My Head Is About To Explode 2024

georgeyew reply :

I just started fishing this year and I think that it is safe to say that I am pretty much hooked. But I am overwhelmed with all the information out there on the subject. I have read every article and watched every video on the site and my brain is about to explode. With all there is to learn about different types of lures, color, water clarity, depth, rods, reels, temperature, season, and on and on, it feels like an endless up hill battle.

I wish that I could just find one style of fishing that works for me in all seasons and just stick with it. Dang it, I just want to catch fish!

I truly have an admiration for those experienced anglers that had the patience to learn everything through time and experimenting. I have the benefit of reading and learning from everyone's experience, and I can't even keep up.

I hope that one day all of this info will come together and fit like puzzle pieces.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

roadwarrior reply :

Well then, just keep it simple. I fished when I was a boy, but lost interest for a couple of decades.

In 1997 I "discovered" the Senko. That lead to catching lots of good size bass and a few monsters!

The Senko brought me back into the sport. Surprisingly, I don't fish this bait much anymore, but

that's another story. This is my suggestion:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/13845-guaranteed-to-catch-bass/

georgeyew reply :

Thanks. I have been fishing the senko. Sometimes if I go too long without a catch, I'm tempted to try something new. And that's when I start reading/researching and the cycle begins again....

I will try to stick with the senko and be more patient with it.

Clint C. reply :

I've been watching shows and fishing since I was little. Still have a notebook full of notes from all of the fishing shows I watched when I was 8,9,10 years old etc. It's seems impossible to remember everything there is to know. The more you fish the more instinctive everything will get. My best lesson is if I get that "feeling" that I should be using this and throwing it there, do it. That feeling only comes with time though =0)

Darren. reply :

Totally agree with RW on this. Think simple.

I've spent a lot of money over the years on multiple techniques. The technique I've settled on today is "finesse", as in lighter line, smaller baits. You can finesse a 2oz jig, but that's not what I'm talking about.

I don't fish tourneys, I fish because I love to. I learned that I didn't need an entire toolbox, or golf bag, of tools/clubs in order to enjoy the sport.

I primarily use two spinning rods and one baitcasting setup. I have more, but don't need or use them.

I catch fish. I use soft plastics because they work for me. You don't have to break the bank to enjoy the sport. When you see a dude on TV doing a dramatic hookset on an awesome baitcasting setup with a big ol' spinnerbait (etc), don't imagine that is you. Resist what we call the baitmonkey :-).

There are times I will even drop back to ultimate simplicity and fish long poles with no reel. Just a length of line, a slip float, hooks, and live worms.

BassmanDan reply :

The best advice someone gave to me was to spend the majority of my time and effort figuring out where the bass (and their food) live in the waters you fish and why (channels, bottom-cover, prime points, etc.). You can simplify things with just a jig or some kind of plastic (like a senko). Then figuring out where the big fish's living room is in your lakes will make your confidence go sky-high.

Nitrofreak reply :

Take into the concideration that you are reading what works all over this country, it does not work for everyone everywhere all the time, all of the information is ment to help you be a more succesful angler by knowing and sharing what all of us have found.

Quite often it is still the simplest things that still catch those stubborn little fish that drive us nutt's, you have already said you catch fish, but have trouble only on given days, the senko is a fish bait that will catch them on the most stubborn days there are, don't overthink, if you have a senko tied on just start simple, change the senko and fish it weightless, or add a small amount of weight and change your technique, pick it up off the bottom and let it sink again, fish it T-rigged, fish it wacky rigged, just play with what you have already and explore that bait to it's fullest potential, then look into other baits if you want to.

Get comfotable with fishing one bait and knowing what it can do for you before get overwhelmed, patience and lots of it !!!

aavery2 reply :

Fishing can be as easy as a cane pole a bobber and a bucket of worms, it can be as difficult as you want to make it. The great thing about it is that there is room for all of us, and as long as you are enjoying it, then you are doing it correctly.

Get in where you fit in.

georgeyew reply :

On 11/21/2012 at 2:22 AM, Nitrofreak said:

Get comfotable with fishing one bait and knowing what it can do for you before get overwhelmed, patience and lots of it !!!

Thanks for the insight. Now there is the variable of different color of bait for different water clarity. But I think I have the basics on that: clear water = light color bait, muddy water = dark color bait....is that right?

