bit by the bug

[Seymour]

first of all, im new to the site so hi everyone haha. well on with my story...

i had never been fishing before. nobody in my family or any of my friends fish, but for some reason ive always been fascinated by it. well, now im 19, going to college in northern california and training to be a fireman/paramedic. i figured i needed a hobby to keep myself half way straight so drinking and partying like my friends wouldnt be the only thing i did in my spare time so i decided to finally buy a rod and go fishing. i got my license, and while i was back home in Santa Rosa (just north of SF) last weekend i went to Big 5 and picked up a rod, reel, and some tackle for about $70. i went home and read just about everything i could fine online about bass fishing, techniques and how to get started. the next morning at 9am i went out to this tiny little lake called Spring Lake. its pretty crappy and there really wasnt anyone else out fishing, but its right in my backyard so i posted up on the shore and got started. practiced casting, retrieving, diffierent lures...everything....no bites. a couple hours later i said ok, 3 more casts out toward that log and im calling it a day. well on that next cast i got a bite! reeled in a little large mouth, maybe 2 or 3 pounds but man, thats all it took.

thats my fishing story. i cant wait to get out this weekend and fish again. it might take me a little while to learn since i have no one to go with but hopefully ill pick it up eventually. seems like everyone here knows what theyre doing so im sure ill learn a lot.

[abelfisher]

Welcome aboard!  I live in No. CA. also. My daughter goes to Chico State as well!

[chefxian]

Now your hooked. Make sure you buy a lot of Senkos.

[lookin4lunkers]

welcome.

[bassackwards]

yep, u caught a bass and when u hooked him, u hooked urself right along with him.  hah

dude, I realize after a while of tryin to get people to fish with me, that I DONT WANT THEM FISHING WITH ME!

either they fish an hour and want to leave.  or they lose my lures.  or I have to change my strategy of where/how to catch fish to make them happy with how they thing they are going to catch fish.

so after a while of this, I am MUCH MORE content fishing by myself.  well, that is, when it comes to fishing with weekend warriors instead of everyday fishermen.

[Rebbasser]

Yep, you are hooked.  Welcome the the obsession!

If you have a question, ask away even if you think it is a dumb question because when it comes to bass fishing the only dumb question is the one that isn't asked.

Meantime, here is a great site that has a lot of great info for someone getting started.  You may have alredy seen it, but if not:

http://www.bassresource.com/beginner/beginner.html

[Seymour]

Now your hooked. Make sure you buy a lot of Senkos.

Senkos?

[abelfisher]

Senkos?

Boys, we got him now! ;D

[mjr]

Senkos are great for fishing from the shore which i think you are doing they have a long casting range and have been very effective for me definitly one of my favorite soft plastics give them a try they work wonders

[Rebbasser]

Seymour, a Senko is a soft plastic stick bait. there are a number of different brands now, but the Senko was the original. I prefer Tiki Sticks which are made by Wave Worms. Here is what one looks like:

I fish them rigged either weedless:

Except I keep the point of the hook buried in the plastic rather than "Texposed" like the picture shows, or rigged Wacky:

In both cases I cast them out, let them sink, and work them with gentle twitches of the rod tip. I also fish them with no added weight-the way it sinks is one of it's fish catching qualities.

[Seymour]

good stuff, thanks for the help

[Rattlinrogue]

Welcome to the forum.These guys know some bass fishing.Everybody seems to be good people.

[BD]

Welcome man.

If I could offer only piece of advice it would be PATIENCE!!!

Somedays we all catch notta, or only a few the whole day. If you easily loose patience, fishing is not for you.