Can't Buy A Bite

[WVbassin87]

Just got back from a rough trip. threw every single lure in my tackle box. the only thing i even had a hit on was a spook, but they kept missing it. nothing else worked: craws, yum dingers, spinners, cranks, jigs, buzzbaits, poppers, NOTHING. talk about a rough day. i knew they were in there, but just couldn't figure it out.

[Raul]

 i knew they were in there, but just couldn't figure it out.

 

That´s why it´s called fishing and not called catching kemosabe.

[Fish Murderer 71]

You didn't go home skunked- you had a great fishing trip! I've gone back to the boat launch with EVERY rod/reel set up out and only caught one little dink several times.  I just hate it when I go back, load the boat, and spend an hour putting original lures back on the set-ups and got skunked!  Hasn't happened for quite a while, but then again some trips were a couple hours longer than planned!

[gulfcaptain]

So the few bites you got, where were the fish?  What were they relating to?  Without a bit more details it's hard to give any kind of idea other then the above "that's why they call it fishing".

[WVbassin87]

They were over a rocky flat in the deepest water there (guessing around 2-3 feet). they were hitting bugs on the surface. seemed to be a school of smaller fish. the water is still way below normal level, so i knew i had my work cut out for me. chances are they were redeye, and the smallies were elsewhere.

[Raul]

 chances are they were redeye, and the smallies were elsewhere.

 

Could be, in my neck of the woods we don´t have other lure biting panfish than bluegills and they love to nibble bass baits ..... there you are all heated up cuz you feel "bites" swearing they are bass and nope, they ain´t.

[gulfcaptain]

If it was from shore, well try and find a deeper hole and a bit more cover if it was a river, if it was a lake and in a boat, I'd slide out and fish deeper looking for a break of some sort....rock/grass/depth. Or try another technique, dropshot them.  Normally can get a bite dropshotting when nothing else will work.

[Fishdude216]

Just enjoy the fishing time

[*Hootie]

Fished all day Monday, caught 2 bass. Fished yesterday, caught 16 bass.

What was the difference? Your guess is as good as mine.

Hootie

[livetofish28]

Use more money  lol anyway it is probably those pesky sunfish that's three inches long.....then again the next cast yields a slab sized sunny where it came from I have no idea   . but from my experience where there's bait there's bass and if there's big bait then there is big bass lol. O ya if there are "unknown" fish hitting a topwater throw a senko where it was being messed with you generally get bit by the blue gill or get bit by the big bass feeding on said blue gill. Hence what happened to me this week 

 

 

         Tight Lines

 

         Andrew 

 

 

 

 

[gulfcaptain]

hey we can't always catch them every day, but we can learn and enjoy our times fishing. When I don't catch fish, I look back at what might have been different from the day before or last time and see what I can do to change up my strategy and try it the next day. Some days you're on fire, other days well we have a lot of time to think about what's not working.

[paul25]

i've had to resort to finesse stuff in the 12 - 15ft range here lately drop shot and shakey heads, if you  haven't tried that it may be worth a ahot.

[einscodek]

Comes with the territory when alls they want is topwater but need glasses

Next time more pauses so they have a chance to hone in..

I know I've been there..

[Fishes in trees]

If you couldn't buy a bite, it is possible that you haven't spend enough money.  It is also possible that they just weren't biting.  It is also possible that there was some flaw in your presentation.   In the entire gamut of fishing situations, many things are possible.  Buck Perry wrote, "The fish are deep . . .or shallow . . .or somewhere in-between."  This is always correct.  The In-fisherman formula Fish + Location + Presentation = Success, always applies, no matter what species you are fishing for.    Put your mind on it, fine tune your presentations (or don't) and try again next time.

 

Option B - Throw away all your gear and take up golf.

 

You think fishermen are nuts sometimes, after having a bad day or the one that got away, try talking to a golfer with the "yips".

[WVbassin87]

This may be a copout, but i'm chalking it up to tough conditions. After having a little while to calm down, i'm not quite as bothered. i actually still had fun. i got to practice more with a few lures i hadn't used yet, like my zara puppy. i still need a little practice walking it, but it is pretty cool i managed to get strikes at it my first attempt. thanks for the responses folks. good stuff

[gulfcaptain]

I'd take up golfing if they would stop kicking me out for fishing in the water hazards.

[TNBassin']

Just got back from a rough trip. threw every single lure in my tackle box. the only thing i even had a hit on was a spook, but they kept missing it. nothing else worked: craws, yum dingers, spinners, cranks, jigs, buzzbaits, poppers, NOTHING. talk about a rough day. i knew they were in there, but just couldn't figure it out.

Had I not seen that you were from WV, I'd would have sworn you were here in TN fishing on Douglas Lake. Had this same experience a couple weeks ago, and after BASS or FLW has their tourneys out here, the fishing turns to a nightmare. 

[David D.]

I'd take up golfing if they would stop kicking me out for fishing in the water hazards.

It all comes down I being on good terms with the course's GM.... Same thing goes for coyote hunting on them

[gulfcaptain]

It all comes down I being on good terms with the course's GM.... Same thing goes for coyote hunting on them

yeah, but tired of hiding from the Sheriffs helicopters.  It was fun when I was 16-18, but now it's just expensive if you get caught.  Some people just don't respect the course and cause damage which then ruins it for everyone. And if I did try coyote hunting I'm sure they would bring the swat team as well as all the local news helicopters. They tend to frown on hunting in the city.....lol

[David D.]

yeah, but tired of hiding from the Sheriffs helicopters. It was fun when I was 16-18, but now it's just expensive if you get caught. Some people just don't respect the course and cause damage which then ruins it for everyone. And if I did try coyote hunting I'm sure they would bring the swat team as well as all the local news helicopters. They tend to frown on hunting in the city.....lol

Yeah, if it's illegal then it's illegal, nothing you can do about it. But there are some courses where it is perfectly legal to fish (and hunt) with permission.

As you said, one person can ruin it for everyone; which is why there are not many golf courses that are open to public fishing (even outside of golfing hours).