Went Back To Bank Beating - What Did I Do Wrong?

[RyanS]

Still trying to learn so bear with me.

 

Had a great Memorial Weekend fishing in Northern Wisconsin.  Three days on the water.  Water temps 63 to 65 degrees.

 

Fished two fairly clear lakes that had depths of up to 50 feet, with plenty of sharp deep to shallow transitions, most of which were in the "middle" of the lake (far from any bank.  Then large flats 6 feet deep that gradually led up to the banks.  Weed growth throughout the flats was just starting (couple feet high and covered most of the flats)

 

I thought I'd find larger fish (prespawn females) on some of the sharp main lake points leading to deep water near the flats.  in the end, all I could find was some smaller fish cruising in the flats and some smaller fish up against the banks.  I don't think I saw any spawning activity, but will admit, I'm not exactly sure what to look for other than some cleaned out area with fish "protecting" 

 

So we caught ok numbers, caught some larger pike, but not the larger bass I was hoping for.

 

Tried suspending jerk baits, slow rolling spinners, cranks (8 foot depth), rattle traps and jigs.  Didn't do much with soft plastics since we couldn't get much of a bite off any of the above baits and slowing down even more seems like waste of time.

 

Any thoughts to what I was doing wrong.  I was convinced I was going to try to not go bank beating again this summer, but without catching anything where I thought they be, I moved back to my old ways to at least catch something.......

 

Thanks

 

[Mr. BattleArmor]

For me, slowing down is exactly what I do when the bite is tough. Dropshots and shaky head rigging worms works for me. Maybe try that next time if the bite is really slow again and see how it goes. Don't give up though! 

[Fish Murderer 71]

ROCKS BROTHER!!!!  when all else fails- rip rap with weightless wacky trick worms or senkos.  Not sure about your area lake temps, but your in the spawning temps here!  Its that time of year when you have to work for a big girl!

[David D.]

When spawning females are guarding their nests they are not actively feeding; they are protecting. In that time, they will not aggressively target crankbaits, spinnerbaits, or jerk baits. However, if you run a plastic over their bed or a jig, then you could get a strike.

Just because fast isn't producing doesn't mean that slow also won't.

[Loop_Dad]

So deepest you could reach was 6 ft out of 50 ft deep clear water lake. Not sure the time of the day of if it was sunny day.

 

If you meant fishing from a boat when you said "old way of fishing", I would definately exercise that option mext to,e so that I can target different depth, if I were you.

[geo g]

Times get tough down size to a Zoom Centipede watermelon any shade, weightless on a #3 gama EWG hook.  Fish slow,  jerk and sit still.   Something will bite it!!!!!  

[BassFit]

+1 for drop shot