J Francho reply :

Spend more time on the water, and less time reading. Seriously. When you are faced with your own unique situations, and have questions, post them here. Then the reading material will be specific to your exact situation.

roadwarrior reply :

On 11/21/2012 at 2:47 AM, georgeyew said:

Thanks for the insight. Now there is the variable of different color of bait for different water clarity. But I think I have the basics on that: clear water = light color bait, muddy water = dark color bait....is that right?

Or just your favorite colors all the time! Seriously, color comes into play occasionally, but it's low on the totem

pole in terms of importance. Take notice on any jig thread of all the "favorite colors". For example, I have just

recently started fishing PBJ jigs, but have friends on here that swear by them. OO Mod fishes black and blue

about 100% of the time! Me? This year it's mostly been the Siebert Big O Football Jig/

Rage Tail Lobster (Falcon). However, my go-to is still a black jig w/ blue trailer...Old school!

Big O is more than just a bait designer, he is an artist. Go to the Rage Tail website and browse through all the

color combinations he has to offer. I like a bunch of them and I am sure you will find a few you will like, too. The

adventure begins...

Good luck!

CoBass reply :

On 11/21/2012 at 2:41 AM, aavery2 said:

Fishing can be as easy as a cane pole a bobber and a bucket of worms, it can be as difficult as you want to make it. The great thing about it is that there is room for all of us, and as long as you are enjoying it, then you are doing it correctly.

Get in where you fit in.

Excellent advice. When I first started bass fishing I was using heavy gear because that's what I read and saw people on tv using. Where I live, a bass over 4 lbs is considered a really nice fish. I got bored dragging 2 lb fish in across the top of the water with the heavy gear and started going more with light and even ultralite set-ups. Made fishing a lot more fun actually having to fight a fish. I still have heavier gear that I use when I know there is a decent chance of catching 3+ lb fish but when I hit my local ponds for those 1-2 pounders I pretty much stick to the lighter tackle.

1234567 reply :

My advice for newcomers to fishing would be to start in a pond or canal. The main rule is to find fish. Well everyone says pond fishing is easy, mainly because in ponds, most times the fish are accessible or "findable". The great thing about this is that days crankbaits aren't working, time to tie on a jig or plastic or topwater, you get the point right? The main thing is, you know the fish are there and if one technique isn't working, it will force you to try and learn new ones or work hard for hours to get that one bite! Like others have said, just keep it simple, usually color selection can be limited to darker and lighter colors and I would leave it at that to start with for all your baits hard or soft. Fish where you can reach the fish for now and learn what you can with each technique and then apply that anywhere you go, but first find the fish!! Good luck!

Tuckahoe Joe reply :

I just started this past year also. I agree its a lot to take in at first but I feel like Im getting the hang of it thanks to all the information Ive gained from people here as well as hitting the water as much as possible. Like others have said, first you have to find the fish. Then I'd say find a technique or maybe just a couple that you like and get really confident with them. Once have them down, move on to something else. As far as lure color goes, the general standard is lighter/more natural colors for clear water/weather and darker colors for muddy water/overcast days. But thats not really set in stone so you can always experiment with it. What really gets me is rods and reels. Theres so many different specs and brands and models to compare. But yeah, basically just fish as much as you can and when your not fishing, ask questions here and read up on the articles. It will all make sense with time.

Shewillbemine reply :

I can relate because I'm an information *****. I read books, magazines, blogs, forums, threads and even instruction manuals.

But as people have said, nothing beats a day on the water with even a little bit of success. I've learned how to move my favorite crankbait to the point that I haven't been skunked on it yet (I just jinxed myself, I know).

Rest assured, your brain won't explode. Humans are awesome like that!

Will Wetline reply :

Be patient, George. You can't absorb all this info in one season.

You may or may not have plenty of gear, but the first consideration is attitude: Get out there and enjoy yourself. Don't make yourself neurotic.

Experiment with different baits and presentations at a leisurely pace. You're always learning something even if it's what doesn't catch fish. It's about the journey. Enjoy being on the water. The fish will come as you pay the dues and will be all the more gratifying for having done so.

SirSnookalot reply :

On 11/21/2012 at 2:51 AM, J Francho said:

Spend more time on the water, and less time reading.

