I've About Had Enough!!!

[TheBig1]

So I bless this world with my presence yesterday at 0430.  I already had the boat hooked up, parked out front and ready to go.  So I headed to the lake.  Get on and it's just absolutely beautiful with a slight mist rising above water.  Even better there was only myself and one other person there for the first few hours of daylight.  So I head to one end of the lake where the ledge rises and you can start to see fish jumping.  Now I'm excited because I had tied on my new Cavitron buzzbait and have been dying to give it a go. 

 

Buzz, buzz, buzz!  Several fish are tearing it up about 30 yards away.  Troll to within 10 yards of them, buzz, buzz, buzz.  Nothing!  Ok, so now I tie on a popper and after about 15 minutes of continuing to watch these fish eject themselves and slam down as if they were great whites hunting for seals I tie on a Zara Spook.  I was walking it so beautiful that I amazed myself.  It had been 8 years since I fished it and thought to myself that I'd never be able to walk it, but I did and it looked good.  And yet, nothing!!!

 

Head down to the dam portion of the lake where the rip rap or boulders are.  It's about 23 fow and my fish finder is showing literally hundreds of fish suspened between 7' and 18'.  Well the only way I know how to get to them is with a crankbait so I grab my rod and start to tying.  Well I though I had one on my black Bandit 300 but then I realized later in the day that I probably just snagged it.  Anyway, after several different crankbaits and nothing to show for it, it was time to go.

 

So I say to my buddy, lets get the heck out of here and it the trolling motor.  We moved 5' and when we did a big bass jumped 5' off of the transom as my buddy sat there and saw it.  This fall better pick up or I'll have a lot of gear to sell over the winter.  I've never had a season such as this.  Even I have always been able to simply throw a worm to show and catch several dinks a day in the brightest, hottest sun.  I just don't understand what I'm doing wrong this year.

[Jar11591]

I hear you completely. Although I would never stop fishing and sell my gear, this year has been very tough for me as well. Last year was great, but this year is nothing like it. Size and numbers are way down for me this year. I'm just gonna blame the long winter and mild summer. Makes me feel a little better.

[TheBig1]

I hear you!  Although I'm being dramatic about selling my stuff, it's really getting old. 

[Catch and Grease]

Thats bass fishing, if it bothers you so much you wanna sell your gear then this might not be the right sport for you. Not trying to sound rude

[BassinLou]

Keep your head up. I know how frustrating it can be sometimes when the bass are physically active all around you and you can't dial in on what to catch them with. If you find yourself in that situation again, maybe throw a fluke, its a lot more subtle than a buzzbait and spook. 

[A-Jay]

I've had that happen - get close to surfacing bass, make my presentation and they ignore it.

It's a little frustrating. 

 

 I have found that by backing off the fish even more and presenting a weightless fluke style bait on spinning gear, I can often times get a few of those fish to commit. 

A couple more points of interest ~

 ~ Braid helps with long bomb hook sets

 ~ A small ball bearing swivel in front of the bait helps with line twist - whether you use braid or not.

 ~ Turning off the sonar / Fish finder well before the approach seems to help the fish stay up longer - don't really need it right then anyway.

 ~ Finally, though satisfying & fun to catch, none of my largest fish have come this way.

 

Good Luck - edit BassinLou beat me to it 

 

A-Jay

[TheBig1]

Thanks BassinLou & A-Jay, I'll be sure and give that a try the next time.

[Smokinal]

Ya that is tough to take when they are busting all around but not biting. As mentioned, a fluke is a good option but don't forget a spinnerbait yo-yo'd through the crowd or an underspin with a fluke body on it.

[RF813]

A LOT of people i know say it's been an off year. Even fishing saltwater.  Something is off. 

[WRB]

Sometimes you just need to slow down and go fishing.

What did you learn? The bass didn't react to the lures you used, the depths you fished at. The surface bass, if they were bass, were feeding on what? The suspended bass were not feeding or not interested in crank baits.

Good day on the water considering a holiday weekend with low boat traffic.

Sometimes a 1/8 oz dart head jig with 5" curl finesse worm works on suspended bass or a smaller size jerk bait. Structure or flutter spoons are always worth trying on school bass. Split shot or drop shot finesses worms working a point can put a few fish in the boat. Football jig hopped down the rip rap or a long point can put a few good bass in the boat.

Relax and enjoy your time on the water.

Tom

[Dillo]

one thing my dad has taught me is to stick to a lure longer. I tend to fish one for about five minutes and change, but he takes about one or two and sticks to them. Almost always catches one before me.

[Bruce424]

Almost the same exact day for me too! Fished for 6 or 7 hours. One dink bass. Threw everything at them.

[K_Mac]

Sometimes you just need to slow down and go fishing.

What did you learn? The bass didn't react to the lures you used, the depths you fished at. The surface bass, if they were bass, were feeding on what? The suspended bass were not feeding or not interested in crank baits.

Good day on the water considering a holiday weekend with low boat traffic.

Sometimes a 1/8 oz dart head jig with 5" curl finesse worm works on suspended bass or a smaller size jerk bait. Structure or flutter spoons are always worth trying on school bass. Split shot or drop shot finesses worms working a point can put a few fish in the boat. Football jig hopped down the rip rap or a long point can put a few good bass in the boat.

