WHAT is more important to a BASS ANGLER: A name-brand boat, or his fishing skills?
410660
FISHING SKILLS -- \n\nJesus didn't have a Ranger.
176187
I agree, call your local bait-shop owner and he/she will know. If all else fails, call "Cabelas" or "Bass Pro Shop".
701411
there are fish finders for shore fisherman, there's a watch model and stand model, there is a piece a connect to your line and you can find out if your wasting your time in that spot
393317
Depends upon what type of "Lure" or presentation you wish to use. For a "Spinner-bait" I like a "Medium/fast" action. For "Crank-baits" I like a "Slow/medium" action. "Top-water" should be "Medium/medium". "Worm & Jig" would be "Fast/medium". Obviously, you have already purchased some type of "6'6" Rod. Check the printing near where it tells you the lenght. It may also tell you the "action".\n\n\nGenerally, a good "fast to medium" rod can do the job of many. However, for crankbaits you definitley want a "noodle" of a rod. It helps the action of the lure and will help you also land more "crankbait fish".\n\ncall your local sporting goods store or bait shop and they can tell you more .
694965
Appears to be good Bass fishing.\n\nWe always scope out a new place and ask the people fishing what they're catching and with what.  Also, a local bait store is good for info too.  Sometimes local tourist bureaus have a fishing report posted.\n\nHave a great time
1083302
I have found that the best retirieve to catch bass would have to cast it out as close to weeds, or logs, or rock cover as you can, keep your rod tip up and you line taut.  Let the worm sink and usually you will get the hit on the initial fall.  If not, let the worm sink to the bottom.  Then give the worm a few tugs, very small tugs, remember, you have to make it look real, so huge tugs make it look like a super worm, and may result in a hit, but, not many.  After you have given 2,3 maybe 4 little tugs on the worm, let it sink again.  I have found that most hits occur as the worm is falling.  So it is a must to keep your line taut, or you won't even feel the strike.  You must also keep your eye on your line where it enters the water.  Sometimes, you don't feel the hit, even with a tight line, but you will see your line either twitch, or move off to one side or the other.  Be ready to set the hook.  I prefer the YUM dinger in the 4 inch model and 6 inch model, in the watermelon seed color with gold flakes. They have a small slit in the worm to hide the hook in, resulting in easier, and better hook-ups.  Bill Dance once said "Any color and size of worm is good, as long as it is 6 inches and purple."  Try watermelon seed first, it seems to work everywhere.  Purple, black, red, and watermelon seed  also seem to work well.  But you have to experiment to find a good color. Here are a few sites to get you started.  I also have found that if the YUM dinger doesn't work, the YUM 6 inch ribbontail usually does.  If niether of those work, I try the YUM hawgtail, and almost always catch bass with 1 of the 3.  I would be lying if I told you that these three soft plastics have not improved my catch ratio per fishing trip, than any other plastics, and lures combined. I have found that using worms, I have found that it makes little difference on the water condition, when fishing a worm.  I have caught bass in muddy water, clear water, and in between with a worm, as well as at night. Bass have a "sensor" called the lateral lines. The bass can feel the worm before they see it.  In fact the largest bass I have ever caught was caught on a YUM dinger, at 2 a.m. during a full moon. But I have also had good bass at night when it was cloudy out. I prefer to Texas rig my plastics, most always wieghtless, on a 1/0 worm hook.  Have fun, and tight lines.
464502
Well, I went to the Doug Miller Outdoors Sportsman's Expo and saw a fly fishing casting contest.  I would consider that a sport.  Also, if I caught a huge fish, it would take my breath away, plus you might get stronger muscles by reeling the thing in.  An Author you should check out if you like anything outdoors and comedy: Patrick F. Mcmanus.  He's hilarious.  My favorite is his first book: a Fine and Pleasant Misery.  Sometimes I get mixed up and call it a Pine and Pheasant Misery.  Anyway, I think you are an athlete of sorts, especially if you spear-fish in the ocean like me.  That's a lot of work.  So is hiking to good streams and trying to get snags loose.