If you read nothing but this sentence you are ahead of the game. Books, videos and tv shows have but 1 purpose, that is to make money for the producers. Not that the information isn't good but so often it may not be pertinent to the kind of water you fish or your geographic area and I think most of it is catered towards the boat fisherman. To be honest I never read a book or viewed a DVD, and tv shows are edited to show you how easy it is, not how it actually is. What little I know comes from fishing a lot and just getting a feel for it, I always keep it simple.

NBR reply :

You can read hundreds of books, watch hours of videos and movies, listen to dozens of coaches and other players but you still can't shoot free throws well until you stand on the line and put the ball in the air hundreds no thousands of times.

Fishing is much the same with the added challenge of a live cautious critter that has had something trying to eat him since he was an egg. Time on the water and trust your instincts. Which get better with time on the water added to your study.

Topwaterspook reply :

Another simple bait you may try is a weightless sluggo. They are in my humble opinion , the easiest of the soft jerkbaits to rig straight on an offset hook. For some reason they have seemed to fall from favor over the years. When I first started using plastics, these were what gave me much confidence. Good luck to you and Happy Thanksgiving.

A-Jay reply :

On 11/21/2012 at 5:34 PM, Will Wetline said:

Be patient, George. You can't absorb all this info in one season.

You may or may not have plenty of gear, but the first consideration is attitude: Get out there and enjoy yourself. Don't make yourself neurotic.

Experiment with different baits and presentations at a leisurely pace. You're always learning something even if it's what doesn't catch fish. It's about the journey. Enjoy being on the water. The fish will come as you pay the dues and will be all the more gratifying for having done so.

X2 ~ Nicely put.

It IS all about attitude -

As you noted in your initial post "there is so much to learn about different types of lures, color, water clarity, depth, rods, reels, temperature, season, and on and on, it feels like an endless up hill battle"

And you're right - however - "It's the Journey Not the Destination".

You will never, ever, ever learn ALL there is to know - there's just too much.

And as time goes on, someday you might think you know a good bit, just to have the bass show you (quite definitively) that you do not.

However, when you combine your love of the sport with patience and a willingness to learn you will find that there is so much more to this than just "Catching Fish".

No One catches the big ones every trip out - so if you use that to determine if you've had a good day or not, you might be disappointed. Clearly the objective is catching bass but remember you're not doing it in a bubble.

The Great thing about fishing is that there are enough facets to it to last a man his entire lifetime- and then some.

A-Jay

Nitrofreak reply :

On 11/21/2012 at 2:47 AM, georgeyew said:

Thanks for the insight. Now there is the variable of different color of bait for different water clarity. But I think I have the basics on that: clear water = light color bait, muddy water = dark color bait....is that right?

We can read books and try to gather all the information we want, but what do books really teach us when we get right down to it?

Theory right?

In theory that is the best equasion for colors, in theory everything that works for everyone else with the same circumstances you have should also work for you, but that is not always the case, yes you can take the lighter days, brighter colors, darker days, darker colors approach and it will work just fine, you are correct with the equasion.

But if you take that approach, you start to get into variables, for example, clear waters on a slightly overcast day, then what???

Keep it simple, Green pumpkin as a color for example, one of the best natural colors and most widely used colors on the planet imo, now lets take the Senko and start with the Green Pumpkin, you fish it one day and it's sunny out, you get several fish on it but the next day it's a little overcast and the fish bite it but not like they did yesterday, instead of changing baits completly and going to a black or darker color, all it may need is a little red flake to turn the bite on again.

Start with one bait, in a natural color would be my suggestion, buy that same bait with small changes to it like, red flakes, green flakes, added to it, just a small difference can make all the difference.

Learn to experiment with small changes first before you start changing baits and colors all together, take the time now that you have and profit from this and it will not confuse you so much later down the road, color choices for other baits will be more cost effective down the road as well as you start to build confidence and explore new techniques in the future.

Good luck and be safe !!!

K_Mac reply :

Some very good advice here, as always. I will add my $.02. There is no substitute for time on the water, and spending some of that time with those who have already been there and done that can make a dramatic difference. Another simple suggestion that some just never get, is pay close attention to details. It is what separates the the guys who always seem to get it done from the rest IMO.

