[Darren Edwards]

guys i think one of the main hurdles in learning lure fishing is confidence,i was told once youve caught your first it all falls into place and for me it did.....is it tell tail or is it number one rule for new comers?did you find fish straight away and what spurned you on when you blanked.ive gone from bait to lure for bass but my lure fishing for sea trout has helped me but for those that have taken the plunge into lures its one hell ova wall to get over....so lets help newcomers and let them read your first thoughts of what you went through...dont be shy fellas

 

[Keith White]

I scored very quickly on lures in the sea. However, I had loads of experience to draw on from other branches of the sport.

best thing to remember is ..

confidence is priceless.

googan's have no confidence.

wabbit's rely on second hand information from other people's hard earned confidence. (dangled carrots)

Sharpies build and make confidence.

However, everyone climbed that ladder sometime. Those that say different are lying.

Nothing wrong with being a wabbit. Look for juicy carrots but don't decimate the same field till they are
all gone. Go plant you own carrots.

 

[Marc D...]

Confidence does play a big part i believe, but so does luck and knowledge, you could have all the confidence in the world but if the fish don't want to play or aren't there, then you're not going to catch,

i was "lucky" because using the knowledge that i had picked up from the other site i was able to put it all together and on my 3rd session using lures i managed to catch a schoolie, and have had some really nice fish since, but i'm really looking forward to getting many more in 2010, and hopefully my first ever double

 

[The Squid]

I scored very quickly on lures in the sea. However, I had loads of experience to draw on from other branches of the sport.

best thing to remember is ..

confidence is priceless.

googan's have no confidence.

wabbit's rely on second hand information from other people's hard earned confidence. (dangled carrots)

Sharpies build and make confidence.

However, everyone climbed that ladder sometime. Those that say different are lying.

Nothing wrong with being a wabbit. Look for juicy carrots but don't decimate the same field till they are
all gone. Go plant you own carrots.

Where can I buy Carrots wholesale by the ton

 

[The Squid]

When i have a dry patch (like now) my confidance drops, especially as a fish a lot on my own (so there is no-one to benchmark against).

 

[Andrew Wilson]

I think everything is linked, I have no reservations about being ruthless when it comes to aquiring knowledge, fish, learn and watch from any one you can, read, ask questions etc. Theres something to be learnt from everyone and every situation, this all builds confidence, and it does seem to be once the first comes along the rest follow much easier(well most of the time ) Just be prepared to help others out down the line as others have helped you(sounds so corny and will look forward to trying to when I've got something to offer)

Fishing can be odd, its so relaxing yet your mind can be racing along trying to suss out conditions, ideas to try, keeping an eye on your mates to see what they're doing etc,

Cant ever remember starting a session without %100 confidence even in the worst conditions, but have finished some sessions with a lot less , I think there is a very close link between confidence and enthusiasm too. One of the lads from work who sometimes comes fishing with me does not do well and is yet to catch a bass on bait or lure, he often comes up with reasons before why we may not catch, total opposite to how I think, maybe its luck who knows.

I liked Gary Player's responce to someone that called him lucky, He replied " Its funny, the more I practice the luckier I get"

 

[Mick Ward]

Great reply Mossey.

I caught a bass about two and a half lb the very first time I tried plugging, the fish was hooked, I was hooked, the rest is my plugging history. I really feel sorry for guys that go time and time again and blank, I just cant work it out, its not that hard, well maybe I am being snotty there but really, get up early, add tidal movement, add time of year, add a lure that looks fishy, concentrate, think like a hungry bass, where would you ambush your breakfast, then think like a stupid scared bait fish that has to pass through that ambush point, repeat this method at different locations along the coast at different states of tide, you'll bumble into a bass sooner or later.

 

[Sam Lempriere]

It took me a year, yes a year! to catch my first bass.

And that wasn't from lack of effort I can tell you!

To be honest, i was just getting to the stage where i was going to have to re-think the balance between fishing and rest of life.

Then one day, bang. After a session catching mackeral and pollack on the plugs, ten mins before i go to pack up, a bass! I'm not ashamed to say, i shouted, loud! Something along the lines of YES!!!!! I'VE F*****G DONE IT!!!!

Within a month of that first fish, i had 4 more (2 were on the same plug, one on each treble!).

So that replenished my enthusiasm and will drive me through another year of blanking. But that won't happen now, i know some secrets :idea:

 

[Andrew Wilson]

Then one day, bang. After a session catching mackeral and pollack on the plugs, ten mins before i go to pack up, a bass! I'm not ashamed to say, i shouted, loud! Something along the lines of YES!!!!! I'VE F*****G DONE IT!!!!

