blanked Posted May 21, 2006 Posted May 21, 2006 what advice would you give to someone who is considering starting bass fishing. what i would say is that it is a lot like learning to play golf. if you go out for the day more than likely you are just going to get frustrated by your performance. in order to overcome that frustration you have to be willing to read, read, read and practice, practice, practice in between your outings. if you dont think about how to improve until your next outing your just going to get frustrated all over again and lose interest. and it is never ending on learning. a golfer that sets a goal to hit consistant in the low 80 s will set another goal when they reach the low 80 s. same with bass. Quote
Shad_Master Posted May 21, 2006 Posted May 21, 2006 Read everything you can get your hands on -- look around for a local club that is more interested in fun than strict competition -- watch all the fishing shows (tape them and re-watch them - you'll be surprised what you missed the first time) -- but nothing can compare with time on the water/bank. Senkos are a good place to start as avid said, but you will want to have a variety of lures and baits so that you can begin to learn as you spend more time. But probably the best advice I could give you is keep it fun and try to learn something each time you go out. Quote
Super User Alpster Posted May 21, 2006 Super User Posted May 21, 2006 A great friend gave the best advice. For bass fishing and for life. "Begin to begin and keep on keepin on" get started and don't give up untill you are a success. JMHO Ronnie Quote
Zebco202 Posted May 22, 2006 Posted May 22, 2006 I'd suggest you start with the articles on this site. Plenty of great information for the beginning bass fisherman. You'll find you can learn alot by asking questions on this site and reading the threads. Other than that I agree with the above post, just grab a bag of plastics and some hooks and have fun for a morning or an afternoon (or both). Quote
langs15 Posted May 22, 2006 Posted May 22, 2006 I would say "get some senko's and have fun" If that's really all I fish with, and can't get anything off my spinnerbait or matt lure fishies....am I still a beginner? I know much about fishing, but senkos are what I need to cath the big fish..in my lake. Quote
Super User flechero Posted May 30, 2006 Super User Posted May 30, 2006 But unlike golf... I can take a beginner out and catch fish and have a great day. I can take a new golfer out and they will still get frustrated. The best thing you can do for a beginner is TAKE THEM fishing with you. No matter the tally of fish caught, you will help and teach them 10X more by taking them vs. them reading. Quote
Super User RoLo Posted May 30, 2006 Super User Posted May 30, 2006 There's no doubt whatsoever that senko-type worms are obscenely productive! However, I honestly don't believe that a senko is the most appropriate lure for a rank beginner. Yes, the senko has a provocative waddle, but it's a very fragile waddle that is easily dampened by a taut line. You'd have to explain to a beginner that a tight line would kill the action of his lure, that he must maintain a semi-taut line during the freefall, somewhere between taut and slack. You'd have to further explain that because he may not have total contact with his lure he must watch his line so he knows when a fish strikes the lure. The beginner may just look you straight in the eye and say, "You're Joking Right?". Just rig him up with a 6" Original Culprit ribbontail worm, but first slide on a 1/16 oz bullet sinker to assure that the worm tail will remain constantly active regardless of whether the line is taut or slack. Also be sure to give him or her the option to choose their own color. Though it's usually founded in myth, 'color' is a great confidence builder. After all is said and done, there is no surefire method that will always guarantee a bass, well at least that's what Kevin VanDam believes Roger Quote
timmyswetarded Posted May 30, 2006 Posted May 30, 2006 start in small farm pond if you can....use the mepps roostertail made with squirrel tail...its killer....but if you have to fish out of the lakes i'd go with a wooly beaver tail (more advanced) or beetle spin or strike king spinnerbaits Quote
gatrboy53 Posted May 30, 2006 Posted May 30, 2006 ive done both for many yrs. and i dont find fishing is anything like golf.golf is a given,your ability to put a little ball in a hole. fishing is a variable,its you vs. one of the smartest predators that lives in water.if you relate catch as your success in fishing you will be constantly frustrated,because there is more fishing than catching.if you will relate it to being in tune w/ nature and enjoy one of gods great creations you will be satisfied every time you go FISHING.the fastest way to learn how to fish is go w/ someone who knows how.join a club that accepts non-boaters and spend a yr. in the back of a boat of different ones who know how and learn from each of them even if they atent good fishermen they can teach you something you didnt know.most of all have fun,always. Quote
Madhouse27 Posted May 31, 2006 Posted May 31, 2006 In some ways I *** you. Alot of my fondest memories occurred during the beginning part of a new endevour. The learning curve is always exciting because every step is filled with new discoveries. Each outing is going to unlock another piece in the puzzle. You'll be facinated as you answer one question only to be faced with another. Some days I would certainly trade experience and almost guaranteed success for a little more mystery and a little more wonder. Remember, just like life....it's about the journey not the destination. Quote
