bass fishing vs crappie fishing?
146519
Bass fishing is much better.
98481
Bass will be coming up to the shallows looking for spawning areas and food, try a plastic worm with a small weight in and around the lilly pads (texas rig style)hook point in the worm to prevent hooking the pads. Try green spinner baits around the timber letting it sink close to bottom. Most people reel crankbaits so fast only the most active fish will bite, slow down :D
420092
Actually any cold front will affect the bass fishing, depending on your area it can be a real tough day but if you move out some from where you usually catch the bass, fish deeper and try using something smaller like a 4" senko or a 1/4 oz. spinner bait, or light jig and fish it slowwwwww. Almost don't even more the lure and let a worm just sit down their on occasion move it a twitch and let it sit again. good luck
515060
I don't believe that pro fishing is messing up sport fishing, It makes it a little tougher for the average to catch fish with some much pressure though. For example when you catch smallmouth more than likely they won't bite for a couple of days on the other hand you can catch largemouth and they don't seem to be affected quite as much although If you catch a 5 lb or larger large mouth you will probably neeed to use a differnt lure to catch them. Their are alot of lures on the market that a really expensive and they probably have a place that they work great and luckycraft is one of them. The senko is a great bait and almost anyone can catch fish with them,but then if your in an area where their are alot of small fish bring your wallet at $6.00 a bag of 10. I make my own some times and I work with a guy that makes them for $4.00 a bag. For smallmouth the mellon pepper Bass pro shops tender tube is probably one of the best. The pro's fishing are trying to make a living, it's like any other athelete out their. It cost them alot of money to do this and most of them started out just an average peson that loved to fish. They spend alot of time on the water and away from their homes, and they put alot of money into communities when their is a tournment going on, this is a billion dollar a year income for towns,city,hotels,resturants,gas stations,and lure companies. Although it can make it tougher for the guy just out trying to have a good time fishing when 200 boats roll up on your local lake or river, that's where the pressure comes into play and it will be tough. The pro's actually don't catch alot of fish when they are praticing but on tournment days they will pound an area, therefore making it tougher for the average person to catch them. So if a big tournment is being held close by go to another area to fish or if you want to fish the same body of water try downsizing you lures or at least slow down you presentations, with the fishing pressure so heavy the fish will slow down and be a lot tougher to catch especially smallmouth. Their is nothing wrong with using 4lb. line actually you'll probably catch alot of large fish especially in clear water. Although you'll have to re tie more often fishing them smallies due to the fact that thoose little teeth will cause your line to fray and break easily. I just started using a new line out on the market and I believe it is probably the best out their it's called gamma line they have a web site and you can look up where to find a local dealer. I use winch cable compared to you I have it in 8lb. green and clear and honestly I believe I could use 4 or 6 pound, it's made in Pittsburg,Pa. I'm not exatly why the smallies are so much more sensitive than the largemouth but they are, they claim that fish don't feel the hooks in their mouths but I would dissagree on smallmouth, If I catch smallmouth I usually will wait a week to go and try to catch them again, but we have alot of fishing pressure here in western NY. On lake Champlain or Thousand Islands their are alot of smallies and it don't seem to affect them quite as bad. good luck and great fishing. Mellon Pepper #13 tube in spring and in fall use a pumkinseed #2 color tender tube.
549072
Well because of your screen name I will assume your a bass fisherman as well.  First, try slowing your retrieve.  After that, go smaller.  If you use 5 inch worms, go to 4 inch or smaller. If smaller and normal don't work, go large. I posted a similar question and was given the suggestion to use a hole punch to put holes in a worm to change the action. Also try a razor on plastic worms to make tentacles that undulate on the retrieve.  Another 1 is if it hot, think deep and slooooooow.  Try using a bullet weight on a worm to get it into heavy cover such as weeds, or grass.  Always keep in mind where the sun is and cast to the shady side of stick-ups, or underwater trees.  A jig and pig, or jig and craw fished slowly on the bottom may help too.  In the lake I fish that's very heavily pressured, I have caught several of the biggest bass I have ever caught using a jig and craw hopped across the bottom, about 20 feet off shore on a point.  You should also try fishing the in flow of any streams that flow into the lake.  Usually bass will school in these areas.  Here is a site that is very good, give it a try and see if it helps.  Here is another 1 I use often.  Tight lines and use these sites, they will help alot. On the bass lures page, the articles are on the sides, in columns.
