Super User the reel ess Posted July 18, 2015 Super User Posted July 18, 2015 Great replies everyone. So most people seem to enjoy bringing panfish tackle when bass are slow. So how would you go about fishing for these panfish if the bass were Lockjawed? It depends on the body of water. If it's a pond, you know they're there, within your grasp. Sometimes they show themselves by splashing in the shallows chasing bugs. Sometimes it's a mayfly hatch and they'll be all around that. Sometimes they're on the bed near full moons from May-July. When they are, nearly any lure designed for them will catch them/ Mayfly hatch it a great time to use a flyrod and Betts poppers. If it's a lake and you don't see visual clues, try to hit spots that have brush in 7-15 feet deep. Beetle Spins, Roadrunners, small grubs, crickets and worms all work well. 1 Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted July 18, 2015 Super User Posted July 18, 2015 About the only time I get skunked for bass is when largemouth fishing VERY early in the year before the water is out of the mid 30's temp wise....I mean like the day after the ice has left, or very very late in the year after the water temps drop below 40. What I do about it? In situation #1...............I either go home and just be glad to get out of the house after a long winter, or I go smallmouth fishing, and even that is hit or miss for me so early. If I get really desperate for some action I go looking for perch, which co-operate, but it's boring, and they are small. In situation #2............put the boat away for the year. That really is my measuring stick for when it's time to quit. The first time I get skunked when the water drops below 40, is time to call it a season. 1 Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted July 18, 2015 Super User Posted July 18, 2015 I got skunked first two times out this year. No bites first time out. But I lost a monster on a spinnerbait second trip. But my buddy caught a monster when I got no bite. Haven't been skunked since. That time of year you're fishing for one, maybe two bites from big fish. But you can fish year-round here. No ice, just slow fishing. Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted July 18, 2015 Super User Posted July 18, 2015 I got skunked first two times out this year. No bites first time out. But I lost a monster on a spinnerbait second trip. But my buddy caught a monster when I got no bite. Haven't been skunked since. That time of year you're fishing for one, maybe two bites from big fish. But you can fish year-round here. No ice, just slow fishing. I'd still be fishing! Here these last few winters we've gotten snowed in our house more than once. 2 Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 18, 2015 Super User Posted July 18, 2015 The bite is usually tough where I fish in SoCal, just ask anyone who bass fishes here. It's a special day when the bite is good! I don't rely on getting into a good bite, instead my routine is determine what is going on; how deep is the bait, how active are the bass and what are they eating....before leaving the marina if possible. In the summer we have thermoclines that directly affect how deep the bass will be. If the thermocline is 20' don't fish deeper. If the life zone is is around 8' to 12' then you have lots of options depending on the bass activity level. Look for any signs of active bass feeding or the opposite bait fish puddling ( dimpling the surface like rain drops) lazy near the surface without being chased by bass. Use your sonar and think about what the bass are doing, then select a lure that works under those conditions. Soft plastics worked near where less active bass are located usually saves the day, as long as you fish at the right depth where they bass are located. Tom 1 Quote
Super User FishTank Posted July 18, 2015 Super User Posted July 18, 2015 Drop back and punt..... Really though, I fish slower. It make take me 5 minutes a cast. I just pretend to be patient. Quote
jacob2000 Posted July 18, 2015 Author Posted July 18, 2015 Because it catches fish........... and i meant why that over artificial lures..... Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted July 18, 2015 Super User Posted July 18, 2015 and i meant why that over artificial lures.....Because the artificial aren't catching fish..... Quote
Super User RoLo Posted July 19, 2015 Super User Posted July 19, 2015 You've become a man of few words. Quote
reb67 Posted July 19, 2015 Posted July 19, 2015 I have not been on for awhile but I am surprised at all you guys when this happens it's not a negative thing it is a golden opportunity to go home and tell your wife that you did not have the proper lures or equipment for the conditions you were faced with today TIME TO GO TO THE TACKLE SHOP. 7 Quote
