Beginner Fisher, not having much luck

[pleace]

So, i've starting fishing a bit with my dad in our canoe, we've been out 20+ times and never really have much luck. Most of our bites are just really small fish, i've caught only one decent sized fish and it was a small-mouth bass, and my dad has maybe caught 2 bass. i was wondering if you guys could give me any advice/tips on increasing my success. I have a bunch of lures and live worms. Also, if any of you are from ontario, what are some good lakes to go fishing in, as alot of them can be very crowded, and i supposed could be hard to catch fish. What are the techniques to being as successful at fishing as you guys are? I know this is a very broad and general question, but i really have no idea what i'm doing, i dont even know what type of fish to try and catch, i just want to catch some with decent size Thanks!

 

[AaronKrick]

Hey pleace. Well only about 2 people here are NOT from ontario lol. Anyway, start off with the easy guys. Sunfish. They give you a great chance for catching 15+ sunnies and you will learn fishing in the process. After you learn some more go for largemouth bass with crankbaits or plastic frogs if there's lily pads. Then keep on rising up on the challenge board. For the pannies the good ol' worm should do, pit that on a little jig head with a bobber 1 1/2 feet up tye line and you're good to go. Try a pond or slow moving river for them, and once you get bored of them a pond or river for largies

 

[FishingNoob]

Hey pleace. Well only about 2 people here are NOT from ontario lol. Anyway, start off with the easy guys. Sunfish. They give you a great chance for catching 15+ sunnies and you will learn fishing in the process. After you learn some more go for largemouth bass with crankbaits or plastic frogs if there's lily pads. Then keep on rising up on the challenge board. For the pannies the good ol' worm should do, pit that on a little jig head with a bobber 1 1/2 feet up tye line and you're good to go. Try a pond or slow moving river for them, and once you get bored of them a pond or river for largies

You might also catch a bass on this simple technique, I know I have caught my share of surprise bass while fishing for sunfish.

 

[apz245]

Where do you fish? it would probably help me if we knew what species were there

 

[Dugger]

....boy, that is a broad question

Maybe we should begin with in what area of this fine province do you live and go from there with ideas for locations and tactics

 

[pleace]

I live around toronto, I'm thinking about going to wicox lake, it's fairly small but I heard there is bass and pike in it.

 

[FishingNoob]

I live around toronto, I'm thinking about going to wicox lake, it's fairly small but I heard there is bass and pike in it.

Are you willing to catch sunfish?

 

[alwayscatching]

Catfish I think telling them to jump into the soft bait/crank bait can be a little early. Suggested fishing technique would be simple use live bait with a slip shot, hook, and a float. Live bait that will catch anything and everything would be worms of course. If you have structure in the water like lily pads or some tall weeds that do not break surface, I can walk you through an amazing technique that will prevent you from getting caught in the weeds and a lot of beginners can use this. Just PM me if you need any advice. Also, we would need to know the type of waters you are fishing. Murky/clear/weedy/depth etc.

 

[AaronKrick]

Catfish I think telling them to jump into the soft bait/crank bait can be a little early.

Dude have you used a crankbait before?? I can't think of a bait that is EASIER to use. All you do is cast it and retreive it, and if you'd like to get fancy stop every once in a while and then continue. I don't think that's too hard, at least for most of us

EDIT: plastic frogs are a bit of a challenge, but a few hours of practice on some lily pads and you can place it on one every time.

 

[CMcQ]

I live around toronto, I'm thinking about going to wicox lake, it's fairly small but I heard there is bass and pike in it.

Hey pleace, yeah Wilcox is a good one, and it's actually quite large considering how close it is to the big city. I go often and they have great bass and pike (along with Sunfish, as FishingNoob was suggesting). When you go out on your canoe, I don't know if you guys have beeng staying somewhat near shore or going straight out over the middle of the water, but I would *highly* recommend staying relatively close to shore near the weedlines. As you paddle out, look down into the water and try and find the end of the weed lines/drop off points, where the water becomes vacant of weeds and deeper. Fish along these areas! Often, very sizeable fish will cruise near these areas or hide in them as they feed.

 

[alwayscatching]

Dude have you used a crankbait before?? I can't think of a bait that is EASIER to use. All you do is cast it and retreive it, and if you'd like to get fancy stop every once in a while and then continue. I don't think that's too hard, at least for most of us

EDIT: plastic frogs are a bit of a challenge, but a few hours of practice on some lily pads and you can place it on one every time.

