how often do you catch fish?

[TedderX]

I've been fishing for about three weeks solid.  I've only caught four blue gill; no bass.  I'm getting a little disheartened by it.

For a bank fisherman, how often "should" you be catching fish?  I know there are TONS of variables, but I feel I am giving it a decent effort and good go at it but seeing no results.

Is it really that much of an advantage that a "consistent" bass fisherman needs a boat and radar/scanner thing to see fish and under water structures?  You watch youtube and it seems they're picking fish out of the water every five minutes.  I know that's not reality, but I feel I should be some better by now.

For me, this has been a double whammy.  Baitcasting rod is totally new to me (I'm getting decent at it).  But also lure fishing is new to me as well.  Before now, I fished occasionally only with worms/crickets on a bobber.

I don't have any buddies to learn from.  What more can I do?

[Catt]

First are you sure there are bass where ya fishing?

[kickerfish1]

There should be a few GA guys on here that could probably help you out or give you some lakes to try. Try a post on the Southeast forum to try to connect with the guys in the Georgia area.

[Raul]

13 hours ago, TedderX said:

I've been fishing for about three weeks solid.  I've only caught four blue gill; no bass.  I'm getting a little disheartened by it.

For a bank fisherman, how often "should" you be catching fish?  I know there are TONS of variables, but I feel I am giving it a decent effort and good go at it but seeing no results.

Is it really that much of an advantage that a "consistent" bass fisherman needs a boat and radar/scanner thing to see fish and under water structures?  You watch youtube and it seems they're picking fish out of the water every five minutes.  I know that's not reality, but I feel I should be some better by now.

For me, this has been a double whammy.  Baitcasting rod is totally new to me (I'm getting decent at it).  But also lure fishing is new to me as well.  Before now, I fished occasionally only with worms/crickets on a bobber.

I don't have any buddies to learn from.  What more can I do?

Read, watch videos and put in practice what you have learned, have you actually bothered to look at the wealth of knowledge Glenn so painstainkingly has  gathered ? look pal, I'm 52, I've been bass fishing since 1980 and fishing since I was nine, you might think that by know I should know everything that needs to be known about bass fishing and even read ( and enjoy while doing it ) the BR library, there's a couple of things I learned there.

[BassinLou]

9 hours ago, TedderX said:

I've been fishing for about three weeks solid.  I've only caught four blue gill; no bass.  I'm getting a little disheartened by it.

For a bank fisherman, how often "should" you be catching fish?  I know there are TONS of variables, but I feel I am giving it a decent effort and good go at it but seeing no results.

Is it really that much of an advantage that a "consistent" bass fisherman needs a boat and radar/scanner thing to see fish and under water structures?  You watch youtube and it seems they're picking fish out of the water every five minutes.  I know that's not reality, but I feel I should be some better by now.

For me, this has been a double whammy.  Baitcasting rod is totally new to me (I'm getting decent at it).  But also lure fishing is new to me as well.  Before now, I fished occasionally only with worms/crickets on a bobber.

I don't have any buddies to learn from.  What more can I do?

I can understand your frustration, you are experiencing a huge learning curve. Learning a B/C and learning the vast array of baits available to a bass angler can be very overwhelming. My suggestion to you is to keep it simple. The suggestion was brought up to look up the videos available to you on this site. They are very instructional imho, and you will learn a lot. As far as baits are concerned. A stickworm has never steered me wrong when the bite is slow. Since you don't have buddies to learn from yet, you will have to research and apply what you have studied to become a better angler. Where there's a will there's a way. Best of luck to you. 

[scaleface]

If theres a good population of bass in the waters you fish , you should be catching some .Like in  the other post try some Texas rigged worms . Cast into any and all snags .  Bites are usually light and take some time to recognize . Lift and drop the worm . If you feel a slight tap when it is falling you have a bite . Do not hesitate , reel in most of the slack and give a solid hookset . Eventually you will learn how to detect strikes by feel , visually , and instinctively .

[A-Jay]

How often do you catch fish ?

No where near as often as I'd like.

A-Jay

[DogBone_384]

19 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

How often do you catch fish ?

No where near as often as I'd like.

A-Jay

X2

[FishinBuckeye]

I'm running into the same situation personally.   I've always bank fished and have never had issues pulling in decent cats.  This year I decided to dive into bass for the first time and have had no success at two close by reservoirs.  These reservoirs are suppose to be stocked with bass (among others).   The second reservoir has some decent cover, specifically the very NW corner where there are tons of in-water tree trunks.

