Sept 6-Beginner Bass Fishing tips

[Warpath]

I would explain all the different terminal tackle:  hooks, weights, swivels, leaders, etc.

Eric

[Ouachita]

I teach fishing to hundreds of campers fishing for the first time. They usually show up with cheap gear, but that's OK. I can work with that and they'll catch fish on that. The single most helpful tip that gets them going quickly is speed of bait presentation and getting it to the right depth.

[Ouachita]

I explain there are two basic categories of natural forage movements. One is the crawling or climbing critter, like leeches, crayfish, insects & their nymphs, "worms", etc. that travel at painfully slow speeds.

[Ouachita]

The second is the swimming critter, like shad, minnows, bream, lizards, frogs, mice and other critters that live in or fall into the water that bass often are willing to chase down. If an imitator bait is presented the way the imitated critter moves their chances of tricking a bass will improve many fold.

[Ouachita]

I'd try to get a newby going using a plastic worm fished very slowly, rigged Texas style. Once they catch a few bass on that any other bait will produce.  I would introduce jigs next as a blend of the two categories, imitating a crayfish crawling then scooting at high speed, using both creeping and swimming modes. It's less boring than sticking with slow-crawled plastic worms, and once they learn the feel of a subtle bite, they will be encouraged to expand into other bait types with high confidence.

[Ouachita]

It's important for a newby to learn where to find bass. Most will begin just casting into any water hoping a bass will come along and bite. That's a recipe for failure and discouragement. The whole idea of the T-rigged worm is to put it where it seems impossible to get back. I show them to get to the back of that cove instead of the mouth of it or along a long flat shoreline. Cast to a piece of submerged tree top or bush, below a steep shoreline ledge, next to a boulder. I show them to cast parallel to the shoreline inside a submerged vegetation bed, even if they only have a few feet of water to work with. If in a boat they can also fish the outside edges wherever there's an irregularity in the edge. The more trouble they can get that worm in the better. They'll hang up more, but they need to realize early on effective angling requires taking risk.

[Ouachita]

Sometimes I'll be greeted while on patrol with a complaint they hooked some fish but kept breaking the line. That's when they pay better attention to improving knots, using the right line, the right rod & reel. Giving them pointers on all that before they realize the need of paying attention to that overwhelms most with too much information. So I recommend one line type/size, one knot demonstrated to them, and one rod/reel combo best suited for the conditions. They'll rush off to town to get that combo, that line, and will use that knot. Eventually they realize it's all a lot like an auto mechanic not using the same wrench for all repairs.

[Ouachita]

To me the next lesson to give them is landing a bass, either at the shoreline or boat. They need to learn to lip a bass properly at a boat, or pull a bass over a net at the shoreline or boatside. The biggest mistake I see at the shoreline is dragging a bass up. Once that fish has leverage against the bottom it'll likely flop off. I show them to lay the net in a deeper hole near shore and learn to guide the bass over it, then lift it out.

[Ouachita]

If the camper is still around after a few days of fishing soft plastics I'll introduce them to topwater baits for low light hours in the back of the cove. The main lesson is waiting for the line to load up before trying to set a hook. Anybody can cast and let sit a topwater bait. Eventually they can learn to "walk the dog" with a stickbait. But even seasoned anglers not used to topwater fishing can fail to gain patience in letting a bass fully mouth a topwater bait and clamp down on it before crossing its eyes with a soild sweep. Once they catch a bas that way they will listen to pointers about mono line being best, braid second, carbon line the last choice. They will then listen to suggestions about rod/reel combos, fiberglass or carbon rod, changing lure size & color according to conditions, how to select a lure to match surface conditions, etc..

Well, gotta get ready for work. I'll try to rejoin here later this evening. Have fun.

Jim

[OHbassaholic]

I always give new bassers my card and point out UB.com and OGF.com for them to check out.  I have had many come back letting me know the sites have helped them out tremendously.

[Buzzman]

Start out with two basic lures: plastic worm and a topwater popper.

[pegleg]

The new fisherman needs to be taught what kind of terminal tackle to use and how to tie good knots. Always wet the knot before tightening.

[Buzzman]

Before buying a bait casting reel, try a left handed retrieve. If your comfortable with the left handed retrieve you won't have to switch hands after the cast and be immediately ready for a hookset.

[Buzzman]

Start out with two colors in plastics, black and watermellon.

[pegleg]

I would teach the newby how to find points,edges and what weeds fish hang around.

[Buzzman]

Learn the underhand roll cast

[Buzzman]

Practice pitchin'.

[Buzzman]

Use Megastrike on your plastics.

[pegleg]

I would addvise the new fisherman to spend a few more bucks to get a quality rod and reel combo. Nothing is more frustrating to a person trying to learn than junk fishin gear that wont cast right.

[Mike Noble]

Get out in the back yard...front yard...or wherever and practice casting and pitching.

[Mike Noble]

Start out with a few basic baits and go from there.  Having too much of a variety at first can be frustrating...deciding what to throw.

[elmerp]

I would encourage them to attend any bass fishing seminars/classes in their area.

[OHbassaholic]

I try to get folks kicked off with worms and crankbaits.  The techniques are vast and you can start out easily with these lures and still be growing with them for years to come.

[elmerp]

Read some books on bass fishing/techniques

[elmerp]

Talk with a family member or good friend that bass fishes