Getting irritated

Steve826 04/10/2008 - 19:10 Trip Reports Roll Your Own Whittier Since we heard the weather was supposed to be real nice today (which it was) and not good for this Sunday, me and dad decided we wanted to get out and fish for a little after i got home from school today. Original plan was to go after some more trout at the same pond we went last Sunday. Plan changed today when dad was in the Whittier area and decided to have a look at the pond. We had been there a couple times last fall and had caught a bunch of bluegills, but nothing really worth speaking about. Well today he looked around for awhile and he said he saw a half dozen bass just sitting near the pier. Okay, new plan, we'll go to Whittier and try for some bass. We knew time would be limited because we had to get my mom from work, so we only had an hour or so. Not enough time, but better than nothing. Got there about 3:00 and started throwing a white grub on a 1/16 jig head. Tried the places where the bass were hanging earlier but the angle of the sun had changed, making it near impossible to see into the water, even with polarized sunglasses. So we had to just cast to where we thought they were. After awhile we noticed a pretty nice fish (dont know what it was, couldnt tell if it was a bass, a giant sunfish, or maybe a crappie?) It was 10 inches or so, suspending right next to a post on the pier. I instantly went over and tossed my grub right next to it. My heart was racing as the fish slowly swam up to it, sniffed at it...and turned its head. I let it sit for a minute, reeled it in and tried again. Each time, same thing. Fish would look, fish would get close to biting, and...turn away. Alright, plan B. I went to the tackle box and added some Carolina Lunker Sauce, a crawfish scented fish attractent. Tossed the grub at it, and same thing. I don't think I was scaring it, or it would have left. It just hung there, looked at the lure, then looked away. After it wouldnt hit that, I went over to my light tackle rod loaded with 4 pound test, a bobber and some Berkley Gulp Maggots, and tossed it right next to the fish. Same thing happened! It just wouldnt bite! Finally I left the light tackle rod sitting on the pier and tried a different spot. Me and dad were tossing white grubs at some fish sitting near cover, and they would do the same thing, look at the lure and then turn away. Finally we had to go. Skunked for the countless time in a row. Now, the title of my trip report. I'm getting really...well, irritated. I literally havent caught a fish since last November, and that was just bluegills. I'll come clean right now, I have never caught a bass in my life. I have only caught a bunch of bream, bluegills, etc. I'm just getting so irritated, it seems like I'm doing something wrong. I have plenty of lures, I even saw fish today and casted right at them and I just cant catch them. I'm getting so angry, it's hard to relax and have fun when I fish because I have this feeling that I'm just not going to ever catch anything more than bream. All I need is ONE day where I catch a good fish, to prove to myself that I can do it, and then I won't take it so hard when I get skunked. I know I will never give up fishing, I'm addicted to it. I just am getting tired of getting nothing when I fish cause I feel like I'm doing something wrong and I dont know what.

Also, I decided that I am going back to spincast reels. Spinning reels have too much line twist for me, and the one I have casts no farther than a Zebco 33. Unless any of y'all can give me a reason why spinning reels will help me catch more fish, then I'll stick with my Zebco 33. I know a good, high quality spinning reel is better than a spincaster, but I dont have the money for a expensive reel. If anyone can help me out with this, please give me advice.

Honestly, I just want some advice in general to help me catch some fish this year. I caught a good amount of bream last year, but I wanna step it up this year and catch bass and whatnot. As an inexperienced fisherman, its overwhelming with all the lure selections, places to fish, etc that its hard to know what to do based on a given situation. If anyone can help me out, please do. Any advice you have, let me know. Thanks a million in advance.

Steve

Patience my boy, patience

REB9 04/11/2008 - 18:57 The Capt provides good solid advice. Enjoy your time on the water and learn from every trip. We all mostly fish, not catch. Just last Saturday, I fished with SPOTHOGG and got skunked fishing for 4 hours. Fished good water, the right baits, a good area, and the fishing gods decided I didn't need to catch.

Forty years of angling experience helps me get through the skunk. I
know that if I keep throwing, I will run into a fish or two.

