Mostly for New Members

[roadwarrior]

Before you get confused by all the helpful advice our members offer, spend your time in the BassResource.com Library. Start in the Beginners Section, but don't stop there! I think the articles that we have assembled will help you far more than specific posts that you read here on the Forum.

Keep a notebook and jot down specific information that can help you get started. Otherwise, the amount of information (some of it conflicting) is often overwhelming. Remember this: Fishing conditions are dynamic, they change all of the time. There is no "BEST" line, lure, color, rod or reel. What is often referred to as "the best" is just someone's "FAVORITE." That is not to say that experienced fisherman cannot offer you some darn good advice, but keep in mind that even though many of our members have been around and fished a broad array of equipment under every condition, it still may not be the "best" choice under certain conditions.

I suggest you start out with good equipment and just a few, technique specific lures. Focus on one or two presentations and you will probably catch a few bass. From that base you can grow and develope more options. Unfortunately, this is not the best time to start fishing in a large portion of the country. Where you fish is more important than what you fish. If you are going to fish now, soft plastics are probably your best option. This class of lures will generally catch bass, year around.

Another option I would recommend is a blue & chrome Rat-L-Trap. Just cast and retrieve, parallel to the bank, close to cover or around structure. If there are bass in the neighborhood, you might catch one. Otherwise, you will still have some fun using your equipment and practicing your cast.

[Bud]

I agree with you 100% RW.  As far as the BEST rod,reel & line that is a personal opinion and you know what they say about opining.   Good advise

[New 2 Bass]

...Keep a notebook and jot down specific information that can help you get started. Otherwise, the amount of information (some of it conflicting) is often overwhelming....

This is great advice Roadwarrior.  I did this with Word.  I just kept a .doc on the desktop called Bass Stuff and whenever I'd read anything interesting I'd copy and paste.

The info here is too good to forget.

later

[Catt]

Excellent again

I also keep information on a micro soft word document, along with every trip I've made since 1973.

I get madder than a wet hen at people telling younger/inexperienced anglers they have to have all the high end products or they can't catch fish. There are lots of guys here that bank fish or fish from jon boats that are very productive. The key to consistently catching fish is not found in a rod, reel, boat, or bait; it's in knowledge and wisdom. The knowledge is found in this web site, you just need the wisdom to take this knowledge and apply it.

Sorry RW I just needed to vent a little pressure

Tommy T.

[Grey Wolf]

RW great advice for the newbies !

[nboucher]

I really reinforce the idea that there are many many BESTS. An example: In the rods, etc., forum, Avid recently asked what the best handling line for spinning reels is, and I had to laugh at the answers. You'd be hard pressed to think of a line type that someone DIDN'T recommend and the old braid v. nonbraid debate even popped up. Thirty-seven answers, so far.

Newbies should keep it simple and find their own bests and favorites, based on what they can afford, and most importantly, TIME ON THE WATER!

[03TB]

no need at all for expensive equiptment, when I was younger with no cash my friend and I would go to the local pond, find a discarded line and hook, get a stick and catch a frog, let the frog swim around and get hammered on top.  Tons of fun back then, back then? what am I talking about im only 20! haha

[Siebert Outdoors]

Fishing conditions are dynamic, they change all of the time. There is no "BEST" line, lure, color, rod or reel.

"The best"  there is no answer like RW said.  Each situation requires adaptation to the surroundings.  Fishing a lake you can go from ultra clear deep water to muddy shallow water in a short area.  "You"  the fisherman as in each individual has to learn what works best in each condition for themselves.  You need to learn how to adapt to water changes, depth changes, and other condition changes.  We on these boards can help guide what works for us and try to help.  

The fisherman asking the question has to also put in the time and effort to learn and develop a technique.  I cant tell some one throw a jig in green with a orange trailer and its the heat on bass.  Yeah it works for me (not really its an example) but I live in Mo and the guy asking may live in SD.  It possibly may work for him but each lake is different.  

Most important in fishing

#1 Location

#2  Speed of lure

Notice there is no type or color.

[Guest avid]

There is so much information here on BassResource.com that even "seasoned" i.e. anglers could spend most of their lucid moments learning good stuff.  

[Bud]

 no need at all for expensive equiptment,  

You may not need expensive equipment but it sure make it more fun.  A $100 rod is so nuch nicer to throw all day than a $20 one that has the feel of a pool stick

[Tom Bass]

Good advice Road Warrior.

People also have to remember that this sight has members from all over the place so what might work for me where I fish might not work at all in another state, lake or pond.

As for equipment, people should buy what they can afford and work their way into higher end equipment if they wish to do so. Just because someone has a cheapo rod and reel matters not to the fish at all. It's how the equipment is used that catches the fish. The same goes for lures in many cases, not all, but many.

This high end equipment phenomena doesn't just happen with fishing gear, it's pervasive through out all types of sports and hobbies. I should now. I am into Cowboy Action Shooting and other shooting sports. The equipment race is incredible. It's human nature, especially male human nature.

Tom

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Norman said it, TIME ON THE WATER!

With a small arsenal of the basics as RW suggested, get out there and start experiencing.  This is the key,...getting out and doing it.  Every cast, you will be learning somthing, most times you won't even know it.  Before you know it, you'll develop Confidence, yes, actual confidence with certain baits and areas.  Now,..............this,.......... is just the beginning.

[Long Mike]

As a newbie I have been like a sponge, reading all of the beginner infomation provided at this site, plus every book I can get my hands on.  With this education, it took me no time at all to realize there is no BEST anything when it comes to bass fishing.  I suppose that's why BPS and Cabelas do so well.  The most important tackle related thing I have learned is that the quality of the rod makes a huge difference in sensitivity.  When I first became a member, I asked a question about my newly purchased Ugly Stick.  The responses were unanimous - throw/give it away.  Being a newbie I reaaly didn't know the meaning of rod sesitivity.  One of the senior members recommended a $300 GLoomis for the finesse plastic worm fishing that I plan on using for the first year or so of my bassing debut. Because neither my budget nor my ego would allow me to believe that there is any significant difference in rod sensitivity, I opted for a $100 St. Croix.  What a difference a rod makes!

[NATHAN_JAMES]

If at first you don't succeed; cast, cast again.  

[NATHAN_JAMES]

Oh and just to add my first fishing rod when i was 9 was a broom handle my cousin made me use with about 10 feet of line on it.  So I agree with RW, its not the rod the reel the line when your first starting out its how much you learn from trial and error.

[Guest avid]

no need at all for expensive equiptment, when I was younger with no cash my friend and I would go to the local pond, find a discarded line and hook, get a stick and catch a frog, let the frog swim around and get hammered on top. Tons of fun back then, back then? what am I talking about im only 20! haha

I gotta tell you, that does sound like alot of fun.

I would think catching the frog would be as much, if not more fun than catching bass