Newish to Fishing....Need some advice

[Numpty]

Hey all...There is a lake on the backside of my property, I was told when we moved here 5 years ago that it was stocked with Bass in the mid 80's ....I don't really fish.....Only hunt...so I never had the inclination to head back there.......>WELL

I went back for a 4 wheeler ride with my 23 yr. old rod and reel, some plastic worms I bought at a yard sale 5 years ago....and I knew it was pretty weedy so I dug out a few weedless hooks from my deceased Grandfathers tackle Box that I inherited

I can really only get out to one spot because of overgrowth and was only casting about 20 feet out....Lo and Be Hold

I caught 9 Large Mouth Bass within 45 minutes.....smallest about 2 lbs....and the biggest....god knows...I am surprised the old line held up. I was getting other bites but am sure I was not setting the hook properly on them....I will learn the timing I am sure.

SO as you can imagine I now feel the need update some of my gear.

I am used to the normal type of spool reel but saw on BassPro something called a BaitCast reel.....

What kind of reel (not too expensive) would you recommend as well as some other types of set-ups, baits or lures....

I found out about a Texas Rig on another site and will certainly try that out.

Here is a picture of part of the lake and the amount of lillypads and weeds

Thanks in Advance and any and all advice is appreciated

[Bass XL]

try a spro bronzeye frog

[Numpty]

try a spro bronzeye frog

I am sorry for my ignorance...what is that and where would I find it?

I am in Ontario, Canada

[Daniel My Brother]

Wow Brooks,

It sounds like you've got your own little piece of heaven there! You say you don't wnat to spend too much, but it might help if you could tell us how much is too much to spend?

And what sort of reels are you familiar with? Spincast (pushbutton) or spinning (open face)?

You can pick up a servicable spinning reel for around $40 (Pflueger Trion / Shimano Sonora / Abu Garcia Cardinal )

And you can pick up a decent rod for about the same (All Star Classic / Berkley Lightning Rod )

This will get you a solid combo that will last a while.

Buy your rod and reel as a combo and you will save even more.

A decent quality baitcast reel will cost a little more. Probably around $70 to $100+... 2 well reviewed lower priced baitcasters are the Shimano Citica ($120) and the Abu Garcia Revo S ($100). Still many people here like the Bass Pro Shops Extreme ($70). A baitcaster will take some practice getting used to, but is a great all-around reel.

Again, if you buy your baitcast rod and reel as a combo and you will save even more.

As far as baits, it sounds like you were doing pretty good with soft plastics. Just about every soft plastic worm catches fish. The bigger the worm, the bigger the fish. I would suggest size 3/0 extra wide gap hooks, texas rigged (which will help you avoid snags). Color is not that important, but generally darker colors perform well.

Welcome to the site, and I'm sure you will get plenty of good advice here. I sure have.  

[Bass XL]

Being that you are so far up north...it may be hard to catch a fish on a frog...or any topwater for that fact...I'm not saying it cant be done, but its hard.....You can get it at bass pro, but try using a spinnerbait...such as anything thats made by War Eagle...If the fish are slow, you can fish a finesse worm (check my signature, webb's makes amazing worms) fished on a jighead.....How far can you see into the water? like is the visibility only a foot or two, or is it really clear.

[Numpty]

Thanks for the advice.....I am used to Spinning Reels for the most part and will probably stay with one of those.

I figure to spend about $40 - $90 on a reel...or a rod reel combo on the high end.

I can see maybe 2 feet into the water. probably more if I had a boat and could get out further.

I figure my line is dropping to about 5 feet in some places and maybe 7 feet in other spots.

Would Spinner baits get snagged alot ?

Also....Should I just reel in normally or jerk the rod a bit as I am reeling....

Thanks again

[Daniel My Brother]

Brooks,

Here's a GREAT combo on sale now for $100.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_59170_100003002_100000000_100003000_100-3-2

If you go cheaper on a combo, please don't go cheap on the rod, especially if you're fishing soft plastics, where the bites can be subtle. I would avoid buying an ugly stick. They will last forever, but they are not sensitive and you will have trouble detecting bites. Also, fishing that heavy cover I would buy a rod that's rated as medium-heavy (MH) with a fast tip.

Safetypin style spinnerbaits are a "chuck and wind" bait...Toss it past the target where you think the fish are, then reel it back in front of them. They only have one hook, so they aren't terribly snaggy. If you're worried about snags, just buy the $1 spinnerbaits from Wal-Mart. They work.

There is no wrong way to fish a plastic worm, though generally slower is better. Toss it to where the fish are and let it fall to the bottom. You will get most of your bites on the fall. Then just slowly bounce it off the bottom, pausing often, as you retrieve.

