New Bank, Bass Angler. Doing Great! Thank you!!!

[RichardJarel]

Been lurking here for a while and just registered as a member: This is my first post. So, I'm fairly new to this forum. New to bass fishing. Been fishing (salt water), since I was 6 (in Florida Keys), I'm now 64. Lived in Los Angeles since I was a teenager, traveling down to Baja fishing from a 14' aluminum boat, as often as I could. PB was a 6' Dorado/Mahi Mahi). Moved up to Oregon 17 years ago. Trolled the local lakes as I did in Mexico and although I caught a lot of fish, most were pretty small. I had no idea what I was doing and just did what I did in Mexico, only using smaller/lighter gear.

 

Haven't fished in over 3 years.  I was sick (very!), this past winter (two months in bed), and spent most of it watching fishing videos. I think I've seen them all! LOL! Realizing that life can be very short, I decided to get back to fishing. (My boat OB needs work, but I wasn't going to let the lack of a boat get in my way!) After a few trips successfully targeting LARGE trout, I decided to start going for bass...

 

I've read MANY... MANY threads here, both on tackle and technique. Read the opening "tips/advice" articles and decided to start with plastics (worms and swim baits). Still gravitated towards powerbait and trout though...

 

Yesterday, I completed a project (I create prototypes for some of the largest toy companies.), and emailed my wife that I was done... Her reply: "Have fun fishing!" (Tresa's an avid angler. Native born here, mostly trout and Salmon... How lucky can a man be!) Thought about it for an hour or two and decided to go to the lake, only bringing bass gear... By then, it was almost 2PM... Hot, not a cloud in the sky... Even though I "read" about cloudy days being best, I decided to go anyway...

 

After an hour, I almost gave up.... Then I decided to try out my then, unused NED rig... Hit after hit! Landed a few small bass. Then I decided to try CR and TR worms... Holy moley!!! Nothing over 1.5 pounds, but man! That changed everything! It was hard to pack up and go even though i was hot and getting sunburned.

 

I read some advice here about sticking to only a couple/few baits and focusing on perfecting my techniques for a while.... So, I'm going with NED, Texas and Carolina rigs (Yes, I know there are a lot more and I have 5 tackle boxes full! (most are heavy deep sea gear, but still plenty of freshwater baits.), but I had never fished plastic worms before and had no idea that they would work.

 

So, "for a while" for me, means until I get my boat back in the water... Until then, I'm bank fishing with plastic worms! May try drop shot, wacky etc, but probably sticking to those three for a while.

 

Something in particular that I learned here that stuck and I tried was from threads about bank anglers not knowing where to fish... (I've seen LOTS of those threads!) Well, I remember a LOT of places I trolled when the boat was working that produced bass (small), but had no idea how to get to them from shore... The advice: Check out Google Maps... I did and scored, big time! The photos I found were when the lake/reservoir was low, revealing all sorts of structure, rocks, drop offs, lines, etc... (LOL! Now I know why my trolling was so productive in those spots! I didn't know why at the time... I only used my cheap fish finder to make sure I didn't crunch my OB prop on rocks! LOL!

 

So, my intent for sharing posting here is to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has participated in this forum! I have learned and applied a lot.... From being one of those posters who share they can't find fish or hook into them (I was getting ready to be one of those guys.), to feeling super confident in moving on to hunt down the big ones before the end of the season... THANK YOU!

 

To those of you who are still frustrated... READ! READ! READ! There is so much useful information being shared here by people who know bass fishing! Also, check out the YouTube videos... especially from those that are not trying to sell you a specific product... Heck, I've even learned from young kids! I Made SURE to give THEM a thumbs-up! LOL!

 

If I can do this... ANYONE can!

 

=D

Richard

 

[BassNJake]

Great to hear about a successful return to fishing!!

[RichardJarel]

Thanks!

Totally exciting fishing "species specific"!!!! Feels more like hunting rather than just tossing something behind the boat and hoping something bites. LOL!

