Getting started

[sousa24]

I posted earlier that I'm new to the sport and asked what's the best way to get started and a lot of people said to pick a couple lures and learn them first. I've been thinking about what two lures I should learn first.

Can anyone help me choose my lures?

I'll do most of my fishing on the banks (no boat) of a local lake that is only about 50 acres of water. It's an impoundment for flood control so in the winter level is lower than the summer level (not that I'll do much in the winter). Cover (grass, weeds, pads, etc.) doesn't seem very abundant any time of the year. Also there doesn't seem to be a lot of timber. The dam is made of large basketball size and small softball sized rock and is about 200- 300 yards across. What will help me?

I'm thinking about spinnerbaits and jigs. Are these a wise choice? What would you choose?

[Cajun1977]

worms   senkos   and  and other plastics   i like the spinnerbait to

[Gatorbassman]

I would start here. http://bassresource.com/beginner/beginner.html

These articles will give you a great foundation of knoledge to start from.

Then try a Texas Rig worm and a Senko to start with.

[Guest avid]

Spinnerbiats, or any bait meant to cover alot of water in a short period of time is probably not a good choice for a bank fisherman on a small body of water.  Don't get me wrong.  They will work, but something a little more methodical is probably better.  I think the worm and or senko is great but I would want to work the surface as well.  A rebel pop-r is a bait that with a proud history, as is the rapala minnow.  These baits float, and are cast out next to some obvious cover (weeds, stumps, blowdowns etc) Let them sit for as long as you can stand it. 10 seconds would be minimum, then twitch them.  The pop r will gurgle and splash, the rapala will dive a few inches beneath surface.  You can do this all the way back to the bank, or you can experiment with different retrieves.  The problem with these baits for a bank fisherman is that they have exposed treble hooks, so if they get hung up (stuck) on something they can be hard to get back.  If you use 12 pound line you will get them back most of the time.  DO NOT TRY TO FREE UP A SNAG BY WHIPPING THE ROD.  More rod tips have been broken this way than anyone could count.  Try walking around to the back side of where the lure is snagged and try to free it up.  If all else fails, just point the rod directly at the lure and walk backwards.  The lure will pull free or the line will break.  

Bass like cover and getting hung up is part of the game.  But when you get a nice bass to explode on a topwater, you will see why it is worth it.

Have fun and good luck.

Good luck and have fun.

[sousa24]

Wow thanks.  Does anyone else have any more suggestions?

[garry77]

I don't know what part of the country you live in sousa24 but on lakes witha lot of rocks I've always had good luck on crawdad colored crankbaits.These are fairly easy to fish and you can vary your retrieves to see what the fish want.Plus the lipped models tend not to get hung up so easy so you won't have to wade out and get them as often.

[Shad_Master]

Don't overlook the possibility of joining a club -- you have to check them out first and make sure that it is a club the "welcomes" beginners -- I have learned more in the last four years since joining my club than I though possible.

[BassJunkie]

I agree with the crawdad colored crankbaits or any crankbait for that matter.  Every place I've gone with a bunch of chunk rock like that crankbaits seem to shine.

[KillerTomato]

try cranks, jitterbugs and plastic worms