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back to basics-golden rules #13247061 08/14/19 03:03 AM
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zachary00 Online Content OP
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Here's the deal. I love to fish, but I am horrible. I'm not to proud to admit it, I am just bad. I usually just end up beating the bank for several hours with hopes to catch something with what I've got tied on. I suspect I am not the only one who browses the forum that feels that way.

With that in mind I want to start a back to basics stream. If this goes well occasionally I will have a new back to basics question, but to start:


What are some golden (basic) rules you always follow. I know its vague, but that is the point. Whats the most solid rule for catching bass (other than get a lure in the water).

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: zachary00] #13247068 08/14/19 03:09 AM
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JIM SR. Offline
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Buy a fishing license. texas
Youll get a Texas Parks and Wildlife booklet. Read it, and know the rules.

Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: zachary00] #13247070 08/14/19 03:11 AM
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jbcarroll3000 Offline
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Crank my hydrowave to 11...

Sorry man, I'm not sure I have golden rules. I try to be flexible. Try different things 'til I get bit, then try to replicate that.

Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: zachary00] #13247073 08/14/19 03:13 AM
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zachary00 Online Content OP
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Hydrowave, haven't thought about one of those in years. Do they actually work?

Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: zachary00] #13247079 08/14/19 03:16 AM
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I'd think the first thing you should know is some general knowledge of seasonal patterns. There's always "some" shallow fish, and on some lakes there's lots of shallow fish year round. Tawakoni for example. Lots of good fish stay in less than 10' of water on Tawakoni year round. But for many lakes a LOT of fish go deep after the spawn and stay there until the fall when the shad start migrating towards the creeks. They'll move in to feed up and on a lot of lakes move back out for the winter. How much map study do you do on the lakes you're fishing? That would be a big help for you. If you're "beating banks" that are a long way from deep water, with little bait fish, and little cover...you're chances of catching aren't very good. Then there's days when the fish just win. But if you're always blanking you definitely need to improve on 1 of 3 things and maybe all of them. 1) reading a map and knowing general seasonal patterns to get you in areas that have the highest potential to hold fish, 2) proper technique and presentation, and 3) time on the water. If those three can't get you going...i'm outta ideas. Hiring a guide to show you those first two may be money well spent. That's all I got bud!


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Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: zachary00] #13247084 08/14/19 03:19 AM
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jbcarroll3000 Offline
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Originally Posted by zachary00
Hydrowave, haven't thought about one of those in years. Do they actually work?



Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: zachary00] #13247103 08/14/19 03:47 AM
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Hire a guide for the lake you want to fish. Best money you will ever spend. If you find a guide you like see if they'll give you a discount if you pre-book 3 trips. Then fish with them spring, summer, fall and let them teach you how to fish the different patterns on that lake. It's not the honey hole you are looking for, as those change and sometimes daily. It's how to fish that lake. What is your next move when your primary plan breaks down? And learn different presentations. This time of year, I catch more on drop shot and Niko rigged wacky than anything else. Cause I'm fishing 10-25 FOW. You need something that will get to the bottom, but also something bass will hit on the fall around structure if they are suspended. If your lake has rocks, C-rig is great because of the noise it makes across rocks. It's the first pole I'm pulling off a rock ledge. I'm still a newbee and lots to learn, but I catch fish almost every outing now where before I was in your shoes. Using guides to accelerate my knowledge was the critical step. A guy like James Biggs is a good 1st step.

Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: zachary00] #13247109 08/14/19 04:25 AM
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Let them tell you what to do.
If he bite is slow, change speeds... Faster or slower, usually I find slowing down produces more bites, but when it is warm water, sometimes burning it by them is the key.
Size down when the bite is slow. This can be weights, or lure sizes.
Fish high percentage spots, but don't ignore the area around these spots.
When all else fails just remember.... , shakeyhead, senko, and baby brush will catch fish anywhere


Woke up this morning
Got yourself a gun....
Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: zachary00] #13247196 08/14/19 11:31 AM
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Fish efficiently
Depending on your surroundings, fish something that you can cast over and over and retrieve over and over without getting snagged. The more time the lure is in the water presented in an attractive way the better.


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Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: zachary00] #13247221 08/14/19 12:03 PM
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Fish your strengths. If you are a bank beater, get better at that. Mix it up, throw some squarebills, pitch a jig to any cover, throw a crig or FB jig out deep if you come across a channel bank or deeper spot. Keep it simple. Natural colors when it’s clean water, darker/brighter colors when it’s murky or dark. Fish banks near points, docks, etc. once you get bit try to find similar areas on the lake to replicate it and try to run a pattern. Keep it simple, dont by weird stuff at store...

Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: zachary00] #13247246 08/14/19 12:24 PM
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Watch the water for bait activity ,fish eating birds on bank or trees wading in shallow water, look for the shady side of bank .Sometimes mother nature is your best fish finer. Throw to anything that would be an ambush point.


Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: zachary00] #13247358 08/14/19 01:50 PM
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Some general rules of thumb I notice hold true more often than not: (yet, there are always exceptions to the rule)

Bright high contrasting colors or solid black and blue lures with lots of action/vibration/rattles for muddy water, duller more natural looking green pumpkin or partially transparent colors with more subtle action/vibration/no rattles in clear water.

Use slower sinking/moving lures in muddy water, faster sinking/moving lures in clear water.

If the wind is blowing, use faster lures. If there is no wind, use slower lures.

When in doubt, a Texas-rigged 7 inch Powerworm will get bit eventually.


Scott Jones
Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: zachary00] #13247428 08/14/19 02:40 PM
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If you haven't, join BASS. Read the magazine each month that has articles that feature techniques for that time of year. If you don't know a technique they feature, study it and then go to the lake with only that type of presentation in your boat which will force you to learn it. Utilize the forum for any questions that come up. It won't take long to come a long way.


It's only a good cast if you catch a fish...
Personal Best: 11.62 lbs
Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: zachary00] #13247454 08/14/19 03:01 PM
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This time of year...

Start shallow in the morning with shaky heads or top water. As the sun comes up, go deeper or fish shaded water.

Bright (lighter) colors on sunny days, darker colors on cloudy days. Or green pumpkin day in, day out.

Wear good sunglasses.

Fish the darkest cover you can find in an area. Be it shade, matted grass, or even a single dark colored lay down in a stretch of water. Bass will cozy up to a black dot on a concrete wall if it’s the darkest thing close by. Weird creatures. They like to be around dark stuff.


Eat. Sleep. Fish.
Re: back to basics-golden rules [Re: Outdoordude] #13247460 08/14/19 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Outdoordude
Some general rules of thumb I notice hold true more often than not: (yet, there are always exceptions to the rule)

Bright high contrasting colors or solid black and blue lures with lots of action/vibration/rattles for muddy water, duller more natural looking green pumpkin or partially transparent colors with more subtle action/vibration/no rattles in clear water.

Use slower sinking/moving lures in muddy water, faster sinking/moving lures in clear water.

If the wind is blowing, use faster lures. If there is no wind, use slower lures.

When in doubt, a Texas-rigged 7 inch Powerworm will get bit eventually.


Great advise here. Good information for beginners, and this information can be expanded upon for advanced anglers.


Eat. Sleep. Fish.
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