What Am I Doing Wrong?

[George DeHaven]

Hey all,

 

I've been trying real hard to get into fishing lately. As I said before, I used to fish all the time with my dad when I was a kid but only within the past 2 - 3 months have I taken it up as a serious hobby.

 

I did some research, picked up some better gear and went down to the river one evening.

 

It happened to be a fluke with a 5/0 RB and a swivel. 6'6" Medium MATZUO spinning rod. 12lb mono.

 

Within 20 minutes, I had a nice little smallmouth hit the fluke and give me a good fight!

 

I thought I was on my way to being the greatest fisherman alive! I mean, 20 minutes? That never happens to me! I was so happy that I didn't care about not catching any others that day.

 

I have been out at least once a week, sometimes more, since that first day. Maybe 12 - 14 times both throwing from the shore and on a boat. I've been to that river several times and also a few local lakes.

 

Not one bite since I caught that first fish. Not even a nibble.

 

I've thrown everything from flukes, to spinners, to poppers, to frogs, to tubes, to shaky worms. I've watched videos and read articles. I've gone from shore and I've gone in a boat. I've thrown at structures, lillies and cover and I've thrown into open water. I've gone in the morning, the afternoon and even after the sun has set.

 

I can't get them to bite. What could I be doing wrong?

[Felix77]

Hard to say ... when all else fails slow down.  If you feel like you are fishing slowly then slow down some more.

[Th1317]

It would be helpful to know more about the location that you're fishing. When you say you're fishing a river are you referring to a large river, almost lake-like, or a skinny one with fast current and shallow water?

[George DeHaven]

I live in Honesdale, Pennsylvania and the river I'm talking about is the Delaware. There is a boat launch/parking area that has a great shoreline. The water flows underneath the Narrowsburg Bridge and is the border between PA and NY.

 

It has a strong current but there are a few calm spots with rock piles and structure. Today was windy, the current was good, the sun was shining, the water was clear and I was hitting every spot that I could reach with my casts. Nothing.

 

I was throwing a spinnerbait, poppers and flukes into the shallows, near the structure. Nothing.

 

I was casting spinnerbaits, flukes, worms, cranks and a popper into the current and covering a lot of water. Nothing.

 

This is a fairly popular place to fish off shore and I was successful... once... so I know that there's life in those waters.

[Th1317]

I gotcha. well im not going to pretend that i know alot about fishing your neck of the woods, because ive only fished texas. But if you have had any significant changes in weather pattern in the recent days/weeks, the fish' behavior might not be stable making it hard to target them. from what youre saying, it sounds like youre primarily targeting shallow water. to that end, try going deeper. find areas where the current meets calm water, and its a plus if you find structure/cover in these areas. the beauty about an area like this is that the current acts as a food conveyer belt (for a lack of a better term), and the calm water acts as a resting ground for the fish to retreat after feeding.

 

here in texas the conditions are completely different so im not gonna tell you that whats working here is going to work for you.

 

also keep an eye out for baitfish and birds feeding on the water, sometimes just paying attention to other organisms within the food chain will help you unlock the key to catching fish.

[George DeHaven]

So I guess what you're saying is "don't give up".

 

Half the reason why I love to fish is getting out of the house and enjoying the peace and quiet.

 

I will continue to work on my technique, although it would be nice to know if I'm fishing correctly or not. I suppose only time will tell.

 

I'll keep at it. Thanks for the advice.

 

And hey, if there are any Northeastern PA fishermen out there, a little advice would be appreciated!

[Khong]

It's harder to fish on land then on boat, but it's more expensive on boat then on shore.    Yes, don't give up.  I would try new lake/pond if your luck is bad there.  

 

Remember, weather/season/water temp/etc.. changes fish habits.

[aquaholic]

I noticed you didnt mention anything about fishing weightless senkos texas rigged. I have a lot of success with those on the river.

[George DeHaven]

First of all, thank you all so much for the advice and encouragement!

 

I will definitely give a weightless worm a try. I think it's one of the only rigs I haven't tried yet!

 

So in terms of lure selection in any situation, what do you tie on first when you're trying to find the fish?

