Just joined - Worst Bass fisherman of all time

[GristMill]

Hi guys,

I've recently got back into fishing this summer after a long hiatus.  I forgot how much I loved it.  The problem is, I have yet to catch a bass  :'(  I tell people "I'm going casting" because that's pretty much what I do.  I go with a friend about once or twice a month, and neither of us have caught a fish since August (although he had a monster about a foot from the boat and lost it on Lake Anna).  Oh, and those fish this summer were a few bluegill.  I live near DC and have fished Burke Lake, Lake Anna, the Potomac, and Pohick bay using jigs, cranks, spinners, plastic worms, live bait...Yamamoto worms haven't even worked.  I think I truly may be the worst fisherman of all time.

I'm hoping this site can help me out, but I don't even know what to begin to ask.  Are there any bass fishing classes offered within driving distance to DC?  A weekend trip to take one would be fine too.

I probably picked the worst time to join too with it being the first day of winter, haha.

-Grist

[senile1]

GristMill, I'm sure this site and the anglers in this forum, will be able to help you immensely.  Welcome to the forum.  Don't be too hard on yourself.  With persistence and applied logic, success will come.  

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

Start at the top with the "Beginners" section. We have a vast library on this site and you will learn far more by reading these the articles than you will from this Forum (at least initially).

[KU_Bassmaster.]

No you joined at a great time.  This is one of those places you can actually become a better fisherman and not even be on the water.  Read up and approach the spring with confidence.

If you're not catching much, I would suggest to go back to the basics.  Read the beginner articles on this site and go from there.  Something you don't understand than ask away.  There are a bunch of great members here that will be more than willing to get you squared away.

Welcome!!!!  and Good Luck!!!!!

[senile1]

GristMill,

What makes you think that just because you've joined this forum, you can now take away my coveted title?

[chs773]

welcome this is a great site and has helped me improve my fishing skills

[Guest avid]

Hey dude, welcome aboard.

Stick around and you will catch fish.

Best bet is to get a bag of 5" senko's (not wannabe's but actual GYCB senko)

Best all around color is watermelon/black but most dark colors are fine.

you didn't say if you were in a boat or not, so I'm going to assume your not.

The biggest mistake beginners make when bank fishing is to walk right up to the waters edge and heave a cast out into the middle.

Well guess what?  Bass feed in the shallows so you spooked bass that were likely easily catchable and cast into empty water.

When approaching a bank. stand back and cast the senko (no sinker) a couple of feet from the shoreline.  do this all up and down the available shore targeting pockets in weeds, lillypads, rocks, stikups and other fishy looking spots.  

Let the senko sink slowy on a semi slack line.  Concentrate on the line.  It it twitches, moves sideways, or stops before getting to the bottom.  Guess what? you got a bass on.   Crank out 99% of the slack and using a snap of the wrist motion set the hook.  No need to rush.  Bass hold on to Senko's.

best hooks to use are quality (Gammy, owner, mustad) 3/0 offset ewg worm hooks.  rig them weedless (t-rig). Best rod would be medium heavy, best line would be no lighter than 8 lb test. 12 is better.

Keep doing this and if there are bass in the lake you will catch some.

good luck and have fun,

avid

[Grey Wolf]

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! merry x-mas. Read the beginners articals and ask away.

[New 2 Bass]

Live bait didn't work  .  Must be a really tough lake.  Good luck man.

Al

[Hillbilly_Hooker]

Gristmill,

Welcome to the boards from another Virginian!  I'm sure you'll find lots of great information here, just as I have.  There are several Virginia members here, including several from the NoVa area.  Perhaps you can watch for their posts, introduce yourself, and hook up to go fishing.  Another thing you might consider is hiring one of the guides on Lake Anna to take you fishing for a day.  I'm sure you'll catch some fish and learn some new techniques in the meantime.  You might also plan on attending Bassarama in Richmond in late January.  It used to be a great fishing expo, lost some steam over the years, but has recently come under new ownership and a lot of us are hoping for better shows to come.  I'm sure you'll meet a lot of folks there that can give you some great pointers and they may be having some seminars as well.

Good luck and good fishing,

Hillbilly

[Redlinerobert]

Grist,

This is, with out a doubt, the best bass fishing site on the web.  There are some good people here, although the jury is still out on Avid

I recently joined also and am impressed with the brotherhood on this site.  Welcome.  

