Hello and a question!

[HotDogAngler]

Hi all.  I started bass fishing this summer and love it!  Am more of a weekend warrior and fish most of the time in NYC's Central Park Pond.  

 

My first bass caught was in July 2018, by accident.  I was fishing for bluegill and got a bird's nest so while trying to fix it, my hot dog piece at the end sank to the bottom of the pond 10 feet in front of me.  After fixing it a 2 minutes later, I reeled in, and it was weirdly heavy, turned out to be my first bass!!!  Got hooked ever since.  Mostly I fish with a hot dog, and soft plastics, the techniques are quite similar.  Really want to learn to get good at soft plastics before moving on to faster baits.

 

My question is, I have 50$ to spend at Cabelas, and I have a good set of soft plastics, but I really am confused by the plethora of hardbaits out there.  Could someone guide me to what a beginner should get (maybe there is a guide somewhere, but I can't find it).  Ideally not too expensive either, I would prefer baits being average 2-6$ each.  

 

Water conditions at where I fish are as follows from what I observe.

1.  Shallow, no more than 4-6 feet deep most areas and up to around 15 at deepest points.

2.  Greenish water, visibility around 2 feet.  If it's after rain, brown water, visibility around 1 foot.

3.  Very little cover, some water plants.

 

Thanks!

 

[Bluebasser86]

Welcome!

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

The BR Articles section has a ton of useful information.

Here's a list of 'beginners' how-to bass fishing articles.

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

 

A-Jay

[Log Catcher]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

 

I second @A-Jay's recommendation to scour the articles section.

 

Great info for beginners and veterans alike.   

[SDoolittle]

Welcome to BR!

[Sam]

Great having you with us.

 

Here are my suggestions:

 

Water conditions at where I fish are as follows from what I observe.

1.  Shallow, no more than 4-6 feet deep most areas and up to around 15 at deepest points.- GO WITH 5 to 6- INCH WACKY SENKOS WITH A #1, 1/0 OR 2/0 WEEDLESS HOOK AND ZOOM TRICK WORMS RIGGED TEXAS STYLE ON A JIG HEAD. USE SPINNING GEAR AND NO MORE THAN 8 POUND TEST FLOUROCARBON OR BRAID LINE. ROD TO BE A MEDIUM HEAVY WITH FAST TIP. SPINNING REEL SIZE 2000 OR 2500.

FLIP AND PITCH YOUR SENKOS AND TRICK WORMS ALL OVER THE PLACE. GO WITH A GREEN PUMPKIN WITH BLACK FLAKE; JUNEBUG; OR IF CLEAR, WATERMEALON COLOR. USE A SMALL #1, 1/0 OR 2/0 WEEDLESS HOOK FOR YOUR WACKY SENKOS.

 

AS FOR HARD BAITS, A BANDIT 100 IN BLUE WITH YELLOW BACK OR SEXY SHAD COLORS. USE THE BLUE WITH YELLOW BACK IN SUNNY CONDITIONS. USE THE SEXY SHAD ALL THE TIME IN ALL CONDITIONS.

 

EARLY AM OR LATE PM TRY YOUR BUZZBAIT (WHITE OR BLACK SKIRT) AND A WHOPPER PLOPPER (EXPENSIVE). BUZZBAITS ARE GOOD ALL DAY BUT BEST IN THE EARLY AM. ADD A "TRAILER HOOK" EITHER THE SAME SIZE OR A LITTLE SMALLER THAN THE BUZZBAIT'S HOOK TO THE BUZZBAITS.

 

2.  Greenish water, visibility around 2 feet.  If it's after rain, brown water, visibility around 1 foot. - JUNEBUG,  GREEN PUMPKIN OR A GREEN PUMPKIN WITH RED FLAKE. ALSO THROW YOUR BUZZBAITS. DON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME HERE UNTIL THE WATER TEMPERATURE GETS COOLER. GOOD AREA TO TRY IN THE EVENING OR AT DAY BREAK WHEN WATER TEMPERATURES ARE NOT HIGH.

 

3.  Very little cover, some water plants. - FLIP AND PITCH PLASTICS TO THE WATER PLANTS. FISH THEM FROM DIFFERENT POSITIONS. HIT THE SAME SPOT AT LEAST 10 TIMES BEFORE MOVING ON OR CHANGING LOCATIONS. TRY PASSING YOUR BANDIT 100 NEAR THE PLANTS ALONG WITH YOUR SPINNERBAITS. USE SMALLER SPINNERBAITS UNTIL YOU KNOW THE SIZE OF THE FISH IN THE WATER. OR YOU SEE WHAT THE BASS ARE EATING.

 

Now, with all that said, the guys will think I am crazy to tell you all this as you are just beginning your bass fishing journey. But believe me, you can purchase these baits for under or around $6. The Bandits did go up in price and the Senkos will be expensive. So learn the tricks to rigging your Senkos wacky style so you will catch more than one fish before they tear up the Senko.