Don't worry about fishing the ZEBCO. Spincasting is not just for
girls. Heck, I fished a GARCIA ABU MATIC 120 and 170 for my first ten years. Caught a bunch of fish and went to spinning gear once I started making some money.

I see OGBUDHA offered to help you. Ben is a great guy and a solid fisherman. Learn from people who have gone through your experiences and you will find that they fish very simple. Accurate casts, methodical presentations, and a wet lure always.

Don't get overwhelmed by all the lure presentations. Keep it simple. For smallies:

A tube (green pumpkin or SMOKE purple) Fished on a tube head. Some 1/8 heads, and some 1/4 heads is all you need. You will lose a bunch slowly bouncing them on the bottom, but that is ok, if you aren't getting snagged, you aren't fishing plastic correctly

A 3 or 4 inch curly tail grub in SMOKE black flake. 1/8 oz. head is fine. Again, you can bounce it on the bottom or slowly swim it back to you after you throw her out. Best bait I have ever fished.

A couple crankbaits. One shallow runner and one medium runner. Color- crawdad looking will work fine.

A beetle spin- 1/4 oz. Black with yellow. Throw her out and reel her in slow.

A MEPPS spinner- No. 2 or No. 3. Squirrel tail. Either gold or silver blade. Again throw it out and reel it back slow.

That is all you need now. Keep throwin.

Bank fishing on the Potomac is tough in the spring. High water and slick banks. Later in the summer, you can wade if the water is low and you will catch fish.

Good luck!!

REB9

Hmmm....relax and take a deep breath

Captwalleye 04/11/2008 - 06:32 My young friend,you need to ease off.Remember..it's called "Fishin'"and that's because you don't always catch them.If you did it would be called "Catchin'".I know it's hard to be patient when everyone else seems to be catchin'them and your not.Your turn will come.

I see the door of opportunity has just been graciously opened for you
and your Dad.If you haven't e-mailed Ogbudha and set up a trip than your slipping.He can show you alot and you'll reach your goal of catching your first Bass.Go for it!

As too your equipment...don't be afraid of that spinning rig because of line twist.There are tricks to eliminate or at least reduce that problem.The major one is to get yourself to close the bail with your hand,and not by cranking the reel handle.Also when you close it by hand,look down at the tension of the line on the spool.If you see a loose loop than fix it.Sometimes you can get away with just putting tension on the line by moving the pole away from your lure/bait,and than winding it up.Sometimes you'll have to pull the line off by hand and than hold it to apply tension as you wind it back on.These things take a bit of getting use too.I guess you could say you condtion yourself into doing these immediate actions to eliminate these problems.One you've done this line twist/tangles become far and few in between.It's just another lesson learned and adopted.

Steve,your just getting started.Remember these words...perseverance
and patients.Look them up,remember,and use them.The sooner you do,the better off you'll be.Apply them to everything you do.

Now go catch your fish.

The old one

HookUp 04/11/2008 - 08:10 The old one gives you good advise.
(although I think I got you by a couple years ....)

Fish with others and gleen from their experiance.

Speaking of, when we going fishing ol' one?

Nothing beats dumb luck

Hmmm...nope!

Captwalleye 04/11/2008 - 08:29 George,you've just entered this number level.I step up to the next one shortly.
As to going fishin'? Real soon....p.m. to follow shortly

bass

ogbudha 04/10/2008 - 20:40 Ill take you and your father out on a local resvr. OR the Potomac. Which would you like...a largemouth or smallmouth to be your first?
In the Potomac I can get you both....on Black Hills...only largemouth. I will gladly assist in any form I can to get you your first bass. Lets go for smallies!!

Ben, I really appreciate the

Steve826 04/11/2008 - 20:27 Ben, I really appreciate the offer. I'll let you know sometime if me and my dad can get out and fish with you.

Reb9, Capt, and HookUp, thanks for all the advice. I know that I need to relax and take it one cast at a time. I'm starting to convince myself, with your help, that I will get on fish soon enough. Reb9, thanks a lot for all the lure tips. Like I said, its difficult to decide what to use with all these choices, and your tips are very helpful.

I appreciate everyone's help. I am glad there is a group of fishermen this helpful.

Steve