My first set of fishing gear, advice

[KJQ6945]

If you have a little pond to fish in, get these two items, and you will catch bass.

 

[Usmccookie]

I'l be sure to order them this week then

 

[Ark]

I'm in a similar boat to the OP. First year trying to get out and do some fishing on my own. Luckily, I have an abundance of gear already available and don't have to spend money, but I'm pretty clueless and not really sure what to roll out with, or how.

What's the preferred hook and bait for bluegill/crappie to start with? Bobber or no? Tried some bass fishing with my dad last year running various medium-to-large lures and didn't have much luck.

 

[CHCRandy]

I'm in a similar boat to the OP. First year trying to get out and do some fishing on my own. Luckily, I have an abundance of gear already available and don't have to spend money, but I'm pretty clueless and not really sure what to roll out with, or how.

What's the preferred hook and bait for bluegill/crappie to start with? Bobber or no? Tried some bass fishing with my dad last year running various medium-to-large lures and didn't have much luck.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/arnold-tackle-speed-stop-bobber-stop
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/mr-crappie-by-betts-stick-bobbers-slip
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/eagle-claw-aberdeen-hooks-gold
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-reusable-split-shot-weights

These 4 items with a rod and reel and some minnows, nightcrawlers, or crickets. Minnows work best for Crappie and crickets or worms seem to work good for bluegill. More experienced guys will use jigs for them.....but that takes a pretty sensitive feel that just comes with experience. That slip bobber allows you to change depth and still cast easily. You may have to adjust the amount of lead until the bobber stands up nice and don't drag down too low in water.

Catfish we always used hamburger bait or chicken livers for channels and big bug eyed goldfish for blues, we would get them from pet store.

 

[Mgderf]

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/arnold-tackle-speed-stop-bobber-stop
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/mr-crappie-by-betts-stick-bobbers-slip
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/eagle-claw-aberdeen-hooks-gold
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-reusable-split-shot-weights

These 4 items with a rod and reel and some minnows, nightcrawlers, or crickets. Minnows work best for Crappie and crickets or worms seem to work good for bluegill. More experienced guys will use jigs for them.....but that takes a pretty sensitive feel that just comes with experience. That slip bobber allows you to change depth and still cast easily. You may have to adjust the amount of lead until the bobber stands up nice and don't drag down too low in water.

Catfish we always used hamburger bait or chicken livers for channels and big bug eyed goldfish for blues, we would get them from pet store.

Not much fishing around here will compare to the fun of tying into a nice size channel, and don't get me started about the blues...
Catfish are some of the most fun to fight, and boy can they fight.
Eating them is just a bonus.

 

[Sticky]

Since this is a gun forum, this might be nice.

The fish gun with Matt Dillon...

 

[masterdekoy]

If you want to catch a bass, the senko suggestion above is pretty foolproof. Get the green pumpkin color.

Stolen from another forum (bassresource):
Cast parallel to the bank, 10-15 yards off the shoreline. Let the bait sink to the bottom, count to 30 (as in 30 seconds) then move the Senko 6-12" with a slow horizontal sweep, allowing the bait to fall on slack line. Count to 10, then repeat. Continue all the way back, move ten steps forward and repeat.
Fish the ENTIRE shoreline regardless of whether you see cover orstructure. Fish two Senkos and if you are still not catching bass, find a different pond.

 

[Usmccookie]

Cool, I've started looking into how to use baits. I always thought you cast and let them hang out..lol

 

[WebSnyper]

Ive caught about everything, but I generally only fished for bass. Usually if I caught a big catfish, I was pissed, because I thought it was gonna be a wall hanger bass.

True. I've hooked a few myself. Hooked into one last year that broke 14lb test because I tried to muscle him up. Came up, long enough for me to see it was a cat, turned his head, kicked his tail and broke the line.