 

As for scents, go with any scent you want and swab it or spray it onto your plastics. Scent may or may not be good but it is a confidence builder.

 

Have needle nose pliers with you at all times. Be careful when removing treble hooks.

 

Take a second spinning reel rigged and ready to go just in case you get a bad case of the "line twists." Other than for braid, you will get line twist when fishing with spinning gear. You will learn how to spool your spinning reel to minimize line twist. Check out the articles. If line twists bothers you, go with braid. And when reeling in your line keep it tight via running it over your thumb and under your index finger

 

Always check your drag to make sure it is tight. Nothing like getting a hard hit and swinging for the fences and you drag has not been tightened. (Happens to us all sooner or later)

 

Run the line over your thumbnail to check for kicks or cuts and abrasions. If you feel anything out of the ordinary, cut the line above the damaged area and retie your hook back onto the good line. Learn how to tie a Palomar Knot. There are better knots out there but the Palomar is a simple and strong knot to use. You can then learn other knots in the future.

 

Check knot after catching each fish. If necessary, cut and retie.

 

Look at the line and bait parameters stamped on your rods. Do not exceed them. In fact, add the lowest line test to the highest line test and divide by two. You now have a good idea of the line test you need to use. Make sure you do not exceed the bait's weight. And check out the line spooling numbers on your spinning reels. Do not exceed them.

 

Do not over spool spinning reels. Spool leaving at least an 1/8 inch from the top of the spool. More if you feel more confident leaving a larger space.

 

Remember to throw the spinning reel's bail with your hand. Never use the spinning reel's handle to start the reel. And use your hand to close the bail after casting.

 

Learn how to fish the shaky head and drop shot rigs for plastics. Texas rigged worms are great, too.

 

All the best for a fun day in Central Park. Post pics of your catches.

 

Good luck and welcome to the Forum.

 

 

[soflabasser]

Welcome to the forum

[HotDogAngler]

4 hours ago, Sam said:

Great having you with us.

 

Here are my suggestions:

 

Water conditions at where I fish are as follows from what I observe.

1.  Shallow, no more than 4-6 feet deep most areas and up to around 15 at deepest points.- GO WITH 5 to 6- INCH WACKY SENKOS WITH A #1, 1/0 OR 2/0 WEEDLESS HOOK AND ZOOM TRICK WORMS RIGGED TEXAS STYLE ON A JIG HEAD. USE SPINNING GEAR AND NO MORE THAN 8 POUND TEST FLOUROCARBON OR BRAID LINE. ROD TO BE A MEDIUM HEAVY WITH FAST TIP. SPINNING REEL SIZE 2000 OR 2500.

FLIP AND PITCH YOUR SENKOS AND TRICK WORMS ALL OVER THE PLACE. GO WITH A GREEN PUMPKIN WITH BLACK FLAKE; JUNEBUG; OR IF CLEAR, WATERMEALON COLOR. USE A SMALL #1, 1/0 OR 2/0 WEEDLESS HOOK FOR YOUR WACKY SENKOS.

 

AS FOR HARD BAITS, A BANDIT 100 IN BLUE WITH YELLOW BACK OR SEXY SHAD COLORS. USE THE BLUE WITH YELLOW BACK IN SUNNY CONDITIONS. USE THE SEXY SHAD ALL THE TIME IN ALL CONDITIONS.

 

EARLY AM OR LATE PM TRY YOUR BUZZBAIT (WHITE OR BLACK SKIRT) AND A WHOPPER PLOPPER (EXPENSIVE). BUZZBAITS ARE GOOD ALL DAY BUT BEST IN THE EARLY AM. ADD A "TRAILER HOOK" EITHER THE SAME SIZE OR A LITTLE SMALLER THAN THE BUZZBAIT'S HOOK TO THE BUZZBAITS.

 

2.  Greenish water, visibility around 2 feet.  If it's after rain, brown water, visibility around 1 foot. - JUNEBUG,  GREEN PUMPKIN OR A GREEN PUMPKIN WITH RED FLAKE. ALSO THROW YOUR BUZZBAITS. DON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME HERE UNTIL THE WATER TEMPERATURE GETS COOLER. GOOD AREA TO TRY IN THE EVENING OR AT DAY BREAK WHEN WATER TEMPERATURES ARE NOT HIGH.

 

3.  Very little cover, some water plants. - FLIP AND PITCH PLASTICS TO THE WATER PLANTS. FISH THEM FROM DIFFERENT POSITIONS. HIT THE SAME SPOT AT LEAST 10 TIMES BEFORE MOVING ON OR CHANGING LOCATIONS. TRY PASSING YOUR BANDIT 100 NEAR THE PLANTS ALONG WITH YOUR SPINNERBAITS. USE SMALLER SPINNERBAITS UNTIL YOU KNOW THE SIZE OF THE FISH IN THE WATER. OR YOU SEE WHAT THE BASS ARE EATING.

