Im Struggling To Catch Bass Between 11Am And 5Pm, What To Do?

[JazzPipes]

Hey guys,

I posted a thread about the most productive time of day for bass fishing.

Now I need your advise.

 

I struggle A LOT to catch ANYTHING between 11am and 5pm. I has been over 4 months I've been trying to fish in that time frame with literally ALL the lures and plastics I have.

 

I only fish from the shore and even though sometimes I rig a deep crankbait and cast all the way in the middle of the river (looking for bass that might go deep because of the heat). Of course, Im always looking for structure and those common places that bass like to hang out...

 

but the question remains, what the heck am i doing wrong?

 

I tried everything texas rigged, a bunch of lipless, crankbaits, dropshot, spinners, buzzbaits, chaterbaits and the ocasional jerkbait... nothing works during that time.

 

what to do?

[Scott F]

Rivers for me are most productive during the middle of the day. No matter what time it is, you still have to fish where the bass are. Unless the middle of the river has some sort of structure to break the current, you probably won't find much there. I don't know what river you fish or how deep it is. Is wading a possibility? I like to fish the shaded side of the river along fallen trees. Where the current is fast, the fish will hold close to rocks or trees that block the flow so they don't have to fight the current. As a bank fisherman, look for bridge supports, or retaining walls. Bass will hold tight to the walls or in the eddies created on the downstream side.

Because of current, the water temp is usually pretty consistent deep or shallow. You don't have to fish a river deeper during the heat of the day. Feeding fish follow the food and deep river fish are often inactive and not feeding. I recently got most of my best fish in just enough water to cover their backs.

[scaleface]

I fish the biggest river in the U.S. from bank and the middle of the day can be real good. I like to throw inexpensive spinners on rip rap banks . Beetle spins , H&H , SK mini spins... I cast upstream. Sometimes casting next to bank , sometimes casting in deeper water  but always up stream . I let the bait sink until it touches bottom then quickly lift it up and retrieve just fast enough to feel the blades . You will lose some lures this way , that is why I go cheap but its a good way to catch fish . The rip rap holds bait and lots of  species  of game fish . The best days are in the summer with heavy barge traffic . The waves created by barges crashing against the rocks stun baitfish and crawdads and the bass will get aggressive . I use 1/4 ounce Beetle spins   and I add a small weight to the shank of the mini spins .Heavy in lines would work well or anything cheap that will sink .

[the reel ess]

The easiest answer I can come up with is also the most obvious: to go early or late. That's usually what I do. I expect slower bites during the middle of the day.

[monkeyman3dee]

Hey guys,

I posted a thread about the most productive time of day for bass fishing.

Now I need your advise.

 

I struggle A LOT to catch ANYTHING between 11am and 5pm. I has been over 4 months I've been trying to fish in that time frame with literally ALL the lures and plastics I have.

 

I only fish from the shore and even though sometimes I rig a deep crankbait and cast all the way in the middle of the river (looking for bass that might go deep because of the heat). Of course, Im always looking for structure and those common places that bass like to hang out...

 

but the question remains, what the heck am i doing wrong?

 

I tried everything texas rigged, a bunch of lipless, crankbaits, dropshot, spinners, buzzbaits, chaterbaits and the ocasional jerkbait... nothing works during that time.

 

what to do?

I Suggest dragging a jig all over the place, just it out parrallel to the bank and slowly inch it back to you. Get to know the bottom, is it soft,rocky,weedy etc. this will help you key in on any available structure, with the added bonus of a chance to catch a bass. Just slow down and really interpret your body of water. I know for sure there are areas of my home waters I wont even try fishing, and others I found to be high percentage spots I can throw a bait with confidence.

[kickerfish1]

Simple, fish before 11am and after 5pm. Clearly all the fish are at work during that 11-5 time.

[roadwarrior]

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/13845-guaranteed-to-catch-bass/

 

 

 

[bigbill]

I use a cast out hummingbird fish finder to see the structure and depth. Plus if any fish are there. But mainly to see how to fish it. I see deeper holes, flats, droppoffs, shallows, transision areas too. Now I know what depth crank to throw where. I adjust my reel speed so the blade baits run deeper.

[blckshirt98]

Simple, fish before 11am and after 5pm. Clearly all the fish are at work during that 11-5 time.

 

Yeah, unless you're a pro or fishing a tournament where you need to fish the bad times of the day, try to stick with the best times.

[WRB]

You are located in the NE region and fishing a river. That tells me the bass are smallmouth bass or could be largemouth? Bass are bass but smallmouth are a different critter with different habits than largemouth.

A river always has current, moving water, that bass use to their advantage to bring prey to them.

