Struggling in Maine! 2024
upchuck1383 reply :
This is the first full season of having my own boat. Thus I am not very familiar with fish patterns for so soon after ice out. Any basic suggestions? We managed 2 trout today on wacky rigged senkos,lol. But not much else. My normal body of water is small,2 miles long max depth 35', very clear water. Temp 44 degrees.
Tried:
-Slow rolling spinner baits in 8-10'
-wacky senkos various depths
-Jigs (probably not using them properly)
Thanks!
"hamma" reply :
clear water in Maine is staple, try a jerkbait to start, fish it slow, id prefer a original rapala, and a grub on a 1/4 oz jighead, again, fished slow,... that slow rolled spinnerbait will work,... as the water warms pick up on the retrieve speed and add a jig and pig to the arsenal.,.. really long casts are necessary on those clear water ponds.
these are what i start with up there
good luck
BronzeChaser reply :
I've lived in Maine my whole life and the fishing is, like most places, pretty slow in frigid water. Just after ice out a jerkbait is a must. Experiment with your cadence and don't be afraid to let it sit up to 30 seconds of you think you're around fish. Watch your line. With water temps into the mid 40's you should be able to catch them on crankbaits and jerkbaits fished at normal speeds. The fish here get sluggish in cold water but they are used to it, much like we get used to the cold. When reaction bites aren't working a jig, shakey head, wacky rig, ned rig, and drop shot should work. Fish in areas with hard bottom that get a lot of sunlight throughout the day. Try to find steep transitions so the fish can move from shallow to deep water easily, as this is something they do alot this time of year. Good luck
Mainebass1984 reply :
Shane J and I fished in Maine yesterday. The water temp varied from 44-46 degrees. We had our best luck where we found the warmest water. Most of the fish were caught in 6-10 ft. A soft plastic swimbait accounted for most of my bass. We also caught fish on jigs, crankbaits, glide baits, and a red eye shad. We fished about 7 hours and landed 15 bass mostly smallmouth. Lunker largemouth was 4-2. We caught 6 smallies over 3 lbs the biggest 2 were 3-12 and 3-11.
What area in Maine are you fishing ?
JG233 reply :
I want to go fishing with Mainebass!
MainelyBASS reply :
Also if you're somewhat familiar with the lake, find the early season grass/weed flats adjacent to deep water. Throwing a jerkbait on the drop is a very successful approach that I stick to this time of year. If we have a streak of warm days, the fish will move up into the shallow water to feed. If we have a cold stretch the fish will move into the deeper part of the area, but I always start at the 1st drop off from shallow to deep.
upchuck1383 reply :
Thanks for all the advice. I don't have a lot of experience with jerkbaits, but I will add some to the arsenal. I think I am on the right track, but not being patient enough. We will see what happens this upcoming weekend!
Jon Taylor reply :
I've done a lot of fishing on the saco river and at this time of year jigs and jerkbaits are key. In clear water I'll always go for a shad or goldwen shiner colored smithwick suspending rouge. I wrote an article you can check out. http://fiahingfever1.blogspot.com. I got this bass on the saco with a power craw on a shaky head. 
je1946 reply :
Other baits to try on very cold water. Blade baits and hair jigs. Couple of different ways to fish hair jigs you can swim them close to the bottom or drag them slowly on the bottom, don't hop them just drag them slowly and stop them every couple of feet, with the hair jig you can tip them with a small piece of gulp minnow, the bite will be very suttle they'll just pic it up. Not many people fish hair jigs anymore, but in cold water they work well especially of smallies. Colors I like black, black and yellow, black and brown. I like the 1/8 to 3/8 oz use the smallest you can get away with. 12ft to 20 ft of water. Good luck
BassB8Caster reply :
I fish in western maine (Oxford hills area), mostly small ponds (50 to max 200 acres) out of my kayak. I just started bass fishing mid summer last year and did fairly well. this is my first spring. I try to read as much as possible and put it in action to improve as much as i can. i have been out once so far this year. It was the second day of the last warm spell we had (thursday March 31) so i was optimistic. I went to a small pond that i have never been to before. Weather turned a little on me and was very windy (about 55F). I fished from about 1030 to 430. I had 0 luck. tried jigs, chatterbait on bottom, susp jerkbait. Nothing. The wind killed me out on the main part of the pond (i stuck to a long outlet that had lots of submerged dead trees, bushes etc). The pond (like most i fish) was very shallow, maybe 10 feet deep max, dirty water, soft bottom with lots of vegetation (once it grows). I noticed water levels were very high (coming down though). Couldnt locate any of the fish. was nice to be out there but frustrating.