 

Now, with all that said, the guys will think I am crazy to tell you all this as you are just beginning your bass fishing journey. But believe me, you can purchase these baits for under or around $6. The Bandits did go up in price and the Senkos will be expensive. So learn the tricks to rigging your Senkos wacky style so you will catch more than one fish before they tear up the Senko.

 

As for scents, go with any scent you want and swab it or spray it onto your plastics. Scent may or may not be good but it is a confidence builder.

 

Have needle nose pliers with you at all times. Be careful when removing treble hooks.

 

Take a second spinning reel rigged and ready to go just in case you get a bad case of the "line twists." Other than for braid, you will get line twist when fishing with spinning gear. You will learn how to spool your spinning reel to minimize line twist. Check out the articles. If line twists bothers you, go with braid. And when reeling in your line keep it tight via running it over your thumb and under your index finger

 

Always check your drag to make sure it is tight. Nothing like getting a hard hit and swinging for the fences and you drag has not been tightened. (Happens to us all sooner or later)

 

Run the line over your thumbnail to check for kicks or cuts and abrasions. If you feel anything out of the ordinary, cut the line above the damaged area and retie your hook back onto the good line. Learn how to tie a Palomar Knot. There are better knots out there but the Palomar is a simple and strong knot to use. You can then learn other knots in the future.

 

Check knot after catching each fish. If necessary, cut and retie.

 

Look at the line and bait parameters stamped on your rods. Do not exceed them. In fact, add the lowest line test to the highest line test and divide by two. You now have a good idea of the line test you need to use. Make sure you do not exceed the bait's weight. And check out the line spooling numbers on your spinning reels. Do not exceed them.

 

Do not over spool spinning reels. Spool leaving at least an 1/8 inch from the top of the spool. More if you feel more confident leaving a larger space.

 

Remember to throw the spinning reel's bail with your hand. Never use the spinning reel's handle to start the reel. And use your hand to close the bail after casting.

 

Learn how to fish the shaky head and drop shot rigs for plastics. Texas rigged worms are great, too.

 

All the best for a fun day in Central Park. Post pics of your catches.

 

Good luck and welcome to the Forum.

 

 

Wow that is a mouthful of awesome info!  Just got my first bass on a texas rigged lizard near some plants!  I just skimmed it and will read more closely.

 

Just wanted to post my PB that I caught in Central Park a week ago (5 pounds even).

 

 

Another question, since you answer so well, I made a chart of bass I have caught this summer since I started, and I catch around 1 bass every 80-90 minutes of water time (from the shore always).  Is this normal for starting out?  I think the pond is pretty pressured too being in the middle of NYC.  I also almost always fish from 7:30 AM-12:30 PM, and the peak time when I catch bass is around 8-10:30, not sure if that is random or not, I'm guessing due to sun coming up more.

 

 

[whitwolf]

Welcome!

[Tennessee Boy]

Very nice fish.  I can't imaging fishing in New York City.  I won't give you any advice since I have no experience in urban fishing but I will say welcome to BR.

[MichaelCopeland]

Howdy and welcome to our fishing family! Nice bass! Don't overwhelm yourself with too many different baits. Whatever you've been throwing seems to be working. Go with that until it stops working. My suggestion would be to get you some Yum Dingers(they are half the price of Senkos and work just as good) in junebug, green pumpkin and watermelon red flake for wacky and Texas rigs, get some Zoom trick worms and Ol' Monsters same colors as Yum Dingers for Texas rigs(trick worms can be wacky rigged as well), get some VMC weedless wacky hooks in 1/O and 2/O size and some 3/O, 4/O and 5/O lightwire EWG offset Eagle Claw TroKar hooks(TroKars are a little pricey but well worth it, they are super sharp). To be able to further give suggestions, I have a question for you @HotDogAngler, what kind of rod(s) and reel(s) are you using? ?

[HotDogAngler]

1 minute ago, MichaelCopeland said:

Howdy and welcome to our fishing family! Nice bass! Don't overwhelm yourself with too many different baits. Whatever you've been throwing seems to be working. Go with that until it stops working. My suggestion would be to get you some Yum Dingers(they are half the price of Senkos and work just as good) in junebug, green pumpkin and watermelon red flake for wacky and Texas rigs, get some Zoom trick worms and Ol' Monsters same colors as Yum Dingers for Texas rigs(trick worms can be wacky rigged as well), get some VMC weedless wacky hooks in 1/O and 2/O size and some 3/O, 4/O and 5/O lightwire EWG offset Eagle Claw TroKar hooks(TroKars are a little pricey but well worth it, they are super sharp). To be able to further give suggestions, I have a question for you @HotDogAngler, what kind of rod(s) and reel(s) are you using? ?

