Am I missing out? Kind of long.

I stayed out of the favorite bait thread because I don't use what
everyone else does and that begs the question "am I missing out"?

I fish 2 small lakes in central Pennsylvania. I used to fish them with
my grandfather in the late 70's. He always caught his share of bass
while I usually went hope disappointed. He only fished with one lure, a
gold floating Rapala minnow. After he passed away I only fished now
and then and with spinnerbaits and an occasional rubber worm. I'm not a
fan of the rubber worms because I really have a hard time hooking up on
a hit or telling when I even have a hit.

The past 3 years have found me with more free time and a renewed
interest in fishing but last year was enough to make me quit altogether
as I just didn't have much luck and spent more time wondering what I
was doing wrong than I did casting. This year has been much different
as I got my kayak rigged and am fishing in the same areas my
grandfather did in years past and using grandpa's Rapala technique with
the excpetion of using a silver Rapala instead of gold.

When fishing from my kayak I am on the water from 5 to 6 hours, always
starting just before sunrise and averaging about 4 to 5 fish an
hour.They range from 12" to 18".
It seems that I am the only person around using a Rapala, most others
are using spinnerbaits or tubes with the occasional crank bait. Some
days I'm catching what seems to be more than my share while others are
not even getting any hits.

So my question is should I try something else or stick with what I'm
doing? I'm catching lots of fish (it seems to me) but they are always
in this same size range. I want to catch something bigger (the lake is
a big bass waters lake, big for PA anyway, with a 15" min).
I very much enjoy the metheod I am using with the lure taking the hit
on top of the water 75% of the time, but would I be getting more action
fishing something else deeper? I keep seeing the Senko mentioned but it
makes me think of my frustration with rubber worms in the past.
Any suggestions?

If you're having fun doing what you're doing... that's all that matters.


"Sees-koo-wee-hah-nay" wrote in message
oups.com...

I stayed out of the favorite bait thread because I don't use what
everyone else does and that begs the question "am I missing out"?

I fish 2 small lakes in central Pennsylvania. I used to fish them with
my grandfather in the late 70's. He always caught his share of bass
while I usually went hope disappointed. He only fished with one lure, a
gold floating Rapala minnow. After he passed away I only fished now
and then and with spinnerbaits and an occasional rubber worm. I'm not a
fan of the rubber worms because I really have a hard time hooking up on
a hit or telling when I even have a hit.

The past 3 years have found me with more free time and a renewed
interest in fishing but last year was enough to make me quit altogether
as I just didn't have much luck and spent more time wondering what I
was doing wrong than I did casting. This year has been much different
as I got my kayak rigged and am fishing in the same areas my
grandfather did in years past and using grandpa's Rapala technique with
the excpetion of using a silver Rapala instead of gold.

When fishing from my kayak I am on the water from 5 to 6 hours, always
starting just before sunrise and averaging about 4 to 5 fish an
hour.They range from 12" to 18".
It seems that I am the only person around using a Rapala, most others
are using spinnerbaits or tubes with the occasional crank bait. Some
days I'm catching what seems to be more than my share while others are
not even getting any hits.

So my question is should I try something else or stick with what I'm
doing? I'm catching lots of fish (it seems to me) but they are always
in this same size range. I want to catch something bigger (the lake is
a big bass waters lake, big for PA anyway, with a 15" min).
I very much enjoy the metheod I am using with the lure taking the hit
on top of the water 75% of the time, but would I be getting more action
fishing something else deeper? I keep seeing the Senko mentioned but it
makes me think of my frustration with rubber worms in the past.
Any suggestions?

I'd just try a larger Rapala and see if your catch numbers go down,
but..your size goes up. RG

"Sees-koo-wee-hah-nay" wrote in message
oups.com...

I stayed out of the favorite bait thread because I don't use what
everyone else does and that begs the question "am I missing out"?

I fish 2 small lakes in central Pennsylvania. I used to fish them with
my grandfather in the late 70's. He always caught his share of bass
while I usually went hope disappointed. He only fished with one lure, a
gold floating Rapala minnow. After he passed away I only fished now
and then and with spinnerbaits and an occasional rubber worm. I'm not a
fan of the rubber worms because I really have a hard time hooking up on
a hit or telling when I even have a hit.

The past 3 years have found me with more free time and a renewed
interest in fishing but last year was enough to make me quit altogether
as I just didn't have much luck and spent more time wondering what I
was doing wrong than I did casting. This year has been much different
as I got my kayak rigged and am fishing in the same areas my
grandfather did in years past and using grandpa's Rapala technique with
the excpetion of using a silver Rapala instead of gold.