Once you have learned the basics, you will begin to discover that there are many ways to catch bass and that some of these will suit you better than others. Versatility is a wonderful and necessary thing, but knowing what you are good at and mastering those skills will make you one of those guys who always seem to get it done. Enjoy!

quanjig reply :

Huntsman.......... There are no good fish in Huntsman!! Lol! I fish the lake a lot and have had some very nice fish from there. It is my own little test area, new lures, new techniques. You could do a lot worse than cutting your bass fishing teeth on that body of water! I usually have a lot of success around the dam area. The kep it simple mantra holds true on any lake around NOVA but don't be afraid to try new things and don't get discouraged if you don't catch fish. Everyone on this site is more than happy to give beginners tried and true advice when you need it. Good luck and we look forward on reports of how you progress as a bass addict!

WRB reply :

Bass fishing should be fun, so you should use lures and a technique that you enjoy fishing with, not something someone else is skilled with.

I have a few questions before making any suggestions;

1. What type of rod and reel do you own?

2. Do you fish from shore or a boat?

3. What lures do you like to fish with?

Tom

georgeyew reply :

Thanks to everyone for their advice and encouragement. I went out this morning in the cold and just stuck to the basics of using a senko worm and spinnerbait but came up empty. However, I realized that even with the disappointment of not catching anything, I still had fun out there. The anticipation of a large fish on every cast is a drug of its own. I'll keep chugging away and be patient.

On 11/22/2012 at 5:22 AM, WRB said:

Bass fishing should be fun, so you should use lures and a technique that you enjoy fishing with, not something someone else is skilled with.

I have a few questions before making any suggestions;

1. What type of rod and reel do you own? I have several sets: Okuma Tarvos/Trio, Gander Mtn Rod/Okuma Avenger, Daiwa fiberglassrod/US Reel SX810

2. Do you fish from shore or a boat? I do both, but mainly from the shore

3. What lures do you like to fish with? I really like the Senkos and starting to like the spinnerbaits

Tom

Bankbeater reply :

Don't try and become an expert with every bait all at once. I started out with crankbaits when I started fishing. Each year I try to learn a new bait.

grampa1114 reply :

George...George...George...relax and enjoy whatever you are throwing and where ever you are throwing it...Just go fishing...you aren't fishing for "World Peace"...just remember that this is supposed to be "fun"....Just check in every once in a while and tell us how you're doing.

Grampa

WRB reply :

On 11/22/2012 at 5:55 AM, georgeyew said:

Thanks to everyone for their advice and encouragement. I went out this morning in the cold and just stuck to the basics of using a senko worm and spinnerbait but came up empty. However, I realized that even with the disappointment of not catching anything, I still had fun out there. The anticipation of a large fish on every cast is a drug of its own. I'll keep chugging away and be patient.

George,

The Okuma is a spinning reel, the US Reel SX810 maybe be a spinning reel?

You have a boat, but probably not a bass boat.

You have been studing bass fishing, but have not had much success catching bass. You are in overload, relax!

To catch bass with any lure the bass must be in the area you are fishing and I realize it's a problem knowing where to start!

Let me see if I can help to make this easier and not more complicated then it is.

Bass location is seasonal, it is now winter in most areas for the bass. This means the bass are in deeper water now and deep water is nearly always in the 1/3rd of the lake near where the dam is. This is the area where you need to fish until it starts to get warmer in about 3 to 4 months. So let's fish in the deeper area.

What you can use with your spinning outfits are soft plastics, like the Senkos you like to use. Senko's have a lot of salt inside the plastic and they tear easily, the salt is what makes it sink. Yamamoto makes a soft plastic called a fat Ika, this is a better deep water soft plastic, then a Senko and can be fished a little faster. Take a look at the Gary Yamamoto site for info on the Fat Ika.

What I suggest for you is a finesse C-rig called a slip shot rig.and You use soft plastic worms, size 2/0 Owner 5100 or Gamakatsu 11 light wire worm hook and Top Brass Prov-Jo 3/16 and 1/4 oz weights. The weight is held up the line away from the hook with a Carolina Keeper about 18", if shore fishing and can be adjusted easily to make it longer or shorter. The color soft plastics for cold water should be darker tones. Purple with red flakes and some brown works very good.

You can look at Don Iovino worms or Roboworms 6" curl tails on Tackleware House. You can also use grubs like Yamamoto 4" single or double tails on the same slip shot rig.

This gives you soft plastic choices that will catch bass in deeper water fished from shore or a boat.

The spinnerbait is better when the bass are more active in shallower water, if you it now slow down the retrieve so it runs deeper.

Good luck, enjoy your time on the water and the bass will start to cooperate soon!

