Lochloosa Southern Fishing Pier 12/3/23

[JohnFLA]

I am delighted to announce that I am now a bass fisherman.  After 11 failed attempts a Laochloos, Orange, and Santa Fe lakes, I finally caught a bass from the fishing pier on the south side.  It was 7:10 this morning and on my third cast with a beetle spin with white body and yellow paddle tail, the beast struck.  I looked like Will Ferrel in Elf when I realized I had a fish.  Since I am a noob at bass fishing, I have a tackle box filled with every technique shown on YouTube but I start with the beetle spin because I caught a fish on one back 40 years ago when I was 17. Ha ha. 

Not five minutes later, I had tangled my reel. While I was clearing that, the line took off.  I hooked a strange catfish sort of thing.  It picked the motionless beetle spin off the lake bed.  This thing has razor sharp tiny teeth.

With the experience of 2 fish I grew arrogant and managed to get all of my beetle spins caught in the lily pads.  I switched to a yellow road runner and on the first cast I landed a small crappie.

A few other details, the air temp was 71 with fog.  There was an approaching rain shower but there was almost no wind.  A white lure put in the water was only visible for the first foot.  I come from Denver where the lake fishing isn't very good so to help the walleye, many of us have gone to barbless hooks.  All three of these fish today were barbless and I've had no lost fish since becoming a bass fisherman.  I'll keep records to see if it makes a difference with jumpy bass.

Thanks,
John

[Capt. BassinLou]

Congrats on your catch! Thank you for sharing your story with us.

[Captsteve]

Congratulations

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

[FlatsNBay]

Congrats. Every fish caught is a great one.

[big g]

Congrats my friend.    Nothing beats time on the water for honing your skills.  Try some plastics like senko's and zoom flukes they catch bass all over this country.  Personal fav color is watermelon red in both.  Use a light bullet weight like a 1/32, or 1/16.  Fish it slow and let it tickle the bottom.  If that doesnt work throw it along the thick weed edges.  Good luck.