 

I'm on page 64 of threads in this forum and continuing to read all that apply.

Best to all,

Richard

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard, Richard!

 

Probably should have a moderator move this to Introductions.

 

But good stuff  and quite true about the amazing resource

that is Bass...Resource! Has helped us all, and continues to.

[RichardJarel]

Hi Darren,

Thanks. laughing at myself here because I consider myself fairly computer illiterate... I was looking for an introductions section, but still new here and learning about this site. I was just so excited about my first bass experience that I had to share and thank.

Richard

[RichardJarel]

So, I'm still reading pages here. up to page 84 of threads and I just found the "Introductions" area... Is there anyway a moderator can move my thread there? Who can I contact to have it done? I see now that this really should be there.

Thank you!

Richard

[Rahlow]

Welcome to the party, glad ya found yer way in from the front porch,,, lol

[RichardJarel]

took me a few seconds to figure out" in from the front porch"... I think I got it? LOL! "Returning to the party"?

I somehow totally forgot just how much I LOVE fishing... WAY too much work... My wife has always begged me to go "play" in between projects... With my bot out of commission and winter here (a few months ago), I figured fishing would be the last on my list... 

 

Well, being sick really reminded me of my mortality and my wife and I are always saying: "If not now, then when?"

Decided lack of a boat (for now at least... It's on the top of my "to do" list), was not enough of an excuse to keep me from fishing... Had to dust off, take apart, rebuild the reels and check/repair rods, then began digging around for tackle boxes... (still missing my freshwater box)...

 

I bought two new rod/reel combos and I love them... spent a bit on tackle (mostly soft plastics) and we headed for the lacks around here...

 

Yeah, I guess I did come back to the party from the front porch! LOL!

Thanks!

Richard

[islandbass]

Welcome and greetings from the Pac NW! Oh wait... You’re in my neck of the woods, lol. 

 

The drop shot is worth trying. As a bank angler myself, it is one of my most productive techniques. 

 

Because we live in the area where salmonids and trout reign, we have to catch a few of those once in while. Some bass lures like rapala minnows and even the drop shot hold no prejudice. They’ll catch trout too. 

 

[Graham]

Glad to hear you are out of that bed and getting on the water, welcome aboard. I’ll flag the post so that a mid can move it for for you!

[geo g]

Richard great your feeling better and catching so fish again.  Great form of rehab.  Good luck and stay after them.

[Bluebasser86]

Welcome!

[A-Jay]

Hello Richard and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

Nice Intro

A-Jay

 

[SDoolittle]

Welcome to BR!

 

[RichardJarel]

thanks for all the well wishes and welcomes. 

Also thanks for flagging my post for moving.

Drop shot has been on my list from the beginning. Watched tons of DS videos, but have yet to try it. I have a few packages of DS weights (long thin wire shaped with line release clips), and appropriate hooks. Definitely  something I'll be trying.

Shipped project out yesterday, so today, I'm putting together a much smaller tackle box with NED, Shaky Head, CR and TR and plastics (Bass specific so that I can walk around easier (My new (birthday gift from my wife), office chair snapped on me and dropped me to the ground hard! (Sure didn't need that. Still hurting.), looking at where it snapped apart, it was definitely defective... a lot of air bubbles in the castings where it broke. Amazon already gave me the return label.). Also, with this smaller bass specific box, I won't be tempted to divert away from the rigs I want to learn, but still have a variety to choose from.

I also want to figure out how I can print segments from close up views of Google Earth maps to bring with me. (No smart phone, so I need paper... for now.) I've got at least four great looking spots in mind to investigate. I have a great Garmin GPS that has an internal battery so, I'll bring that too. We use it on our sailboat and car and I'm hoping the same marine mode will show the lake. That would be GREAT! =D

When I last fished and caught bass, I kept two to eat. My wife and I had them last night and we both loved them! I don't mind keeping a couple smaller bass for food but will release most if not all, especially anything over 2lbs.

