i need help

[bassking22]

what should i use if i am fishing on the shore of the dam at my local lake? ive use a bunch of suff there but only a rapal floster minnow seems to workn i can only fish there or off the crowded dock. ihave all kinds of plastics but none seem to work
I NEED TO CATCH MOR BASS

[WTL]

OK.

My first bit of advice would be to do your best to improve your spelling and grammar. People on this board love to help out youngsters, but most of the regulars around here only speak The King's English.

Now, in reply to your poorly phrased question, its difficult to know. I'm being honest. Right now I know these things;

1. You are stuck on the shore near a dam.
2. You can get bass to hit a rapala
3. You can move to a dock to fish, but its crowded.

Other than that I know nothing about the lake. I'd love to tell you about that secret lure that catches fish everywhere and in any lake, but alas, it does not exist; therefore I would suggest adding more information which might make the response you get from some of these old crabby veterans that much better.

What is the water temp?
How deep is the lake?
How is the water clarity?
What lures types do you have at your disposal and what are you comfortable with?
Is there grass or cover in this lake?

All those questions might give the people on here hints as to what you might use that will trigger more bites. Otherwise any response you get on here will be hopelessly generic, and while it may indeed work you will cut down some time trying to figure out what the pattern is at this particular lake if you give us the particulars.

[bassking22]

water temp is 65-75 degrees, water clarity is very clear, the lake gets deep and i can cast out with a spinner to the 10-13' part and it obviously gets shallower as i reel in. i like a texas rigged tiki stick bc i got a 3 lb bass to follow 1 in but it wouldnt bite, and i have had many fish follow a ratl trap in. sometimes i rent a boat when my dads with me and wants to, but he normally doesnt want to. should i use minnows?

[WTL]

Minnows may help you catch a few, but I doubt you will learn much from that.

Considering that theres a dam, I guess we are probably talking about rip-rap somewhere in the vicinity. Thats chunk rock incase you don't know, and it holds bass and bluegill. My first suggestion, since its clear water and fairly deep with a sharp transition, would be a watermelonseed zoom fluke on a 3/0, with a large split shot about a foot up the line. Now you fish this deal by casting it out, and then letting it sink to the bottom. Bring it back to the bank with little jerks, each with about 3 seconds between jerks. You need to keep in contact with the bottom, but when you get to the rip-rap be careful not to get hung up.

My 2nd suggestion would be a zoom trick worm on a 2/0 hook, color pink. You throw this on spinning gear with lighter line, and twitch it back quickly, keeping the lure in the top 16 inches of water. For some reason the pink does well in clear water for me. You could also try chartruse however, as given your location smallmouth may be present. The trick worm is also similar to the tiki-stick in darting motion, yet it might just trigger those fish to hit.

BTW, your spelling and grammar still sucks.

[Rebbasser]

Bassking-the thing that caught my attention is you had fish following a Tiki and a trap. That tells me you are on the right track-you had their attention. My suggestion would be one of three things: Try a color change, downsize, try a different retrieve, or a combo of all three. The easiest is change your retrieve. Speed it up, slow down, reel fast and kill it-experiment a little and you might find the right one. Changing colors and sizes can also be the ticket.

Another thing to try if you can is to fish the dam-if it has riprap try paralleling it. You can work different depths with different baits.

[lizardsrule]

Originally Posted by WTL

OK.

My first bit of advice would be to do your best to improve your spelling and grammar. People on this board love to help out youngsters, but most of the regulars around here only speak The King's English.

Now, in reply to your poorly phrased question, its difficult to know. I'm being honest. Right now I know these things;

1. You are stuck on the shore near a dam.
2. You can get bass to hit a rapala
3. You can move to a dock to fish, but its crowded.

Other than that I know nothing about the lake. I'd love to tell you about that secret lure that catches fish everywhere and in any lake, but alas, it does not exist; therefore I would suggest adding more information which might make the response you get from some of these old crabby veterans that much better.

What is the water temp?
How deep is the lake?
How is the water clarity?
What lures types do you have at your disposal and what are you comfortable with?
Is there grass or cover in this lake?

All those questions might give the people on here hints as to what you might use that will trigger more bites. Otherwise any response you get on here will be hopelessly generic, and while it may indeed work you will cut down some time trying to figure out what the pattern is at this particular lake if you give us the particulars.

Absolutely outstanding Post WTL. It's the best one I've seen in awhile. Polite, and to the point. Well written, and easily understandable.

HEY Kevin, how about putting this post up as a sticky for people to read, maybe even make it required reading before signing up LOL.

By the way if they are following your tiki sticks in then quit bringing them in. let them fall and sit. And give a more pumping type of retieve on the rattle trap.

Lizards

[bassking22]

Sorry about my grammar, I'll try to do better, but I am lazy when it comes to typing. I'll probably try everything you suggested tomorrow when I am at the lake. I appreciate the help.