[Loop_Dad]

I don't fish 'river' but do fish delta. Also I don't fish small mouth, but LMB.

 

So this might not apply to your situation at all, but I seem to find more fish where the current is hitting against something. The mental picture I have is all those fish are looking upstream with mouth wide open waiting for the food to come down stream.

[Khong]

Something  you can look into is casting a remote sonar and checking it on a remote fish finder to see what's below.  I don't think they cost more then $150. 

[rockchalk06]

Have you tried a jig or something off the bottom?

I had a nice little pond like that. Caught my PB in Oklahoma within 5 minutes on a jig. Not a single bite since that day.

Felix77 said it right. Slow down, then slow down more.

[Sam]

George, you are experiencing something we all go through, sooner or later: no bites no matter what we do.

 

There are so many variables to throw into the equation that it is impossible to give you the "magic bullet" to get more bites.

 

What I can tell you is to read, read and read some more; look for DVDs on various fishing techniques and presentations; subscribe to Bass Angler Magazine and Bass Times ; join B.A.S.S. and get Bassmasters Magazine free; join FLW and get their magazine free; select any other bass fishing publications you wish to enjoy; look for bass fishing books that you can read this winter; and go to the Internet and look at Bassresource's YouTube videos, the pros' and others productions; and also hit the Internet for the pros' web pages.

 

Your assignment this winter is to read, read, read and watch, watch, watch and ask us questions, questions and questions on the Forum.

 

One place to start, other than at the top of the Forum's Articles, is Woo Daves web site, www.woodaves.com  Woo has some tips, many of which can apply to river fishing. Check out his articles plus any you can find on Hank Parker's, Bill Dance's and other's web pages.

 

Check out the Senko thread on the Forum and read all of it.

 

You may also consider joining a local bass fishing club and go as a nonboater to learn from others. Check out the Links at the top of the Forum page and search for Pennsylvania for clubs in your area. Great investment of your money and time.

 

And get some DVDs and books on bass' behavior. You have to know what the bass is going to do, or should do, in specific water, time of the year, weather conditions, etc. Only problem is that the bass don't read these books or watch the DVDs so they still have the upper hand in the equation.

 

Bass fishing combines an art with science. Many believe they can just jump into bass fishing and be successful. Not true. It takes years and years to master the sport and understand your adversary, that little green fish with a brain the size of a pea. And usually the fish wins.

 

So don't get down and disappointed. In time you will master the sport and start your tackle collection as we all have. In the meantime take your time and enjoy the ride towards fishing success.

 

Let us know how you are progressing so next year when you explode on the scene we can be proud of your accomplishments.

[wngan9447]

Its tough without seeing how you're fishing, but slowing down as others have said would be your best bet. Let the bait sit at the bottom for 10-15 seconds.

 

What works for me is changing up the baits. I try to have on me at least 3-4 different soft plastics and in both light and dark colors. I have to play around with mixing these up if i'm not getting bites.  

 

Can you see any bait fish? Try to mimic the colors.

 

Good Luck

[CapitolP]

Hey all,

 

I've been trying real hard to get into fishing lately. As I said before, I used to fish all the time with my dad when I was a kid but only within the past 2 - 3 months have I taken it up as a serious hobby.

 

I did some research, picked up some better gear and went down to the river one evening.

 

It happened to be a fluke with a 5/0 RB and a swivel. 6'6" Medium MATZUO spinning rod. 12lb mono.

 

Within 20 minutes, I had a nice little smallmouth hit the fluke and give me a good fight!

 

I thought I was on my way to being the greatest fisherman alive! I mean, 20 minutes? That never happens to me! I was so happy that I didn't care about not catching any others that day.

 

I have been out at least once a week, sometimes more, since that first day. Maybe 12 - 14 times both throwing from the shore and on a boat. I've been to that river several times and also a few local lakes.

 

Not one bite since I caught that first fish. Not even a nibble.

 

I've thrown everything from flukes, to spinners, to poppers, to frogs, to tubes, to shaky worms. I've watched videos and read articles. I've gone from shore and I've gone in a boat. I've thrown at structures, lillies and cover and I've thrown into open water. I've gone in the morning, the afternoon and even after the sun has set.