725627
Once upon a time, there was a fisherman who lived in a village, and in that village he became very well known for selling a particular kind of fish that all the villagers took home and cooked for their families. So popular was this fisherman that he came to believe that his fish must be the best fish in the whole river, ( even though the river had many other kinds of fish in it ). He even started to claim that his fish had much longer-lasting health benefits than other fish, and that that was why other fish had lost popularity in his own village.\n\nThen one day another fisherman came to the village. This fisherman not only caught fish, but cooked his fish, and served them to the other villagers. Now, as it turned out, his ability to both catch fish and cook them seemed to make him even more popular with the villagers than the first fisherman.\n\nBut the first fisherman was very puzzled by this, as he had become so convinced of his own popularity and success. So he went to the second fisherman to ask what his secret was.\n\n"Well", said the second fisherman, "The river is flowing and abundant, so I'm happy to catch any fish that are in the river, for there are indeed many. And when I get all the different kinds of fish back to my kitchen, I use only the very finest parts of each fish, ( discarding the rest ), and then I cook them together, and serve them to my customers. But I only serve them the right combination of fish according to what I know are the tastes of my individual customers. Because when you know what others really want, then you can really serve them. And serving customers well - that is what I call a real taste of success.
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.
555965
WOW!! I was checking out this site last night, when I came upon this little tool. You enter the basses' length and girth, and it gives you an approximate weight. Just click on the link below to go right to it.  When you are done, check out the rest of the site.  Even if your the best bass fisherman in the world, you'll still learn a few things off of this site.  Have fun, tight lines and keep the wind at your back!
1155144
The best tasting fish are either bass or walleye.  Not sure if bass would live in your area or not, though.  \nAs for either, you would be well off to ask someone local about fishing that particular area, as depending on conditions, time of year, etc. you can get wildly different reactions to the same fishing technique.
326884
Wow I didn't know anyone could play a bass. Maybe a catfish or even a bluegill, but not a bass.. way cool \n\n Seriously.. if you love to play, that's all that matters
187067
cabelas, bass pro, or brownells.  they all have websites.
993158
You see... this why BASS Fisherman is a professional!!  In the fishing world you can tell those who have done thier homework!! Bass has my vote on this one as well!!  Understanding what affects fish and fishing make you good... not just lucky. Great job Bass!!
1072272
If at first you don't succeed you would rather be fishing\n\nor\n\nOur tandem instructors are behind you 100%
1003085
Bass... I kinda figure you have a pretty good program put toether already.... but I use a couple different techniques for different presentations.... I stroke or hop jigs off of structures towards deeper water... its pretty effective.  I'll tend to finesse a jig into docks and vertical structures, especially if the bass are being pressured during a tournament or there are alot of people just "throwing" bait away. Once again, I like to work from shallow to deep waters. I try smooth movements and a pitch to reduce splash.  On both techniques, once I have worked the jig as deep as I can... I use a steady, medium speed to retrieve it... looking for that second chance at a bucket mouth.  \n\nGood anwser before on the attractant!!
634850
Most fishing stories are about one fish - this one is a little bit different...\n\n\nIt happened on July 4th, 2003.  I was out on a pontoon boat on a local lake that I had fished for ages.  Loads of people go out there for a fireworks show at night, but being the avid fisherman I am, I took along a few rods and a couple tackle boxes.  \n\nWhile we were out there, a few of the people I was with started asking me questions about that particular lake.  One other kid who I knew didn't fish at all and didn't know diddly squat about fishing started answering everything.  He's your stereotypical frat boy and no offense to anyone out there, but he was fishing w/ a zebco 33.  Well after a while, I realized that he answered every question w/ "Well the only real lure on this lake is a spinnerbait.  It's the only one that works anyways."\n\nSo I waited until he said it a few more times, and then I said loud enough for everyone to hear me, "You fish with that spinnerbait, and I'll use a plastic worm and we'll see what happens."\n\nThis is where it gets good...\n\nFirst cast, I flipped a black trick worm about 3 feet behind an underwater tree that had reached the surface.  I pulled it a few times kinda jerkin' it, and in the next second, BAM!  I hooked up to a 4 pounder.  In about the next hour, I had landed about 25 pounds worth of bass in 5 fish.  \n\nI've fished plenty of tournaments, and I would have killed to have been in one that day, but as they say, ______ happens.\n\nMeanwhile, spinnerbait boy is over there in the corner w/ no bites at all.  By this time the people have tuned him out when he starts talking, and I'm loving it.  Then he casts and says he had a bite.  "I missed it, I'll get him again."\n\nThree or four more times, the bite is in the same place, and he keeps missing it.  (I'm starting to think it's a log, weeds, rock, etc. but I didn't say anything)  On the next cast, he got to the spot where he had been getting a "bite" and set the hook violently.  He fought and fought and fought and said he had a big one.  "Get the camera, this one is going to be a good one"  <== Exact words.  \n\nWell when the monster surfaced, it was about a 4 ft. stick.  Everyone kept giving him crap about it and eventually he just sat back and shut up.  From that point on, every question from anyone on the boat was directed towards me!