When fishing from my kayak I am on the water from 5 to 6 hours, always
starting just before sunrise and averaging about 4 to 5 fish an
hour.They range from 12" to 18".
It seems that I am the only person around using a Rapala, most others
are using spinnerbaits or tubes with the occasional crank bait. Some
days I'm catching what seems to be more than my share while others are
not even getting any hits.

So my question is should I try something else or stick with what I'm
doing? I'm catching lots of fish (it seems to me) but they are always
in this same size range. I want to catch something bigger (the lake is
a big bass waters lake, big for PA anyway, with a 15" min).
I very much enjoy the metheod I am using with the lure taking the hit
on top of the water 75% of the time, but would I be getting more action
fishing something else deeper? I keep seeing the Senko mentioned but it
makes me think of my frustration with rubber worms in the past.
Any suggestions?

I'd stay with your theme that is apparently working well...., but use a
bigger Rapala..Try that and see if your catch numbers go down, but the size
goes up. RG

On 25 Jun 2006 17:21:32 -0700, "Sees-koo-wee-hah-nay"
wrote:


I stayed out of the favorite bait thread because I don't use what
everyone else does and that begs the question "am I missing out"?

I fish 2 small lakes in central Pennsylvania. I used to fish them with
my grandfather in the late 70's. He always caught his share of bass
while I usually went hope disappointed. He only fished with one lure, a
gold floating Rapala minnow. After he passed away I only fished now
and then and with spinnerbaits and an occasional rubber worm. I'm not a
fan of the rubber worms because I really have a hard time hooking up on
a hit or telling when I even have a hit.

The past 3 years have found me with more free time and a renewed
interest in fishing but last year was enough to make me quit altogether
as I just didn't have much luck and spent more time wondering what I
was doing wrong than I did casting. This year has been much different
as I got my kayak rigged and am fishing in the same areas my
grandfather did in years past and using grandpa's Rapala technique with
the excpetion of using a silver Rapala instead of gold.

When fishing from my kayak I am on the water from 5 to 6 hours, always
starting just before sunrise and averaging about 4 to 5 fish an
hour.They range from 12" to 18".
It seems that I am the only person around using a Rapala, most others
are using spinnerbaits or tubes with the occasional crank bait. Some
days I'm catching what seems to be more than my share while others are
not even getting any hits.

So my question is should I try something else or stick with what I'm
doing? I'm catching lots of fish (it seems to me) but they are always
in this same size range. I want to catch something bigger (the lake is
a big bass waters lake, big for PA anyway, with a 15" min).
I very much enjoy the metheod I am using with the lure taking the hit
on top of the water 75% of the time, but would I be getting more action
fishing something else deeper? I keep seeing the Senko mentioned but it
makes me think of my frustration with rubber worms in the past.
Any suggestions?

Look at the baits people are talking about. Decide if you would like
to try one. Lets say a Senko style like you mentioned. Read about
the techniques people are using. Put aside at least an hour each time
you go out and use nothing but that Senko. Keep trying it until you
catch fish on it. You might even leave the rapala home and just use
the Senko for 6 or so outings.

I think your frustration with plastics may be because you need to be
patient. I know it took me a while to learn to relax and let the lure
do the work. I still find myself fishing a plastic to fast. Keep a
finger on the line and watch the line where it lays on the water.
Keep a bow in the line, not a taut line so when you feel or see any
movement you can drop your rod tip count to 3 for starters and set the
hook. Change the count up or down until you set the hook on a fish.
Use a good sharp hook, I prefer the Gamikatsu(sp) in a 2/0, 3/0, 4/0
or 5/0. I usually do not put a weight on a Senko style bait and I
Texas rig it but others out here like them wacky rigged.

I use mostly plastics myself. Senkos, Kinamis, Wermi Ernie's version
of the Senkos, Power worms, Horney toads, Super Flukes, and many other
styles of worms and creatures.

I hope I have understood your post and this helps.


I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it!

Remove the x for e-mail reply
Amateur radio enthusiast, N9JBF
Bass fishing Aficionado!
www.outdoorfrontiers.com
www.SecretWeaponLures.com
A proud charter member of "PETAF", People for Eating Tasty Animals and Fish!!!

