FS Digest

So I have a bass boat that I just bought and I loaded it up with all kind of lures. Stuff I've seen the googans use and stuff I've caught bass with at the pond on my dads property.

Thing is I can't figure out how to use the boat to catch bass in the lakes near me.

The lakes I fish if anyone has any tips are in Pennsylvania. Cross Creek is the closest lake and Lake Arthur is the next lake I fish. Never caught anything at Arthur and not much as cross creek. I figured out the crappie bass there but not large mouth

I haven't tried the Yough lake yet. That might be my next adventure.

Have watched videos with the fish finder and stuff just cant figure out how to learn how the bass at these lakes operate

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by jdiamond31

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

jdiamond31: Well, son, I know how you feel. Have you tried soaking some plastic worms on a Texas rig? When are you going? If you fish during the middle of the day, that may explain why you've got zero. Dawn up for an hour or so, then late, around sun down, even a little after, might be better.

Old baits, like the Jitterbug, or even a frog lure might work. For other things to soak, might use a plastic crawdad lure. Keep changing your modus operandi until you discover the combination. Part of the fun is in discovery.
Just Sayin...RJS

TBRhino Loc: NC and FL

Robert is correct the two best all round hours for bass are first and last light. After that find cover, any fallen tree or cover you can see like old trees in water are good. My choice for that time of day is any lure that swims and wiggles on top, jitterbug, jointed minnow, frog style lure will attract bite. If choose to fish during latter morning or afternoon you will need your fish finder to locate under water cover or watch where a land form seems to come to a point before going under water. Likely a drop off near a creek channel, bass will stage out off the drop off, use Texas style rig here. Finally when I am out mid morning or later I look for shad or bait fish being terrorized by larger fish you will see them jumping and larger fish surfacing, usually in a cove just off the main channel. Throw even a lead head grub or your jointed minnow that will dive some with a faster retrieve right through the bait fish. Can be a lot of fun. Good luck.

Chuck56 Loc: Texas

One way to start figuring out a lake is what is the forage fish. Most lakes it’s shad of some type . Bass usually eat a bunch of Shad during certain times of the year. Other times, they will eat crawfish . Other times they will try to eat bluegill/ sunfish. These are the most natural forage in just about any lake. I’m not familiar with your area to tell you when they will key on certain forage the most. That’s your job to figure out. The structure and cover part is too. You are correct using your electronics to figure that out. Something to know if you see fish on your electronics : Largemouth bass do not “ stack up” . That means if you see fish indications that appear one on top of the other, it’s not bass. Probably crappie or something else. Another thing. If you indicate a bass that is suspended somewhere in the water by itself, forget trying to catch it. It’s not gonna bite , unless it is suspended by a “ bait ball” of shad or other forage fish. I was lucky enough to win a company tournament by catching a 4 lb largemouth by seeing that exact situation on my front hummingbird , so I know it works. If you see a group of bass suspended together in open water, you could very well get bit , and lots of times when one bass hits a lure , it fires up the other bass to bite also . This also pertains to a group of bass holding in a tree or other cover as well. Bass love cover , and will stay close to it. They are also structure lovers and bigger bass stay there more , as long as the structure allows quick access to deeper water. Kinda like a hi-way. Bass will use these hi-ways to and from deep to shallow water, over and over, like a routine. Bass also like to be in their own comfort zone , like we do. Most do not like hotter water and will go deeper as the temp comes up, then come back shallower as the water cools. Or will bury themselves as far as they can in grass or weeds , anywhere to get relief from the temp.This is pretty basic stuff that most bass guys know, but maybe it will help you some to figure your lakes out. One other thing. Bass are sensitive to noise. Being stealthy in your boat can really make a difference.....My 2cents.