Pulled another big cat off a stump the year before, as I bumped over it with a spinner bait. Was pretty disappointed on both counts.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/arnold-tackle-speed-stop-bobber-stop
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/mr-crappie-by-betts-stick-bobbers-slip
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/eagle-claw-aberdeen-hooks-gold
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-reusable-split-shot-weights

These 4 items with a rod and reel and some minnows, nightcrawlers, or crickets. Minnows work best for Crappie and crickets or worms seem to work good for bluegill. More experienced guys will use jigs for them.....but that takes a pretty sensitive feel that just comes with experience. That slip bobber allows you to change depth and still cast easily. You may have to adjust the amount of lead until the bobber stands up nice and don't drag down too low in water.

Catfish we always used hamburger bait or chicken livers for channels and big bug eyed goldfish for blues, we would get them from pet store.

I find myself using crickets most of the time anymore, just because they hold up without refrigeration (unlike night crawlers), and are much easier to keep alive than minnows. I've caught bluegill, crappie, bass and catfish on crickets. I do wish I had an aerated bait well so I could use minnows more for crappies though. If I'm bottom fishing for cats, then I go with the night crawlers (or chicken livers but that's not often).

 

[Usmccookie]

I got a bit of everything for artificial lures. That stuff adds up quick. I spent about $100 on lures and didnt realize it until the lady gave me the total...wow

I got a couple different colors of Gulp Alive minnows, at the suggestion of skip.

 

[Ruffnek]

This thread really makes me wish I wasn't busy all the time...

 

[singlesix]

This thread really makes me wish I wasn't busy all the time...

Same here. I need to take the leap into fly rods.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I got a bit of everything for artificial lures. That stuff adds up quick. I spent about $100 on lures and didnt realize it until the lady gave me the total...wow

I got a couple different colors of Gulp Alive minnows, at the suggestion of skip.

You know most lures are designed to catch fishermen...

 

[WebSnyper]

I got a bit of everything for artificial lures. That stuff adds up quick. I spent about $100 on lures and didnt realize it until the lady gave me the total...wow

I got a couple different colors of Gulp Alive minnows, at the suggestion of skip.

These guys don't have the widest selection, but they are a good place to watch for prices on specific items one you get into some specific baits, etc (sign up for their emails, etc). They run some really good deals at times.

https://www.overstockbait.com/

Amazingly, Grab a Gun has had some really good prices (through Grab a Quote) on some reels (not sure about other gear there), and I picked up another Lew's baitcaster from them last year.

 

[Mongo59]

A good variety of delay fuses are a must to achieve the desired depth before detonation.

Oh, sorry, wrong thread. No, wait, this is the right thread...

 

[Usmccookie]

A good variety of delay fuses are a must to achieve the desired depth before detonation.

Oh, sorry, wrong thread. No, wait, this is the right thread...

 

[Usmccookie]

Went out this afternoon with the wife to try ot the new setup. Knowing the odds were against us with the weather. I had 1 surprise though.the wife hogged my fishing pole. The only thing I caught was branches and a new Fisher! Off to cabelas we go this week.

 

[Oneto1]

It seems like you've got yourself started on gear, but in my opinion, a rod and reel set up for bass will catch most anything you would be going after in the region. Last year Walmart had a very nice fishing guide for the state of Indiana. It laid out species, lake size, where to cast and what to use. Offhand I know Lake George and Salt Creek are very popular fishing spots. There are a few Isaac Walton leagues in NWI that have a good size lake. Centennial Park in Munster used to be a hotspot a few years back as well

 

[Usmccookie]

It seems like you've got yourself started on gear, but in my opinion, a rod and reel set up for bass will catch most anything you would be going after in the region. Last year Walmart had a very nice fishing guide for the state of Indiana. It laid out species, lake size, where to cast and what to use. Offhand I know Lake George and Salt Creek are very popular fishing spots. There are a few Isaac Walton leagues in NWI that have a good size lake. Centennial Park in Munster used to be a hotspot a few years back as well

I have been fishing in the cook county forest preserve since its convenient for work , business and the wife. But I will be headed down to my parents ranch which backs up to the wildcat south fork. I'm hoping to spend Saturday in the water.