I love fishing pads and weeds, but this early spring has me stumped.
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 4/7/2016 at 12:41 AM, BassB8Caster said:I fish in western maine (Oxford hills area), mostly small ponds (50 to max 200 acres) out of my kayak. I just started bass fishing mid summer last year and did fairly well. this is my first spring. I try to read as much as possible and put it in action to improve as much as i can. i have been out once so far this year. It was the second day of the last warm spell we had (thursday March 31) so i was optimistic. I went to a small pond that i have never been to before. Weather turned a little on me and was very windy (about 55F). I fished from about 1030 to 430. I had 0 luck. tried jigs, chatterbait on bottom, susp jerkbait. Nothing. The wind killed me out on the main part of the pond (i stuck to a long outlet that had lots of submerged dead trees, bushes etc). The pond (like most i fish) was very shallow, maybe 10 feet deep max, dirty water, soft bottom with lots of vegetation (once it grows). I noticed water levels were very high (coming down though). Couldnt locate any of the fish. was nice to be out there but frustrating.
I love fishing pads and weeds, but this early spring has me stumped.
Western Maine has some great bass fishing. I grew up there and still fish there from time to time. The fishing should really turn up after the next warm spell.
BassB8Caster reply :
On 4/7/2016 at 1:56 AM, Mainebass1984 said:Western Maine has some great bass fishing. I grew up there and still fish there from time to time. The fishing should really turn up after the next warm spell.
Yeah I love the fishing here. 20 minutes and I can be at 6 to 10 different ponds and lakes.
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 4/7/2016 at 7:23 AM, BassB8Caster said:Yeah I love the fishing here. 20 minutes and I can be at 6 to 10 different ponds and lakes.
I grew up near Fryeburg. The amount of water available to fish is great. There are some lunkers around as well. Plenty of tournaments to fish too.
fishingfan25 reply :
Not sure if you're into swimbaits but its hard to beat a 6 inch huddleston slow rolled on the bottom. Just barely moving the bait with the reel handle. (I prefer real prey baits though)
MikeOGNR reply :
On 4/7/2016 at 8:50 PM, fishingfan25 said:Not sure if you're into swimbaits but its hard to beat a 6 inch huddleston slow rolled on the bottom. Just barely moving the bait with the reel handle. (I prefer real prey baits though)
Also Chiming into the swimbaits topic. I personally just got into swimbaiting last year, my favorites being the keitech fat swing impact shad and the yum money minnow. Now I know these aren't the biggest you can buy, but I haven't had to money to upgrade to the bigger ones, but the concept still applies if you cast your swimbait out just covering a lot of water and slowly reel it back im talking like 1 crank per second really slow it down even slower than that possibly you'll get on some fish. This series of videos covers it pretty well with the swimbaits in the cold water temps just goes to show they can be caught. That's the technique I use to cover water another thing i'll do this time of year is throw a jig and drag it near any structure real slow. Catching on? Slow is the name of the game even in 40 degree water temps the slower the better.
Heres the video on the swimbaits
BassB8Caster reply :
On 4/7/2016 at 7:38 PM, Mainebass1984 said:I grew up near Fryeburg. The amount of water available to fish is great. There are some lunkers around as well. Plenty of tournaments to fish too.
Yeah there are. so far ive caught lots of 4lb lmb and a fatty 4lb smally. Hoping to top the 5lb mark this year. Havent done any tournaments. There are even more this year than last. There are some i could do out of my kayak, and i dont have any connections with a boat for the other tournaments. Mostly trying to improve and learn.
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 4/7/2016 at 8:50 PM, fishingfan25 said:Not sure if you're into swimbaits but its hard to beat a 6 inch huddleston slow rolled on the bottom. Just barely moving the bait with the reel handle. (I prefer real prey baits though)
Keitech swimbaits are awesome. I have heard the new rage swimmers will be pretty similar but more durable. Hudds work well. I need to get a couple more.
