Somewhat new to bass fishing

[Jimmy Driscoll]

Hi guys I'm new to the forums but have been reading them for a while now. I've been fishing since I was 6 but it was always on a Wal-Mart rod with hotdog on the end and getting crappie. Now that I'm older and can afford my own stuff I bought a ugly stik combo like 4 months ago and it's good but it just doesn't work. I've been researching and I would like to probably get a pflueger president and berkley lightning rod. I went fishing every other week the whole summer and didn't catch a bass at all. I went in morning and evening and I can't seem to catch fish. With the rod and reel I'm getting, what line do you think I should get. P.s. I try using senkos but what's the best rig for y'all 

[A-Jay]

Hello Jimmy and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

In open waters I like to wacky rig a stick bait and if there's cover around, I'm Texas rigging it.

As for line on that set up you've listed, I like 10-15 lb braid & 8-10lb a mono or fluorocarbon leader.

A-Jay

[NiX]

The Ugly Stik Combo isn't the problem. Honestly I would wait to upgrade your combo until you start pulling in some more fish. The senko is a great rig, how exactly are you throwing it? What are you throwing it at and what are the conditions? Give us a little more info.

 

Use 8-10lb Fluorocarbon and try wacky rigging your senko if you can do so without getting snagged up in what ever you are fishing. If you are pulling through grass, weightless T-rig should be fine. Myself, I never throw a senko with a bullet weight.

 

For example, I have a friend who didn't want to spend an arm and a leg on his fishing combo so he spent $50 on the Ugly Stik combo from Wally World. He caught his PB this year, 6lb 8oz...

 

*EDIT*

I see A-Jay said to use the braid to leader combo, I think that's the best to do also. You are new though and I think a braid to leader combo can lead to more of a hassle when starting out, 10lb mono main line would be the cheapest route IMO. Using the fluorocarbon I think would give you a better chance to catch something though! My 2 cents  Good Luck.

[Sword of the Lord]

The rod and reel has very little to do with why you didn't catch a bass. Just because you have an Ugly Stik doesn't mean that's the reason for not catching a bass.

 

I think we need more information. What kind of water are you fishing? How are you fishing the Senko? My 9 year old boy throws them wacky style in ponds and catches anywhere from 3-5 bass ranging from a pound or so up to two and a half to three pounds or so. He's learning on a Shakespeare Excursion Rod with a Zebco Platinum 33 Reel, spooled with 10lb Berkley Vanish Fluoro. Not exactly great equipment or what people go to for bass fishing. But the point is, it works, and it works for a child. It isn't the equipment. You won't catch bass where they aren't located, you'll have trouble if you fish too fast, and you need to know how to work your presentation, which we don't know as of yet.

[Jimmy Driscoll]

I try weightless t-rig and wacky sometimes weighted t-rig but usually have no luck. I throw it and let it sink then pull up and reel half way then let it it the bottom for a couple 

Also it's mid Texas waters so some muddy some clear. Depends on rain and where I'm fishing. I throw green with red flakes and pumpkin and green with black flake senkos

 

Edit: like I said I'm somewhat new to bass fishing. I can go out and fish and catch em sometimes and I'm pretty well knowledged about fishing in general but i get confused on bass specifically 

 

[Koz]

I have a Pfleuger President (40) paired with an Ugly Stick and for me it's a very versatile combo and it lands bass of all sizes. I'm not trying to be rude, but it's probably not your rod and reel that's causing you issues. If you're putting teh right bait in the right spot you can catch fish with a cane pole and 8 pound mono.

 

My guess is that you're not fishing in the right spot for the time of day / season you have been fishing.

[A-Jay]

50 minutes ago, Jimmy Driscoll said:

 

Edit: like I said I'm somewhat new to bass fishing. I can go out and fish and catch em sometimes and I'm pretty well knowledged about fishing in general but i get confused on bass specifically 

 

If you are serious about going fishing and actually catching bass - and you are willing to put in the time to learn how, the BR articles section has a boat load of solid information for you - here's a link to all the 'beginner' information . . .

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

A-Jay

[Darren.]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Hello Jimmy and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

In open waters I like to wacky rig a stick bait and if there's cover around, I'm Texas rigging it.

As for line on that set up you've listed, I like 10-15 lb braid & 8-10lb a mono or fluorocarbon leader.

A-Jay

 

It takes a real man to admit using the wacky rig!

 

Welcome aboard, Jimmy! I'm just kidding with @A-Jay,

by the way 

 

I'd definitely try the wacky rig - I use it for open and 

in sticks. I'll use a wacky jig head to get it down in 

deeper water.

 

Another rig that works great is the Ned. Do a search in

the forum for details on that. Also the drop shot is excellent.

[MichaelCopeland]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

If you are serious about going fishing and actually catching bass - and you are willing to put in the time to learn how, the BR articles section has a boat load of solid information for you - here's a link to all the 'beginner' information . . .

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

A-Jay

These articles have helped me tremendously. Still have more to read and learn though.

2 hours ago, Jimmy Driscoll said:

I try weightless t-rig and wacky sometimes weighted t-rig but usually have no luck. I throw it and let it sink then pull up and reel half way then let it it the bottom for a couple 

Also it's mid Texas waters so some muddy some clear. Depends on rain and where I'm fishing. I throw green with red flakes and pumpkin and green with black flake senkos

 

Edit: like I said I'm somewhat new to bass fishing. I can go out and fish and catch em sometimes and I'm pretty well knowledged about fishing in general but i get confused on bass specifically 

 

Howdy and welcome aboard! ? I don't use any weight when I throw a Texas rig. I believe it allows for a more natural presentation. I also fish them pretty slow almost snail slow. I don't drag them or hop them or anything like that. I just very slowly reel them in. Of course that's with u tail worms and Ol' Monster worms. For me that technique works really well. When they don't want it slow, I throw a chatter bait out there. Ol' Monsters and chatter baits have been working pretty well for me lately. Lots of great advice in these forums and in the articles section. Read up and learn as much as you can and go out an experiment. Good luck on finding what's right for you.

[Jimmy Driscoll]

Thank you guys for all the info you gave me. i will try diffrent spots and earlier in the morning. i plan on getting some wacky hooks and trying all  you said. ill post again when i go fishing and keep your tips in mind...

[KTinman86]

Welcome... Glad you've stuck around even though things haven't gone very well for you, but it'll get better the more time you spend on the water. I'd recommend that you go to a local tackle store or a Bass Pro and ask someone behind the fishing counter what you asked on this thread. They'll have so much to select from and steer you in the right direction. You only need 1 casting rod and 1 spinning rod to get you going, and they don't have to be expensive, just good all-around setups to learn on. If you want to go-it alone, my advice would be a Medium Heavy Power, Fast Action casting rod 7 foot in length, and a 6 1/2 to 7 foot Medium Power, Fast Action spinning rod. Both will cover your bases. A good all-around line to start with on a baitcaster is 15-17 monofiliment because you can throw topwater baits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs, and worms with it. You can become more particular once you gain some experience, and you will become more particluar, I promise. On the spinning side, 10 pound fluorocarbon is a great line to use because finesse presentations work better with a line that sinks, is sensitive, and invisible, like fluorocarbon. Good luck