Yea but some people dont know where or when to use them.

 

[AaronKrick]

Yea but some people dont know where or when to use them.

I admit i dont know that lol. But i still catch fish on them, spring, summer, fall. In fact thats pretty much all i use for bass, along with plastic frogs

 

[FishingNoob]

I admit i dont know that lol. But i still catch fish on them, spring, summer, fall. In fact thats pretty much all i use for bass, along with plastic frogs

I am with you, 90% of my catches are on cranks, other 10% on hollow body frogs... I am trying to add some jigs into the mix too. I have had lots of luck with silent square bills.

 

[alwayscatching]

I admit i dont know that lol. But i still catch fish on them, spring, summer, fall. In fact thats pretty much all i use for bass, along with plastic frogs

Amen, they are a good go-to bait BUT I suggest for people coming into the sport to keep it as simple as it gets until they learn about structure and what kind of baits live in certain bodies of water. The good old saying Match the Hatch!

 

[AaronKrick]

Amen, they are a good go-to bait BUT I suggest for people coming into the sport to keep it as simple as it gets until they learn about structure and what kind of baits live in certain bodies of water. The good old saying Match the Hatch!

But cranks are as simple as it gets

 

[FishingNoob]

Amen, they are a good go-to bait BUT I suggest for people coming into the sport to keep it as simple as it gets until they learn about structure and what kind of baits live in certain bodies of water. The good old saying Match the Hatch!

But cranks are as simple as it gets

Cranks were the first artificial lure I used. I my opinion them and spinnerbaits are the simplest.


A few cranks that dive to different depth such as 1- 3 feet, 4 - 6 feet, 6 - 10 feet, 12 - 18 feet and 18 - 22 feet in a bluegill/pumpkin seed, perch, crayfish and shad colour will cover almost 90% if not 100% of all crankbait needs, get the same colours in a square bill version, and you have a complete set of cranks. Throw a crank that will dive to the bottom or close to the bottom of the lake/pond/river/stream/body of water and start reeling. I not get a crankbait that dives to 18 - 22 feet unless you know you are going to be fishing that deep. 80% of my crankbaits run in the 1 - 3 feet, 4 - 6 feet and 6 - 10 feet depths. I suggest that the smallest size you use is 2 inches and the biggest is 3 inches, if you want longer go to a jerk bait.

 

[AaronKrick]

Cranks were the first artificial lure I used. I my opinion them and spinnerbaits are the simplest.


A few cranks that dive to different depth such as 1- 3 feet, 4 - 6 feet, 6 - 10 feet, 12 - 18 feet and 18 - 22 feet in a bluegill/pumpkin seed, perch, crayfish and shad colour will cover almost 90% if not 100% of all crankbait needs, get the same colours in a square bill version, and you have a complete set of cranks. Throw a crank that will dive to the bottom or close to the bottom of the lake/pond/river/stream/body of water and start reeling. I not get a crankbait that dives to 18 - 22 feet unless you know you are going to be fishing that deep. 80% of my crankbaits run in the 1 - 3 feet, 4 - 6 feet and 6 - 10 feet depths. I suggest that the smallest size you use is 2 inches and the biggest is 3 inches, if you want longer go to a jerk bait.

Im lost in all that info lol. Nice summary

 

[Knuguy]

But cranks are as simple as it gets

Troll a crayfish pattern Big O and see what happens!! Easy as it gets and it works---caught 2 bass at once a few years ago.

 

[buck]

Troll a crayfish pattern Big O and see what happens!! Easy as it gets and it works---caught 2 bass at once a few years ago.

.

 

[apz245]

lots of great advice here for a lake like wilcox, look for weeds, stay relatively close to shore, and throw your bobber in where you see an opening in some lilies.

I would stick to worms and live bait, they're easy to rig and will catch fish when artificials just won't.

as fishingnoob pointed out, spinnerbaits/inline spinners are the easiest artificials to use, but seems like you just want to catch some fish, and in that case I still recommend worms.

Edit: Might help us to know what kind of setup you're using (sorry fishingnoob, beat you to it)
for example, what size hooks, line? etc, i(f you are tying your hook straight to 20lb braid I can imagine why you're not getting many bites)