Daniel Ambrose answers:

Calico (kelp) bass are only native to the west coast. Some people think they’re “talent” fish, but really they’re not that hard to catch.

I’ve got them on just about everything — anchovies, sardines, jacksmelt, queenfish, tomcod, lizardfish, shiner perch, butterfish, squid, mackerel, jack mackerel. Plastics: Scampi, Shabby Shrimp, Kelp Kritter, Worm King, Big Hammer, AA, Mister Twister. All sorts of iron jigs, from Tady 45s on down. Even got some on Sabiki rigs. You can get them flylining on the surface, casting off rocks in the surf, or 100 feet down with 6 ounces of weight. You can find them in open water (generally following bait), but they’re most often hanging around rocks (more so than kelp).

In general, I prefer 12-15 pound line (20 with big baits like squid or mackerel). I like conventional gear, but lots of people use baitcasters or spinning gear. You want tackle you’re comfortable with to flyline a sardine or cast a plastic, or of they’re not on the surface, work a bait on the bottom with a couple ounces of lead. But you have to be ready to adapt — if they’re keyed on one bait, or one color of artificial, or one depth, you have to find it and switch. But that goes for just about any kind of fishing.

Freshwater bass guys tend to enjoy fishing for them — you can use the same tackle and similar tactics, and the fish are pretty much the same size. And they’re tough enough to handle catch and release. As one of the few fish which have been protected from commercial fishing (for over 50 years now), there are plenty of them around.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Hey Brandon. Thanks bro. Coming from you that is quite a compliment.
I have only posted here. Bass Fisherman get credit for turning me into a bassresource.com junkie. It really has some of the best info on the web.
I am working on my 360 page getting together good fishing sites and other interests (nothing can compete with bass fishing) I’d like to share and will soon have it ready for public viewing.
You keep up the excellent work. We need more people like you on Yahoo Q&A!

Edit:
Brandon, Injun,…any others maybe you can suggest a few good forums to me. Always open to suggestion.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

They all suck. Most of them are no where near being realistic.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

No, but I imagine that the only free ones would be flash or java games that aren’t fun anyways. Nothing is free.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

A very interesting question, you are talking about two very different fish. Catfish tend to feed mainly of the bottom, were bass are more a predatory fish that will look for and chase their pray any wear. I think if you were talking about bait fishing, well there would be little to none in difference to that. There are some great books on the subject, and if you wish, visit my blog , there is some good reading there, I hope that helps.
E.C.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

How about some Lucky Craft jerkbaits with a REAL FISH SKIN COVERING! I know you want one! Find them here along with other great bass tourney winning products like the e21 Legend Carrot Stix (30% graphite, 70% carrots!).

Http://www.deloscustomtackleshack.com/jerkbaits/real_skin_luckycraftjerk_78sp.htm

http://www.deloscustomtackleshack.com/rods/e21_carrotstick.htm

The 2008 iCast show won’t be until next summer when the best of 2008 tackle will be made public. We will all be waiting with baited breath.

Edit*
The ‘Thumbs Downer’ missed me! Must be passed his bed time.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Http://www.bassdozer.com/
Left hand column you can find info on about anything, from fishing tips to places to go. The page will open on a table on contents to fishing links

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Maybe if you got rid of the big annoying ads on your website… Thats a big sign your more interested in advertising than in a fishing forum….

Try incorporating youtube videos of fishing/ lure making/ etc….. Thats where I start if I want to find some place new or a new method of fishing or new ways to make fishing lures….

How about a daily update on fishing conditions in your area, incorporate a daily video update on the conditions at your local lakes etc, etc….

If you know any fishing guides /charter boat people, let them advertise for free on your website…

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Depends for spring time i like the weight go a can drag it across the spawning nest but ive always loved free falling i seem to catch alot more bass that way so like i said i woulkd when they spawn oh get a pair of polerized sun glasses so you can see the spawn bed

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Cabelas has their own TV section on a channel and the shows are available to watch on line, I’ve seen some fly fishing and hunting videos on their site and all were good quality, you can watch for free here
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/community/aboutus/media/pages/coj_home.jsp?auPage=tv

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Ok ill check it out

Daniel Ambrose answers:

This “Freshwater Fishing” titled website at http://www.fishingloft.com is an up and coming website that is dedicated to the aspects of freshwater fishing and bass fishing, as well as many other species of fish, fish cooking techniques, a few fish recipes, and more. What you see there is only a mere fraction of what will be offered in the near future.

