Advice for a greenhorn

[scaleface]

The dam is a good place to concentrate on , especially if its rip rap . Get some cheap  lures like jig and grubs , pre rigged swimbaits ... because you will lose a few . Fan cast at the dam . Let the lures sink to the bottom then retrieve . Pause the retrieve occasionally so the lure will stay close to the bottom . As previously stated , bass on the bottom are easiest to catch . You want to follow the contour from deep to shallow .   Then take a few steps and repeat . This is exactly how I approach dams fishing from bank .

[purpurite]

On 8/29/2021 at 9:20 AM, Tatsu Dave said:

Or do you not give him credit for trying and reaching out? Not everyone has a mentor so they learn by the school of hard knocks.

 

Not at all. They were absolutely right to reach out, but sometimes some advice can be misguided. There are a few responses that will do more to confuse than to help. You can catch fish on Nerf bullets and gummy worms—this isn't a hobby that needs to be overly complex for beginners.

[purpurite]

Duplicate post...

[soflabasser]

The most important thing you should do in fishing is have fun. Do your best to learn from each fishing trip with time you will improve and catch more fish.

[QED]

I'm going to dissent a bit.  I think for a rank beginner a 1/4 oz spinnerbait in black and another in chartreuse would be easier than a texas rigged worm.  Worm fishing has a steep initial learning curve to detect the subtle bites and to develop a solid hook set reaction.  Plus spinnerbaits are fairly weedless so you can toss them next to or into bassy looking structure.  The next step would be texas rigged and wacky rigged senkos in 4" green pumpkin.  Walk before you run.

[Sphynx]

Lots of good options listed here, short and long version is time on the water will have to be put in for a lot of this advice to really sink in, I am pretty sure we have an article here about fishing a 5" Senko, it's as good a place as any to start, try to pay attention when your fishing to what you were doing when you get bit, then try to duplicate that in a similar spot, I bet within 10 to 15 hours of time on the water you will begin to feel much more comfortable with how and where one or two rigs will work, and you'll probably be on your second or third bag of yum dingers or senko's weights and hooks from break offs, that's OK and it's just part of learning how to fish.

[RevyTwoHands]

I’m not a man lol.

 I don’t expect to learn everything or excel quickly, but the information is helpful nonetheless. Yeah, some of the advice is more involved than some, but it’s advice i can keep and use at some point. Knowledge is power and such. 

I am keeping it simple for right now, just enjoying the time I spend on the water and outside. And the additional advice gives me new things to try while I’m out. 

Hoping I don’t get stormed out, today. Keeping a close eye on the weather, might have to go out another day. 

[SRQAlex]

Hey there, the biggest piece of advice I can give you is to pick a single technique like a Texas rigged worm and get really good at using it. Once you have the understanding of how to work whatever technique you choose and can consistently catch fish with it, THEN move to the next technique. Keep it simple and don’t overwhelm yourself with a ton of different gear at first. 

[TnRiver46]

You should be ok weather wise , good luck out there! I don’t know if I’ve ever been to west GA but usually a purple of black plastic worm is a great bass lure down south any time of year just dragged along the bottom 

[RevyTwoHands]

sadly didn’t end up not getting to go today, not because of weather but because my husband was sick. there will be other chances. I live pretty close to the lake. 

[king fisher]

Live night crawler with bobber.   Bring a stringer and a fillet knife.  Relax. Catch some fish have fun and eat a good meal you didn’t have to buy in a plastic package.  If fishing becomes your passion you will meat the Bait monkey soon bough.

[bowhunter63]

Split shot and a live shiner, Fun way to fish. Wacky worm is easy and very effective.  Once you start getting into them and is only going to grow from there 

[Kid A]

Im in the same boat (horrible pun, I’m living that bank life) as you.  So far for me, the ned rig has been my only way to actually land fish.    Detecting bites with it is super easy, unlike weightless senko or wacky rig which seem to be tough to detect bites on.  As others or have said, don’t want to overload you with options, but the ned rig is super easy to setup and super easy to fish it.  Biggest downside is you snag a lot, but I’ve resigned myself to losing some rigs to land some fish.  Get yourself some 1/15oz ned rig shroom head hooks and some Zman TRD finesse worms and you’ll be landing fish in no time!

Good luck  out there!

[Bankc]

Now is a bad time to get into the sport.  Late summer, the bass are usually deep and less active.  It's hard to catch bass right now.  You're best bet is early in the morning, just as the sun is rising, with a top water lure of some kind.  Two hours after sunrise, I'd tie on a texas rig worm and try catching them in deeper water.  

 

The only time that's harder to catch fish than right now, in my opinion, is in the dead of winter.  Stick with it though.  If you do it enough, you're bound to catch a few.  Fall is around the corner and once the water temperature cools off, the fishing ought to pick up again for a little while.  And if you practice a lot in the mean time, you'll be ready when they are.

[papajoe222]

I have introduced a number of little ones to this great sport and I always start them out with one lure/presentation and that is a 4in. straight tailed worm wacky rigged with a #4 or #2 mosquito circle hook. The circle hook avoids gut hooked fish and the need to 'set' the hook. I should add that the location we fish  is all but guaranteed to hold fish. Once they have caught fish and get some confidence in doing so, I'll introduce them to other presentations of the same style worm.

[Mobasser]

This may sound overly simple, but use the search bar here on BR. Type in anything related to bass fishing. There's really a huge wealth of info here. Good luck!

[RevyTwoHands]

alright. tentative plans for a fishing day tuesday, assuming the weather holds out. if it’s off an on rain i live close enough incan go home and wait it out then head back out. 

hoping it goes through this time and i can try out some of the advice y’all have given me. very excited and hopeful. 

[WRB]

Enjoy your outing and remember it’s a Holiday weekend with lots folks out and about.

Tom

[OldManLure]

Live bait.  Minnows or worms on a hook with split shot and bobber is a great way to start.  When my son and daughter decided they wanted to learn to fish, I introduced them to the fun on small lakes.  I started them on live baits.  They caught fish and were hooked (pun intended).  After several trips, I gave them a quick lesson on cover and gave each an in-line spinner (Mepps, Panther Martin), 1/4oz spinner bait, and a Rapala original floating minnow (2 3/4”).  That was 15 years ago. They still fish. Every now and then they even invite me.

[RevyTwoHands]

tuesday everyone should be back at work. hoping that’s the case anyways lol

[The Bassman]

I've had the privilege of helping newbies get started. Doesn't take long for them to start outfishing me. Best of luck.

[RevyTwoHands]

today im goin fishin! it’s about time lol

[RevyTwoHands]

only got two and a half hours on the water because a storm was rolling in. BUT. thanks to y’all’s advice, i caught me two fishes. pics to come.

[RevyTwoHands]

the first is the smaller of the two. i had a third, bigger, and gorgeous dark green bass hooked but i guess i didn't set the hook well enough and he hopped off the hook when he breached the surface. so he's my first "the one that got away" story
but even though the two i caught are small, they're the most beautiful fish i've ever seen ❤️ 
sorry for not including my face, i'm kinda camera shy (my husband would say i have no reason to be but some folks just don't like their picture taken lol)
Caught them along the dam with a texas rig worm black with a 1/8oz bullet weight. so thanks to those who suggested that cuz that's what i went with and it worked. 
it's official. I've got the "Bug" now XD 

[Paul Zimmer]

Pm me i will put you on some good stuff, one thing i recommend do not use anything they sell at walmart or BPS Talk to someone who has put in yrs and save yourself lots of time and money so many companys and products but only a few that stand out here and there.