Favourite method of fishing this year?

[Kalli2007]

Just wanted to say this site is awesome!! Was told about it last year.. and just surfacing back around it now.

What's everyone's favourite method for fishing bass so far this year? Myself I'd have to say 'wacky rig' and seems to be pumpkin seed with chartruese tail that seems to be working.

Anyone else got any new favourites this year?

Usually I'm a old standby with powerbaits, but they seem to have done nothing for me yet this year!!!

[kunobasski]

The spear worked good in the early season when the fish were shallow, but now nets seem to be the ticket.....

that and night lines..oh man they work.......!!!!

tonto kunopaski

[Swamp-Donkey]

Kunobasski, And here I thought all this time, that it was knowledge and skill that contributed to your consistant tournament success!

[Swamp-Donkey]

Kalli2007, There really is no magic bait or technique. Getting caught up in that routine can actually be counter-productive. Weather, air & water temp, time of year, time of day,water clarity etc,etc, can all dictate what the fish will be doing on a particular day.

If the Bass are all wound up, say just before a thunder-storm. Fishing with "whacky-rigged" worm will certainly catch some fish, but I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that rippin a spinnerbait or buzzbait in shallow cover will result in more and bigger fish. Your simply covering more water, presenting your bait to a larger number of aggressive fish. The same goes for low light periods, You are probably far better of chuckin' a top-water of some kind, than throwing a finesse type bait.

When I'm chasin' Bass I usually have ten rods rigged, I'll share with you what I always have tied on my line and I let the Bass tell me what they want
1-flippin' jig & craw
2-spinner-bait
3-buzz-bait
4-Scum-frog
5-Skitterwalk(topwater)
6-weedless rigged tube jig
7-Whacky-rigged worm
8-Plastic jerk bait/ slug-o
9-Texas rigged craw
10-Texas rigged worm

Good luck

Cheers

[Kalli2007]

Hi Swamp-Donkey.. Wow quite the bit of information there!! I've tried all but a few of those methods.. Certainly do not take 10 rods with me.. 2 is all I take.. Don't own any more than that actually.. I'd trip over them in my little boat

What is a skitterwalk? I've never heard of that? and heard of scum frogs, cannot say I've ever used them though.. But the others I've pretty much used.

What lakes do you fish in? you're not all that far from my neck of the woods . Ever fish up towards Kingston?

[Swamp-Donkey]

A "Skitterwalk" is a top-water bait, made by Rapala. You fish it with short snaps of your rod tip and it darts from side to side. Pausing it will often trigger strikes. Its a great bait.



I wasn't really expecting you to carry 10 rods or anything, what I was listing were my 10 favorite baits that I regularily use in any given Bass season. I don't favour one over the other, Conditions will dictate what I'll start off throwing.

As far as what lakes I fish, I'll go just about anywhere. I've fished tons of lakes near Kingston; Loughborogh, Sydenham, Colonel By, Dog/Cranberry, Camden, Inverary, River Styx.... I have a few little Lake X's around there too.

[kunobasski]

Swamp donkey's coverage of bait selection is so true...

His sentiment about letting the fish tell you what to us is probably one of the best tid bits of info one can adhere to...and the proof is in the pudding!

Those are some huge fish SD hammers.....posts like that are solid gold!

Kuno

[jig head]

TUBE

[1lastcast]

I also rig up a few rods and keep them at arms reach in the boat.

I just started using fireline and im really starting to like it. you can feel everything with it.

1st rod - spining reel on a 6'6" med rod 12lb mono, top water lure
2nd rod - spinning reel on a 5' med rod with 14lb fireline, soft weedless platics minnow bait (slug go)
3rd rod - baitcaster reel 7'10" med heavy rod with 20lb fireline, jig and pig
4th rod - baitcaster reel 7' med fast rod with a worm texes rig

I also like to toss a wire spinner in above the weedlines.

my wife thinks im crazy the way I fish from rod to rod. But it allows you to fish faster and cover more water from the top down.Get yourself a second rod at least and give it a try.


Most of the time i fish sort of in this order to find fish.

in morning top water baits, then i will work my way to the worm style baits in deep weed beds.

You need to fish more than one style to stay on fish.

[Todd B.]

Flyfishing!

Once you switch to the darkside you won't switch back!

[(Big Bass Daddy)]

I would agree with Swamp-Donkey's selection. This year I've decided to go back to some baits that I kinda put on the bacburner sort of speak, like crankbaits. Last weekend I went back to using crankbaits and I must admit I caught more fish than I normally do simply not giving up on it just after a few cast. It took a couple of tries with a couple of different colors but once I got on to the right color and so on it realy paid off big time.

This weekend I'm going to give these famous Senko's a try, I've never really gave them an honest shot , so why not.

BBD

[gordy28]

#1 - trolling a husky jerk - have caught smallmouth, pike and pickeral this way
#2 - Boo Yah Boggie bait used like a spinnerbait - has been great for buckets
[/list]

[Mike Lennox]

Flyfishing!

Once you switch to the darkside you won't switch back!

I second that, and I have had a great season thus far. I will post all of my pics in my year in review. Monday I'm off to Alberta fishing for 11 days then Pennsylvania for 14 days I'll take lots of pics!

[Anton88]

Favorite way to fish this year ?

Bottom fishing with natual bait in saltwater, or from shore! Never done it, but now I have a chance,.. wish me luck.