Super User flechero Posted May 31, 2006 Super User Posted May 31, 2006 In some ways I *** you. Alot of my fondest memories occurred during the beginning part of a new endevour. The learning curve is always exciting because every step is filled with new discoveries. Each outing is going to unlock another piece in the puzzle. You'll be facinated as you answer one question only to be faced with another. Some days I would certainly trade experience and almost guaranteed success for a little more mystery and a little more wonder. Remember, just like life....it's about the journey not the destination. Madhouse, You can rekindle that feeling again... change lakes, or hunt a different fish, from LM to SM or vice versa. I now live near a lake with SM, never fished for them until last year... I've started over in a sense, but the learning curve is much faster the second time around. Quote
Guest avid Posted May 31, 2006 Posted May 31, 2006 I would say "get some senko's and have fun" If that's really all I fish with, and can't get anything off my spinnerbait or matt lure fishies....am I still a beginner? I know much about fishing, but senkos are what I need to cath the big fish..in my lake. Abelfisher uses senko's as a search bait. While most people think of fast baits, like ratltraps etc. as search baits, the senko can be an excellent search bait, when your searching for the color the bass are responding to on any given day. Try this. Buy some worms or tubes in the same colors as your favorite senko's. After you catch a few on one color senko switch to the worm or tube in that same color. You will now be fishing a different lure, but with the confidence of knowing you are using the preferred color for that day. As you will learn. confidence catches bass. Quote
George Welcome Posted May 31, 2006 Posted May 31, 2006 Beginners advice: Find someone to fish with that truly enjoys fishing. Find someone that keeps it simple. If that someone presents a picture of fishing that resembles taking a course in human genetics, find someone else, because the first thing to know about fishing is it is supposed to be a relaxing experience. Keep it simple! Quote
Fish4FunInFl Posted May 31, 2006 Posted May 31, 2006 The main thing, is to have fun . Dont go adding pressure on yourself to produce fish and be consumed with that thought. It takes time and water time to get better. So you got to put the effort in it, but dont go out with the mentality that your gonna kick some butt.. A lil story to be served as a reminder A guy that was in our club wanted to start bass fishing, so he went out with a ' friend ' who happened to be a pretty good angler. ( before he joined the club etc.. ) After just observing the Angler catching a few fish, and not fishing himself ( just went to observe ). He went to BPS and boght about $ 800 worth of rods & reels. and the lures the angler was useing. After about 5 tournaments and not getting anything He quit the club , and I guess fishing also.. I guess, he thought it was a cake walk and never put in the ' water time ' to try to become better ' . Quote
mudcatwilly Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 Read, read, read and then go with a friend who bass fishes. Find cover and pitch right into it. Sooner or later, you will get bit. Hone your technique for slow fishing with plastics. That will help you to better understand have to work spinners and jigs. Every once is awhile, mix in a crank bait. Practice in a swimming pool to see how different baits behave in the water. After some practice on the water, you will beginto to anticipate strikes and it will take off from there. Quote
clipper Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 If you were starting to play golf you wouldn't buy top of the line clubs before you knew you liked it or not. The same holds true of bass fishing. By the same token, don't buy the cheapest rig WalMart sells either. Start off with a medium quality open face spinning reel and a 6'6" medium action graphite spinning rod of the same quality. You can post a specific question here about a good starter rig and get lots of advice from people who know more than me or do a search for an older post that is already here. If you plan to fish around trees and brush buy 12 lb mono, if you will be fishing more open water go with 10lb. The larger the line the better fish can see it in clear water, so keep that in mind. The copolymer lines are better but a little harder for a beginner to manage. Do not start out with flourocarbon, it is stiff and will give you problems until you get really good managing your spinning reel. Next, find a post that talks about how to spool a spinning reel and read it before you start. Also read about line twist and how to deal with it. Next find a post on knots and learn how to tie on your baits. Then read up on senkos, flukes, trickworms, and what kind and size of hooks to use with them. Your next step would be to read up on texas rig worms and lizards. Remember, you will usually catch more fish on smaller baits so start off with 4" finess worms on the texas rig unless you are fishing in big bass waters. Generally, you will use lighter colors for bright days in clear water, darker colors for cloudy days and stained water. Look at the racks of plastics at the bait shop and notice which ones are