In about 3 months the bass should move into the middle 1/3rd area of the lake, then the Senko and spinnerbait are more effective. Another 2 to 3 months (March or April) the bass move again into protected shallow water areas to spawn, the Senko is very good at this seasonal period. The next 2 seasonal periods are summer and fall. Bass can be everywhere then so all your lures and presentation learned so far will continue to work for you, if you can locate where the bass are and how deep to fish. By this time next year, you will be sharing your advice on how to catch bass.

Tom

TRYTOFISH reply :

nothingbeats experience. take your time, enjoy the time you take. talk to other fisherman at your lake, lots of people will help and give good info and tips. but try what you think will work. you will soon be amazed how much you do know in a short amount of time.

unionman reply :

Its called fishing. Not catching. Dont give up. What really helped me in the beginning was visualizing my lure. You need to be aware of what your lure is doing at all times. Maybe find some clear water and try different retrieves with your lure visible so you can see how they react.

Theres more to fishing a spinnerbait than just cast and retrieve. Theres pops, pauses, rips, rolls and w/e you can think of. You really need to be aware of the action you impart on a particular lure to give the best presentation for the current conditions.

When fishing plastics you need to know how a particular lure will react when rigged weightless as opposed to rigged on a jig head or texas rigged or rage rigged etc. etc.

Like I said. Find some clear water and study the lures you use.

Too many people just cast out and retrieve with no further thought. They just daze off thinking about work or something until the bait hits their rod tip.

Practice. Visualize. Catch fish.

wademaster1 reply :

This is called the learning process. You'll keep trying different things as you get tired of using things you've been using. Lots to try and learn. Good luck.

WRB reply :

George isn't a newbie bass angler with a PB at 5-6 lbs! He is asking how to consistantly catch bass year around and for any bass angler to become consistant, you need to understand basic bass behavior and seasonal period locations. No lure or live bait will work fishined in the wrong place at the wrong time and a wide variety of lures will work fished in the right place at the right time.

Tom

merc1997 reply :

here are my keys to help with the learning curve of fishing. first, to catch bass you obviously have to be fishing where the bass are. so, the first step is to learn the seasonal patterns of the bass. tom young's cosmic clock is a great place to start. bass will always be where the food supply is. the other important thing is to fish at the right depth at the right speed to get a reaction strike or reflex strike. when bass are actively feeding speed is not as critical, but most of our fishing time, bass are more in a nuetral mood and speed is a critical factor is enticing a strike. hope this might help with your learning curve.

piscicidal reply :

When my head is about to explode, here's what I do...go fishing.

Fishing is supposed to relieve stress not create it. Just fish. Enjoy it.

Eventually, you will gain the knowledge to make the on water adjustments. Keep a journal...it will speed up the learning process. After fishing, write down what you did right..if you caught some fish, why do you think they were there (wind, water clarity, forage, seasonal, etc). Come to this site...ask questions. Work on your technique at home.

To me it's like in golf...you put the work in before/after the round (practice range, putting green, etc). Then when it's time to play, just go out confidently and enjoy it.

SirSnookalot reply :

On 11/25/2012 at 7:59 PM, piscicidal said:

When my head is about to explode, here's what I do...go fishing.

Fishing is supposed to relieve stress not create it. Just fish. Enjoy it.

As Nike says " Just do it". My object is to get out and get some fresh air, clear my head and walk around mindless, putting no pressure on, I don't have to catch a fish to enjoy myself. IMO the fish are doing 90% of the work, I'm just tossing a bait in areas I hope they are going to be and they're in the mood. The days the bass are "on", it's as easy as fishing gets, the days they are "off" it's as hard as it gets.

Diggy reply :

I know the feeling.

Before this site and others, Id fish worms 99% of the time and catch fish...use the same rod for everything (mono)

after this site and others, I have tons of lures , some that work, many combos, but soft plastics still catch most of the fish when I use it and can still use one rod for almost everything and catch fish...moreso its just the line thats used to make it happen so I can catch multiple species with no probs.

I could be content but Id rather spend my money on fishing that drugs or alcohol like many do so Im content using it for something that makes me happy.

ol'crickety reply :

I hear ya, georgeyew. It is overwhelming, which is why I sometimes settle for a leech, a splitshot, and a hook, which, by the way, catches a LOT of bass.

11400

My Head Is About To Explode 2024

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