 

I can't get them to bite. What could I be doing wrong?

fish all night on a full moon or as close as you can get to one

 

just sacrafice a friday night and stay up fishing till sunrise on saturday morning

 

if your in an area that has fish, they'll bite

[Ratherbfishing]

I wouldn't worry excessively about what you are doing wrong. Summertime can be as difficult as winter to get the fish to bite (when YOU want them to, anyway). And it's about the time that I start feeling smug with myself (that I really know what I'm doing) that the fish stop biting and/or I stop catching. Don't beat yourself up and just keep at it. If you find it's not fun, stop for a bit, and then pick it up again when you feel like it.

[NathanW]

I wouldn't worry excessively about what you are doing wrong. Summertime can be as difficult as winter to get the fish to bite (when YOU want them to, anyway). And it's about the time that I start feeling smug with myself (that I really know what I'm doing) that the fish stop biting and/or I stop catching. Don't beat yourself up and just keep at it. If you find it's not fun, stop for a bit, and then pick it up again when you feel like it.

This is what you are/where experiancing. Unfortunaly, on river systems shore fishing is usualy very difficult after the spawners have left the shallows in the spring and before the Fall gorgeing period begins. Between these stages I am typically probing deep weed edges and deep offshore current breaks. Maybe the deeper half of large main river shoal first thing in the morning if the weather is warm enough, but that is as close to the shore I ever get. These strategies are not easy without a boat and good depth finder.

 

Luckily for you the Fall gorgeing period should be happening. Go find a spillway, wing d**n on the main river, a bridge to sit on and drop shot the vertical structure, or any other type of current break and you should find fish. Also, its not always the best big fish pattern but vertical shorline structure like bluffs become loaded with smallmouth in the fall. Not sure if that bluff rock wall by the Highway 52 bridge has any depth to it but that might be a decent place to sit if it does, a nice little chokepoint....

[WRB]

Focus your efforts on smallmouth bass and use high % lures for smallies.

Soft plastics that are 3" to 6" long rigged; split shot, slip shot, drop shot, Texas rig.

Tubes, Smallie Beaver, finesse style worms like Roboworms in crawdad colors.

Jigs; 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 oz dart head or shaky head with the soft plastics above.

Smaller spinnerbaits 1/4 oz and inline spinners like Panther Martin in Fire tiger colors.

Jerk baits like LC Pointer 98.

That should keep you busy and catching smallmouth.

Unlike largemouth the Smallmouths are not home bodies, they roam a lot and prefer deeper rocky areas in lieu of te more protected cover areas that are classic LMB locations. I wouldn't pass up a current break, all predators rest in current breaks, just don't spend a lot of time fishing only the current breaks or shaded areas.

Location, location, location the 3 most important things you need to know about bass. When you discover where they, you wil start catching more.

Tom

[George DeHaven]

Thanks to everyone who responded to this thread!

 

Hey NathanW, sounds like you know this spot! As soon as I can get my waders repaired, I'm going to be able to trudge up and down this shoreline and might be able to explore some better areas.

[NathanW]

Thanks to everyone who responded to this thread!

 

Hey NathanW, sounds like you know this spot! As soon as I can get my waders repaired, I'm going to be able to trudge up and down this shoreline and might be able to explore some better areas.

Nope, never been to your state. Just using Bing maps to find areas that have the right ingrediants for what I look for this time of year, while keeping in mind shore angling. You may be able to sit on that bluff wall and drop shot the vertical structure.

[FrogFreak]

Another source of great information on SMB fishing is In-Fisherman. They have a bunch of videos on their site. I have personally had success in rivers using paddle tail swim baits rigged on the appropriate size swim jig (depending on current) and tubes. Smallies seem to love tubes. I always look for rocks along any current break. Back eddies are great places to find fish. But as others have said, there's nothing like the heat of summer to make us anglers humble. Sometimes they just aren't biting.

[flyfisher]

Fishing will be picking up in that area here shortly.  Keep at it and go with some moving baits or active topwaters like buzz baits and spooks.

[rangerboy]

I fished a lot of creeks when I started. when fishing gets tough reach for the shaky head and 4in worm. current breaks are key