Rookie Question

[bferg]

20 minutes ago, Quillback said:

Seeing Bo's post reminds me of something else, if I am vertical fishing for bass, I try to keep my bait in front of the boat, or to put it another way, I try not to fish a spot after my boat has drifted over it.  I'm pretty convinced that the boat, or it's shadow, when passing over the fish, spooks them.  

I think this is 100% true- even in deep water.  I try to stay away from drifting right over the fish.  

I also try to find "active" fish vs. less active.  I am not just looking to mark fish but looking for streaks that indicate they are moving around a bit and I am looking for bait and/or structure very near them.  

This time of  year, if I see a group of fish and they don't bite a jig, a drop shot, deep crank, or swimbait then I move on.  Those are my confidence baits and if I can't get them to bite that buffet in maybe 15 minutes or so then I move on...but I always remember the spot and come back to it later.  I am not saying that is the RIGHT way to do it.. just how I go about it.  I am sure someone else could pull up next to me doing something slightly different and start catching them.  But I have 10,000 options in my tackle box and about 5 or 6 ways I actually want to/feel like I CAN catch them.  I am not going to sit there and burn my prime fishing time on fish with lock jaw.  Converse is also true- if I get bit on a spot I am not leaving for anything.  

[Lake Lover]

2 hours ago, Quillback said:

One thing to remember is that it is August, and I know for me this is always the toughest month to fish.  

I'm a daytime fisherman, I like to get out first thing and fish until 1030 or so.  There is an early bite, at least there has been the last couple of times I was out, and I'll try different locations looking for fish.  I won't spend too much time on any one spot if I'm not seeing fish or not getting bites, there's just not enough prime fishing time in the AM to spend time beating unproductive water.  Keep an eye open for bass chasing shad on the surface too, I haven't seen a lot of that myself, but when I do it tells me where there are active fish, and they usually aren't loners this time of year.

Drop shot should work, I'd try finesse type worms, like Zoom Finesse worms, Robo worms, or GY Cut Tails.  I don't like fishing bait for bass, nothing against others doing it, but I might be tempted to send down a night crawler on a drop shot if I was seeing fish but not getting bites.  

Don't overlook docks either.  

 

 

That's another thing that confused me a bit as I had several areas where they would be busting on top early but the ones like on mo huzgrs pic were just not interested.  

The docks are another spot I should probably try more also. 

Thanks 

[m&m]

3 hours ago, Lake Lover said:

 

Thanks for reply and tips i really appreciate it!     Thank You also to all the guy's on here that contribute info and tips as well so that beginners like myself can stand a chance! 

Counting down the last few years before i can retire and hopefully spend a lot more time on the water! 

 

 

Here’s my 2 cents worth....I love to fish so I try to go to a new spot each time out. I try to use the electronics to locate fish and baitfish. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. Fishing to me is like the cake, catching is like the icing on the cake. So for me it is a mindset. Anytime on the water spent fishing is a good time. I try to appreciate it every time. But I agree that this OA forum has helped me understand this lake a lot better. I wish I had Bo’s courage to fish at night but maybe I will this fall after the pleasure boaters dry dock their rigs. In the meantime, I enjoy the fishing and get really excited during the catching part (if it happens).

Mike

[Lake Lover]

Mike 

I totally agree, anytime on the water is time well spent and I enjoy just being out there fishing.  

I do catch myself sometimes getting a little frustrated then I sit back and look at this beautiful lake and smile and go right back to chasing them.  I think and hope it will be even better once I retire and have more time to fish as now it is just a scheduled time that I can sneak away and knowing I wont be back for a few weeks is the worse part but it's all good.  🙂

Lots of good info and suggestions on this thread, I appreciate it very much.

Thanks! 

[Quillback]

49 minutes ago, Lake Lover said:

That's another thing that confused me a bit as I had several areas where they would be busting on top early but the ones like on mo huzgrs pic were just not interested.  

The docks are another spot I should probably try more also. 

Thanks 

Are they busting on small shad?  If so, try a small spoon, like a 1/4 oz Kastmaster or a 1/2 oz jigging spoon.  You have to be fast, cast it right to the boil as soon as you can, let the spoon sink for a 1/2 to one second,then give it a rip.  Rip and drop back to the boat.  

I like to spray paint the flat side of a silver Kastmaster white - I use Krylon spray paint - and hang a #6 feathered treble on the back.  I use 5 lb. Maxima on a light spinning set up.  They aren't named Kastmaster for nothing, you can launch that 1/4 oz with the right tackle.

[crazy4fishin]

I would take what Bo, Quill and M&M said and work all of that into an overall plan......like you I had a tendency to spend to much time in one spot while "thinking" there are Bass under the boat!!

Today I do try different baits, presentations and depths while fishing. Then set an internal time and leave going to a new place.   

Through the forum and other sites I developed a better understanding of what my expensive time and water temp devices were really telling me!! 

C4F

[AR Huzgr]

16 minutes ago, Lake Lover said:

Mike 

I totally agree, anytime on the water is time well spent and I enjoy just being out there fishing.  

I do catch myself sometimes getting a little frustrated then I sit back and look at this beautiful lake and smile and go right back to chasing them. 

Agree 100% - even though I could have used all this great advice a week ago   this was my view Weds morning as I was the only one out there at that time.

[NuB2TR]

This thread is an example of why I check this forum every morning.  It amazes me that so many folks are so willing to help the struggling anglers like me to get better.  Thank You all !!

[Lake Lover]

14 hours ago, Quillback said:

Are they busting on small shad?  If so, try a small spoon, like a 1/4 oz Kastmaster or a 1/2 oz jigging spoon.  You have to be fast, cast it right to the boil as soon as you can, let the spoon sink for a 1/2 to one second,then give it a rip.  Rip and drop back to the boat.  

I like to spray paint the flat side of a silver Kastmaster white - I use Krylon spray paint - and hang a #6 feathered treble on the back.  I use 5 lb. Maxima on a light spinning set up.  They aren't named Kastmaster for nothing, you can launch that 1/4 oz with the right tackle.

I would call them fairly large, at least the ones i've seen lately look to be probably about 3" long. Pretty comical watching those come up out of the water then the bass is right on his *&%.

The spoon is something else i haven't used much.  Iv'e tried it in a vertical drop just jigging but that's about it. That's another very good option i will try. 

Thank Quill!

[Lake Lover]

14 hours ago, crazy4fishin said:

I would take what Bo, Quill and M&M said and work all of that into an overall plan......like you I had a tendency to spend to much time in one spot while "thinking" there are Bass under the boat!!

Today I do try different baits, presentations and depths while fishing. Then set an internal time and leave going to a new place.   

Through the forum and other sites I developed a better understanding of what my expensive time and water temp devices were really telling me!! 

C4F

I think you are 110% correct.  Their is a ton of good info here i can use to develop a (new) game plan.  I guess one good thing about being a rookie is, i haven't had enough  time on the water to develop any bad habits that don't work yet, so i can just toss them all aside and start doing it the right way.  

Next project is learning more about my electronics than just how to use the power button!  

Thanks!