On 25 Jun 2006 17:21:32 -0700, "Sees-koo-wee-hah-nay"
wrote:
This is my first attempt at answering a message on this forum and I
hope that I am doing it correctly.. I like to use the plastic/rubber
worms you are having trouble with knowing when you have a pickup/hit.
The solution is to use a braided line like Power Pro or Fireline that
has very little stretch like monofilament and then you can feel the
slightest tap. You also have to keep any slack out of the line as you
have to watch the line closely for any movement . If you see the line
move take the rest of the slack out of the line , lower your rod tip,
and bring your rod up smartly to set the hook. I use Senko worms and
I generally rig Texas style however the more I read the current
feedback from those on this group who have great luck rigging Wacky
Worm I am going to try it. I bought some 4 inch Senko worms yesterday
along with the Octopus no. 4 hooks and I am going to give the Wacky
rig a go. I really like fishing with the plastic worms as it requires
a lot of concentration on my part and I think only of fishing instead
of everything else. I like this group and I got some great
information from "Your favorite lure thread". I think Senko lures are
really terrific although I have had good luck with other kinds also.

I stayed out of the favorite bait thread because I don't use what
everyone else does and that begs the question "am I missing out"?

I fish 2 small lakes in central Pennsylvania. I used to fish them with
my grandfather in the late 70's. He always caught his share of bass
while I usually went hope disappointed. He only fished with one lure, a
gold floating Rapala minnow. After he passed away I only fished now
and then and with spinnerbaits and an occasional rubber worm. I'm not a
fan of the rubber worms because I really have a hard time hooking up on
a hit or telling when I even have a hit.

The past 3 years have found me with more free time and a renewed
interest in fishing but last year was enough to make me quit altogether
as I just didn't have much luck and spent more time wondering what I
was doing wrong than I did casting. This year has been much different
as I got my kayak rigged and am fishing in the same areas my
grandfather did in years past and using grandpa's Rapala technique with
the excpetion of using a silver Rapala instead of gold.

When fishing from my kayak I am on the water from 5 to 6 hours, always
starting just before sunrise and averaging about 4 to 5 fish an
hour.They range from 12" to 18".
It seems that I am the only person around using a Rapala, most others
are using spinnerbaits or tubes with the occasional crank bait. Some
days I'm catching what seems to be more than my share while others are
not even getting any hits.

So my question is should I try something else or stick with what I'm
doing? I'm catching lots of fish (it seems to me) but they are always
in this same size range. I want to catch something bigger (the lake is
a big bass waters lake, big for PA anyway, with a 15" min).
I very much enjoy the metheod I am using with the lure taking the hit
on top of the water 75% of the time, but would I be getting more action
fishing something else deeper? I keep seeing the Senko mentioned but it
makes me think of my frustration with rubber worms in the past.
Any suggestions?

Like any other bait, it's hard to catch fish on baits or lures that
you have no confidence in. Dan suggested using a bait exclusively or
for a set period of time each outing, and it is excellent advice. That
will help you build up your confidence in a particular bait. But
remember, don't get caught up on one bait. I see a lot of fisherman
catch some good fish on a particular bait like a senko or powerworm and
never put it down. After a while you start hearing about how the bite
was off this day or that day. I don't believe the bite is ever "off".
fish are going to eat and while the bite may be slow at times, it's
just a matter of giving the fish what they want. If your not catching
fish, your doing something wrong IMO. Try switching up to something
different regardless of past results using a particular color or bait.
Try some worms one day, spinnerbaits and jigs the next. It's not
uncommon for me to fish 5 or 6 different types of soft plastics in a
single outing while varrying the colors in between on the same baits.
It has paid off really well in the past.

1 particular example was fishing last year with Dave and we could not
find a bite . Bluebird skies, and fish should have been under pads in
brush etc etc acording to everything I read. However it wasn't until I
tied on a green buzzbait, that fish started hitting it...and in open
water. Dave switched to a green lunker city salad spoon and started
hitting fish as well. another day it was tiny brushogs in a sand color.
switched up to watermelon green on them and the bite stopped. Back to
the sand color and fish were all over it again. Most recently, I went
out and threw everything in the bag, only I could not get bit. I looked
through my bag and found some straight tailed worms that Joe had given
out in KY earler this year. Went back through the areas I had just
fished and caught 6 keepers. So experiment a lot and have fun

"Sees-koo-wee-hah-nay" wrote in message
oups.com...

I stayed out of the favorite bait thread because I don't use what
everyone else does and that begs the question "am I missing out"?

I fish 2 small lakes in central Pennsylvania. I used to fish them with
my grandfather in the late 70's. He always caught his share of bass
while I usually went hope disappointed. He only fished with one lure, a
gold floating Rapala minnow. After he passed away I only fished now
and then and with spinnerbaits and an occasional rubber worm. I'm not a
fan of the rubber worms because I really have a hard time hooking up on
a hit or telling when I even have a hit.