[Numpty]

I think I will search for that around here...then end up at Bass Pro here in Ontario....2 hour drive but definitely worth it, I have never been in their fishing section, have always wandered in the Hunting Sections and unloaded stupid amounts of money on Hunting Gear..

I am going to be broke if I go to Bass Pro LOL

Thanks....WoW

It is hilarious that you mentioned the Ugly Stick....That is the rod I was thinking of when I started looking for equipment, then got confused and ended up here. LOL

I am going to pick up some new line for my current reel and rod. The stuff on there is probably the line that came with the rod and reel when It was bought.

I am planning on heading back today at some point after picking up some stuff so I will give you an update.

Here is another picture I found of the lake....I am 2nd from the left

Thanks Again...you have been so helpful

[Bass XL]

looks like a nice lake that probably never gets fished....u got it all to your self!

[Daniel My Brother]

Bass Pro Shops has a hunting section? Learn something new everyday.

[Live.2.Fish]

Posted by: Daniel My Brother Posted on: Today at 1:41pm

Bass Pro Shops has a hunting section?  Learn something new everyday.

I have been going to our Bass Pro Shops many times since it opened about 2-3 years ago and I have never been on the second level (hunting section) of that store.  

[Numpty]

Alright.....I went back there today and This is what happened.

I was there from 1:00 - 3:30 and only caught 3 good sized fish and maybe 4 small ones

Went back tonight from 7 - 8:45 and caught 5 great sized fish maybe 4 lbs. One was really big about 18 1/2". It was the same length as the floor board of my 4-wheeler. Guessing at weight I would have to say at least 6 lbs.

I was using a Berkley Powerbait worm on a Texas Rigged onto a Rig Hook...(I have been busy reading about stuff)

I would throw it in, let it sink then reel in really slow...I am not twitching the rod or anything just reeling

OK Here are my Questions.  Why in the evening am I getting more hits and Bigger Fish and during the day smaller fish and less hits?

Is it depth, time of day, action of the worm......

I did not take any pics today as it was raining on and off all day so I left my Camera at home.

[Numpty]

Posted by: Daniel My Brother Posted on: Today at 1:41pm

Bass Pro Shops has a hunting section?  Learn something new everyday.

I have been going to our Bass Pro Shops many times since it opened about 2-3 years ago and I have never been on the second level (hunting section) of that store.  

That is funny.... ;D

I have been to Bass Pro in Toronto a couple of times and the ones in North Carolina and Florida....and have yet to step foot in the Fishing Sections of any of them.

[.dsaavedra.]

hey pal, your getting more and bigger hits in the evening, cuz thats when the big fish feed. they are much more active, and they are feeding, so they will take a lure more readily. in the mid day, your probably catching the small curious fish that have nothing better to do than bite stuff to find out what it is.

[Numpty]

hey pal, your getting more and bigger hits in the evening, cuz thats when the big fish feed. they are much more active, and they are feeding, so they will take a lure more readily. in the mid day, your probably catching the small curious fish that have nothing better to do than bite stuff to find out what it is.

Is there anything I can do during the day to get the bigger ones to Hit?

Thanks

[.dsaavedra.]

there sure is. go out and buy the biggest plastic worms you can find. im talking upwards of 10" long. take one of those, thread the worm on your hook about halfway down, then poke the hook out, and proceed to texas rig it. now cast this into deep water. big bass hang in deep water during the day, preferably deep water near shallow water. the reason for threading the worm on the hook about halfway is so that you get a better hookup percentage.

[.dsaavedra.]

if what i said confused you about threading on the worm and all that, then try this:

take a sewing needle, and tie your fishing line to it. then, thread the needle (and line) thruough the worm. when you get about to the middle of the worm, then poke the needle out, and bring the fishing line out. then cut the line off the needle, tie on a hook, and texas rig it as you normally would.

hope that helped

[Numpty]

That setup with the needle through the worm worked well.....Although I still did not catch anything but small ones this afternoon.....I am unable to get out to deeper water.

I am gonna head back tonight around 6:00 and will try it again as it seems that I am only able to catch the larger ones in the evening...I brought my Camera today in hopes of getting a few shots of some fish  > ...but here are more pictures of the lake.

Again...Thanks for all of the advice....Please do not hesitate in providing me with any hints/tips you may have...I am completely ignorant when it comes to fishing.

The 3 pictures are: the north side of the causeway, the causeway where I sit on my ATV and the south side of the causeway.

If these pictures stir up advice I would love to hear it.

North Side

Causeway

South Side

[Numpty]

I have moved the thread to Here because I am looking to get some advice on fishing this spot during the day and what lures, bait I should use.

I added some pictures of the fish I am catching there. (My god I am gonna be broke when I go to Bass Pro)

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1187466317/0