Lake fishing can be a daunting task, depending on the size of the lake. If the lake is very large it is sometimes difficult to know where to start fishing. Generally if you are a bass fishing beginner you should stick to smaller lakes and ponds where there is not so much scope for failure. Fishing in smaller dams and lakes will generally hook you smaller fish, but not always. It will give you an opportunity to gain experience about where the fish might be hiding, how to read the conditions, how to manage and use your fishing gear and tackle.
The thing to remember when approaching a lake, is that while the lake might look flat and uninteresting there are often unseen places where the bass will lurk. This is because the structure of the lake bottom, the contour of the lake, is quite different to how the lake might appear on the surface. If there is nothing else on the bottom of the lake (highly unlikely) the humps and bumps in the sand will create preferred hiding places for the small and largemouth bass. Look for a spit of land that pokes out into the water like a point. This might create the sort of underwater terrain that the bass might frequent. Can you see a place in the water where it is a lighter shade? This might mean that the water is shallower at this point and might be productive.
The next thing to look out for is whether there is any sort of cover for the fish. Are there any boat docks on the lake? Bass love to lurk near to (and often under) docks and use these as an ambush point. Are there any dead tree trunks in the water? Look for places where there are rocks that protrude above the surface of the water. Aim to fish around these obstructions from different angles. Look for weeds that give way to sand or rocks. Perhaps there is some sort of overhanging tree that creates a bit of shade – often shade is all the cover a bass will need.
If all else fails just fish anywhere. This may sound stupid, but often with a bit of luck you might catch a fish without really having had any real plan – remember the more chances you give yourself the more fish you will catch.
When starting out fish with lighter tackle. Remember, with light fishing gear, lure fishing for even the smaller fish in the lakes will be exhilarating.
Lure Fishing Gear For Beginners | Bass Fishing Lures
Once you have got your basic fishing equipment together (your rod and reel) you will want to start looking at what type of bass fishing lures you will need to actually catch a fish. Most likely you will have already bought yourself a few different lures in order to try out your new fishing gear.
There are many different types of fishing lure that are available and a lot of different brand names (Rapala Lures come to mind). Once again though, I am going to say that you shouldn’t buy the big expensive brand names yet. This is because being a beginner fisherman and not having much experience can be a very costly exercise if you are buying expensive lures. You will lose a lot of lures in the weeds, reeds, rocks and even in the trees and bushes along the bank. ;-)
So start off with a selection of cheap lures. You will be able to buy more of them to start off with and this will enable you to collect a wide range of different styles of artificial fishing lures.
I have put together a list of some of the better styles of lures for a beginner fisherman to have in his or her tackle box.
Spinnerbaits | Spinner baits:
These are artificial lures that are bent at a right angle with a hook on one end and a flashy spinner on the other. It has a frilly rubber skirt that disguises the hook. Spinnerbaits are made to be retrieved fairly fast in order to make the spinner spin through the water. The spinnerbait is a surprisingly effective lure and I have caught quite a few good fish on this lure.
Fishing Poppers:
Sometimes called a floating popper, this is a plastic fishing lure that floats on the surface of the water and is pretty effective in the very early morning (dawn) and in the late evening (dusk). It is meant to be fished very slowly. Cast it out and leave it floating on the surface of the river. Every so often give it a tug and the scoop on the front will scoop the water creating a distinctive “popping” sound. This makes for exciting explosive strikes as the bass sometimes clear the water as the take this lure.
Minnow:
Minnow lures are lures that are usually made out of rubber and shaped like a small fish or minnow. When retrieved the minnow “swims” through the water and bass attack it thinking it is a small fish.
Soft Plastic Lures | Worms:
Soft plastic worms have a hook imbedded in them which adds weight to the worm and makes the worm sink to the bottom of the water. Usually good for fishing along the bottom of sandy areas of the lake or river they are meant to be fished very slowly so that the fish grub it up as they would a real worm.
This is a very basic range of different types of fishing lure that no beginner fisherman should be without. From this basis you can add the more specialised (and more expensive) fishing lure as you need and have the money.