On 4/8/2016 at 12:26 AM, BassB8Caster said:Yeah there are. so far ive caught lots of 4lb lmb and a fatty 4lb smally. Hoping to top the 5lb mark this year. Havent done any tournaments. There are even more this year than last. There are some i could do out of my kayak, and i dont have any connections with a boat for the other tournaments. Mostly trying to improve and learn.
I am sure you will get over the 5 lb mark soon. Spring is an excellent time for big fish. Real big fish. It should be picking up very soon. After this cold spell once we have 2 or 3 days in a row of 50 degrees or more then the fishing should be picking up big time.
MikeOGNR reply :
On 4/8/2016 at 1:00 AM, Mainebass1984 said:Keitech swimbaits are awesome. I have heard the new rage swimmers will be pretty similar but more durable. Hudds work well. I need to get a couple more.
I am sure you will get over the 5 lb mark soon. Spring is an excellent time for big fish. Real big fish. It should be picking up very soon. After this cold spell once we have 2 or 3 days in a row of 50 degrees or more then the fishing should be picking up big time.
The Keitechs are BOSSSSSSS they catch sloppy pigs of all kinds. Wish they would carry them at retail stores so I could pick up more as I tend to get the baits torn up a lot. Also looking into upping the size of the swimbaits I throw not Hudd size but somewhere along the 1/2oz-1oz size the keitechs are nice but I feel as though I need something with a little bit more profile to cover a lot more water. Would love to get into throwing hudds and all but I just don't have the funds for the gear although I thought about just using a big saltwater rod and a BPS pro qualifier there on sale right now for 65 bucks. Any thoughts?
MikeOGNR reply :
Also can't go wrong with dragging a jig slow just. Here's a good article describing the process I like the fact he covers that you should be dragging the jig on the bottom where is opposed to the summer where pitching and flipping is the name of the game casting and dragging is the technique in the winter. https://www.bassmaster.com/tips/jigs-take-chill-out-winter
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 4/8/2016 at 2:24 AM, MikeOGNR said:The Keitechs are BOSSSSSSS they catch sloppy pigs of all kinds. Wish they would carry them at retail stores so I could pick up more as I tend to get the baits torn up a lot. Also looking into upping the size of the swimbaits I throw not Hudd size but somewhere along the 1/2oz-1oz size the keitechs are nice but I feel as though I need something with a little bit more profile to cover a lot more water. Would love to get into throwing hudds and all but I just don't have the funds for the gear although I thought about just using a big saltwater rod and a BPS pro qualifier there on sale right now for 65 bucks. Any thoughts?
Dick's usually has a good selection of Keitechs. I prefer to fish the 4.8" size. What size are you fishing and how are you riggin it ?
In a perfect world you would match up your lure weight to what the rod is rated for. When I fish a hudd I am using a rod that is rated for baits up to 1.5 ounces. I also fish a s waver on the same rod with no issues.
It is hard to beat a jig this time of year though. My biggest fish this year has been on a jig. My biggest fish each of the last 4 years has been on a jig. Got to love a jig !
DogBone_384 reply :
On 4/3/2016 at 11:09 PM, JG233 said:I want to go fishing with Mainebass!
X2 - he's dialed in for sure
MikeOGNR reply :
On 4/8/2016 at 6:57 AM, Mainebass1984 said:Dick's usually has a good selection of Keitechs. I prefer to fish the 4.8" size. What size are you fishing and how are you riggin it ?
In a perfect world you would match up your lure weight to what the rod is rated for. When I fish a hudd I am using a rod that is rated for baits up to 1.5 ounces. I also fish a s waver on the same rod with no issues.
It is hard to beat a jig this time of year though. My biggest fish this year has been on a jig. My biggest fish each of the last 4 years has been on a jig. Got to love a jig !
I'm all about that jig life too swim jigs especially, how big of a Huddleston you throwing on that rod?
On 4/8/2016 at 6:57 AM, Mainebass1984 said:Dick's usually has a good selection of Keitechs. I prefer to fish the 4.8" size. What size are you fishing and how are you riggin it ?
In a perfect world you would match up your lure weight to what the rod is rated for. When I fish a hudd I am using a rod that is rated for baits up to 1.5 ounces. I also fish a s waver on the same rod with no issues.
It is hard to beat a jig this time of year though. My biggest fish this year has been on a jig. My biggest fish each of the last 4 years has been on a jig. Got to love a jig !