[MALTESE FALCON]

WELCOME ABOARD,

YOU'VE LANDED IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS. READ AS MANY ARTICLES AS YOU CAN AND ASK QUESTIONS. REMEMBER, THE ONLY "STUPID QUESTION" IS THE ONE YOU DON'T ASK.

THERE ARE ALOT OF GREAT FISHERMEN ON THIS SITE WILLING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

FALCON

[Pa Angler]

Welcome 8-)

[bow3022]

Don't worry gristmill, i once too was like that. But, Welcome!

[RiskKid.]

Welcome aboard GristMill!!!!

I'm not a very good fisherman either but am getting better due to the info I've received on this site.....it's all about getting out there and having fun anyway.....catchin em is the icing on the cake....uh I forgot thats the best part of the cake.....any way you will learn all sorts of stuff here and have alot of laughs along the way!

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Welcome, Welcome!!!!

[Hillbilly_Hooker]

GristMill,

I just sent you a PM about someone on another site looking for a partner on Lake Anna.

Hillbilly

[Panamoka_Bassin]

I'll just ditto everything above...but don't forget rule #1:  WE DO THIS BECAUSE ITS FUN!!!

[danbowhntr]

hello

i live south of DC also, i'm down in st marys county maryland and i have a local 250 acre lake that will let you catch a bass, stay in touch and we'll go. i also fish several places in virginia, believe me we will cure you of the non-catching-syndrom. all you will have to bring is your tackle i have one boat here and two in virginia beach.  everyone has a bad strech now and again and it doesn't mean you are a bad fisherman, if your fishing your not bad. i've had days i didn't catch anything and i've had days i fished hard all day and only got one small fish and thought i was terrible and i get back to the boat ramp and talk to other fisherman and they didn't catch anything so then my one fish looked pretty good. i'm 53 years old and i've been bass fishing since i was 6 years old and believe me they have been bad days and bad streches but i just put them behind me and go out the next time believing i'm going to have the best day ever. this is the best sport in the world and it changes all the time and there is always something more to learn, hang in there and we'll catch some fish.....have a nice Christmas

Danny

"Slug-go's rule"

[basspro48]

Welcome!!! It's great to see another fellow Virginian on the boards. Don't be to hard on yourself, the Potomac isn't exactly a fish factory and neither is "one fish Anna". There are a lot of great guys here and if you listen to their advice you'll be haulin em in everywhere.

[Long Mike]

Welcome, GristMill,

I too am a newbie after a long hiatus.  Here's my advice.  Read the Beginners articles - several times.  Go fishing.  When you get back, re-read the beginners articles and then the others.  Go fishing.  When you get back, read the "sticky" articles about Senkos, rods and reels.  Go fishing.  Do you get my drift?

I say this because I've been there, done that.  It's amazing how much a person forgets when he gets on the water.

Mike

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Hey Grist welcome to the boards maybe you and me can go dink fishin this summer. Thats my specialty

[Vyron]

welcome aboard ,u ll get em soon dont worry

[Alpster]

Welcome Grist,

Hang in there. The key to success is "begin to begin and keep on keeping on". There is a lot of good advice here.

Ronnie

[MattStrykul]

Hi guys,

I've recently got back into fishing this summer after a long hiatus. I forgot how much I loved it. The problem is, I have yet to catch a bass :'( I tell people "I'm going casting" because that's pretty much what I do. I go with a friend about once or twice a month, and neither of us have caught a fish since August (although he had a monster about a foot from the boat and lost it on Lake Anna). Oh, and those fish this summer were a few bluegill. I live near DC and have fished Burke Lake, Lake Anna, the Potomac, and Pohick bay using jigs, cranks, spinners, plastic worms, live bait...Yamamoto worms haven't even worked. I think I truly may be the worst fisherman of all time.

I'm hoping this site can help me out, but I don't even know what to begin to ask. Are there any bass fishing classes offered within driving distance to DC? A weekend trip to take one would be fine too.

I probably picked the worst time to join too with it being the first day of winter, haha.

-Grist

hey,

I live in the DC area as well, arlington actually. What about you? I've fished burke lake twice this year. Got skunked once and the other time I caught 1 dink. That place is a bit over fished imo. I fish at gaston alot, but I've been to anna. Do you fish on the private side or the public side?