New angler feeling overwhelmed

[kspence]

I started fishing in the fall. I live in Midlothian, VA and I don't have a boat, so I pretty much stick to bank fishing a few ponds in the area (mostly Lake Rooty, the pond by Charter Colony, and the pond across the street from NAPA). I've learned how to cast pretty accurately, and I've developed a decent sense of feel (I think), but beyond that, I have no idea what I'm doing. I've probably spent 100 hours fishing, and have caught 3 fish -- not a great ratio:) Basically, I'm feeling overwhelmed -- I never have any idea if I'm fishing in the right place with the right thing, and I can't wait to get to the point where I can at least make an educated guess.

Now that the temperatures are rising again, I'm hoping that you can give me some general advice so that I can give myself a decent chance this season. I know there's no magic bullet (there never is), but I'm hoping to at least learn how to not put myself at a disadvantage when I go out;)

What clues you into where fish might be in a pond? Are there any particular lures / methods you'd recommend for this type of fishing? Any advice/tips would be most appreciated.

Kevin

[Grey Wolf]

Start by reading the very informative fishing articles on the top left hand corner of the page , take notes and then come back with your pertinant questions you have .

[roadwarrior]

"Best" O bass Resource in the top of every section;

"Fishing" and "Tacklebox" in the green border at the

top of the page.

Start with these:

"Just Getting Started"

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1158577137

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1180501296

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1182371999

8-)

[WdyCrankbait]

I started fishing in the fall. I live in Midlothian, VA and I don't have a boat, so I pretty much stick to bank fishing a few ponds in the area (mostly Lake Rooty, the pond by Charter Colony, and the pond across the street from NAPA). I've learned how to cast pretty accurately, and I've developed a decent sense of feel (I think), but beyond that, I have no idea what I'm doing. I've probably spent 100 hours fishing, and have caught 3 fish -- not a great ratio:) Basically, I'm feeling overwhelmed -- I never have any idea if I'm fishing in the right place with the right thing, and I can't wait to get to the point where I can at least make an educated guess.

Now that the temperatures are rising again, I'm hoping that you can give me some general advice so that I can give myself a decent chance this season. I know there's no magic bullet (there never is), but I'm hoping to at least learn how to not put myself at a disadvantage when I go out;)

What clues you into where fish might be in a pond? Are there any particular lures / methods you'd recommend for this type of fishing? Any advice/tips would be most appreciated.

Kevin

Kevin,  I think there is a thread in this forum for a Richmond, central VA meet and greet next Saturday.  Look for that and see if you can make it.  Also, I am probably a neighbor of yours, I am over behind Chesterfield Towne Center.  So, I have fished those same waters, they are not easy to pull fish from!  Get your casting and aim during casting down and then the river will be warm enough.  Remeber, fishing is suppose to be fun, not a stresser, if you dont catch anything try to figure out why you did not.  This time of year, I would try crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

[Sam]

Kspence...Southlake pond is poor. Lake Rooty is OK but very big.

Get the 2011 Virginia Freshwater Fishing booklet at Tackle Express (ask Craig if he is going to LSU crawfish boil this year) and get an ADC Mapbook of Greater Richmond to include Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover Counties and go to the Central Virginia Region page.

You will find all kinds of places to fish.

Your goal is to learn how to cast and remove the hooks without hurting the fish. Easy said - not easy done. So practice. Have a needle nose pliers with you at all times.

Read, read and read. Watch the fishing videos on YouTube.

Practice with one bait for a few days or a week. Do all Senkos. Then topwaters. Try spinningbaits. Crankbaits. Lipless cranks. Chatterbaits. Master them.

As for fishing in your area, just keep trying.

And one more suggestion.  Put a white Rooster Tail on a light line from your spinning rig and throw it. You will catch a lot of bream, bluegill, Crappie and some small bass. But you will learn what type of baitfish are in which pond.

Have fun. 

[Bigs]

Sam offered some good advice. Plus you started in the fall which can be a tough time to catch bass for newbies. Spring is coming and the bass will be biting . Im sure you'll have a good day soon when u catch a dozen or so and that will build confidence. Dont stress out, fishing should be about de-stressing.

[kspence]

Thanks everyone for your responses, that helps a lot.

@roadwarrior

Thanks! There's some great advice in there. I ordered some Senkos & the right hooks, and I'll start working on those when they come in.

@WdyCrankbait

Hey, neighbor -- I'm glad to hear it's not just me who has trouble pulling fish from those spots:)

As for the river -- I've thought about it, but don't know where to park aside from Pony Pasture / Belle Isle. Any suggestions?

@Sam

Good tips. I'll pick up the fishing booklet and try to find some new spots. I agree Lake Rooty is a little big, but my office building is right on it, and I enjoy going out there at lunch. 1 of my 3 bass came from there -- hah.

@RedneckSteve

I got sucked into fishing while camping in the fall, and I've been looking forward to the spring like mad:)

[luv2fish33]

Another thing you can do is take someone who has years of expeirence fishing with you. You can learn a LOT by just watching folks who have been doing this for a long time. I always said fishing for me is a lot more fun when you have a buddy with you.

[dtsman@bellsouth.net]

I know the feeling of not only being a new Bass fisherman but also getting skunked bank fishing since I dont have a boat. The best thing I did was join a club, you will learn soo much in your first tournament. Enjoy you can only get better from here and just have fun.

[vegas679]

I fish Lake Rooty quite often. I work at Capital One so this is my main spot to fish. I've fished every spot of that lake and imo there is only a couple of spots that produce consistantly. The fishing there is slow, but produces nice size fish. Lots of 2-6 lb fish, some bigger.  A black terminator buzz bait is my #1 producer. Senkos in baby bass color have worked well. I usually dont fish cranks here b/c of all the algae on the bottom. I'm now at east shore, down the street a little, and there is a lake here. I've already caught a few fish on my lunch break this year. Hope this helps.

[VAfishin]

I agree. I've caught probably 75% of my fish at Lake Rooty in the same 4 spots that have no logical explanation as to why they produce. There's just nothing to target except the water plants in the late summer. It's just a big round lake. I fished there today in the morning and the wind throw my crankbait 20 feet from where I wanted to land it and I got a bite as soon as it hit the water. So it's really hit and miss.

[vegas679]

From what I can tell about Lake Rooty is that it is about 3-4 deep all the way around except for right in the middle where the old creek bed is, it's about 8-12 feet there, maybe deeper. I have caught most of my big fish down by the bridge. I know if you stand on that concrete  and cast out to the other side there is a ledge that drops off from 2 1/2 to about 4-5 feet. I usually catch fish when I cast past the ledge and bring it toward me and let it fall off the ledge. I also have good luck in the little inlet thing. You can almost always catch one in front of the storm drain. She hangs out there a lot. she will prob be around 4-5 lbs this year. I've also caught fish on the side opposite of the inlet, directly across from it. I think this is the closest spot to where the old creek bed is and your best chance at a long cast to it. I'm gonna get a small jon boat this year, and I'm gonna put it in there. No where on the signs does it say no boats!! I'll play dumb and wait till someone tells me that I cant do it.

[VAfishin]

yea i've had a lot of luck across from the little inlet as well.  I think you're right about the old creek bed.  I seemed to have the best luck at one of the random turns in the path down by the bridge.  There must be a drop off around there because there was a week last year where I pulled 3-4 fish a day.

[luv2fish33]

Never heard of lake Rooty before, how big is this lake?

[kspence]

Never heard of lake Rooty before, how big is this lake?

A little over a mile around. It's more of a big pond than it is a lake, but that's what they decided to call it:)