I spent much of much my early life Largemouth bass fishing in Kentucky and Missouri/Kanaes ponds (mostly small), and I'd bet these same tactics apply to LM Bass anywhere.
I think this is important to keep fishing alive among youngsters, especially when more special interest groups are targeting tax dollars. Those of us buying a fishing/hunting license are the ONLY ones keeping these sports alive. We've got to keep these traditions alive going foreword.
I had some success fishing small ponds/lakes as a young kid, and my Dad taught me the basics. And, at that time, reading religiously a monthly magazine called "Fishing Facts". The general tactics applies to both northern and southern ponds to some degree.
First of all, buy a friggin' fishing and/or hunting license if you are at an age that requires it. Many people think this comes from general tax dollars, and it doesn't. It is sport-minded folks that keep these sports alive. Those that say "I pay Georgia taxes each year and have a say if we can fish or hunt" can K.M.A. Those people have no say because they ain't funding what is important to us.
So, to those folks, F.O.
Some things I learned after experimentation in small bodies of water:
1) Be keenly aware of of how your footsteps approach the pond.
3) Keep a low profile, and use cover (such as any available bush or tree):
STEALTH is the key, both audibly and visually, especially when Bass are shallow. I'm not saying they are smart or dumb, but evolution has imparted survival skills that they cannot possibly formulate as rational thought, but thousands of years of evolving can interpret as "don't eat that damned thing".
I think this is important to keep fishing alive among youngsters, especially when more special interest groups are targeting tax dollars. Those of us buying a fishing/hunting license are the ONLY ones keeping these sports alive. We've got to keep these traditions alive going foreword.
I had some success fishing small ponds/lakes as a young kid, and my Dad taught me the basics. And, at that time, reading religiously a monthly magazine called "Fishing Facts". The general tactics applies to both northern and southern ponds to some degree.
First of all, buy a friggin' fishing and/or hunting license if you are at an age that requires it. Many people think this comes from general tax dollars, and it doesn't. It is sport-minded folks that keep these sports alive. Those that say "I pay Georgia taxes each year and have a say if we can fish or hunt" can K.M.A. Those people have no say because they ain't funding what is important to us.
So, to those folks, F.O.
Some things I learned after experimentation in small bodies of water:
1) Be keenly aware of of how your footsteps approach the pond.
- Don't walk normally like you would walk in your house or down your neighborhood street. Pay attention to how hard your foot hits the ground. A Largemouth can not only see and hear, but "feel" your footsteps the closer you get to the edge of the pond through their lateral line. Walk as softly (and as low profile as you can) without making hard contact with the ground with each step.
- Don't talk unless you need to, such as yelling a warning to friend they are about to step on a Copperhead. On second thought, probably better to yell to your friend and come back to that spot 30 minutes later.
- If you turn your ankle, cuss under your breath instead of yelling out "MF'er!)
3) Keep a low profile, and use cover (such as any available bush or tree):
- This is the weirdest thing I learned. I'm not sure if it's hiding behind cover or how shallow the Bass may be at the time of making your cast, probably both being factors
- The lower you can keep your profile, the better. This probably isn't going to make much difference if Bass are located in deeper water or a long cast away. But if they are shallow or close the bank, I think this DOES make a difference. If there is cover such as a tree, hide behind it as much as you can as you make your approach, and make a soft splash when your lure hits the water. If you can crouch walking towards the bank, do it. You will get strange looks from other fishermen in the area, but just smile at them after you catch a Bass.
- If you're around other fishermen who have been stomping around the bank, move away from them as much as possible, and cuss them out muttering under your breath to avoid a gunfight.
STEALTH is the key, both audibly and visually, especially when Bass are shallow. I'm not saying they are smart or dumb, but evolution has imparted survival skills that they cannot possibly formulate as rational thought, but thousands of years of evolving can interpret as "don't eat that damned thing".
