Some help for a new guy!

generalbegg · February 09, 2009, 07:02:52 PM

Just wanted to say hi to everyone and ask a couple of questions. I have been lurking around here for a while and finally decided to get registered! I have been reading a ton of threads and I guess I am just getting confused. This will be my first season really concentrating on bass and what I really need is a list of techniques that I should be learing from easiest to most advanced. I just bought a G Loomis SBR812 spinnerbait rod, Extra Fast action, Med Power and a pflueger president bait cast reel. I also have a St. Croix Premier that is a MH, Fast Action with a Revo S reel. I was hoping someone could give me a list of things that I should learn\buy before things thaw out here in the frozen north. List of tackle? Techniques? Places to find them? As a Walleye and Pike guy this is going to be a bit a of a change for me but I am way pumped up to get out there! Any help at all would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Lee Smith · February 09, 2009, 07:08:57 PM

First, Welcome Aboard!

I think you'll find being a member and posting is much more fun than just lurking on the sides.

There are 100's of threads on techniques from all over the country and a few from other countries here at UB!

I know the fishing is totally different up there than down here, and we have a ton of members up north, they will chime in soon.

Again, Welcome and if your ever coming down South, let me know and I'll load you up with ideas

But no matter what or where, a jig man will catch fish

Lee

Unholy_Fury · February 09, 2009, 07:15:32 PM

welcome aboard! Like Lsmith said a jig will always catch some bass.

I recommend this to all starting bass anglers.

1.) Get some soft plastic worms, epically some senkos
2.) Be sure to pick up some texas rig hooks and sinkers
3.) Crankbaits- be sure to have shallow, medium and deep varieties
4.) I personally enjoy topwater fishing so maybe acouple of those (poppers, cigar baits, buzzbaits)
5.) Have fun!

feel free to ask questions

generalbegg · February 09, 2009, 07:24:17 PM

Here is a question then. Did I make a mistake by not buying a rod intended for jigs? Will the rod/reel combos I picked up do the trick for the majority of bass tactics or should I get somthing else also, somthing more sensative??

Unholy_Fury · February 09, 2009, 07:29:14 PM

u have enough rods to cover most bass fishing situations. U really dont need a rod for each kind of bait unless u are a serious tournament angler. I compete in some tournaments and i only have 4 rods so dont worry about it.

Bassfan17 · February 09, 2009, 07:43:18 PM

welcome to the site

and hey i fish a lot of platics and you should definatly pick up some 4inch senkos my favorite color for everything is greenpumpkin and rig those on a 1/0 hook rig them texas just fish them super slow lift your rod lower it then wait sometimes if you dead stick it it is really productive also 1/4 ounce rattle trap in a blue back with silver sides orange belly really productive for me then i like to texas rig a worm and fish that really slow just drag across the bottom that always gets them my favorite worms are zoom ss+u tail worm and berkley power worm want to try the culprit worms but havent yet anyways pitch them into weedy structures and just drag out in the summer bass like to sit on the edges of weedbeds and docks so pitch under them with a senko should get them that way then fish the channel edges the bait fish will get up there to get warm bass follow

what type of cover are you fishing if you are fishing the sandy or rocky fish the drop shot oh another way to rig the senko is wacky works great and then drop shot a 3berkley bass minnow pearl olive shad i will post a pic of my favorite tube color its called the j b special do you have a sportsmans warehouse where you live?

[attachment deleted by admin]

pawpaw · February 09, 2009, 07:46:06 PM

You didn't give the length of the St Croix Premier MH, but if it is 61/2 ft. or longer it should work just fine for jigs. Myself I would want at least 4 rods, 1 for jigs and plastics, 1for crankbaits, 1 for topwater and spinnerbaits and 1for Sinkos. You will probably get a lot of different answers on this though.

