I Suck... What Should I Try Next?

[HokieBen]

The last two mornings, I've been getting up early to fish a pond before work. I get there at sunrise and can fish for just over an hour before I have to head to the office. I've been skunked both mornings. Today, I saw several decent sized bass hanging out pretty shallow near some submerged grass, but I couldn't get single bite. I did see a few following my buzzbait, but they didn't strike. In addition to the buzzbait, I've thrown a popper, a zarra puppy, a t-rigged zoom uv speed worm, and a 3" grub on an 1/8th oz jig. I have seen a couple of bass busting the surface, so it seems like a topwater should work, but I'm just not getting anything. Any ideas on what I should do differently?

[FishChaser1]

Try a frog

[grampa1114]

Check the forage base in the pond and try matching the hatch...if it's shad or similar fish then maybe a twitch bait or fluke will work. If it's crayfish then maybe checking the color by finding a couple under shoreline rocks and matching size and color with rage tails or similar baits. Keep at it, and you'll figure it out. Good luck. 

[Topwater98]

Try a wacky rigged worm. I usually use Yum Dingers. The wacky rig has definitely been my most way to catch bass. Once I saw a video or article somewhere that says you should fish them fast. I tried it and it works pretty well. Just keep twitching it with an occasional pause.

[Master Bait'r]

Well given that your big/loud/fast/splashy baits didn't draw so much as a bump, I'd try something quieter, slower and sexier.  Think finesse.  I'm thinking Slug-go SS.  The way they sashay back and forth with that whiptail really draws out the wallflower fish for me.  They just have so much action for how slow they actually move they really present like crazy in a small space.  

[lmbfisherman]

I'd definitely try the fluke idea, if that doesn't work a split shot rig with a worm in natural color or drop shot. 

[*Hootie]

You could try backing off till you can't see the fish. If you can see them, they can see you.

Hootie

[deadadrift89]

I'd definitely try the fluke idea, if that doesn't work a split shot rig with a worm in natural color or drop shot.

X3

I like Zoom super fluke and fluke jr. in Smokin shad color.

[nascar2428]

Next time you have that scenario, use a weightless t-rigged senko. You won't be sorry.

[ClackerBuzz]

Next time you have that scenario, use a weightless t-rigged senko. You won't be sorry.

x2. this or the wacky. slow dragging plastics is a sure fire way to catch pond bass. but it's not that easy when ur trying to hurry up and catch bass before work

[masterbass]

Weighless senko

[Big Fish Rice]

Try a wacky rigged worm. I usually use Yum Dingers. The wacky rig has definitely been my most way to catch bass. Once I saw a video or article somewhere that says you should fish them fast. I tried it and it works pretty well. Just keep twitching it with an occasional pause.

This...you might need to slowly get the worm in front of their face instead of trying to get them to strike reaction baits.

[EmersonFish]

How much does this pond get fished? And it sounds like the water is nice and clear?. Aside from the lure options you have been given, consider your tackle. Are you using light tackle? Lower visibility line? Maybe they are spooked by something, which accounts for them chasing real bait, but not being willing to strike yours.

 

I like the idea of matching the forage, like grampa was saying, and working a 'shakey head' rig. Maybe the bass that were following your reaction baits were just chasing it out of their spot, and not interested in eating anything at the moment. Throw a bait that won't retreat so easily, and maybe they'll get mad enough to bite it.

[Jtrout]

Try some swimbaits 3 inch or 4 inch

[senile1]

You could try backing off till you can't see the fish. If you can see them, they can see you.

Hootie

 

I'm pretty sure this is at least part of your problem.  I know it is sometimes hard to fish a pond and stay away from the edge, but you have to do everything you can to be stealthy.  I would crawl up to the bank if I had to with water this clear.

[OroBass]

Spend more than an hour.

[HokieBen]

Thanks for all of the advice, guys... I guess my alarm will be going off at 4:30am again tomorrow so I can try out your suggestions. I'll definitley try more of a finesse approach next time. I think I read too many articles that say to use topwaters in the morning during the summer and I ignored what the bass were telling me.

 

When I saw the bass in the weeds, I did back off and cast past them. The water isn't super clear, maybe 5 feet with a green stain. The ones that I saw in the water were really close to the bank. It's a man-made pond with a low wall all the way around, so it's probably 3 feet deep right at the edge. Form what I've seen, the forage is primarily bluegills and craws, so I'll do my best to match their size/shape/color. I'm not sure how much pressure it gets since I've only been there twice right at sunrise... I've been the only one there both days.

[EmersonFish]

Well you definitely don't "suck." Fish you can see are often difficult to catch. It's just frustrating because we can see them. What we don't see is all the fish in deeper water our lures go by as we fish that never strike.

 

It'll just be that much more satisfying when you figure the pond out. Carve that thing up with a jig or another bottom contact lure. Find out what's out there that you can't see.

[grampa1114]

X3

I like Zoom super fluke and fluke jr. in Smokin shad color.

The hot set-up this year has been a Swimmin Superfluke Jr. in smokin shad on a ballhead jig. 

[FishTank]

I would try a Texas rigged zoom lizard. get the bait a close as possible to the fish but keep yourself as far away as possible.  Try to land the bait in softly and let it sit for a few minutes.  Then just bounce back slowly.

[ericwont]

Next time you have that scenario, use a weightless t-rigged senko. You won't be sorry.

 

I'll second this.

 

Senkos don't seem to pull in trophy fish as consistently as some of your louder lures, but they sure as hell are reliable. When using a senko, I've never been skunked. Ever. I only get skunked when I start trying to get cute and using half my tackle box.

[Primus]

Spend more than an hour.

 

Keep going and keep at it. If you only have an hour then go, if you have more than an hour then it ups your odds. I've had many good fishing days that included stretches of an hour or more where I was skunked. Keep at it and stay positive, I have a feeling that you are a  better angler than you give yourself credit for. 

[PersicoTrotaVA]

I have found that when fish hit the top of the water and don't hit topwater baits its time to switch to something subsurface.  Waking a spinnerbait, slow reeling a broken back rapala or running a really shallow running crankbait(I like the SK 1XS) will get those fish to bite more.

[geo g]

^{Don't be so hard on yourself!  It is obvious that these bass are not out there chasing fast moving baits, so slow down and fish a slow moving bait that will drop through the water column  like dying fish.  A dying fish will jerk a little, and then slowly float down toward the bottom, and then jerk again.  I would use a Zoom Super Fluke in watermelon red, or a senko type bait in any watermelon color.  Fish these baits slow, giving a short jerks every once in a while, and then long pauses.  Be a line watcher many times the bait will be picked up on the long pause.  If this doesn't work, take up BOWLING!!!!!!!!!!!!}