There are many different types of fishing lure that are available and a lot of different brand names (Rapala Lures come to mind). Once again though, I am going to say that you shouldn’t buy the big expensive brand names yet. This is because being a beginner fisherman and not having much experience can be a very costly exercise if you are buying expensive lures. You will lose a lot of lures in the weeds, reeds, rocks and even in the trees and bushes along the bank. ;-)
So start off with a selection of cheap lures. You will be able to buy more of them to start off with and this will enable you to collect a wide range of different styles of artificial fishing lures.
I have put together a list of some of the better styles of lures for a beginner fisherman to have in his or her tackle box.
Spinnerbaits | Spinner baits:
These are artificial lures that are bent at a right angle with a hook on one end and a flashy spinner on the other. It has a frilly rubber skirt that disguises the hook. Spinnerbaits are made to be retrieved fairly fast in order to make the spinner spin through the water. The spinnerbait is a surprisingly effective lure and I have caught quite a few good fish on this lure.
Fishing Poppers:
Sometimes called a floating popper, this is a plastic fishing lure that floats on the surface of the water and is pretty effective in the very early morning (dawn) and in the late evening (dusk). It is meant to be fished very slowly. Cast it out and leave it floating on the surface of the river. Every so often give it a tug and the scoop on the front will scoop the water creating a distinctive “popping” sound. This makes for exciting explosive strikes as the bass sometimes clear the water as the take this lure.
Minnow:
Minnow lures are lures that are usually made out of rubber and shaped like a small fish or minnow. When retrieved the minnow “swims” through the water and bass attack it thinking it is a small fish.
Soft Plastic Lures | Worms:
Soft plastic worms have a hook imbedded in them which adds weight to the worm and makes the worm sink to the bottom of the water. Usually good for fishing along the bottom of sandy areas of the lake or river they are meant to be fished very slowly so that the fish grub it up as they would a real worm.
This is a very basic range of different types of fishing lure that no beginner fisherman should be without. From this basis you can add the more specialised (and more expensive) fishing lure as you need and have the money.
Lure Fishing Beginners | Bass Fishing Gear
I will initially focus on bass fishing gear and spinning equipment in particular and in later posts I will move on to the intricacies and the art of fly fishing.
In the previous post for the lure fishing beginner I suggested starting out by visiting a local sport or fishing shop in order to browse what type of rod and reel combos they had in stock. Although most will stock a wide range of combinations, when starting out you don’t have to worry about the upper end of the range.
These cheaper models are just as good for a newcomer to bass fishing as the more expensive versions; indeed a beginner fisherman will usually not even be able to tell the difference between the top end and middle of the range. Generally the ones that the store has available are the most popular and are for general use in many different conditions. Sometimes you can get discount fishing tackle; I paid half price for one of my fishing rods, just because of a few scratches in the paint.
The disadvantage with these all purpose spinning rods is in the strength and durability of the rod. This can be overcome by being particularly careful with where you are casting, what might get snagged and how tight the drag is set on your reel. There is nothing worse when you hook into that elusive largemouth bass and your rod snaps as you try and set the hook!
Make sure you keep your reel clean and well oiled. Test it before fishing to make sure that it is spinning easily. Lessening the drag on your spinning reel will allow the fish to take the hook and swim the line off the reel. You can slowly apply more drag. Alternatively you can attach your reel to the rod, feed the line through all the eyes, take the line in your fingers and gently pull the line down, bending the rod. Set the drag to give just before your rod bends to the right angle mark. This is generally the best position for the fish to set the hook by itself as it takes the lure and doesn’t require you to strike aggressively.
Of course, if you can afford more expensive rods and reels, by all means buy the brand that you want. The more expensive rods will give you a better strength to weight ratio and should last longer in general. The weight of the rod is especially important when buying a fly fishing rod.
Always make sure to check and clean your equipment according to the manuals that come along with the items.
A good idea is to buy some sort of rod bag, or hard cover for your rod. This will protect it when it is packed amongst all the other stuff in your car or truck, or if you inadvertently dump your tog bag on top of the rod. The rod eyes are very easily crushed and although they can be replaced, it is a pain to do. If your rod snaps though, it is a different story. Prevention is better than cure.