I'm fishing the 4.8 in with a 3/0 Gamakatzu swimbait hook I think the weight was 3/16 it does the job, but I went and just picked up 3 packs of basstrix swimbaits in 6in and 7in sizes with 5/0-6/0 swimbait hooks see if I can get on a swimbait bite.
Mainebass1984 reply :
68 Special ROF 12
I think it weighs 2 1/4 oz.
Id like to hear how the basstrix swimbaits work for you.
MikeOGNR reply :
On 4/8/2016 at 11:30 PM, Mainebass1984 said:68 Special ROF 12
I think it weighs 2 1/4 oz.
Id like to hear how the basstrix swimbaits work for you.
A buddy of mine throws them a lot he says there a lot better then the yum money minnows. So I figured Id give them a shot. I really wanna cast a hudd though that slow tail action instead of the thumper probably get on some pigs this year.
On 4/8/2016 at 11:30 PM, Mainebass1984 said:Ca 68 Special ROF 12
I think it weighs 2 1/4 oz.
Id like to hear how the basstrix swimbaits work for you.
What kinda reel just a normal size low profile? Or something bigger like a Cardiff style reel.
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 4/9/2016 at 5:27 AM, MikeOGNR said:A buddy of mine throws them a lot he says there a lot better then the yum money minnows. So I figured Id give them a shot. I really wanna cast a hudd though that slow tail action instead of the thumper probably get on some pigs this year.
What kinda reel just a normal size low profile? Or something bigger like a Cardiff style reel.
I am fishing it either with a Shimano Citica or a Curado.
Anyone fishing Maine this weekend ?
"hamma" reply :
Kezar lake is one of my favorites, but for iceout i prefer lovewell off the saco
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 4/11/2016 at 4:48 AM, Keith "Hamma" Hatch said:Kezar lake is one of my favorites, but for iceout i prefer lovewell off the saco
I can not say enough good things about Kezar Lake. There are double digit bass in that place. There are countless great places to fish in the area. Lovewell is either really good for me or terrible. My friend has a 6-2 smallmouth from there and I have seen some ginormous largemouth from there.
BassB8Caster reply :
On 4/11/2016 at 6:27 AM, Mainebass1984 said:I can not say enough good things about Kezar Lake. There are double digit bass in that place. There are countless great places to fish in the area. Lovewell is either really good for me or terrible. My friend has a 6-2 smallmouth from there and I have seen some ginormous largemouth from there.
Would you guys recommend these two lakes to a kayak fisherman? I love the chance at some pigs, but can be a lot of work in a kayak. I typically fish small 100 to 200 acre ponds.
"hamma" reply :
kezar is a bit large for a kayak in my honest opinion, unless its a calm day, if you stick around the ramp area and go south you could probably do ok,.. Lovewell would be better its smaller but like mainebass stated its a finicky fishery, somedays are good others are bust
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 4/13/2016 at 3:47 AM, BassB8Caster said:Would you guys recommend these two lakes to a kayak fisherman? I love the chance at some pigs, but can be a lot of work in a kayak. I typically fish small 100 to 200 acre ponds.
You could fish them it wouldn't be the easiest though. If you are confined to a kayak lower bay and upper bay would be your best bet. Honestly though there are countless small and medium size bodies of water to fish that hold big bass and get much less pressure then Kezar or Lovewell. The Saco River below Hiram Falls and the Ossipee river also are pretty good places to fish from a kayak. River smallies are fun and you get a lunker largemouth from time to time.
BassB8Caster reply :
On 4/13/2016 at 8:57 AM, Mainebass1984 said:You could fish them it wouldn't be the easiest though. If you are confined to a kayak lower bay and upper bay would be your best bet. Honestly though there are countless small and medium size bodies of water to fish that hold big bass and get much less pressure then Kezar or Lovewell. The Saco River below Hiram Falls and the Ossipee river also are pretty good places to fish from a kayak. River smallies are fun and you get a lunker largemouth from time to time.
That's pretty much my take. A day with no wind wouldn't be bad. I've gone out on the androscoggin river and it's a task as well. That's why I love the small ponds. Little fishing pressure and there are some big ones.
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 4/13/2016 at 7:12 PM, BassB8Caster said:That's pretty much my take. A day with no wind wouldn't be bad. I've gone out on the androscoggin river and it's a task as well. That's why I love the small ponds. Little fishing pressure and there are some big ones.
There some ponds in the area with motor restrictions that would be great for a kayak.
