I hate talking about winter but have sat and watched Aqu vu when fish bite and our very best equipment is just not good enough.
I've watched Northern Pike, walleye,lake trout and whitefish, perch bite with braid, braid/flouro, and mono with grafite rods and have no bite feeling. With your baits straight down and no slack feel doesn't get any better and it happens over and over.
Garnet