The purpose of this post has been to help you with the basic care of your bass fishing equipment and hopefully you can keep these points in mind when you are packing for and going on your fishing trip.
In the previous post for the lure fishing beginner I suggested starting out by visiting a local sport or fishing shop in order to browse what type of rod and reel combos they had in stock. Although most will stock a wide range of combinations, when starting out you don’t have to worry about the upper end of the range.
These cheaper models are just as good for a newcomer to bass fishing as the more expensive versions; indeed a beginner fisherman will usually not even be able to tell the difference between the top end and middle of the range. Generally the ones that the store has available are the most popular and are for general use in many different conditions. Sometimes you can get discount fishing tackle; I paid half price for one of my fishing rods, just because of a few scratches in the paint.
The disadvantage with these all purpose spinning rods is in the strength and durability of the rod. This can be overcome by being particularly careful with where you are casting, what might get snagged and how tight the drag is set on your reel. There is nothing worse when you hook into that elusive largemouth bass and your rod snaps as you try and set the hook!
Make sure you keep your reel clean and well oiled. Test it before fishing to make sure that it is spinning easily. Lessening the drag on your spinning reel will allow the fish to take the hook and swim the line off the reel. You can slowly apply more drag. Alternatively you can attach your reel to the rod, feed the line through all the eyes, take the line in your fingers and gently pull the line down, bending the rod. Set the drag to give just before your rod bends to the right angle mark. This is generally the best position for the fish to set the hook by itself as it takes the lure and doesn’t require you to strike aggressively.
Of course, if you can afford more expensive rods and reels, by all means buy the brand that you want. The more expensive rods will give you a better strength to weight ratio and should last longer in general. The weight of the rod is especially important when buying a fly fishing rod.
Always make sure to check and clean your equipment according to the manuals that come along with the items.
A good idea is to buy some sort of rod bag, or hard cover for your rod. This will protect it when it is packed amongst all the other stuff in your car or truck, or if you inadvertently dump your tog bag on top of the rod. The rod eyes are very easily crushed and although they can be replaced, it is a pain to do. If your rod snaps though, it is a different story. Prevention is better than cure.
The purpose of this post has been to help you with the basic care of your bass fishing equipment and hopefully you can keep these points in mind when you are packing for and going on your fishing trip.
Lure Fishing For Beginners | Starting Out
When beginning with lure fishing all you want to think about is catching that huge fish. Sometimes starting out is the hardest part. But where do you start?
First of all it would be beneficial to stop and think about some of the equipment you might need. The thing that I like about fishing is all the reels, hooks, lures, flies, plugs and spinners you can buy, not to mention the nets, waders and rods. But before you dash out to buy all that awesome gear take a moment to think about what type of fishing you are going to be doing. Are you going to be spinning for bass? Are you intending to learn how to fly fish? Are you going saltwater fishing? Do you plan on fishing in lakes or in rivers? Do you plan on fishing only when you go on holiday?
Once you know what type of fishing you are planning on doing you can start to think about the equipment needed for it. When you start out with lure fishing you usually want to get going without spending too much money. Perhaps this would be a good time to visit a website such as Ebay or gumtree to find cheap fishing gear. This is fine because buying expensive equipment does not make you an accomplished fisherman. You’ll find that what helps more than anything else is time spent fishing.
So get out to your local fishing store and take a look at the combos that they offer. I bought my first spinning rod and reel from Sportsman’s Warehouse here in South Africa; a Jarvis Walker, Crystal Creek, 2m long spinning rod with a decent Shimano Reel for under R300 (approx $35). I still have this combo and it is still going strong (granted I have made a few running repairs to it) and it has caught many, many fish. Buy yourself a small tackle box and a few spinners, some soft plastic worms a few hooks for the worms and maybe a spinner bait lure (they're always good). Ask the helper at the store for some suggestions for the type of fish your are aiming for.
When on the water spend some time with each lure testing it to see how it reacts when pulled through the water. Does it spin? Does it jig? Does it dive? Retrieve the lures at different speeds to get a feel for them. You might even get a few takes while you are busy and get a feel for how the fish feels on the rod.