 I'm starting to think I have a "dead hand" when it comes to feeling a bass bite.  lol

Currently using a Fenwick HMG medium fast action spinning rod with a Pfueger Presidential 30, 10# PP Braid, and a 10# Seagaur RL leader. I've thrown spinners, cranks, chatters, and weightless senkos with no success.  Thinking about trying to drop shot since that more closely resembles the tight line catfishing I do.  Also starting to wonder if I would be better off going straight fluro to help feel the bite more.  I kinda feel like the braid is giving me too much slack and I might be missing the bite from the very beginning.

 

[Turkey sandwich]

1. Free information - tons on here, YouTube channels for guys like Glenn

2. Cheap information - books aren't expensive and can give you a pretty good outline.

3. Expensive information - hiring a guide can totally be worth a few $$$ if you're getting questions answered, getting attention from an expert, and learning about things like cover/structure/patterns/etc, and getting to see some success on the water.  

[FishinBuckeye]

Personally, I've probably spent 3-5X more time reading and watching videos than I have spent fishing for bass.   I think there comes a point when you have to just get out there and learn via trial/error.   What would probably help me the most is going to a location that is very active with bass.  That way I absolutely KNOW I should be getting bit and if I'm not catching anything, it's user error.  Unfortunately the weather isn't cooperating right now.

Frankly, I don't see a lot of fish activity from other anglers at the reservoir either.   So it's very possible that there are lower populations of bass than I hoped at my location.  Or perhaps due to the colder weather, they just aren't active enough without knowing the honey holes within the water.

 

[Brikon]

Try using a Zoom Trick worm on a Shakey Head, around docks, laydowns, brush, basically anywhere you might think a fish can be hiding.

I fish from the bank somethimes at Lake Lanier in Ga. I was the same way when I started Bass Fishing. One day when I was at the lake a fella came over and introduced me to the Shakey Head Rig...  Since then I'm a believer, I can definitely say " If everything Else Fails, Throw a Shakey Head..." 

[JRammit]

Nobody answered the big question... How often do you catch fish???

What's a good day?.. Whats a bad day??... And who's man enough to admit getting skunked on occasion???

I thought i was pretty good and knew alot about bass fishing until i joined this site.... Ive been humbled down to average after reading all the solid tips and advice from alot of y'all!

Me.... I catch fish more often than not... 5 - 10 is a good day... 1 or 2 is a slow day... 0 is ok if im getting bit (theres always next weekend)..... Then there are those days when i wonder if the lochness monster is under my boat scaring anything and everything that swims near me?!?!

I fish from a bare bones jon boat.. Trolling motor only, no electronics.. And honestly, i catch most of my fish casting at the shore line..... Shore anglers are no doubt limited to and from some areas.... But you have your advantages too

Boat control is a whole nother learning curve!... The ground doesnt move when the wind blows, you have a better feel and more control over your baits (ive lost more fish than i care to admit fooling with the trolling motor)..... And since you have less area to fish, you're forced to fish it more thoroughly, how many fish you think the average boater flies over "running n gunning"??

Heres some advice you wont see on here (and hopefully wont get me banished)...Grab a couple dozen minnows and some bobbers, toss em in the spots your fishing and relax for a day... This way you'll know if the fish just arent there or if youre doing something wrong

Step 2 is learning techniques... Step 1 is finding fish to use them on

[uhhhmike]

Hey TedderX!

You are running into the exact same problem I did when I first started fishing for bass. My buddy's were lighting them up right next to me and I could't catch anything!! BassinLou is right, there is definitely a learning curve when you first get started!

It took some time to realize it, but my biggest mistake when I first started was I was fishing too fast. I would cast out, crank back in, repeat. Sometimes it helps a lot to slow down your presentation.

What types of lures are you throwing currently? What kind of pole do you have? What type of line are you using?

This is my second year being serious about catching bass, and I am doing MUCH better than when I first started. Some days are slower than others, but I barely ever get skunked anymore.

My favorite rig to use is a med/heavy baitcaster with 20 lb flourocarbon line. I texas-rig soft plastics with a 1/4 or 1/2 ounce bullet weight and a 5/0 gamakatsu offset shank extra wide gap worm hook. I couldnt even tell you how many bass I have caught on this rig! It is extremely versatile and can be used anywhere. Try getting a couple bags of soft plastics and give it a try! My favorites are the KVD Game Hawg, KVD Rodent, and Gary Yamamoto Senko's. I like darker colors like Junebug for dirty water or low-light conditions and more natural colors like watermelon red for clearer water and when it is sunny.

