freshwater noob here :'(

[Jeffish]

Hello, this is Hotrod junior. I went fishing today in a lake and I had no clue what I was doing. So, my question is what fish are "in season" and what should I be using to catch these fish? I know it may depend on what lake it is and what kind of fish are in it, I just would like to know what lures/bait catch what fish. Sorry for being such a noob!

[Luna Sea 5]

as soon as you said Noob, I new there was a relations..

I catch and release in the lakes.  No particular bait.. I just go to my box and experiment with divers, twisters, poppers, buzz baits, and just mess around until I find one that works..

[Pops Soul]

Come On Jr. Didn't you DAD ever take you fishing

[ped579]

Don't forget to use the old reliable, spinner baits in chartreuse work great on just about everything, especially largemouth bass, in a 3/0 hook size.  I used to use artificial worms hooked in a Carolina style again with a 3/0 worm hook and a sliding sinker up front.  Deadly...

Happy Catching

Paul

[Bucktail]

Hi Jr,

This time of year you should be able to catch everything that swims in whatever lake you are fishing in.

Pickerel, bass, bluegill, crappie should all be biting pretty good now.  There may still be some bass on beds as well.

If you're fishing with bait and you just want to catch something I would suggest picking up some nightcrawlers, size 6 hooks, split shot, and some bobbers.  Just suspend the crawler a couple of feet under the bobber and cast it towards some kind of cover (a fallen tree, lily pads, etc.)  For bass and pickerel you can't beat live shiners.  Fish them the same way, but increase the hook size to a 1/0 or 2/0.

If you want to fish strictly with artificials, and there are bass in the lake, pick up a pack of 4" or 5" Senkos in green pumpkin or watermelon.  Texas rig them weightless using a 3/0 worm hook.  http://www.insideline.net/articles/rigging-guide.html Throw them towards the same stuff you would the live bait.  But since you'll be rigging "weedless" you can cast it much tighter to the cover.  When the Senko hits the water, let it sink on a slack line.  No need to impart any action to it.  If it gets to the bottom without a hit, just lift the rod tip sharply and let it fall again.  Repeat that until the lure is away from the cover then cast to another spot until you find them.

I have done a lot of bass fishing and never thought there was such a thing as a "magic bait", but a Senko is as close to that as it gets!

There are tons of other lures and things to learn, but I think this is a good starting point for you.

Good Luck!

-Bob

[Twitch]

blow up some worms on a caroilna rig for some walleye

[Jeffish]

I experimented with a bunch of things today. i tried putting a little rubber minnow thingy on the end with a bobber, but that didn't work out that great Then I made this crazy rig with a small minnow,a spinner, a hook with a little round weight thingy through the small minnow, and above the spinner I had little rubber/plastic hair things. ( Don't you guys love my terminology? )
As soon as I threw it, a fish grabbed that right up no sooner then the splash finished splashing. The fight was brutal cause I had my drag set way too loose and couldn't figure out how to fix it with all the other commotion that was going on. I finally reeled it in and it was a bass about 14 inches!!

[gymrat987654321]

at least you caught something.  my favorite is a bobber with a hook and a nightcrawler. It cant be simpler but still produces. You can caught a bunch of stuff on it, bass, sunfish, perch and more. 

[IrishAyes]

I experimented with a bunch of things today. i tried putting a little rubber minnow thingy on the end with a bobber, but that didn't work out that great Then I made this crazy rig with a small minnow,a spinner, a hook with a little round weight thingy through the small minnow, and above the spinner I had little rubber/plastic hair things. ( Don't you guys love my terminology? )
As soon as I threw it, a fish grabbed that right up no sooner then the splash finished splashing. The fight was brutal cause I had my drag set way too loose and couldn't figure out how to fix it with all the other commotion that was going on. I finally reeled it in and it was a bass about 14 inches!!

I see your dad taught you well.    Hey Hotrod, buy your son another thingie to toss at these fishies thing-ama-jiggies.

BTW, nice catch on the bass.

[Hotrod]

Nice Jeff.  I'm broke after those new 975's 

[Twitch]

Trout like mealy worms with the little marshmellows, both on the same hook.  adjust your bobber depth accordingly.  Nice Bass..
Couple of years Ago I took my kids camping up at Lake Wallenpaupack and my daughter caught a 17 inch Pickeral on just a hook....lol
She lost her minnow and I was in the middle of untangling my sons line so she was just sittin on the dock bouncing her hook up and down in the water then all of a sudden SPLASH... too funny...

[rugman]

so it is two of them out there !!!!! does this mean we can use six banggers  JR if you ever want to get up to ringwood nj I will take you out in greenwoodlake and show you some fishing or cupsaw lake you might not go back home after that

[fishon42]

use rooster tails from big to small for any fish you are fishing for, ive caughten sunnies, bass, trout, pickeral, crappies, perch, etc. everything on them.. there grreat 

[wb]

a shiny spinner lure with a wacky retrieve usually works well for largemouths

if you're a bait person live shiners are deadly

i've had luck on small rubber frogs cast at/on structure, lots of times

wow did I just answer a freshwater post?

[Jeffish]

so it is two of them out there !!!!! does this mean we can use six banggers  JR if you ever want to get up to ringwood nj I will take you out in greenwoodlake and show you some fishing or cupsaw lake you might not go back home after that

there are actually 3 of "them" http://njsaltwaterfisherman.com/forums/index.php?topic=5144.0 

I appreciate the offer, and I may just have to take you up on that in the near future, see ya later dad! 

my latest catch in the lake around the corner from good ole hotrods house



large mouth bass about 12 inches or so, and no dad, it is NOT a sunny

I caught that with a little white worm lookin thing with a swirly tail. (does my terminology make hotrod look like a bigger noob for not teaching me?)

[Pops Soul]

Jeff your suppose to kiss those bass before you throw them back 

[IrishAyes]

Yeah, it's the law! Part of the 2008 regulations.

[Jeffish]

I was thinking of giving that fish a nice smooch, but as I reached for my phone, the fish did an unexpected flop and fell on the dirt. 

Anyways, I need to stop using this "noob" terminology. I guess I should be using those 3 foot plastic spiderman fishing poles with my terms    . Does anyone know of a guide with pictures and explanations of lures and what they are? I don't like calling them white worm things with spinny tails anymore. 

Perhaps NJSWF needs one!  cough-cough Hotrod

[Hotrod]

Nice fish.  Now lets use what I taught you on picture presentation Son..

[surfrocket]

I dont do much sweet water fishing these days, but I did get my license this year. First time in like 8 years. I took my little girl out bobber fishin the other day,she kicked my butt. Here is a pic of one of the crappies she caught.