BassB8Caster reply :
Heading out to fish sunday. Should be a great day. Things are slowly warming up a bit. Any local guys have any tips for early success? Im fishing out of a kayak in small waters (100-200 acres). Mostly all are shallow ponds with soft bottoms. Water levels right now are a little high. They are slowly coming down. But still high. Will bass venture into these new areas created by the higher water levels? Will they be up top enjoying the warmth of the sun (so topwater vs jigs/cranks deeper)? From what i have learned everyone suggests jigs when water is cold. Then mix in crankbaits, jerkbaits and a chatterbait. Is it worth using a spinner to locate the fish or is it too early/cold?
Mainebass1984 reply :
I would recommend fishing the warmest water you can find. Inlets are great places this time of year. I went fishing in today in Maine. Most fish were caught in 4-8 ft. Water temp was 49 for most of the day. Landed 11 largemouth and 5 smallmouth. Lunker was a 5-2 largemouth. All fish were caught on a jig and a Keitech. Heading back out to another lake tomorrow.
BassB8Caster reply :
Went out today to the same pond as last time. Only slightly better look. I didn't catch anything, not even any hits. But I did see a good handfuls of bass. Saw one big one (probably 5 to 6 lbs) and others from 1.5 to 3lbs. Also saw a really big perch. I threw nearly everything at these fish and no interest. They were cruising back and forth along a bank of a small island in probably 5 feet of water. They didn't act skittish or afraid of me being there. Tried jigs, spinner, crank bait, chatterbox, blue pit boss.
To me they seemed active but didn't want anything I was offering. Ideas anyone? Water was clear, sunny, light wind, mid 50s up to 70 by 430.
Neil McCauley reply :
"In laboratory studies, smallmouth fed very little at temperatures below 50°F and lay motionless on the bottom at temperatures below 40°F."
If the water temp is below 50 you are absolutely wasting your time. Period.
A-Jay reply :
On 4/18/2016 at 8:57 AM, Neil McCauley said:"In laboratory studies, smallmouth fed very little at temperatures below 50°F and lay motionless on the bottom at temperatures below 40°F."
If the water temp is below 50 you are absolutely wasting your time. Period.
If this is Sarcasm, then ha ha.
If you actually believe this - Extra Ha Ha.
I guess the disclaimer is I've never actually fished in a laboratory. However, the Brown bass round these parts (northern Michigan) are often quite aggressive with water temps in the 40's. (Spring & Fall) In fact, it's one of my favorite times of the whole year to target plus size bass - and plenty of them.
Granted, there's no place for a 8:1 gear ratio reel but it's certainly not wasting time either.
And I would be remiss if I failed to mention that I had quite a good day yesterday with a jerkbait while one third of the lake was still covered up by ice.
A-Jay
BassB8Caster reply :
Fwiw these were largemouth. They we definitely cruising around (looking for food in my opinion).
upchuck1383 reply :
On 4/16/2016 at 10:10 AM, Mainebass1984 said:I would recommend fishing the warmest water you can find. Inlets are great places this time of year. I went fishing in today in Maine. Most fish were caught in 4-8 ft. Water temp was 49 for most of the day. Landed 11 largemouth and 5 smallmouth. Lunker was a 5-2 largemouth. All fish were caught on a jig and a Keitech. Heading back out to another lake tomorrow.
How did you fish the Jig? I have a tourney this weekend and have had a real tough go of it so far.
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 4/23/2016 at 7:02 AM, upchuck1383 said:How did you fish the Jig? I have a tourney this weekend and have had a real tough go of it so far.
Casting to cover. Id fish a soft swim bait as well.
"hamma" reply :
Its been an amazing progression to watch from the old mister twister sassy shad to todays swimbaits. As most tackle and gear has changed, i think this transition has progressed more than any other. And thats saying alot, Consider the advancement in rods, reels, and tackle in general. These "new" swimbaits and their lifelike action and look, its no wonder that they produce the way they do. Will some outshine others? of course,.. what will be the "best"? its hard to say. The myriad of regions in this country, and their subtle differences will obviously have their own "best" and It appears that Mainebass and Mikeognr have their fingers on the pulse up here in the Northeast,.
