing is like trying to pin down one golf club for golfing. Except golfers have fewer choices to make. That said, there are two rigs that will give you some versatility in many situations. One is a baitcasting rig, 7 ft. Medium-Heavy rod with a Fast tip, 6.4:1 reel spooled with 15 lb. copolymer. With this rig you can throw Texas Rigs, Carolina Rigs, Chatterbaits, Spinnerbaits, Crankbaits, Weightless Senkos, Swimbaits, Frogs, and Jig & Trailers, which are, incidentally, all baits that work when walking the bank. The other rig is a spinning outfit, 6'6" - 7' Medium rod with a Fast tip. Spool the reel with 8-10 lb. P-Line Fluoroclear line. With this rig, you can throw Shaky Heads, Ned Rigs, Neko Rigs, Wacky Rigs, Weightless Flukes, and smaller Jigs. These rigs and baits will allow you to have a number of options when walking the bank, looking for bass, and won't break the bank. A lot of these rigs will work for smallmouth, too. Keep your lure sizes on the smaller end. My biggest producers for bank fishing are small soft plastics and squarebill crankbaits. If there are a lot of weeds along the bank, weightless Texas Rigged Senkos are big producers for me. I even have success fishing 7 or 8 inch finesse worms nose rigged with a weedless wacky hook, twitched along the surface like a small swimming snake.

As far as colors, I keep it simple. Soft plastics: any color as long as it's green. Jigs: Green or Blue/Black. Anything else with a skirt, Chartreuse/White. Crankbaits: Shad colors or chartreuse/black.
Good luck to you!

[AndyNegus94]

3 words, zoom brush hog!! Get a 1/8 or 1/16 weight a 1/0 ewg hook and zoom baby brush hog in watermelon seed. Any time I want to go out and just catch fish or fishing gets tough that's my go to and you can almost alway catch fish! Another go to for me is a strike King 1.5 square bill crankbait in chartreuse black splatter back or gizzard shad.

[AndyNegus94]

3 words, zoom brush hog!! Get a 1/8 or 1/16 weight a 1/0 ewg hook and zoom baby brush hog in watermelon seed. Any time I want to go out and just catch fish or fishing gets tough that's my go to and you can almost alway catch fish! Another go to for me is a strike King 1.5 square bill crankbait in chartreuse black splatter back or gizzard shad.

[SCHWARTZ]

I'll tell you what I tell all beginners. In early mornings and late evenings use a top water frog and just real it. In the day get a 1/8oz weight with a worm or better a speed craw if the are hittin crawfish. And remember a bass is a structure fish. The more you get out there the more you'll learn.

[hawgenvy]

If you can afford it, go out with a local guide on his boat. Split the trip with a friend, maybe -- most guides will take two clients. Do everything he tells you and ask a ton of questions. If he's good you will catch a lot of fish and will learn a lot. An awful lot. And you'll have a great time.