Best,

Richard

 

[FishDewd]

Welcome, Richard! You have a very cool job, designing toys sounds like a lot of fun coming from a big kid myself! Glad you found your way back to the hobby you love and that your health has improved since winter time. May you catch many more bass! Reading is definitely helpful, think most of us here have done our share of it. Don't forget about youtube videos though, there's also a lot of excellent information there as well. I would recommend you check out Bass Resource's channel to get started though there are many other great ones too.

[Glenn]

Welcome Home! We're glad you're here.

[RichardJarel]

Hi Glenn,

 I love and had learned so much from your videos.

The welcoming that I have received here has been so heart warming:

I DO feel like I've "returned home"...

Spent yesterday in the rain exploring the lake using printed maps from Google Earth. Found 8 new spots, fished two in the rain before it started pouring... I forgot my parka! LOL!

Tresa and I are going back today (Cloudy). and then up to a mountain lake for trout (her favorite).

Thanks again,

Richard

[Mobasser]

Welcome Richard.  Many great fisherman on this site. Good luck with your fishing

[whitwolf]

Welcome!

[RichardJarel]

Just got back from fishing with Tresa. I brought our main tackle box for her, but I only used my new "bass only box".

 

I started out with the NED, but after catching a lot (mostly small), I decided to go with my Texas rigged Zoom Trick worm (watermelon/blue speck). Took longer to catch them but I was catching... Then, they started getting bigger! I had my first OMG moment and laughed out loud... A little later, another even bigger! I was shocked! I was applying what I've been learning here and on YouTube and... It was working! Tresa was going for trout (she loves to eat trout), but was watching what I was catching... "Wanna try my NED?"  "That's OK...." Kept bringing them in and she finally gave in... She caught a few, mostly smaller, but she was enjoying them a lot more than her trout! LOL!

 

I cast my "OK, this will be my last cast before leaving-Cast" and got hooked.... At first I thought my rig hooked wood, then thought, OK, it's a bass, but maybe not that big... Then it just took off and my rod was bent into a "U". I kept my tip up, loosened the drag a little to keep tension on... This thing took off like nothing (freshwater anyway), I've ever experienced.... Longest freshwater fight I've ever had (med/light/fast action, spinning, 10lb braid with 6lb Flouro)... The closer I got it in, the more I was amazed! I couldn't believe what I was bringing in and just praying I could land it...

 

NOTE: This was my first time using this kind of gear, hoping for larger bass... Most of what I caught before (trolling and with the NED), were about 8" maybe 10" at best.... Seeing what others are catching, I feel a "little" embarrassed that I "finally" caught my PB.... But it was MY personal best and before studying posts in this website and info on YouTube the past couple of months, I knew NOTHING about bass fishing! LOL! (This one was 15", 1lb, 9oz)

 

So I proudly share MY, (current... still working on a "larger" one... It's all relative though), Personal Best!

No matter what, I had the time of my life! Right up there with much larger saltwater angling.... My Personal Saltwater Best, was a 5'11" Dorado caught in Baja from a 14' aluminum boat....

 

Thanks for the help guys! I really feel like I've "Come Home"!

 

Richard

[DougHall_NY]

Welcome! 

[Mike L]

Hello and Welcome! 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike 

[MichaelCopeland]

Howdy Richard and welcome to our fishing family! Great intro and hope to see you posting some hawgs soon. This time of year a chatterbait can really shine, if you're up for adding one more bait to your arsenal. ?

[RichardJarel]

Thanks!

I played "hooky" from work today... added jigs to my arsenal (trying to stick to bottom plastics...). Now I'm seeing that something appropriate to the season would be much better. Caught three today. I should be grateful that I didn't get skunked, but I was hoping for more, or larger LOL! Don't we always? LOL!

 

I'll have to do a search here and learn what a chatter bait is! LOL!

Richard