First time boat fishing

[pondbassin101]

I dont know if this is in the right thread, but I've never gone bass fishing from any kind of boat, its all been bank fishing. I'm gonna go out on one of the 1000000 lakes around orlando pretty soon and needed some advice. How do you start bass fishing when you go out on a big lake is pretty much the main question. Do you start flipping cover or do you fish open water? I know it depends on time, water temp, conditions, etc but I need at least something to get me started.

[Hez]

As a fellow Floridian - my advice to you is this first starting out:

 

Bass around here like to relate to the edge of the grass.  Just go down the bank, fishing the edges of the Kissimmee grass, reeds...whatever is there.

 

pay attention to where you catch fish, if you have a fish finder - make note of as many details as you can 

 

 

[pondbassin101]

7 minutes ago, Hez said:

Bass around here like to relate to the edge of the grass.  Just go down the bank, fishing the edges of the Kissimmee grass, reeds...whatever is there.

 

 

Whats option #2?

[Hez]

51 minutes ago, pondbassin101 said:

Whats option #2?

 

Option 2 - turn around and fish the open water...thats where the big ones are

 

  But to start off - it's easier for you to catch fish by fishing the visual cover....like the grass lines around the lake 

[pondbassin101]

so basically start by flipping all the grass edges, reeds, fallen timber, etc or fish open water with cranks and swimbaits right?

[Quarry Man]

good luck!

[pondbassin101]

2 minutes ago, Quarry Man said:

good luck!

 

thanks

 

[Angry John]

I like to start the day fishing topwater near cover.  Even if i dont catch them i find it easier to pattern the fish and tell their mood.  If they hammer the topwater there in an aggressive mood and i am bound to have a fun day.  If that does not work then i shift to a moving bait to cover water.  I like a swim jig but a smaller swim bait with or without an underspin can get threw most cover and still be fished fast.  Once the sun is up then work off the patterns that you have found.

[RoLo]

As a beginner you should adhere strictly to a high-percentage strategy.

Fish only where weeds are displaying on your sonar screen (pass-up open water)

Move your boat to the deep edge of the weedbed, where the weeds begin to disappear.

Now work along the outer weedline while keeping an eye out for hydrilla (favor hydrilla to other plants)

 

The lures you choose will depend on many things that I can't predict here.

All the same, you'll need at least one for the surface, one for midwater and one for the bottom.

A soft swimbait is an excellent topwater because it's totally weedless and covers ground quickly.

A spinnerbait would be handy for midwater coverage and a jig-&-craw to rake the bottom.

 

Roger

 

[pondbassin101]

This is all very useful, thanks 

[pondbassin101]

12 hours ago, RoLo said:

 

As a beginner you should adhere strictly to a high-percentage strategy.

Fish only where weeds are displaying on your sonar screen (pass-up open water)

Move your boat to the deep edge of the weedbed, where the weeds begin to disappear.

Now work along the outer weedline while keeping an eye out for hydrilla (favor hydrilla to other plants)

 

The lures you choose will depend on many things that I can't predict here.

All the same, you'll need at least one for the surface, one for midwater and one for the bottom.

A soft swimbait is an excellent topwater because it's totally weedless and covers ground quickly.

A spinnerbait would be handy for midwater coverage and a jig-&-craw to rake the bottom.

 

Roger

 

 

 

Basically stick to weed and grass edges when starting out right? And by soft swimbait you mean a soft plastic swimbait on an unweighted wide gap hook? 

 

I've also never fished a jig so any suggestions for getting started on that?

[grampa1114]

First time in a boat that you are operating or a guide is operating? If you are by yourself...just fish edges. Be prepared to fish top water, spinnerbaits, deep running Crankbaits and stuff to bounce on the bottom. The day'll be over before you know it..... If you're with a guide, just do what you're told.

[pondbassin101]

1 hour ago, grampa1114 said:

 

First time in a boat that you are operating or a guide is operating? If you are by yourself...just fish edges. Be prepared to fish top water, spinnerbaits, deep running Crankbaits and stuff to bounce on the bottom. The day'll be over before you know it..... If you're with a guide, just do what you're told.

 

 

I'm 14 so I'm probably not gonna be on the water by myself.

So basically should have baits to fish the whole water column along weed and grass edges? Also if you're flipping edges what section of the water column are you covering. This is all gonna be new so I'm just trying to learn all I can

[RoLo]

9 hours ago, pondbassin101 said:

 

Basically stick to weed and grass edges when starting out right? And by soft swimbait you mean a soft plastic swimbait on an unweighted wide gap hook? 

 

I've also never fished a jig so any suggestions for getting started on that?

 

Yes, adhere to the deep outer edge of weedbeds where photosynthesis ends

and where plant life is shrinking away (that's pay dirt).

 

The weight added to a soft swimbait depends on the depth you wish to probe.

When used as a topwater bait, a 3/16 oz weight will provide ample stability and cast distance.

Pitch the swimbait smack into the salad and crank it right thru the pads & maidencane.

 

Jigs are the hardest baits for detecting a strike, and are not well-suited to the novice angler.

I'd put the jig on the backburner for now.

 

Roger

[pondbassin101]

Would flipping a t-rigged craw or worm work as well?

[grampa1114]

Not as well as a weightless T-rigged Senko. Away from the weeds just a little and a Wacky Senko should also cover most of the water column.

[pondbassin101]

Ok makes sense

[geo g]

When you plan your trip check the weather carefully.  Find a location where the wind can be your friend.  Don't fight the wind, if its blowing 15 or more.  You will have a much more relaxing day if you let the wind help you.  Time on the water will answer many of the questions you now have.  Enjoy the boat, and don't worry about the catching.  The fishing will get better as you become more proficient and confident.  Good luck, and enjoy!!!!!!!

[pondbassin101]

On 5/19/2017 at 11:48 PM, geo g said:

When you plan your trip check the weather carefully.  Find a location where the wind can be your friend.  Don't fight the wind, if its blowing 15 or more.  You will have a much more relaxing day if you let the wind help you.  Time on the water will answer many of the questions you now have.  Enjoy the boat, and don't worry about the catching.  The fishing will get better as you become more proficient and confident.  Good luck, and enjoy!!!!!!!

 

Speaking of weather, most summer days here Florida are like this, 90-95 degrees, like 60% humidity, pretty much no wind in the afternoon, and a chance of rain pretty much every day. Fishing is something we do early morning and late evening unless you want sweat about 3 gallons. Wind shouldn't be a usual issue

[geo g]

On 5/21/2017 at 1:50 PM, pondbassin101 said:

 

Speaking of weather, most summer days here Florida are like this, 90-95 degrees, like 60% humidity, pretty much no wind in the afternoon, and a chance of rain pretty much every day. Fishing is something we do early morning and late evening unless you want sweat about 3 gallons. Wind shouldn't be a usual issue

 

 

I have fished Florida for over 45 years almost 300 days a year the last 10 years.  Never go out on a trip without checking the weather if for nothing else but taking extra water because of the lack of cloud cover.  You can learn a lot from some simple preparation.  Learn something new everyday!

[pondbassin101]

Thanks for the heads up

[Bucky205]

Put a good pair of binoculars in the boat. If you see them catching fish, see what they are doing.  I've bass fished for over 40 years and I still do it.