Brilliant, Must have been am amazing feeling, Now you have, more confidence, a few tricks, and S***loads of determination, got to be a winning formula, bet you get loads in 2010.

 

[Sam Lempriere]

Brilliant, Must have been am amazing feeling, Now you have, more confidence, a few tricks, and S***loads of determination, got to be a winning formula, bet you get loads in 2010.

It really, really was! Here's hoping for 2010!

 

[James Davis]

Then one day, bang. After a session catching mackeral and pollack on the plugs, ten mins before i go to pack up, a bass! I'm not ashamed to say, i shouted, loud! Something along the lines of YES!!!!! I'VE F*****G DONE IT!!!!

lol, quality. I know EXACTLY how you felt.

 

[pat connolly]

its really since the middle of july this year that ive really got into lure fishing for bass.ive been messing around for a few years not knowing what i was doing and had nobody really to show me.i caught my first bass 3 years ago on live sandeel and since then ive got a few here and there last year i had 3 bass.this year a friend of mine from france who comes to ireland every year sent me a couple of lures that had caught a lot of bass when he was here last year the number 1 lure for him was the pearl white flash minnow 110and number 2 was the super spook.so i went out in the boat with my two mates and put on the flash minnow on the two lads were using live sandeels and bang i was into a bass i could not believe it i was delighted and my mates were sick it was the only fish caught.then i went out in the kayak the next morning and got another fish and it was then i started to get some confidence.then i found pat gallagher and its all changed big time he sorted me out with some good kit and showed me a few spots and when to fish them.so since the middle of july ive had over 50 bass on the top/xlayers/shads you name it ive had em and i have to say its changed my life for the better all i want to do is fish.so im waiting for next season to start i am really excited im dreaming up all kinds of plans and i have confidence now which i did not have before.

 

[Darren Edwards]

superb guys,i think lure fishing gets a hold of you like no other method and reading these replies makes me think were all in the same boat and weve all got it baaaaad :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

[PeteB]

This summer was my first lure fishing and only my second sea fishing in any sense. It took a long while to get any confidence. I fished around sixty hours this summer before my first Bass on a lure. But after the first one I managed another 3 in the next five or six trips. I would not say I am 100% confident but it has definately got me hooked on this style of fishing and I am sure I will do much better next summer with the lessons I've learnmed and the info I have built up on a few marks. Over the summer I would have put in over a hundred hours on bait and lures and have managed ten Bass in total. You have to have a bit of determination to keep going, but in truth I still enjoyed every minute of it.

I set myself a few targets and each time I managed one I felt more and more confident. First was to simply catch a Bass. Next a Bass on a lure then finally one on the surface. I managed all three this summer and now feel with what I have learned from my own experience and the information shared by others I will have a much more productive time next year. Next year targets it a fish over 4 lbs and to catch on a SP. Hopefully I'll be able to reach them.

The weather at the minute has killed all hopes of lure fishing and based on last year it will be June before it will be worth trying again. I'm not sure I can wait that long so may have to have a trip somewhere in April. If anyone has any suggestions for a early trip somewhere they would be much appreciated. Would have to be on the cheap and sleeping in the car or tent I guess but I'm willing to travel.

 

[Andrew Wilson]

I'm not sure I can wait that long so may have to have a trip somewhere in April. If anyone has any suggestions for a early trip somewhere they would be much appreciated. Would have to be on the cheap and sleeping in the car or tent I guess but I'm willing to travel.

Broony a few of us seem to turn up regularly in Weymouth and anoy Plugs, we tend to stay in our tents as were up early and being tight dont like paying for B&B when just kipping for a few hours and missing breakfast (Breckie normally follows morning session in Wetherspoons ). You and anyone else more than welcome to come along. The campsite is quite tidy, warm showers, campsite bar etc.

Or alternatively theres a bunch of the very friendly Welsh boyo's who I'm sure would be happy to show you around, loads of campsites and marks etc. Where do you live?

 

[PeteB]

Thanks for the offer. I live in Newcastle, so Weymouth is a 770 mile round trip. Quite a biggun but if I could get cheap flights or something I would consider it if the fishing is ok around then. Could still get a small tent and my fishing gear in a rucksack. Is there an airport anywhere near Weymouth?

 

[Andrew Wilson]

Broony, pm sent