If you commit to spending time out on the water practicing and trying different things, read up on your favourite regions, rivers and lakes and read a couple of books on spinning and fly fishing as this will make a real difference. Once you’ve caught your first few fish you are guaranteed to be hooked on the sport.
There is nothing quite like spending an early morning by the river or lake surrounded by the sounds of nature with the mist rising off the water. For lure fishing beginners, the adrenaline rush when that big bass takes your lure in spectacular fashion will keep you coming back for more and more.
First of all it would be beneficial to stop and think about some of the equipment you might need. The thing that I like about fishing is all the reels, hooks, lures, flies, plugs and spinners you can buy, not to mention the nets, waders and rods. But before you dash out to buy all that awesome gear take a moment to think about what type of fishing you are going to be doing. Are you going to be spinning for bass? Are you intending to learn how to fly fish? Are you going saltwater fishing? Do you plan on fishing in lakes or in rivers? Do you plan on fishing only when you go on holiday?
Once you know what type of fishing you are planning on doing you can start to think about the equipment needed for it. When you start out with lure fishing you usually want to get going without spending too much money. Perhaps this would be a good time to visit a website such as Ebay or gumtree to find cheap fishing gear. This is fine because buying expensive equipment does not make you an accomplished fisherman. You’ll find that what helps more than anything else is time spent fishing.
So get out to your local fishing store and take a look at the combos that they offer. I bought my first spinning rod and reel from Sportsman’s Warehouse here in South Africa; a Jarvis Walker, Crystal Creek, 2m long spinning rod with a decent Shimano Reel for under R300 (approx $35). I still have this combo and it is still going strong (granted I have made a few running repairs to it) and it has caught many, many fish. Buy yourself a small tackle box and a few spinners, some soft plastic worms a few hooks for the worms and maybe a spinner bait lure (they're always good). Ask the helper at the store for some suggestions for the type of fish your are aiming for.
When on the water spend some time with each lure testing it to see how it reacts when pulled through the water. Does it spin? Does it jig? Does it dive? Retrieve the lures at different speeds to get a feel for them. You might even get a few takes while you are busy and get a feel for how the fish feels on the rod.
If you commit to spending time out on the water practicing and trying different things, read up on your favourite regions, rivers and lakes and read a couple of books on spinning and fly fishing as this will make a real difference. Once you’ve caught your first few fish you are guaranteed to be hooked on the sport.
There is nothing quite like spending an early morning by the river or lake surrounded by the sounds of nature with the mist rising off the water. For lure fishing beginners, the adrenaline rush when that big bass takes your lure in spectacular fashion will keep you coming back for more and more.
Lure Fishing For Beginners | Why Fish?
I have always had a passion for fishing. When asked the question, “Why do you fish?” I find it difficult to be able to answer. It is because fishing is both an exciting sport as well as a very relaxing pastime. It is this paradox that makes lure fishing so addictive.
Relaxing yet exciting:
Fishing is relaxing because there is no better way to spend your time than in the great outdoors next to a beautiful river watching the wildlife and natural surroundings while being alone with your thoughts.
It is exciting because all species of bass (largemouth and smallmouth) are very strong and often very violent fighters which make for an absolute thrill when fishing for them. Often bass will take in spectacular fashion, hitting the lure in a fantastic display as it bursts out of the water. Nothing makes your pulse race and adrenaline rush as you play the fish wondering how big this one is. Fly fishing for trout is a battle of wits as you try and out fox the trout into mistaking your fly for a real insect.
Whenever I go away I try and incorporate some type of fishing into the holiday. Mostly I fish for bass but I have also caught many trout and the odd yellowfish too. I have a preference for fishing with lures, and have had varying success with poppers, spinners, spinnerbaits and worms (artificial worms, soft plastic lures).
They are found in all types of water bodies such as lakes, rivers and creeks. Largemouth bass are crafty fighters and will often lurk near underwater obstructions such as submerged trees, weed (or reed) beds and rocks, and try and shake the lure or break the line by heading straight for these obstructions when hooked. They hunt by smell and sight and so certain scents are sometimes infused into the plastic of the lure.
