How do you catch 'em?

[eulerentinc]

Alright, im sure some of the answers will be long but im interested in how other people approach a piece of water they have never seen before in order to catch fish?  Im not saying a limit of 15 inchers or anything, im just saying how do you catch fish on a piece of water you have never seen in your life?  Do you take the weather in to concern?  What baits do you use?  Does the time of year determine your approach?  Thanks for your help!!

[Catt]

Any time, any place, Texas Rigged Plastic  

[Gotta Love It]

12" Swimbait  ;D  j/k

There are soooo many factors that would determine your approach!  I would think a specific situation would get you better answers.  

[eulerentinc]

must be, im getting no love here!!

[Panamoka_Bassin]

Yeah, don't take it personally, but you've asked a very broad question, so the best I can do is give some very broad answers.  First, if I'm in a boat I'll take a different approach than if I'm shore casting.  The weather certainly will make a difference a to where I start, more specifically, the wind plays into my attack plan.  Many people on this site will say differently, but I am a fiwm believer in fishing the leeward side of a lake rather than the windward side.  From there, I'm looking for points, lay downs, trees, bushes, anything that will provide cover for bass.  After that, it depends on the time of year as to which bait I'll choose, but it will generally include a t-rigged worm or other soft plastic, or a lipless crank to get some ideas at to where the fish are.  If after 10 minutes or so and I don't get a bite, I'll move on to another spot.

Like I said, this is a very broad answer, but with more specifics I could give some better answers...

[Fish Chris]

Since it is a broad question, I will answer will answer broadly;

Patience, Persistence, and Perseverence.

As for baits;

The Hud 80%

Any small soft plastic (usually the Basstrix Bluegill, but not that critrical) for Spring sight fishing 10%

And finally, live bait for a big cruiser (crawlers or dads) 10% {I love fishing live bait, and would like to do it more often, but artificial lures most often make it "easier" to stick big bass}

Peace,

Fish

[martijw]

First and foremost, i highly recommend looking at your states DNR reports and getting some basic idea of the fishing reports.  I know Ohio, my state, has a really nice DNR site which includes the main fishing waters and the main species in the waters along with small, but readable contour maps.  So you might start out there.  However, if you cant find much, find a local tackle shop by the water you fish and ask away.  Most of them are pretty resourceful and usually sell tackle that works in those waters.

Secondly, what I do is actually go the water and drive around it if I can and just look for the most generic cliche spots you usually catch fish.  IE overhang, rocky shoreline, points, fingers and so on.

Other than that, you just need to get your butt on the water and try things out, but but basic info will help a lot!! ;D

[BD]

Go to the N/NW portion of the lake. Try and find grass ON the bank or growing CLOSE to the bank. (You can do this with texas rigged worms with heavy sinkers to catch the grass.) Can't find grass, then find COVER and shade on the bank somewhere. (Boat docks for example) Cast a worm by the shaded side or up on the bank at laydowns (bushes, sticks, branches in the water etc)

There will always be shallow bass, and they will be on some of this cover. Water clarity will affect lure selection (or it does for me anyways.) Use something with vibration for 'stained' water. (Cranks, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits etc.)

How big is the pond/lake? Does it have any of the above COVER? Are there main points you can see, OR, from the bank see where a point could be? Do you see old car trails that lead to the waters edge? This could be an old road bed, fish those.

[eulerentinc]

thanks for the info guys!! i appreciate it!