There is a TON that you will be learning as you go, but just remember to be patient. Youtube and bass resource will definitely be your best friends. Check out Glenn's youtube channel. He has a ton of very informative videos about a variety of different rigs

Hope this helps!! and feel free to message me if you have any questions. Im pretty new to the sport as well, but ill try to help out as best i can

[chubaka]

It just all depends on the day.  One day I can catch my limit and others I wouldn't even get a bite.

[WRB]

I spend a lot of time looking for what prey the bass are feeding on and at what depth the bass are active in feeding, eliminates a lot of fishless water and time fishing with the lures that are not productive at the time I am fishing.

Tom

[tander]

Just like everyone else, have good days and have bad days. That is why is called fishing and not catching, 

[Bluebasser86]

It's a very rare trip (like once very few years), that I don't catch a bass on a trip more than a couple hours. 

[nascar2428]

One of the keys of Bassin from the bank is moving from spot to spot.You have to find the fish, they don't find you. Fan cast an area and then move to the next. Fish where others are not. Get a practice plug and practice casting in the backyard or a park.

[Wbeadlescomb]

Usually in an 8 hour day if I don't catch 15 then it was a terrible day unless I catch say 5-10 and there are some really quality fish mixed in. I can't remember the time I was just flat out skunked. I've had a few days this year where I may have only caught 5-6 but it was 35 degrees with the wind blowing 20 mph 

[bralexander]

Tedderx, I think everyone here has felt your pain! I do have to caution you though about bank vs boat fishing. Sometimes having a boat is not going to help. Don't get me wrong, a boat changes the game, and can be awesome but it doesn't make the fish bite. Just yesterday, i went out for about 3.5 hours on my local river on a boat and was totally skunked. This is the second time in this river I have went out for a good amount of time and not caught a single fish. I don't know what I am doing wrong, and I don't know anyone who fishes this spot either, so I get no advice. All I can say is just keep with it, and change up your game. Fish your spots at all different times, as this can be the difference between no bites and catching everything. Also I enjoy trying literally every different bait I can, as you never know what the fish like!

Bruce

[Nitrofreak]

Fishing from the bank is no different than fishing from a boat, your always looking for the most productive areas, while a boat can cover a lot more water in short amounts of time, the Equpment on board is there to help break down depth so that you can eliminate the most water possible, same thing goes for areas on the bank, maps can be a big help in picking the best spots, most of my bank fishing is on moving water, our river systems, I look for the same in areas that may provide a little current on lakes, if not, I look for vegetation, or at least something that will add a little o2 to the area, after that I look for added bonuses, a lay down a big rock etc..., it all breaks down the same the only difference is your more mobile with a craft, you always doing your best to put yourself in the best position possible, as far as how many depends on how active the fish are and how well the areas we choose contain enough life sustaining properties, the best thing that helps IMO when bank fishing is picking areas that you can cover thuroghly, if your fishing a lake, choose a couple of coves that will allow you to be able to reach at least 3/4 of its width on a long cast, same for rivers, you want to be able to cover all depths especially when bottom contact baits are the key, I believe that if you fish an area that's huge it doesn't do much for your focus, you have to work pretty hard to get the attention of some fish that "might" be in the area.

[Airman4754]

17 hours ago, WRB said:

I spend a lot of time looking for what prey the bass are feeding on and at what depth the bass are active in feeding, eliminates a lot of fishless water and time fishing with the lures that are not productive at the time I am fishing.

Tom

Same. I figure out through any source I can what species of fish are in the body of water and how big they usually are. The rest of the time I am zoned in on my electronics. 

The only real advice I give to novice guys is make every cast within 6" of where you wanted it to land in open water and 3" around cover. Also make every cast have a purpose. If you're inexperienced take the time to plan every cast with a mental checklist of why that would be a good spot. 

In my opinion casting is the most important part of bass fishing success. 

[MassBass]

It can be hard to cover water efficiently when bank fishing. Maybe put on some water shoes or waders and try to cover as much water as possible with a search lure.

[WRB]

Bank anglers have a big handicap compared to boat anglers, their water world is only as wide as the casting distance. Being restricted to the shoreline and only shoreline that can be traversed reduces where the bank angler can fish. For those who believe bass are usually shoreline oriented fish the handicap isn't as big.

When I bank fish for shore I look for the same elements when boat fishing regarding structure and cover, only it's visual. Look closely at the terrian watching for soil changes, rocks, gravel , clay, sand transitions that bass tend to hold on. It's very difficult to determine what depth to fish without trail and error complicated by the minimal tackle you can carry.

I nearly always focus on points that offer a wide verity of depth change with different soils, rocks and cover that tend to concentrate active bass.

When trophy bass fishing I had some fishless days, can always catch a few keeper size.

Tom