AboutJack Gaither Expertise I have been bass, crappie, brim and catfishing for over 60 years. Most of my recent experience has been on the Apalachicola R. in Fl. panhandle, Dead Lakes and Lake Seminole. I can answer many questions on places to go and some ideas on tactics especially for largemouth bass in these waters. I can`t tell you what fish will bite but can give some lures and methods that have worked well for me over the last 33 years in this area. I am also well versed on boating safety and small boat handling.
Experience I am not a guide nor a writer or publisher of any magazine on fishing. All of my ideas would come from my experiences and those of fishing partners in local bass clubs in Panama City, Florida.
Organizations Basmasters. Past member (25 years) and instructor in boating and navigation classes in the United States Power Squadrons.
Publications ST. Andrew Bay Power Squadron local publication "Stuffing Box"
Education/Credentials United States Power Squadrons courses in Piloting and small boat handling, celestial navigation, trouble shooting on outboard engines and other non eletronic equipment in boats.
Expert: Jack Gaither Date: 6/27/2008 Subject: FISHING USING WORMS
Question IS IT REALLY IMPORTANT TO USE WORMS THAT SMELL? I HAVE BEEN FISHING IN A POND FOR A YEAR. THERE IS MOSTLY BASS AND CATFISH. THIS POND I HAVE TO SAY IS THE HARDEST POND TO FISH. THE FISH ARE VERY HARD TO CATCH. YOU CAN CATCH ALL THE SUNNIES AND PUMPKIN FISH BUT CATCHING BASS AND CATFISH I FIND VERY HARD. I USE WORMS (PLASTIC) BUT I DON'T USE SCENT
WOULD IT HELP? I HAVE TRIED TOP LURES , THEY WORK REALLY GOOD BUT STILL NO BITES. I HAVE THE JITTER BUT LURE ,WHICH I CAUGHT I NICE BIG ONE BUT AFTER THAT NO LUCK. ITS ALMOST LIKE THE FISH KNOW I AM THERE. NOW USING WORMS . WHAT AM I DOING WRONG? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
Answer Denise; To answer your first question the answer is definitely NO. I have caught many bass with non scented plastic worms.
Let me make a guess as to what your problem is at your pond. I bet the pond has wide open spaces all around it and I also bet when you go fishing there you just walk up to the edge of the pone and start casting. While this has little affect on sunnies it has a great deal of affect on bass and many catfish except perhaps bullheads.
In a small pond like you are fishing the fish can see you long before you get to the water's edge. When they see you they are not likely to bite your lures whether scented or not. Catfish, of course, need (for the most part) non artificial bait. Channel cats and a few other kinds will occasionally bite an artificial worm or other lure but this is not a dependable way to catch them.
Next time you go to your pond to fish for bass make sure you sneak up on them. When you get within 50 yards walk very carefully as even heavy footsteps will make the fish aware of your presence.
I used to fish a farm pond which was just like I just described with grass all around the pond. I learned that to catch bass I had to virtually crawl on hands and knees and cast from at least 15 feet back from the water's edge. If I did that I often caught several nice bass. I learned a trick that helped a lot but be sure it is ok with the ponds owner. On a day when you don't intend to fish take some pieces of plywood and some stakes and nail the plywood to the stakes and place them like signposts every few feet along the pond's edge. Make them big enough that you can creep up behind one and cast without being seen from the water. If the pond belongs to you you might plant some bushes along the pond's edge every few feet to hide behind. When you move from one plywood hiding place or bush to another loop back away from the pond and approach the new place with care. I will almost bet that this will increase your catch of bass and even channel catfish.
In many of our hard fished lakes and streams a bit of some kind of scent on a lure may make some difference but I personally think there are other things that are more important such as keeping quiet in the boat (talking does not harm fishing but scraping a foot or rod on the boat certainly will). Another is choosing the right kind of lure for the situation which is, of course) a very complicated subject not coverable here.
Try the things I have suggested and see if your catch does not improve on your pond. A couple of other tricks would be to use a movable bush to hide behind. Move is slowly along. Fish are not smart enough to be frightened by a moving bush. Another trick is if there are cows or other animals in the area around the pond drive some of them to the pond slowly. The fish are used to seeing them and are not frightened. Keep the animals between you and the pond.
I hope this solves your problem and helps you catch lots of big bass.
Did you know that many state record bass were caught from farm ponds?
Thanks fop calling on me to answer your question. If you have other questions please feel free to call on me again. Good fishing.
I am
Jack L. Gaither (JackfromSeminole)
Lake Seminole Georgia