And congrats to you both,.. I wish you both continued success with your swimbait endevors,... I for one appreciate your willingness to share with us here. And promise not to "spotsuck" your prowess in Maine's big bass lakes by any means possible. Keep in mind though, that I have been fishing up there for over 40 years now, and have most likely been fishing some of the same waters already. With the documented success you have shown via pictures that there truly is the huge bass in New Englands most northern state that I have been touting for years now. Im sure there will be some "newer" New England anglers searching for those pigs.
All I ask of you "newer" anglers is that you dont trash Maine's productive waters,. and their ramp area's. You know what I mean, think of how many lakes in New Hampshire that have changed from public access to private, due to just what I stated. Anglers transporting invasive weeds on their trailers and leaving the days trash on shore isn't cool, and im sure,,... neah,.. "positive" it would be dealt with in Maine. The natural resources up there are treasured greatly, and definatly protected... Please, enjoy the states beauty and keep it that way. Wouldnt you like to fish the waters that harbor those pigs, and continue to do so? Bring your kids, and their kids to lakes like that? It would be a horrible loss if those lakes are restricted to lakefront owners only
Please don't get me wrong,.Im not stating that all the readers of this thread are litterbugs, or disrespectful,.And are in a huge hurry to go trash the state..Im just trying to protect the resources I have been enjoying respectfully available to not just me but all. I have fished lakes in NH that were awesome bass lakes to only see them closed by lake associations due a few bad apples, and will fight to the end to keep Maines waters open.
Sorry, for the rant guys, Congrats again on your impressive success,. Just so you know,. whenever another angler ask's me about the awesome fishing I've had up there. and what lakes it occurred at?,..I answer MAINE,...lol., Do I offer the best lakes iI fish? Never!.,...good ones??? maybe.. And seeing those pigs you caught,? ,I will be shopping the swimbiats a bit more now
I'll get off my soapbox now
MikeOGNR reply :
On 4/27/2016 at 7:52 PM, Keith "Hamma" Hatch said:Its been an amazing progression to watch from the old mister twister sassy shad to todays swimbaits. As most tackle and gear has changed, i think this transition has progressed more than any other. And thats saying alot, Consider the advancement in rods, reels, and tackle in general. These "new" swimbaits and their lifelike action and look, its no wonder that they produce the way they do. Will some outshine others? of course,.. what will be the "best"? its hard to say. The myriad of regions in this country, and their subtle differences will obviously have their own "best" and It appears that Mainebass and Mikeognr have their fingers on the pulse up here in the Northeast,.
And congrats to you both,.. I wish you both continued success with your swimbait endevors,... I for one appreciate your willingness to share with us here. And promise not to "spotsuck" your prowess in Maine's big bass lakes by any means possible. Keep in mind though, that I have been fishing up there for over 40 years now, and have most likely been fishing some of the same waters already. With the documented success you have shown via pictures that there truly is the huge bass in New Englands most northern state that I have been touting for years now. Im sure there will be some "newer" New England anglers searching for those pigs.
All I ask of you "newer" anglers is that you dont trash Maine's productive waters,. and their ramp area's. You know what I mean, think of how many lakes in New Hampshire that have changed from public access to private, due to just what I stated. Anglers transporting invasive weeds on their trailers and leaving the days trash on shore isn't cool, and im sure,,... neah,.. "positive" it would be dealt with in Maine. The natural resources up there are treasured greatly, and definatly protected... Please, enjoy the states beauty and keep it that way. Wouldnt you like to fish the waters that harbor those pigs, and continue to do so? Bring your kids, and their kids to lakes like that? It would be a horrible loss if those lakes are restricted to lakefront owners only
Please don't get me wrong,.Im not stating that all the readers of this thread are litterbugs, or disrespectful,.And are in a huge hurry to go trash the state..Im just trying to protect the resources I have been enjoying respectfully available to not just me but all. I have fished lakes in NH that were awesome bass lakes to only see them closed by lake associations due a few bad apples, and will fight to the end to keep Maines waters open.
Sorry, for the rant guys, Congrats again on your impressive success,. Just so you know,. whenever another angler ask's me about the awesome fishing I've had up there. and what lakes it occurred at?,..I answer MAINE,...lol., Do I offer the best lakes iI fish? Never!.,...good ones??? maybe.. And seeing those pigs you caught,? ,I will be shopping the swimbiats a bit more now
I'll get off my soapbox now
Good post brotha. Big pet peeve as a smoker to be people who throw there butts in the water -___- it's like come on is it that hard to stub it out and throw it in the pack? I can do it I'm sure you can too.
