Need advice

[Itchin to go]

Hi everyone, I've been reading everyday here for quite awhile and thought i'd make my first post and ask for a little help.

I've been a "pick a lure and throw it" average bass fisherman for a long time now fishing the last few years with my son out of a 14' v-bottom, back when I was in high school I worked at a bait shop and fished a little more seriously with my boss and even fished some small tournys, but that was 12 yrs ago and I forgot everything I knew.

I want to become a better fisherman this year, it looks like I might be picking up a '92 Bass Cat Pantera2 next weekend(should be little easier to fish out of than the 14 footer)

Now to my question....Where do I start? I was thinking of picking just a couple different lure types and just working on them lures all year long, for example for a basic start i'd pick a spinnerbait and even if it wasnt the best choice, it would be my primary bait for a few weeks and I would eat,sleep,and breathe spinnerbaits until I was comfortable to move on to my next lure, like say shallow cranks.

Sound like a good start or any one got any better idea's? I'll stop for now, sorry it was so long.

Ryan   

[Skip Johnson]

That isnt a bad idea and maybe that will work for you but I would learn to fish a type of cover or area more than just focusing on one lure for example lets say your fishing lk st clair and you can see a rock reff surrounded by weeds if you throw nothing but a spinner bait on it you might pick off a couple reaction strikes but what about the fish that dont want to chase something down? sometimes the fish that dont want to chase a bait will eat a jig tube worm or even a jerk bait presented slower or deeper.
I would recomend keeping at least 3 to 4 rods tied on with different baits and find what you and the fish like best for that spot that day.

[bosshawg]

itchin to go - i like that......welcome!

try a couple of searchin' lures not just one. spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jerk baits, etc. start the shallows, work to the first drop offs. then got to try some plastics - tubes, senkos - can't do no wrong. get some of the main colors you here the forum usin'. your on your way.
take 3-4 rods that you favor including at least a spin outfit for the diff set-ups.
get to know the new boat......nothin' beats on water learning. from there then its wide open for ya. structure fishing, drifting, "draggin", pitchin, flippin', skippin' - you name it.

enjoy and good luck.

[Genie]

You are definitely on the right track with your approach.  When I was starting out, it was extremely overwhelming all the baits, lines, rods, reels, etc.  Plus all the different pieces of advice on methods, strategies, etc.  WOW - my head actually hurts thinking about that right now ...  I remember when a short, Skeeter owner, large mouth, dirt pusing member of this board decided to SHOW me how to fish a jerkbait like he does.  It's impossible to completely learn when someone shows you something.  So, after a couple of frustrating trips with the jerkbait - using it and putting it down after 5 minutes - then going back to my old stanbyes, I realized that I needed to work on it so I could increase my confidence.

I took every rod out of my boat and all my tackles except for a box of jerkbaits and my jerkbait rod.  I went to mone of my favorite lakes and proceeded to spend the next 10 hours in sheer agony ... it was the good kind of agony though because I got to FEEL for myself what he as trying to TELL me.  I now consider myself a pretty good jerkbait fisherman and it is now one of the baits that I have the most confidence in.

The most important thing to remember is to take the advice from this forum - (and there will be a ton of REAL/USEFUL/DEAD-ON advice as these guys are extremely accomplished fishermen) - and use it for yourself. You have get the feel of what it is like dragging a tube accross bouldes with gobies nipping at it.  You have to get a feel for slow-rolling a spinnerbait just above the weeds until the blade goes dead.  You have to understand from your own experiences what the term "pulling a pencil" means when working a jerkbait.  You ahve so set you own limits as to what "feels heavy" means when fishing a senko.

You are definitely in the right place to get the great advice to start learning - again.

Good luck and welcome back.

-Genie

[DennisB.]

I would aproach learning from a seasonal standpoint, Foucus on lures that you know work in spring,summer,fall. also I would focus on presentation more than lure. I would do a ton of research and find out equipment type and line size and type, what kind of rod gives the maximum lure action and sensitivity required to detect the slightest bites or when using a crank bait the abilitiy to set a hook without ripping it out of there mouths. It's an exciting time, have fun with it and take a kid with ya.