Smallmouth are less affected by current because they evolved living in this type of ecosystem, more streamline shape and stronger swimmers, moving around more than largemouth.

Look for current breaks, anything that deflects the water flow path, bends in the river channel, structure that creates an eddy, holes etc. Study the dynamics of river water flow and learn to recognize seams where slower flowing water contacts faster flowing water, these seams offer a current break for the bass to sit in. Keep in mind bass face into the direction of the current flow, in eddies the direction may be the opposite of the main river flow.

You want the current to carry the lure to the from up stream direction so they see it coming.

Round head jig & grub is a good river lure. Another is a small buzz bait. I would focus on those 2 lures.

Tom

[JazzPipes]

You are located in the NE region and fishing a river. That tells me the bass are smallmouth bass or could be largemouth? Bass are bass but smallmouth are a different critter with different habits than largemouth.

A river always has current, moving water, that bass use to their advantage to bring prey to them.

Smallmouth are less affected by current because they evolved living in this type of ecosystem, more streamline shape and stronger swimmers, moving around more than largemouth.

Look for current breaks, anything that deflects the water flow path, bends in the river channel, structure that creates an eddy, holes etc. Study the dynamics of river water flow and learn to recognize seams where slower flowing water contacts faster flowing water, these seams offer a current break for the bass to sit in. Keep in mind bass face into the direction of the current flow, in eddies the direction may be the opposite of the main river flow.

You want the current to carry the lure to the from up stream direction so they see it coming.

Round head jig & grub is a good river lure. Another is a small buzz bait. I would focus on those 2 lures.

Tom

Hey Tom,

 

Yes Im in the NE but Im mainly fishing ponds. No rivers yet. First because I dont have a boat a second because the closest river to me is the Charles River and its kind of tricky to walk on its shore depending on where you are. So Im basically looking for advice on pond fishing.

 

best

[JazzPipes]

You are located in the NE region and fishing a river. That tells me the bass are smallmouth bass or could be largemouth? Bass are bass but smallmouth are a different critter with different habits than largemouth.

A river always has current, moving water, that bass use to their advantage to bring prey to them.

Smallmouth are less affected by current because they evolved living in this type of ecosystem, more streamline shape and stronger swimmers, moving around more than largemouth.

Look for current breaks, anything that deflects the water flow path, bends in the river channel, structure that creates an eddy, holes etc. Study the dynamics of river water flow and learn to recognize seams where slower flowing water contacts faster flowing water, these seams offer a current break for the bass to sit in. Keep in mind bass face into the direction of the current flow, in eddies the direction may be the opposite of the main river flow.

You want the current to carry the lure to the from up stream direction so they see it coming.

Round head jig & grub is a good river lure. Another is a small buzz bait. I would focus on those 2 lures.

Tom

Oh, also, Im fishing for largemouth.

[WRB]

"I cast to the middle of the river" 3rd para didn't sound like a pond to me!

OK, you are pond fishing for LMB, got it. You are fishing from 11A to 5P, 6 hours on a pond, should know every square inch of that waterway after a few trips. Do you see any cruising bass? Or any bass feeding activity?

It's been my experience pond bass know every square inch of thier pond and tend to take up residence by peaking order, the adult size bass taking over the best locations and become territorial. This territorial habit makes these bass easier to target because they spend about 80% of the time located in a small area.

What do these pond bass eat? Pond bass eat whatever prey is available, they are opportunistic feeders. Young of the year baitfish like bluegill, other bass, whatever type of minnows that may be there. If the pond has a feeder stream that replenish minnows and crawdads is a good area. Crawdads, worms, insect larvae like darnner nymphs ( dragon flies ), frogs and any terrestrial critter that happens to fall onto the water.

Live big night crawlers fly lined are deadly. If a live night crawlers aren't your cup of tea, then replicate it by using soft plastics.

Pond lures; original Rapala F13 minnow ( jointed) , small buzz bait, Pop-R type surface lure of your choice, Jitterbug, fly lined ( no weight ) Senko's or trick worm, drop shot worm, split shot/slip shot worm, craw or reaper, traditional T-rig worm or craw. If there are weed mats, try a frog.

Stay back from the bank edge, keep a low profile and move like you are stocking game, because you are!

You should be seeing bass cruising or spooked by your presence because pond bass are shoreline edge fish.

Tom

[Brett Strohl]

I've had most of my luck on small poppers like the live target frog popper and the rebel tiny pop-r in the river here.  But that being said, there aren't a lot of spots here to fish the river, and I haven't exactly done well enough to brag regardless 

[CWB]

I usually take a nap and then have dinner. Then I head back out.