958133
I'd say if you're catching that variety you're probably doing the right things... you might catch more bluegill if you switch from minnows to worms or crickets... use a small brass hook... no bigger than an inch (I don't know hook #'s) put a spit shot weight about 3 inches above the hook and then a bobber about 2 feet above that... good luck
377909
if you know where they are\nthen fish for them with crappie tackle\ngood luck and good fishing
357122
minnows are really good bait for just about anything that swims bass,crappie,catfish walleye trout carp,pike but try  rooster tails ,road runners jigs with minnows on it
406539
Every year, more bass are caught on plastic worms than all other baits-lures combined. Learn how to fish them for consistant catches. Any size or color of plastic worm will catch bass as long as it is 6 inches and purple. Baitfish and crawfish imitating crankbaits work well as do spinnerbaits, and jigs. For consistant catches though, the old plastic worm is tops.I also agree with grumpyoldman, you have to keep your hook wet.
1103847
If your using terminal takle go with wax worms.\n\nIf you want to through lures use a 1/8 oz. Wordens Rooster tail; jigs tipped with wax worms work really well. \n\nThere is a jig put out by GRIZZLY JIG COMPANY, http://www.grizzlyjig.com/html/grizzly_jigs.html, O strongly recommend them. The rigging method for  these is easy. Take a crappie rod or any ultralight is fine, and put on a slip bobber. Set the depth at three feet attach two jigs, one at the bottom and another at 2 feet.  Cast to where you want it an dlet it go to work . These usally get hit on the sinking motion so it is easier if you are on a dock or using a crappie rod or in a boat.
618093
Go get a zebco rod and reel combo, preferably a 33 classic.  thats the best to start with. Then it depends on what fish you are trying to catch. If your in the south and trying to catch crappie or bass, get you a spinnig jig like a roadrunner.Also try live bait like minnows.  you can also catch bass on a plastic worm. If you want to catch some catfish, get some chicken livers(gross) they work magic. If your up north and want to catch pike or other stuff like that, I can't help you.
691766
I prefer 2 lures for BIG BASS.  The jig and pig or jig and craw both are proven time and time again as BIG BASS catchers.  Also try any lures that are larger than you'd usually use.  Try a Heddon Zara Spook.  Use the walk the dog method on choppy water for great results! Almost anything that's too big for a smaller bass will attract the BIG BOYS.  Try any soft plastic worms that are 10 inches or more.  I like YUM worms due to the fact that they hold together very well.  I have caught several bass on 1 single worm, as opposed to say a senko that when used can usually only land 1 bass, maybe 2 if your lucky.  You can use a larger size original floater by Rapala to get larger bass also.  It is more knowing where the big boys are hiding while paying attention to conditions such as water temp, clarity, air temp, your retrieval speed, your techniques, etc...  You can catch a lunker on a finesse jig, or an 8 inch crankbait.  You have to learn how bass think before you can understand how they feed. Here is a good site you can use to learn about bass and their habits alittle more.  You can learn all sorts of good stuff at this site.  I know for sure that it helped me a great deal.  Keep your line tight and you bait wet,  BASS Fisherman
619948
To answer your question, live bait is better for most people. But in my opinion, anyone without skills the live bait would be better.  But someone who is into the sporting aspect of fishing would use artificial.  Because it takes skill to animate a piece of plastic to the likings of a bass.  I have a tournament in 10 days, and the only bait you can use is artificial.  So if you want to actually have more fun use artificial.  If your stuck on a deserted island and need to fish to survive, use live bait.I like to say, "Anyone can put a worm on and catch fish, but it takes real skill to catchum with artificial bait." I like to use artificial because it takes much more skill to get fish.  You have to pick just the right color and size that the fish want. Sometimes I fish next to someone using the same lure or plastic worm, and I'll catch fish and they won't, it all depends on how you work the bait.  Have fun!