BTW a pantera II is a sweet boat, Basscats customer service is top notch even if you buy used they still treat you well. If I didn't have the champ I would be in a cat for sure

[LGMOUTH]

 I for one would pick a lure that works well and master it. As Genie was nice enough to point out I throw a Jerkbait all year long. I know most people throw a Jerkbait in the spring but that's about it. I have learned how and where to use the Jerkbait thoughout the summer and it pays off time and time again. Most of this is confidence from learning this bait inside and out. Of course I use other lures not just the Jerkbait, but for the most part I only use about 4 different lures thoughout the year, this lets me focus on the presentation of each lure and I have total confidence in each and every one. I believe being confident in a lure is more important than a specific lure or color at a specific time and place. If you are confident in a lure you will spend more time with it in the water and catch more fish.

I think the worst thing to do is have a tackle box full of different lures and switch every 5 minutes because the fish aren't biting that one. This comes back to the confidence in that lure, If you spend some quality time with each lure and learn it inside out you will have more success.

And Genie has become pretty good with the Jerkbait but he still cant keep up with me..

[Genie]

And Genie has become pretty good with the Jerkbait but he still cant keep up with me..

You have taught me well master don ...

[joshimoto son]

Great replies fellas!

Itchen to Go,

I was in your shoes five years ago, and knowing now what I did not know then, if I had asked your same question, I wished someone would have told me the following.

It goes along with what DennisB had to say. Seasonal Patterns. Just like in any sport, a person can develop bad habits, and bad habits can be hard to break as we all know. My bad habbit... I learned to become a spot fisherman, not a pattern fisherman.

What does that mean? I would go looking for spots that just looked like they should be loaded with fish. Not paying attention to why fish might be there. It did nothing for me in terms of being able to eliminate water based on seasonal patterns. End result. I wasted a lot of time and was not educating myself on the "how to's" and "what for's". When I came off the lake, I learned nothing that I could apply to other bodies of water.

If I caught fish, all I walked away with was a spot on that lake, no other knowledge that would help me in the future.

My advice... fish with a purpose.
If you plan on going out, do some research, read a couple articles and get an idea of what kind of things (structure, water depth... so on) that you are going to want to find before you even hit the lake. Keep doing that everytime you go out. Eventually, it will become second nature and finding fish will become much easier. And then... duplicating places on the lake will be much easier, which will put even more fish in the boat for you. This will allow you to walk away from a lake that will do more than just give you a spot or two.

It will also give you "applications skills". Just being able to apply what you've learned, and make adjustments accordingly, will make you a more consistent fisherman.

I give you this advice not because I think mine is better than the others. I do this because it is the mistake I made. I did not ask the right questions to the right people. Each of these replies are all equally important and valuable.

Clear as mud? That's a lot of information, I know... but it will get you started in the right direction.

Good luck and welcome to the board!

joshimoto son

[bshaner]

And this is why I have to start paying to fish with Joshimoto.  We would be fools not commit everything he just wrote to memory.

B

[smbassman]

Well, you've started out with 2 perfect decisions so far.  Buying a BassCat and coming here for help.  I don't have much more to add than what was listed above, but like was mentioned before -   Try to understand the fish first.  Where do they go at certain times of the year and under certain weather patterns.  This will get you in the right areas and that is usually the biggest challenge.  Now start learning different types of lures that cover the area you want to fish.

Next - look into non-competetive fishing clubs and fish as much as you can.  If you get stumped with a certain situation where you just couldn't get bit, remember the conditions and the lake and come back here for advice.  You can even ask for advise here before you head out. 

[Revtro]

Itchy, check out the bass clubs area of this board.  EBA is one of those non-competitive clubs and we provide a pretty good learning environment.  The club is a great group of guys.  If you live close enough by and want to check us out, please do.

[joshimoto son]

In my humble opinion...

I absolutely, positively believe the concept of Revtro's club is the perfect example of what a club should be, and is perfect for a beginning angler, or anyone who "truly" enjoys to fish.

Be careful in the selection of a club, just like anything, not all of them are for everybody.

joshimoto son

[Revtro]

Thanks for the kind words Josh!

[Itchin to go]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Joshimoto, I read your post and thought about how I've fished in the past and you hit the nail on the head, I now know I am strictly a spot fisherman and have never really thought about why that fish is there. I think you've changed the way I am going to approach this year. Thank You.

I fish mainly the lower Grand River near Grand Haven and anytime I go to any other water i'm completly lost, so learning more about patterns seems the best way to focus my attention.

I'll be back with more questions, I want to take it slow and learn it right instead of rushing and getting overwhelmed.

Thanks again,
Ryan   

[joshimoto son]

Itch...

Just remember us little guys when you make it to the big time.

joshimoto son