My friend recently gave me an Abu Garcia bait caster, and I decided I'd like to try my hand at bass fishing. I don't have a boat, so I'll be fishing from shore...

I've seen LOTS of soft plastics in stores... What's the difference between the colors? Is green better than purple, for example?

What can I do to FIND bass from shore since I won't have a depth finder or anything to see what the bottom looks like?

I'm very very new to the idea of bass fishing... Up until now I've mostly been enjoying sunfish and bluegills (perch), catfishing and the crappie run nearby.

I've caught a few accidental sand bass, but nothing on purpose.

Any tips or suggestions would be awesome.

SLOW DOWN...and when you think it is slow enough...SLOW DOWN some more.

Your already doing what I would recommend in using the internet for information. The bass are shallow now so shore fishing can be great. Pick a technique and study it online. don't go buy a bunch of baits just because you think they look good. They probably are good but remember much of the baits out there catch much more fishermen than fish. I would recommend learning to pitch a soft plastic, Texas rigged with a 3\16 or 1\4 oz bullet weight. As you walk down the shore line pitch it at every piece of structure you can see such as grass, log, bush, man made structure and so on. walk slow and look for fish, chances are great you will see them right now. Way to much info to keep trying to pass along here. Good luck with and enjoy.

I started out young fishing from the shore... to be successful, you have to be willing to be mobile.

You need to create a kit that you can carry and fish with (like a tackle backpack), and maybe one or two two-piece rods that you can carry in that bag. Then, you need to just hoof it around your favorite fishing hole, looking for signs that bass may be present (i.e. brushpiles in the water, or the points where coves open into the main lake, or any other "fishy" areas)

Don't buy into the hype that you "need" a boat to catch em... my long standing personal best was taken from the shore, and I have seen plenty of hawgs caught from the shore as well.

The key like I said, is to stay mobile, and walk that bank looking for areas and fishing them. Once you find a good looking spot, stop and use the "fan casting" technique to exploit the whole area before moving on to another spot. You will know you are doing it right, when you go out fishing for a day, and come home dawg tired, with blisters on your feet, and a sore back from casting soooo much and carrying your gear

and one last piece of advice -- always bring a net (it's the day you don't have it, that you need it)

I caught my first 3 bass on a black 6" Fliptail worm from the bank.
Look up Carolina rig, great for fishing from shore.
Have fun !

Make sure you have money set aside. Because once you start catching bass it grabs ahold of you and then you develop what is known as bassitis. Next thing you know you have the urge to buy a big bass rig, enter tournaments and to buy 250 dollar rods and lots of tackle. It all starts from fishing the bank. :)Love it!

the quickest way to start learning is to find some ponds with good bass populations that you can fish

Go fast or faster...when you are not getting bit, don't waste time dragging worms through unproductive water. If you get some bites, then work that area over good. There's something there the fish like.

thanks for all the tips I'm also new bass fishing

Lots of big bass have been caught using two baits so you can cover lots of water from shore. Those are a spinner bait in 1/4 or 3/8 oz. and a chatter bait in Pure poison brand.

If you can afford hip waders or chest waders just to be able to fish parallel with the shore in 2 to 4 ft. of water will be a great help. Fan casting the bank the walking forward a few feet just to over lap your cast and keep moving down the bank.

In farm ponds much smaller versions of the same two baits and a inline spinner called a Mepps Black Fury #3 size. H & H spinners using a sassy shad 3" on the hook. I like to find just a little better small jig head to put on the H & H spinner. One that has a better bass hook but not to big.

Don't be afraid to get wet. When the water warms up, wade the shoreline as much as possible. Most cat tails are in fairly shallow water, and you can often wade the lake side of things like that to fish it. Once you are hooked, a fishing tube or Kayak are not a huge expense, and can take you to great areas.

My condolences. J/k, wait until the "bait monkey" needs to feed. Just remember that the LMB is an oversized and at the top of the food chain sunfish. Most of the hits on artificials are reaction strikes so your presentation needs to be "in their face".

Bass fishing was a lot like golf for me. I caught the bug with both and once you get the bug there is only one way to cure it. Some guys are lucky in that they can go fishing or play a few rounds of golf and never really get it but I was not one of them. Playing golf and fishing with my dad and son when he gets older will be heaven on earth.

I believe I saw some bass 101 articles listed on the BassMaster site. Lots of how to's on u-tube too.

I always did a lot a wading in tennis shoes if the bottom muck wasn't too deep.

If you really wanna quick start call bass clubs in your area and join as a non-boater.

Just getting in advise? Quit your job, sell everything else and divorce your wife! JK but call me in a couple years and tell me how addictive it can become. Enjoy!