New Guy In Phoenix, AZ Looking For Help

[PHX]

Hello,

I am new to fishing.  I recently went out and got all my gear with some friends advice.  Ive been fishing at the urban lakes in Anthem the past three weekends.  I haven't caught anything yet.  However, on my last outing my wife caught a small bass with a panfishing setup using a slip bobber and worm on a hook a buddy let me borrow.  HAHA!!! 

 

I have been using texas rigged soft plastics.  I have been mainly using different shades of green (watermelon or green pumpkin), and have also tried some blues.  Some plastics are small grub size all the way up to 6".  After watching lots of youtube video I think I have the technique down for fishing this setup.  I am trying to fish near the water falls, and rock structures on the perimeter.  I even had an occurrence where I could see the bass very close to the shore where I was standing.  I slowly twitched the rig along the bottom and let it sit still for a bit.  It got the fish attention multiple times.  It would come up and just stare at it, then swim away.  I tried letting it sit thinking it would slam it.  I even tried giving it a little bump hoping for a reaction strike.  No luck!

 

Can you guys give me some pointers?  Im also looking for other places to go fish.  I don't have a boat or kayka.  Im mainly looking to stick to urban fishing at the moment.  Im located off the 17 and Thunderbird.  Looking online it seems Cortez is the next closest place to try.  Im open to all suggestions though.

 

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Dave Jakes]

The urban ponds around here create a catch-22 of sorts for beginning bass fisherman.  They are a great place to learn as they are nearby and easy to get to for short trips, however they are some of the most pressured fish in the whole state so they are very difficult to catch.

I'd suggest 2 options: downsize, or change it up.

Downsize:

Just make everything smaller.  If you're fishing a 6 inch Texas rig bait, try a 5 inch bait on a shaky head.  Four inch worms on a dropshot rig is a great way to go too.  Maybe try the same Texas rig but weightless, letting it drop real slow.  As you down size your presentation, you'll need lighter line too, 6 lb fluorocarbon is great, but mono should get the job done too.

Change it up:

Those fish see 50 green pumpkin Senkos a day, and probably about the same amount of roboworms.  People use those baits all the time around here, and for good reason, they flat out catch fish.  However, the fish see them all the time.  If you change something up just slightly it might just be enough to convince the bass to give this new meal a try.  Perhaps throw that senko on a Carolina rig instead of weightless.  Instead of roboworms, give one of our great little local companies a try: Cactus Wren Outdoors makes a couple of great little finesse worms.  The plastic they use is softer and is injected with their own scent, and the colors they have are just different enough from the major brands that they'll get the attention of those pressured fish.  Check them out at cactuswrenoutdoors.com.  If you use coupon code "freebutelbaits" you'll get 10% off orders of $15 or more, and you'll get a free pack of one of their prototype baits.  (Amethyst and Scorpion are my two go-to colors at all of our Arizona lakes).

[DaVeY5k]

You should try Rio Vista Pond off of Thunderbird and Rio Vista Blvd (just past 88th Ave). Some kid pulled a 5lber out of there with a swimbait about 3 weeks ago.

With the current weather, a lot of bass have spawned and a lot are still on beds. Try a flashy jerkbait like a Rapala Husky or a Yo-Zuri suspending, or bounce a jig at dusk/dawn. Happy fishing and tight lines!

[Fisher-O-men]

Is the Salt River actually salt?

[WRB]

Fish at night!

Tom

[Hot Rod Johnson]

You may want to try joining one of the local bass fish clubs in the Phoenix area.

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

The Bass Resource Articles section has a ton of great info - check it out

http://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/

Also, since you got all of your gear with some friends advice, perhaps he, she or they(as the case may be) could help you out with locations & tips.

A-Jay

 

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

Some great suggestions above.

[JimAZ]

I got some tips from this thread... I'd love to hear more. I grew up in TX, fished as much as possible. I moved to Phoenix in 2001, and I've tried golf, it's not for me. So I bought a new bass boat this year, and I fish as much as possible. I read BASS, watch the shows, and buy all the same stuff the Elites use... And I don't catch much. I finally got a drop shot rig, and throw roboworms in morning dawn, because that's what everyone says to do.. And I catch 1 or 2 short fish per trip now. I towed my boat to Toledo Bend in east Tx for Labor Day weekend trip, caught 50 fish per day, biggest 6.0lb. I know how to fish, but I gotta be honest, it frustrates me in AZ. 

I live NE side of town, so mostly go to Bartlett. I've tried Roosevelt, Apache and Saguaro too. 

Any tips would be welcome -- baits, right lakes, recommended fishing clubs -- I'm not ashamed to admit that I need help. My 9yr old son is my die-hard fishing buddy, and I feel awful that I can't seem to put him on fish. Thanks in advance for any help!

[WRB]

You started this thread in May it's now mid Sept the desert weather has been hot the entire time.

You are not in Texas anymore the desert bass are different and the fastest way to learn is by hiring a good local guide, this will shorten your learning curve tremdously.

Look up your local bass boat dealer for Ranger or Pheonix boats, they usually know reputable guides. 

Tom