generalbegg · February 09, 2009, 08:01:24 PM

Quote from: Bassfan17 on February 09, 2009, 07:43:18 PM
welcome to the site and hey i fish a lot of platics and you should definatly pick up some 4inch senkos my favorite color for everything is greenpumpkin and rig those on a 1/0 hook rig them texas just fish them super slow lift your rod lower it then wait sometimes if you dead stick it it is really productive also 1/4 ounce rattle trap in a blue back with silver sides orange belly really productive for me then i like to texas rig a worm and fish that really slow just drag across the bottom that always gets them my favorite worms are zoom ss+u tail worm and berkley power worm want to try the culprit worms but havent yet anyways pitch them into weedy structures and just drag out in the summer bass like to sit on the edges of weedbeds and docks so pitch under them with a senko should get them that way then fish the channel edges the bait fish will get up there to get warm bass follow

what type of cover are you fishing if you are fishing the sandy or rocky fish the drop shot oh another way to rig the senko is wacky works great and then drop shot a 3berkley bass minnow pearl olive shad i will post a pic of my favorite tube color its called the j b special do you have a sportsmans warehouse where you live?

Most of the cover I get is lilly pads and reeds. I do target some millweed patches in the bays when looking for muskies and pike and every once and a while pull out a large mouth. Somtimes I do encounter some rocks and sandy points but of the 100 or so lakes within the 50 miles where I live are mostly big bowls with weedy edges. No "backwater" areas to speak of. But.. a lot of docks. Never really given them thought. As for the j b special would you rig that with a jig head? Texas style?

Thanks!

generalbegg · February 09, 2009, 08:03:02 PM

Quote from: pawpaw on February 09, 2009, 07:46:06 PM
You didn't give the length of the St Croix Premier MH, but if it is 61/2 ft. or longer it should work just fine for jigs. Myself I would want at least 4 rods, 1 for jigs and plastics, 1for crankbaits, 1 for topwater and spinnerbaits and 1for Sinkos. You will probably get a lot of different answers on this though.

Yep you are spot on! My Premire is a 6'6". Could you elaborate on what size, power and action I might need for each of those tactics?

Thanks!

pawpaw · February 09, 2009, 08:47:26 PM

general this is just my oponion and it varies from one person to another especially the length. You can fish jigs and plastics on the rod you have allthough I like a 7ft. For spinnerbaits and topwater I like a 6ft. M, it is easier to work a topwater with a shorter rod and you can make more accurate cast to cover. For Sincos I like a 7ft MH with a fairly soft tip. For crankbaits I like a 61/2M with a slow tip. Most people use a 7ft. or longer for crankbaits. Again this is just my oponion and you will figure out over time what works best for you.

tmiller2 · February 10, 2009, 08:37:06 AM

the size of the rods you use for certain applications really comes down to preference IMO for instance wish spinnerbaits i usually use a 7ft MH to make long casts over flats and other areas when searching for fish...but i will go to a 6'3" mh if i put a spinnerbait pattern together and want to make more casts with a little bit more accuracy....

you say that there are a lot of docks...then a jig and senko will be good for ya....for the milfoil texas rigged plastics should do the trick...maybe even a worm on a jighead...and for the pads and reeds you might wanna try some braided line and frogs..if you fish these a lot you might want to get a 7-7'6" mh-H to pull them out

the more you are out on the water with the equiptment you have the better idea you will get as far as what rod reel and line combo's you want to use for different applications....i think its all a learning process...

Jeremiah · February 10, 2009, 11:15:46 AM

Welcome aboard

I found that using the same brand of rods and reels you get a more comfortable feel for them, Just love my G Loomis rods very exspensive but well worth the money.

scottemory72 · February 10, 2009, 01:42:50 PM

You can go with the basics and catch plenty of bass. All of us get caught up in the newest techniques and lures, but sometimes it's great to go back to the beginning with what you first used. For me it was spinnerbaits, crankbaits, topwater (chug bugs, pop r, zara spooks) buzzbaits, frogs, and definately texas rigged plastics. Up in MN I think tubes would be perfect. You should learn to fish a jig down the road, because you will catch fish year around on them. You can't go wrong with crankbaits when you're just starting out, their easy to use, their not boring, and they catch fish! Good luck!

Joshawa · February 10, 2009, 03:41:55 PM

You can't go wrong with some weightless soft plastics on a 4/0 EWG. Most people will suggest you use at least some form of senko and I would tend to agree. But I must at least give a nod to my old stand-by which is a 7" Berkley powerworm. They are cheap, durable, and will catch fish.