Because they are so aggressive by nature bass will often take large lures that create a certain amount of vibration in the water as they are retrieved. Smaller bass have been known to take lures that are the same size as they are. This aggressive streak is what makes bass fishing so exciting.
Generally bass are viewed as a pest, especially in our South African waters because of the fact that they aggressively hunt and kill the young of our endemic species of fish and breed quicker than these species as well. The upside of this problem is that bass fisherman are sometimes encouraged to take the bass that they catch, and when cooked, bass are really very tasty. Bass are best cooked immediately over a fire, fresh from the water.
All in all any lure fishing beginner will find this is a very rewarding hobby and sport.
Relaxing yet exciting:
Fishing is relaxing because there is no better way to spend your time than in the great outdoors next to a beautiful river watching the wildlife and natural surroundings while being alone with your thoughts.
It is exciting because all species of bass (largemouth and smallmouth) are very strong and often very violent fighters which make for an absolute thrill when fishing for them. Often bass will take in spectacular fashion, hitting the lure in a fantastic display as it bursts out of the water. Nothing makes your pulse race and adrenaline rush as you play the fish wondering how big this one is. Fly fishing for trout is a battle of wits as you try and out fox the trout into mistaking your fly for a real insect.
Whenever I go away I try and incorporate some type of fishing into the holiday. Mostly I fish for bass but I have also caught many trout and the odd yellowfish too. I have a preference for fishing with lures, and have had varying success with poppers, spinners, spinnerbaits and worms (artificial worms, soft plastic lures).
They are found in all types of water bodies such as lakes, rivers and creeks. Largemouth bass are crafty fighters and will often lurk near underwater obstructions such as submerged trees, weed (or reed) beds and rocks, and try and shake the lure or break the line by heading straight for these obstructions when hooked. They hunt by smell and sight and so certain scents are sometimes infused into the plastic of the lure.
Because they are so aggressive by nature bass will often take large lures that create a certain amount of vibration in the water as they are retrieved. Smaller bass have been known to take lures that are the same size as they are. This aggressive streak is what makes bass fishing so exciting.
Generally bass are viewed as a pest, especially in our South African waters because of the fact that they aggressively hunt and kill the young of our endemic species of fish and breed quicker than these species as well. The upside of this problem is that bass fisherman are sometimes encouraged to take the bass that they catch, and when cooked, bass are really very tasty. Bass are best cooked immediately over a fire, fresh from the water.
All in all any lure fishing beginner will find this is a very rewarding hobby and sport.
Lure Fishing for Beginners
Lure Fishing for Beginners will look at all types of fishing using artificial and also natural lures in order to catch “the big one”. We will look at techniques involved in fishing with lures, spinners, spoons, poppers and of course flies.
We will also examine the different pieces of equipment you might need in order to get started or to make your fishing either more successful or more enjoyable. These will range through the different fishing rods involved with fly fishing, bass fishing or spinning, fishing reels, different types of lures, to the garments, fishing jackets, and waders that you might purchase.
“What about types of fishing knots?” you might ask. We will also look at some of the most popular knots used and those that are the easiest to tie and use.
Fishing is an enjoyable pastime and many people spend their holidays relaxing next to a river or on a boat and will cast a line at some stage in their lives. Lure Fishing for Beginners will focus on making those who are starting out, confident that what they are doing is the correct thing and will maximise their time spent fishing.
We will also examine the different pieces of equipment you might need in order to get started or to make your fishing either more successful or more enjoyable. These will range through the different fishing rods involved with fly fishing, bass fishing or spinning, fishing reels, different types of lures, to the garments, fishing jackets, and waders that you might purchase.
“What about types of fishing knots?” you might ask. We will also look at some of the most popular knots used and those that are the easiest to tie and use.
Fishing is an enjoyable pastime and many people spend their holidays relaxing next to a river or on a boat and will cast a line at some stage in their lives. Lure Fishing for Beginners will focus on making those who are starting out, confident that what they are doing is the correct thing and will maximise their time spent fishing.
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