New to bass fishing?

[Angealy]

Hi There, I am currently interested in catching some large mouth bass in a local lake near me and was wondering what it would take to catch one.

These are the rods we will be using and i want to know if they're okay to use for bass fishing any advice on this would be great.

If all we have to is replace our hooks,lines,etc then that fine but i'd rather not have to replace all our rods just to go bass fishing.

Me:ugly stik spl 1101 5''0 light action 4-10.

Little Sister: Catch more fish 5'0" medium light action 4-10.

Little Sister 2:5'6" medium action 6-12.

Many thanks friends.

 

[Catt]

Welcome

 

It aint about rod & reels!  

[Crestliner2008]

WELCOME Aboard! You've certainly made an excellent choice in joining this forum. Everything you need to know is here and the folks are the best with help and assistance. To start off, start reading and learning from the articles and posts here on this forum. Put into practice what you read. Then, read some more.

 

It's a tough row to hoe if you just start fishing and expect to catch bass, without having the basic knowledge of bass behavior and the predator/prey relationship. Try to get your hands on a copy of the book entitled, "Spoonplugging" by Elwood "Buck" Perry. You might find a copy in your local library or you can buy one online. Buck is considered to the Father of modern bass fishing. And, if nothing else, you'll learn just what the term "structure" is and how bass relate to it. Digesting even a small part of this book will put you way ahead of a lot of other fishermen out there - I guarantee it!

 

Finally, to get started right off the bat. Try tossing a "wacky" rigged 5" Senko where you fish. Watch your line. When it starts to move off, set the hook.

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

 

I highly suggest a wacky rig, as well!

 

Buy some green pumpkin, or watermelon, or junebug color

stick worms - you can find them at Walmart, or Bass Pro,

Dick's Sporting Goods, etc. I prefer 4" size, but 5" is great.

 

For hooks, I recommend Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot

in size 1, or Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap, also in size 1.

 

Learn to tie them on with a Palomar knot.

 

As far as rods, your sisters' rods are fine, but your Ugly

Stik is on the light side - by that I mean it is soft, noodly,

and doesn't have a lot of hook-setting power. At least in

my estimation. I've owned Ugly Stiks, particularly the Lite

version. BUT, I'm not saying don't use it. If you have braid

on your spinning reel, that will help out. I recommend 

Power Pro, for that rod, probably 15lb test.

 

When you cast a wacky rig, you want to throw it near docks, 

or structure like an overhanging tree, a downed tree, a drain

(if in a drainage pond), and so forth.

 

Key with wacky rig is patience. You let the worm do its shimmy

as it sinks in the water column. Deeper the water, the more 

patient you need to be. You can lift it, then let it sink again. You

can even give it some shake from time to time.

 

To rig it, simply bend the worm in half and hook through the bend

perpendicular with the hook. That's it. Simple, very effective.

 

Good luck!

[scaleface]

Make sure you use lures within  your rod and reel recommendations . In your case that would be light weight baits .   Have good line spooled and go fishing . Inexpensive jigs will catch fish every where . Dont overlook Marabous , twister tails, Sassy Shads ... One of the largest bass I ever landed  was on a 1/16th ounce yellow marabou crappie jig . I also like  to trim the feathers of a marabou and add a contrasting twister tail trailer . A black jig / chartreuse trailer is dynamite .

 

Its a good idea to have some of those cheap spinners like what is on a Beetle Spin , to add some vibration and flash to small jigs . They can be bought separately . 

 

I have a   five piece travel  spinning rod and reel with a teeny tackle box under my truck seat .The only lures in that box are jigs and beetle spins . I stop all over the place and catch fish with it . Irrigation ditches , lake dams , small and large rivers ...

[Angealy]

I want to say thank you for all the solid advice you gave me and i really do appreciate it!

I will be taking all these things into account, But if it isn't to much to ask.

What pound test do you all recommend for my sisters two rods?, If i had to guess i would say 8 pound fluorocarbon would be fine but please correct me if i am wrong.

However on my rod, I would need to use some monofilament or fluorocarbon as backing on the reel then attach my Power Pro 15lb test and attach my hook/lures/jigs onto the braid or use a leader?

Many Thanks Friend!