Neil McCauley Posted July 19, 2015 Posted July 19, 2015 I used bait a lot as a kid. Crawfish, shiners, nightcrawlers... I pretty much never went out without some sort of bait. It's good to have as a back-up while you're still learning artificials because at least then the day is salvaged and you can learn some fish locations and movements.But sticking to learning the lures game eventually pays off. Eventually you will get good with choosing lure style/size/color, appropriate retrieve, etc, and lures start to out produce livebait. It's usually just more efficient. Quote
zachb34 Posted July 19, 2015 Posted July 19, 2015 On tough days I think it becomes a mental game to catch fish. I find some shade, anchor, have lunch or a snack, rehydrate, retie new baits or simply relax and think up a new plan. Often times I'll grab a bait I don't have much confidence in or try a new technique. It forces me to refresh and forget about the tough fishing and hopefully be ready to start over without calling it a day. Worst case scenario you just have to fish painfully slow. Quote
MrBigFishSC Posted July 19, 2015 Posted July 19, 2015 You gotta know where the fish are first and then slow down. I see guys fishing especially this time of year where the fish were in April. It's July, hot, water is down, pretty clear, and the fish have aren't fired up during the daytime. Go where you know they should be or find them and slow down with finesse tactics. Check very early for surface activity and throw a Spook. Afterwards go deeper and straight to drop shot or shakey head. You ain't gonna get a lot of bites but you can pick up some good fish if you are patient. These times make the good times in spring and fall mean that much more. Plus you are becoming a better fisherman. Alternatives are go fish someplace entirely different. This is fun and you don't put pressure on yourself. Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted July 20, 2015 Super User Posted July 20, 2015 You've become a man of few words. A picture is worth a thousand words. Quote
Super User RoLo Posted July 20, 2015 Super User Posted July 20, 2015 A picture is worth a thousand words. I'll give you 500, but that's as high as I'm going. Quote
Mr. Bassin II Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 Crank up the SHO throttle it up to 6,000ish RPM and tour the body of water I'm on at 70 or so MPH. You ought to see the look on some jet skiers face when pass them. Getting a little payback on these fools is a good consolation prize for not catching fish. Quote
CeeJay Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 Crank up the SHO throttle it up to 6,000ish RPM and tour the body of water I'm on at 70 or so MPH. You ought to see the look on some jet skiers face when pass them. Getting a little payback on these fools is a good consolation prize for not catching fish. Just be careful of us waders and bank anglers Quote
Cuivre Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 I downsize ad use smaller soft platics. I also just change parts of the lake- I'm a firm believer that on larger bodies of water, they are always biting SOMEWHERE! Quote
looking4structure Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 Break out the spinning gear and finesse them. Quote
blckshirt98 Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 When I can't buy a bite I'll usually just pack it in early. I may stop by the tackle shop and buy some stuff because it relieves the frustration of being skunked. If you can't catch fish you can always catch tackle, and you can never have enough of either. 1 Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted July 20, 2015 Super User Posted July 20, 2015 I downsize ad use smaller soft platics. I also just change parts of the lake- I'm a firm believer that on larger bodies of water, they are always biting SOMEWHERE! And someone can always catch 'em. I don't know of any tourneys where no one catches anything. But then I'm not in a local club. Maybe it does happen. But I take the opposite approach and fish a place I can cover in a day. That way I KNOW there's a captive population of bass and that some of them will see my bait. That solves one part of the equation. Then if it's getting really hard, I can play my ace in the hole and go to a place that's overpopulated (stunted). They're almost always hungry. Quote
coffeenotworking Posted July 21, 2015 Posted July 21, 2015 I've been fishing here in NJ where most of these local lakes are very shallow compared to my KY roots. My fall back lures are even giving me disappointment as of late. 1. small crank baits 2. small white or green grub worm with spinner 3. T-rig 4. anything I haven't tried yet lol Planning on t-riggin some 8 or 10 inch worms and finding the deepest spots in the shallow ponds around here. 1 Quote
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