Relax and enjoy your time on the water.

Tom

A great post Tom. Some fine suggestions closing with the best of the bunch. In my experience when I relax and enjoy, my fishing (and catching) improve!

[thomas15]

I'm simply happy to be out on the water.

[RAMBLER]

I had a similar day, last week.  I was pretty sure I wasn't going to catch anything the night before I went.  There was a high pressure cold front that came through.  I went anyway because that was when my schedule said I had the time to go.  I caught nothing while using everything.  I did have a good boat ride though.  I have a new depth finder with a navigator chip.   I figured out how to find the contour lines, set a waypoint and navigate to that point.  So, it was a pretty good day, even with no fish in the boat.

[Josh Smith]

The fish seem more confused than us this year.

On the other hand, I just caught my first of the year less-than-12" the other day. They're shallower than usual, and I wonder if it ever really warmed up more than 10' down from winter.

Josh

[TheBig1]

LOL  I don't know what to think but I need to start stepping out of my box as others have suggested with flukes, grubs and such.  Throw the darn tacklebox at them I guess.  Either that or I just need to reenter my comfort zone and pound the bank with a worm.

[FrogFreak]

I've had some days like that this year. I keep remembering a video I watched awhile ago about schooling bass and loaner bass. If I can't catch the schoolers, I go looking for the loaners. I just pitch a popper or a t-rigged plastic into likely ambush spots. It seems like that has saved the day for me this year on numerous occasions. I will say last weekend was pretty tough though. The weather up here has been weird.

[Rcoleman556]

Same goes for what the guys have been saying, Just keep trying.

I went a week without catching anything, finally caught something today lol.

 

Sometimes they can be so finicky at times to what you throw out there, you really got to make sure color , action, all the stuff is right what they want some days.

[geo g]

If you fish a lot, we have all been through this from time to time. Your dad gave you some great advice. When things are tough go to your confidence baits and stick with them. Mine are 4" senkos and flukes fished slow and often weightless. I have caught fish of all sizes on these baits, when conditions have been tough for others fishing the same waters. You can fish the entire water column with these baits until you find the target depth. Fish them deep or fish them shallow. Fish them slow or fish them fast. If you see bass schooling and crashing surface bait fish, walk the senko or fluke right through the school. You can fish the thickest cover, or open water with no problem. You can make sudden adjustments without having to switch rods or lures. Its a no brainer on tough days.

[papajoe222]

My sentiments exactly. Both July and August have been a nightmare this year. I know the unstable weather patterns have a lot to do with it, but even on my home waters I've really had to work at putting up some decent numbers.

Your situation is not uncommon for this time of year as forage numbers are at their peak. I'm surprised that you didn't attempt any subsurface presentations. When they're busting shad on Table Rock, I don't even bother with surface baits, or cranks. I'll tie on a 1/2oz. White jig with a smoke Kalin's grub. It falls, unmolested through the surface activity, down to the bigger fish below that seem more willing.

[TheBig1]

My sentiments exactly. Both July and August have been a nightmare this year. I know the unstable weather patterns have a lot to do with it, but even on my home waters I've really had to work at putting up some decent numbers.

Your situation is not uncommon for this time of year as forage numbers are at their peak. I'm surprised that you didn't attempt any subsurface presentations. When they're busting shad on Table Rock, I don't even bother with surface baits, or cranks. I'll tie on a 1/2oz. White jig with a smoke Kalin's grub. It falls, unmolested through the surface activity, down to the bigger fish below that seem more willing.

 

Well Joe, I can assure you something along these lines as well as a fluke and the other suggestions will also be attempted next time. lol

[PersicoTrotaVA]

Positive Mental Attitude.  That is probably the best tool you have.  You have to stay positive and keep moving forward.  If you aren't catching them in a certain place, say under docks, start fishing somewhere else.  Eventually you have to run into 1 and then you can narrow down where the others are based on where you found that 1.

 

Everyone says in summer the bass are more active because the water is warmer, but like everyone has said, this year has been off.  I have been doing a lot more finesse fishing than power fishing this summer, even to locate bass.  My suggestion is keep fishing and stay positive.

[hawgenvy]

Yesterday evening, hot and humid, my son and I bank fished the stained water in a long, lonely south Florida canal. The bass were coralling tiny baitfish, balling them into tight circling whirlpools, but only occasionally busting the surface or causing them to leap. Were the bass eating them or just toying with them? We wiggled Senkos (black, green, white) through the mass, made weightless flukes walk across their heads and then fluttered them slowly into the fray -- to no avail. We burned soft toads and swimbaits across the whirlpools, or slowly hopped them through the chased bait schools.The bass were way too busy, or their bellies were too full, to pay any attention our fake, pathetic offerings. It was as if we and our lures were invisible.

[TheBig1]

Thanks Persico, I'll definitely keep plugging away. Even when I'm frustrated about it I still can't wait for the next time. They can run but they can't hide, I will find them.

Hawg, that's rough! I know that feeling of"Man this is going to be so much fun!" and turns into work, frustration and ultimate disgust.

Thanks again guys!