FS Digest

So I am looking to get back into fishing (haven't been seen I went with my dad when I was really young.)

Im planning on grabbing the Ugly Stick Gx2 Medium spinning reel and rod combo (6ft6) from my work.

I was just wondering if you guys can. help me out on must have basic necessities to go along with the rod.

Right now the area I plan to try fishing at currently has small mouth bass and plains fish. Later on in the coming months I'd be able to see some brown and rainbow trout.

Note: from my research, I think imma try the lure fishing route to start.

So with all that said:

What kind of fishing line should I be looking for?

What hook sice would be ideal for the fish I listed above?

Are there any other specific attachments I should be looking for with my specific situation?

What kind of lures are most ideal for my situation?

Any other advice you could offer me would be great.

I'll be on land as opposed to boating if that point matters at all in my situation.

Looking forward to seeing what you guys have to say!

Thanks!

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by WhatItDoBabyyyy

Ronniejw Loc: West Point MS

wouldn't go too heavy on line, braid line somewhere around 10lb with a mono leader, ask around what they are taking and purchase the lures in different colors, hook size depends on lure size. Start early morning and cast parallel to shoreline roughly 6 to 8 ft out. Best of luck

Bcmech1 Loc: Clinton Wisconsin

If you are fishing for smallmouth bass, it's hard to beat a 1/16 ounce marabou jig in white or yellow on a safety pin spinner. I don't know where you are, but I just slay smallies with that setup. Oh yeah, I use a 7 foot medium light action rod, spinning reel and 8 pound test mono. Never had a problem as long as drag is set properly. I even get some walleyes and the occasional northern pike as well. The added bonus, it's a cheap setup.

rappearle Loc: Adamstown, PA

For trout the 'Fox' and 'Phoebe' are good, keep them small. Most of the trout I have caught, I was using 'Power Bait'. It comes in lots of colors and scents. My rig is very simple. I use 6 lb. test with a red bead and swivel on the end. I then have made-up leaders with another swivel, 30" or so of 4 lb. test and generally a treble hook size 14. I add a small split shot 10" up from the hook. If I get snagged which rarely happens because the Power Bait covers the hooks, the 4 lb. test breaks first. I put the split shot up 10" because most trout hoover about 6" off the bottom so if the split shot gets to the bottom the bait floats and will be slightly above their eye sight. Almost all of the trout I catch swallow the hook so I don't try to remove it, I simply cut the line at their mouth and if big enough for me, put them on my stringer and place them in the water so they stay alive. If you don't know what you might be catching, I would go with a heavier line. I always use Berkley's 'Vanishing' line/leader for my 30" leader because trout can be skittish, especially in clear water. If you don't have a GOOD pair of polarized sun glasses, invest in one. When sight fishing at first they seem hard to see but after a while you get better at it. It's easy when they move or you see a glimmer. If you think it is a fish and it's sunny look for a shadow underneath. You see the shadow, it's a fish.
Tight lines,
Randy

kyle1234 Loc: Roseville. Ca

Nice reply Randy!

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

For bass, large or small mouth, my first choice is a Yamamoto unweighted wacky worm rig with 1/0 hook. I use 30# very high vis braid because I can see it. It is important to see the line as most bites are visual, but it is more important because my eyes and hands don't work so well anymore when I tie knots. I use 12# floro leader. The same line weights will work for Kokanee and blue gill through cat fish.