707221
The bass get pretty big in Florida. I would go with say a 1 or 2 ought hook for bass and I would probably go with say a 1/16 oz or even a 1/32 oz small jig for bream or specks.(blugill or crappie) these sizes will get you through the season. I have fished for bass in florida and have used up to say 4-5 ought hook for shiner fishing. (with a weed guard) and used golden shiners up to 12" long to catch them. My biggest so far is 8.5 lbs caught in Okeechobee.
1170141
Well here in NC, I fish all over, but mainly for bass.... Shearron Harris, Kerr, and Falls of the Neuse River up by the Triad are all great for bass, crappie and blue gill as well as catfish at night.  Catfish abound on the Cape Fear River... even up to 60 lbs.... and you can catch stripped bass as well.  Tillery and Wyllie are great out by Ashboro and Charolotte for large and small mouth bass, crappie, bluegill and brim... and an occasional reddress.  The lakes on Ft Bragg are well stocked for catfish and bass... seven lakes total.  Bluette Falls on the Pee Dee River near Rockingham is well know for blue catfish and some pretty good channels too.  Bass are pretty good on the topside of the dam too... especially if you have a boat. The are plenty of trout in the mountain streams and a bunch of great lakes for fishing.  And my last hotspot....the New River along the Virginia line.... smallmouth heaven.
1095033
Well, poo on "Report abuse".  I like to put some worms in a ziplock bag, spray with a garlic attractant, and then sprinkle in some garlic salt.  I only tend to use scents when the fishing is tough, but on a couple times, the bass really loved this mix.  On one occasion, on almost every cast for about an hour, I had around 20 bass hit my worm marinade.  Make this mix the night before you fish, so that the worms can soak in the flavor.  Keep in mind that bass attractants do not attract the bass, it only masks the odor of humans, and plastic to ensure a few extra seconds to set the hook, before the bass spits the worm out and you miss them.  If you really want to out-fish your hubby, get some YUM products.  They use an attractant that is built in to the bait, and works very well. I would suggest you get some YUM dingers.  Rig them texas style without any wieght.  Cast at the edges of any and all cover, and hold on to the rod, let the worm sink to the bottom as you pull the slack up with the rod tip, not reeling in any line.  I find most times, bass hit the worm after the initial "kerplunk", so keeping a semi-taut line will let you feel even the most subtle hits. But watch your line as well, because sometime you don't feel the hit, but your line will shoot off or move in one direction or the other.  If you don't get any bites on the first fall, let the bait sink to the bottom, and give it a few tugs, so the worm jumps about 1 foot off the bottom.  Usually bass will watch the worm, and this twitching will entice them to eat it. If it doesn't, hop it all the way back to you.  Don't tug to hard, or bass will be turned off, and know it's a fake.  I have drastically improved my catch rate using YUM dingers.  They come in 3,4,5,6,and 7 inch worms, as well as a 9 inch split-tail model.  I use the 4 inch and would suggest you get the same size, as well as a 6 or 7 inch size too.  I live in PA, and in this region, watermelon seed color works the best.  You should also try the YUM 7 inch ribbontail worm.  They work great also.  I have caught over 50 bass in the past month using YUM products, and would be lying if I told you YUM had nothing to do with it.  I think they have a great product for a low price too. When you buy them, also buy some Gamakotsu #1 size worm hooks.  They allow the worms to fall properly, and at a good and enticing rate.  Have fun, and trust me, with YUM, you WILL outfish your husband. Tight lines
1001726
Worms work! Grey crickets, Power Bait,(either one) on a chartreuse jig have worked for me in the past when fishing for crappie, blue-gill, and bream.\nGood Luck!