You can round out your bass arsenal with a couple of different size crankbaits, a couple white/chart spinnerbaits, various jigs in both black/blue and also natural colors like brown and green, and a couple top water lures for good measure. Maybe a bronzeye and a chart. buzzbait.

That would be what I would set up any new bass fisherman in my neck of the woods with.

AKangler · February 10, 2009, 03:50:46 PM

No one has said anything about soft jerkbaits like my alltime favorite the zoom super fluke. Very versatile (can fish it topwater, suspended or deep) and will catch bass spring, summer and fall.

wvbassangler · February 10, 2009, 04:15:08 PM

Quote from: Unholy_Fury on February 09, 2009, 07:15:32 PM
welcome aboard! Like Lsmith said a jig will always catch some bass.

I recommend this to all starting bass anglers.

1.) Get some soft plastic worms, epically some senkos
2.) Be sure to pick up some texas rig hooks and sinkers
3.) Crankbaits- be sure to have shallow, medium and deep varieties
4.) I personally enjoy topwater fishing so maybe acouple of those (poppers, cigar baits, buzzbaits)
5.) Have fun!

feel free to ask questions

I secound what he said

generalbegg · February 10, 2009, 06:05:37 PM

OK you guys this is great! Do you have any idea how big my shopping cart at Bass Pro shops is right now!!

All kidding aside this is great info and exactly what I was looking for, but don't think you are getting off that easy, I have more questions! It seems everyone agrees that senkos should be in my tacklebox and to rig them weightless with a EWG. What exactly is an EWG?? My guess is that is is a special hook made for plastics? Next question. AKangler suggested a soft jerkbait vs. a hard jerkbait. Are there instances where you would use one and not the other or is it personal preferance? Also, when tossing spinnerbaits to you vary the retreive speed? I mean do you crank 3 times then pause and let the lure fall a little and the crank, or do you do a steady retreive like a crankbait and just vary the speed at which you retrieve?

Thanks for all of the help so far guys, I really appreciate it!

generalbegg · February 10, 2009, 06:12:04 PM

Oh and I forgot to ask, are there any tackle shops online that are the definitive place to shop, or is BPS the place to be?

Thanks

Joshawa · February 10, 2009, 06:13:05 PM

EWG is just an extra wide gap. I use 4/0 gamakatsu EWG for most weightless plastic applications.

AKangler · February 10, 2009, 08:09:55 PM

There is a post further down about working the super fluke in a wide variety of ways. White pearl, albino and baby bass are the only three colors I carry, and the versatility makes it superior to the hard jerkbait.

iClass · February 10, 2009, 11:00:35 PM

The most important piece of equipment you need is also the least expensive and easiest to obtain. You don't need to worry about colors, weights, length(s) or anything like that.

Find yourself a notebook, and an ink pen or pencil.

Keep a log of each and every fishing trip. It doesn't have to be extremely detailed but all details help.
Include the date. Time of day (each fish caught) Water Temp, water clarity, weather conditions, wind direction/speed, bait used, color used, line wt, rod info, reel info, what you feel you did correctly that day and what you feel you did wrong.

You will be surprised how quickly you will accumulate information

to help you bag the hog your looking for and all for under a 5 bucks!

generalbegg · February 11, 2009, 07:57:11 AM

Quote from: iClass on February 10, 2009, 11:00:35 PM
The most important piece of equipment you need is also the least expensive and easiest to obtain. You don't need to worry about colors, weights, length(s) or anything like that.

Find yourself a notebook, and an ink pen or pencil.

Keep a log of each and every fishing trip. It doesn't have to be extremely detailed but all details help.
Include the date. Time of day (each fish caught) Water Temp, water clarity, weather conditions, wind direction/speed, bait used, color used, line wt, rod info, reel info, what you feel you did correctly that day and what you feel you did wrong.

You will be surprised how quickly you will accumulate information to help you bag the hog your looking for and all for under a 5 bucks!

You know, this is a very good point. I am an avid bowhunter and keep a log of every outing and encounter. Wind, temp, moon phase, deer movments ext. You are right, it dosn't take long at all before you compile a ton of data!