It’s still in it’s early stages, being that it has just begun since mid way last year, but is steadily climbing it’s way up through the top rankings and search engine results. As with anything else, it takes time. Consider it like a diamond in the rough.

In the near and upcoming months, they are going to go through a whole entire makeover…

They are getting ready to change out their entire site template to make it more attractive and appealing;
Include what is called Content2.0(which is very similar as to what many social networks are based on, such as Facebook and Twitter, etc.) where you can join in, share information, upload pictures, and rate them, etc.

No forums though. The thing with running forums on individually owned websites is that they rarely ever last long, maybe about 6 to 9 months at best. The forums just begin to falter and are forgotten about because they become too hard to manage. The ones that do succeed are often required to be run and managed by multiple webmaster members at all times, which takes soo much time and energy… Besides, as a fishing website owner, wouldn’t you rather be fishing, or sitting at your computer day and night?

Anyway, I’m sure that you were looking for a few quick links to some websites, right? I’m just saying, keep an eye out for this one! It might surprise you one day. Bookmark it for future reference. I have.

Good luck!

Daniel Ambrose answers:

L have not fished your lake but plastic worms work everywhere. All the time.
Get an assortment of soft plastics colored to resemble the 3 or 4 major forage species in your lake. 6″ worms in those colors will probably work fine.
For starters, go with a crayfish color. Some bluegill colored ones and some shad colored ones. A few 8″ worms in black or purple. 3/16 or 1/4 ounce weights with 10lb line should be fine. Texas rigged.
Find some brushy cover in some dingy water 2 to 6 feet deep. Work it all day. Especially a wind driven wave swept shoreline where there is a mud line reaching out 20 feet or more from the bank, use your craw finished and larger dark worms there. Adding a bead for a rattle won’t hurt. Toss your bait right up to the bank. Don’t be afraid to get it dirty. Work it SLOW all the way out to clearer water. If you can find some oxblood or cinnamon “fat ikas” rig those backwards, weedless, on a 5/0 EWG hook with only a splitshot for weight crimped right at the eye of the hook. This is a great rig for me in dirty water. Use your shad and bluegill colors right at the edge of the mud line. The dirty water makes great cover for lots of bass and the wind drives the bait right to them. The crayfish also feel safer and leave their cover more readily.

Hope this might be a bit of help.
My last trip, that type of area produced the best for me.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

L use 8lb maxima mono most commonly, but do use up to 14lb especially when fishing stick ups and other brushy/weedy spots. Mostly 8 -10 with plastic worms, smaller topwaters and crankbaits. 12 on larger topwaters like zara spooks. My largest bass so far was over 13lb on 8lb test with a 4″ plastic worm.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

It could be three things. If have any other game and it play in the dreamcast it is the game. You should clean and fix any scratches. If no games play it is your laser reader. Which I suggest you buy a new dreamcast, or buy a new laser reader at play-asia.com. If it is a burn copy you need a cd-r and go to you tube to find out how to make copies.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Here’s a site with a few fishing games http://www.bigfishtackle.com/fishing_games.htm or another http://www.free-fishing-games.com/bass-fishing-games.php 40 yr exp

Daniel Ambrose answers:

White Twister tails and or shadrap…can by at walmart

Daniel Ambrose answers:

You may find bass fishing little catchy in areas where rock ledges are , the reason being that bass will tend to take cover under these deep seated rock ledges.. Hence you should make it a point to avoid clutter while going for fishing and select the spot based on this to increase the catch in numbers…..

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Here you go.Knowledge for free.

Http://fishing.about.com/od/bassfishing/tp/topbasslures.htm

http://www.trails.com/how_111_use-bass-fishing-lures.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/drop-shot.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fish/plasticworms.html

http://animatedknots.com/improvedclinch/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Contact the Sports Dept of your college. Ask who is in charge of the Bass Team. Just like any college sport I’m sure there is a “try-out” for the team.

If you don’t make the team volunteer to help in any way possible. You may be able to become an “alternate”.

Good luck.