Thanks!  And yes, by senko I meant worms, mine being Yum Dingers on 3/0 hooks when texas rigged and 2/0 when wacky, figured Gamakatsu was a good brand.  My rod reel setup is just some 6-6 travel rod I got on Amazon, which from the feel is medium/heavy action, bends most at the tip.  The line is currently 12 pound Stren which I found in the house.  As you can see I try to make do with what I have, but am open to recommendations (price ideas in OP).

[Sam]

1 hour ago, HotDogAngler said:

Wow that is a mouthful of awesome info!  Just got my first bass on a texas rigged lizard near some plants!  I just skimmed it and will read more closely.

 

Just wanted to post my PB that I caught in Central Park a week ago (5 pounds even).

 

 

Another question, since you answer so well, I made a chart of bass I have caught this summer since I started, and I catch around 1 bass every 80-90 minutes of water time (from the shore always).  Is this normal for starting out?  I think the pond is pretty pressured too being in the middle of NYC.  I also almost always fish from 7:30 AM-12:30 PM, and the peak time when I catch bass is around 8-10:30, not sure if that is random or not, I'm guessing due to sun coming up more.

 

 

Congrats. Beautiful bass.

 

There is a philosophy in bass fishing called "The Pattern."  "The Pattern" is what the bass want at a specific time based on color, vibration, moving fast, moving slow, top-middle-bottom of water column and every other factor you can imagine.

 

Once you find "The Pattern" you will continue fishing the same bait, color and technique until the bite stops. "The Pattern" can be on wood, laydowns, deep, grass lines, in lily pads, under docks, out from docks, on dock steps, in coves, in mouths of creeks, back in the creeks, and the list goes on.

 

So what you penned above notes that "The Pattern" for your water is between 8 to 10 AM with sun. Now if you fish 8 to 10 AM with clouds you may not get a bite. Or you fish after a cold front moves through and the bass get lockjaw.

 

In bass fishing nothing is "normal." "The Pattern you may figure out can last for 15 minutes or all day. The bass may be on the move between 8 to 10 AM and then after eating settle down against a piece of wood or in the grass or lily pads or under a boat or boat house or dock or ramp.

 

Your job is to find "The Pattern" every time you go out. This is why we have so many baits, colors, weights, sizes, shapes, blades, pigs for jigs, line, rods, reels, and the list goes on and on and on.

 

I would stick to the 8 to 10 AM pattern and continue to make notes on what happened, and all the details surrounding all bites and the fish you catch. Go to the top of this page and look at Tools and find the Free Fishing Log. Make copies and start putting them in a three ring binder.

 

After a few months you will see the pattern for the waters you fish based on the baits, colors, weather, wind, rain, sunny, cloudy, lots of boat traffic, lots of other fishermen, and everything you can write down.

 

And read. Read, read, read.  Just like the tourist who asked a New Yorker how do you get to Carnegie Hall. "Practice, practice, practice," replied the New Yorker.

 

Now go out there and make us all proud!!!!  

[MichaelCopeland]

33 minutes ago, HotDogAngler said:

Thanks!  And yes, by senko I meant worms, mine being Yum Dingers on 3/0 hooks when texas rigged and 2/0 when wacky, figured Gamakatsu was a good brand.  My rod reel setup is just some 6-6 travel rod I got on Amazon, which from the feel is medium/heavy action, bends most at the tip.  The line is currently 12 pound Stren which I found in the house.  As you can see I try to make do with what I have, but am open to recommendations (price ideas in OP).

What are the line lb test and lure weight recommendations on the rod?

[HotDogAngler]

30 minutes ago, MichaelCopeland said:

What are the line lb test and lure weight recommendations on the rod?

8-14 pound test.  Not sure where the weight is, I threw a 3/8 ounce spinner and a 1.5 KVD crankbait and felt secure...

[Sam]

9 hours ago, MichaelCopeland said:

What are the line lb test and lure weight recommendations on the rod?

Look at your rod or the rods in the fishing section of your favorite store.

 

You will see stamped on each rod the specifics about its length, its strength (heavy, medium heavy, medium, etc.), fast acting tip, line test parameters and bait weights.

 

Your rod should have this data stamped on it, somewhere on the rod.

 

Try to find it. It should be there, somewhere.

 

Then match up the rod's line test with the line test parameters on the reel you will be pairing with the rod.

 

If you take the high and low of the line test (8 to 15) and add together (23) then divide by 2 you will get 11.5 which translates to 10 to 12 pound test is the best line to use for that particular rod. Just don't exceed the maximum line test or you are putting your rod in jeopardy of breaking.

[sfpalatka]

Welcome to the forum

[Mike L]

Hello and Welcome 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike 

[Glenn]

Welcome Home!