BassB8Caster reply :
@Keith "Hamma" Hatch nothing wrong with sharing your passions. I agree with you 100%. I grew up in Maine, moved to northern new hampshire where i went to high school and am now back in western maine. I have always been an outdoorsman, whether it be hunting, fishing, hiking, snowmobiling etc. I love the outdoors and will never be a city boy. Growing up this is one of the values i was always taught by my parents, my grandparents, uncles, etc. As a "youngster" people often take for granted what we have. as we get older we value things much more. After getting back into fishing last summer (im 35 now and hadnt fished since i was a kid) i am really realizing what maine is all about as an adult. From nearly any location you have a handful of lakes, rivers etc at your disposal within an hours drive. Being a homeowner, it makes paying taxes a hell of a lot easier knowing what i have at my disposal. Right now i fish out of a kayak. I love hitting up the small ponds that hardly anyone fishes. Being out on a pond by myself with the animals is surreal. I know there are new records out there, its just a matter of time before someone pulls in a biiggg one. Ive personally lost 3 that i know where 6+.
being an athlete all my life and getting older, i wasnt sure how i would mentally accept reducing and eventually removing playing sports from my life (being a mediocre older softball player isnt good enough for me). But i now found how i will do that, and i have now found my real passion....fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass. I go out of my way at times to pick up a bottle, extra fishing line etc. "make it better than i found it", thats a motto every outdoors man should live by. There is nothing like taking a lunch with my and pulling up to a spot on land, an island etc and having lunch while fishing. So peaceful. But its sad when you look over and see trash on the ground.
"hamma" reply :
I agree with you both 100%, I refuse to leave trash or my cigarette butts, anywhere. I have in the past made sure i have a small trashbag in the truck for when i see trash left behind by someone, just so I can remove it before the gates for the ramp are locked. As I stated above, I've lost access to some of the best bass ponds in NH due to "issues",..and that sux.
Bassb8caster, your new passion for bass fishing is awesome, this sport is such a very diverse sport, that it has the ability to keep you intrigued, interested, and entertained for the rest of your days. It has for me for over 40 years, and I hope and pray that my health allows me to continue till the day I expire. Some anglers "like" bass fishing, then theres some that are competative, so they get into it for the tourneys, Then there are the anglers that "love" it, live it, and continually seek out new lakes and endeavors just to continue to do it. Thats me to the t, and Im sure I will always be that way. My concern for the waters I fish is what it is, My passion
Respect the lands we use so we can continue to do so.
nhpleasantlakebass reply :
On 4/8/2016 at 2:24 AM, MikeOGNR said:The Keitechs are BOSSSSSSS they catch sloppy pigs of all kinds. Wish they would carry them at retail stores so I could pick up more as I tend to get the baits torn up a lot.
They carry them at Dick's sporting goods in Concord
BassB8Caster reply :
On 4/28/2016 at 5:06 AM, Keith "Hamma" Hatch said:@Bassb8caster, your new passion for bass fishing is awesome, this sport is such a very diverse sport, that it has the ability to keep you intrigued, interested, and entertained for the rest of your days. It has for me for over 40 years, and I hope and pray that my health allows me to continue till the day I expire. Some anglers "like" bass fishing, then theres some that are competative, so they get into it for the tourneys, Then there are the anglers that "love" it, live it, and continually seek out new lakes and endeavors just to continue to do it. Thats me to the t, and Im sure I will always be that way. My concern for the waters I fish is what it is, My passion
Respect the lands we use so we can continue to do so.
I agree. This is my first spring fishing for bass. I read stuff on here and other sites daily to learn about how to approach the spring. I also see others from the same state posting their success. I have been out 5 times so far this year.The first two were to the same pond. First time out no luck at all. The second time out i saw fish (roamers that wouldnt bite). the third and fourth times out were on the same pond (a different pond). The first time out I had no luck, it was windy and cold. So up until this point i was pretty down and disapointed, frustrated etc. About two days later i went back to that pond and caught 5 largemouth between 2.5 and 4lbs and a smallmouth pushing 4. That day erased all negativity i had. I remember saying to myself that day " this is so awesome, so much fun". Those are the moments i live for. Nothing beats succeeding from putting something i read online to work. Will we get shut out once in a while? Sure. But that makes us work harder to achieve success the next time. My biggest challenge with a new body of water is not knowing anything about the structure below. I dont have a fishfinder, and my access to any maps is a survey from 1950 showing maybe 10 or so depths of the pond. So i try to take everything i read and put it to work in the field. Sometimes it doesnt work but when it does nothing is better.