full and which ones are nearly empty, that will tell you what colors catch fish in your area. Once you are familiar with these techniques and can cast your rig with fair accuracy, you are ready to go fishing, after you buy a license of course. The above baits will usually catch fish if they are biting. Go at daybreak and late afternoon first, that's when fish feed best. A white 1/8 or 1/6 oz rooster tail will also usually catch fish for you. Try to find a pond or public fishing lake that has a good population of fish, vs a large reservoir that gets fished heavily. Once you start catching fish with the plastics, you will want to move on to jigs, topwater, spinner baits, crank baits and jerk baits. You will also want to buy a casting reel and rod as well to cast these baits with. You may also want to invest in a light action spinning outfit for crappie as well. They can be a lot of fun in the spring time when they go on the bed. Enjoy being on the water, take in the sunrises and sunsets, be thankful for the beauty of nature, and have fun fishing. Finding a good fishing partner also adds tremendously to the experience. Quote
rodpilot Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 If you were starting to play golf you wouldn't buy top of the line clubs before you knew you liked it or not. The same holds true of bass fishing. By the same token, don't buy the cheapest rig WalMart sells either. Start off with a medium quality open face spinning reel and a 6'6" medium action graphite spinning rod of the same quality. You can post a specific question here about a good starter rig and get lots of advice from people who know more than me or do a search for an older post that is already here. If you plan to fish around trees and brush buy 12 lb mono, if you will be fishing more open water go with 10lb. The larger the line the better fish can see it in clear water, so keep that in mind. The copolymer lines are better but a little harder for a beginner to manage. Do not start out with flourocarbon, it is stiff and will give you problems until you get really good managing your spinning reel. Next, find a post that talks about how to spool a spinning reel and read it before you start. Also read about line twist and how to deal with it. Next find a post on knots and learn how to tie on your baits. Then read up on senkos, flukes, trickworms, and what kind and size of hooks to use with them. Your next step would be to read up on texas rig worms and lizards. Remember, you will usually catch more fish on smaller baits so start off with 4" finess worms on the texas rig unless you are fishing in big bass waters. Generally, you will use lighter colors for bright days in clear water, darker colors for cloudy days and stained water. Look at the racks of plastics at the bait shop and notice which ones are full and which ones are nearly empty, that will tell you what colors catch fish in your area. Once you are familiar with these techniques and can cast your rig with fair accuracy, you are ready to go fishing, after you buy a license of course. The above baits will usually catch fish if they are biting. Go at daybreak and late afternoon first, that's when fish feed best. A white 1/8 or 1/6 oz rooster tail will also usually catch fish for you. Try to find a pond or public fishing lake that has a good population of fish, vs a large reservoir that gets fished heavily. Once you start catching fish with the plastics, you will want to move on to jigs, topwater, spinner baits, crank baits and jerk baits. You will also want to buy a casting reel and rod as well to cast these baits with. You may also want to invest in a light action spinning outfit for crappie as well. They can be a lot of fun in the spring time when they go on the bed. Enjoy being on the water, take in the sunrises and sunsets, be thankful for the beauty of nature, and have fun fishing. Finding a good fishing partner also adds tremendously to the experience. That's so what I was fining out the hard way! After sifting through so many of the advanced topic posts I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. This site is such a help. I've got one Medium action Bionic Blade and a Quantum Catalyst spinning reel. Seems Shimano is the preferred reel company by many. Anyhow, thanks to this site Ive keep a very small tackle box, really just a tackle tray. This post seems to sum up what has been a mountain of info on this forum. Thanks! Quote
bassmasta7 Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 I would say "get some senko's and have fun" Amen. Quote
biteme Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 I would say "get some senko's and have fun" Man I wish this were true. In the two weeks Ive fished nine days. Everyone of those days Ive thrown a TON of senko's. Ive been having no luck. I finally gave the senko a rest and went to throwing a spinerbait. My last two outings Ive cought one each time. I sure wish I knew what I was doing wrong with these senko's. It sux to see all the positive post about them and Ive only cought one fish one them. Any advice? Quote
BLUESKY Posted June 4, 2006 Posted June 4, 2006 My 2 cents worth. Remember it's called fishing not catching, enjoy it, be passionate about the whole experience. Remember that a 1/2 hour fishing show on the TV takes many hours to put together, do not measure your success against what you see there, but rather by what you bring to and get back from your time on the water. Quote
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