The past 3 years have found me with more free time and a renewed
interest in fishing but last year was enough to make me quit altogether
as I just didn't have much luck and spent more time wondering what I
was doing wrong than I did casting. This year has been much different
as I got my kayak rigged and am fishing in the same areas my
grandfather did in years past and using grandpa's Rapala technique with
the excpetion of using a silver Rapala instead of gold.

When fishing from my kayak I am on the water from 5 to 6 hours, always
starting just before sunrise and averaging about 4 to 5 fish an
hour.They range from 12" to 18".
It seems that I am the only person around using a Rapala, most others
are using spinnerbaits or tubes with the occasional crank bait. Some
days I'm catching what seems to be more than my share while others are
not even getting any hits.

So my question is should I try something else or stick with what I'm
doing? I'm catching lots of fish (it seems to me) but they are always
in this same size range. I want to catch something bigger (the lake is
a big bass waters lake, big for PA anyway, with a 15" min).
I very much enjoy the metheod I am using with the lure taking the hit
on top of the water 75% of the time, but would I be getting more action
fishing something else deeper? I keep seeing the Senko mentioned but it
makes me think of my frustration with rubber worms in the past.
Any suggestions?


If you're happy with the results of your trips, using the methods you're
comfortable with, then you're not missing out on anything. But, as good as
a Rapala can be, there are times when the fish will want something else,
presented differently. Plus, if the fish are buried in cover, it's next to
impossible to fish a Rapala in heavy brush or thick vegetation.

My suggestion would be similar to what has already been proposed. Fish what
you have confidence in, but do spend some time practicing with other lures,
methods and locations.

The "difficult" thing about fishing soft plastics is that sometimes the
bites are subtle, it's not tossing a Rapala and getting blasted by a fish.
Many times, all you'll notice is the line will take a little jump, will move
off to one side, or sometimes even just stop falling earlier than it should!
Fishing like this requires paying attention and concentrating. Braided line
like PowerPro and a good, sensitive rod will make the job easier, but even
then, you won't necessarily "feel" the bite.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

Those are nice little 5-inch worms, aren't they? Try wacky-rigging them like
mini-stick baits, too. I'll be sad to see the last of them go, but once
they're gone, I guess we should be able to switch over to trick worms to get
the same results.

So far we've given out about a quarter million of those worms (plus tubes,
grubs, eels, and craws) to soldiers returning from Iraq, charitable
tournaments for at-risk teens and March Of Dimes benefits, and so on.

Joe
--------------------
"alwaysfishking" wrote in message
ups.com...

Like any other bait, it's hard to catch fish on baits or lures that
you have no confidence in. Dan suggested using a bait exclusively or
for a set period of time each outing, and it is excellent advice. That
will help you build up your confidence in a particular bait. But
remember, don't get caught up on one bait. I see a lot of fisherman
catch some good fish on a particular bait like a senko or powerworm and
never put it down. After a while you start hearing about how the bite
was off this day or that day. I don't believe the bite is ever "off".
fish are going to eat and while the bite may be slow at times, it's
just a matter of giving the fish what they want. If your not catching
fish, your doing something wrong IMO. Try switching up to something
different regardless of past results using a particular color or bait.
Try some worms one day, spinnerbaits and jigs the next. It's not
uncommon for me to fish 5 or 6 different types of soft plastics in a
single outing while varrying the colors in between on the same baits.
It has paid off really well in the past.

1 particular example was fishing last year with Dave and we could not
find a bite . Bluebird skies, and fish should have been under pads in
brush etc etc acording to everything I read. However it wasn't until I
tied on a green buzzbait, that fish started hitting it...and in open
water. Dave switched to a green lunker city salad spoon and started
hitting fish as well. another day it was tiny brushogs in a sand color.
switched up to watermelon green on them and the bite stopped. Back to
the sand color and fish were all over it again. Most recently, I went
out and threw everything in the bag, only I could not get bit. I looked
through my bag and found some straight tailed worms that Joe had given
out in KY earler this year. Went back through the areas I had just
fished and caught 6 keepers. So experiment a lot and have fun

"alwaysfishking" wrote in message
ups.com...

1 particular example was fishing last year with Dave and we could not
find a bite . Bluebird skies, and fish should have been under pads in
brush etc etc acording to everything I read. However it wasn't until I
tied on a green buzzbait, that fish started hitting it...and in open
water. Dave switched to a green lunker city salad spoon and started
hitting fish as well.

That memory is etched in my mind forever!!!

We must have fished that little lake for 3-4 hours befor Randy tied on that
buzzbait. Wal-Mart had them at the time, but I didn't have mine with me. The
closest thisng was the salad spoon. Worked like a charm, just wish we got on
that pattern hours before!

Dave V