"hamma" reply :
On 4/29/2016 at 1:17 AM, BassB8Caster said:Sometimes it doesnt work but when it does nothing is better
you have just hit upon one of the greatest fishing "hooks" there is. Im sure so many anglers have become hooked on bass fishing based on that statement alone, that their numbers could fill sebago if it was emptied.
Get yourself a fishfinder! All you need for a kayak's fishfinder to start is one that shows depth. A cheapo hummingbird or lowrance would fit the bill. My first was a $89.00 hummingbird that i installed on my tiny 8 ft long basshunter pontoon style boat, still on it. works great and helped my fishing 10 fold from install date on. It has no bells or whistles, no side imaging, 360, etc. it does however have a temp gauge which is an important accessory,,now that i think about it, that rig is 30 yrs old. Dang,.. im gettin old!,...lol
20 years ago or so i spent some time on another sites forums and did a series of posts called "the informative series" they were well received and designed for the beginners in bass fishing. It touched upon the six basic lures, and general tools of the trade, then progressed into patterns, seasonal movements, and tips and tricks. I would post a topic (say spinnerbaits) listing the sizes, colors, blade configurations and techniques, tips, tricks etc;, and others would then chime in with things they did with the same lure, tactics etc. Some of the threads got really long. And many of the beginners and pros alike used this and were quite grateful to have such a tool available to them,... id imagine they are now today able to "chime" in.
I wonder how that would be received here? maybe in the lures listings. I think you would benefit from such a thing
MikeOGNR reply :
On 4/29/2016 at 1:17 AM, BassB8Caster said:
http://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#@6&key=gdtdGnxatL
Solved your map problem
BassB8Caster reply :
On 4/29/2016 at 4:43 AM, MikeOGNR said:http://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#@6&key=gdtdGnxatL
Solved your map problem
Thanks. Ive been on there, many of the small ponds i fish are not on there. I contemplated on getting a decent fish finder but decided against it.
I think another key thing with bass fishing (and fishing in general) is to try different things. Its easy to read through articles on here where a successful fisherman spells out how to succeed. You go out and try it and can get skunked. Rather than quitting, getting frustrated etc, try something different. Go against the grain once in a while. Last night i had this exact situation arise. I tried several different baits/presentations at a river (its a spot 10 minutes from where work that i will try when i only have an hour or so to fish). Started with a spinner, switched to a jig, then to a lipless crank. Getting ready to leave i decided to tie on a medium diving crank (daiwa dc shad) to get ready for the pond im heading to tomorrow. For the hell of it i decided to throw a few casts. Right away i caught a decent sized perch. Over the next several casts i caught 2 crappie (one of them i caught twice...it was a good sized one). This is fishing in the same exact spots as previously with the other baits. Its like a switch was all of a sudden turned on. I didnt end up catching any bass, but i was satisfied having success (vs going home stumped and fishless). I have caught some nice bass at this same spot in the past. so i know there are fish in there (its a very large river).
Little things like this just make fishing more and more exciting. You just never know what the next cast is going to do. Put your line in the same water with big fish potential and you just never know.
Mainebass1984 reply :
Anyone fishing Maine this weekend ?
BassB8Caster reply :
Im planning on doing a little bank fishing tonight after work for a bit and hopefully the weather cooperates tomorrow after work and ill get the kayak out and hit up a small pond by where i work. Maybe sunday as well. Weather has been all over the place this week. Hopefully they are still active.
Think it is still too early for topwaters? Head some frog croaking last weekend. You making the trip over to Maine this weekend?
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 5/6/2016 at 12:13 AM, BassB8Caster said:Im planning on doing a little bank fishing tonight after work for a bit and hopefully the weather cooperates tomorrow after work and ill get the kayak out and hit up a small pond by where i work. Maybe sunday as well. Weather has been all over the place this week. Hopefully they are still active.
Think it is still too early for topwaters? Head some frog croaking last weekend. You making the trip over to Maine this weekend?
Got to make the trip home to see the family for mothers day. Will try and fit in some fishing. No it isn't to early for top water in my opinion.
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