Help understanding fishing pattern

[Polo]

Hi everyone! New to the site here looking forward to sharing my catches with you all. So greetings from Canada! 

I usually fish a local pond by my house that contains LM bass (ranging from 1lb to 6lbs) Jumbo Perch, sunfish, possibly some bluegill and Rockbass.

Now for the past couple years I would fish this one spot andcatch steady with 4" senko' sin cinnamon with black purple flake. I'm talking avg 4 pounders not complaining!! Haha. I catch and release all my catches btw. 

However, this year I was not able to hook up with anything. I was skunked on my first 3 outings which had me scratching my head. Now the usual spot I was fishing has become quite weedy by the bridge. ( I will attach photos) I tried all the lures, quite a few color senkos, frogs etc NOTHING! 

I then decided to move around the lake to try other spots. Started off with Some live target frogs different colors and sizes. I could not pull anything except one strike that I missed.. Now I feel it could be my retrieve because for some reason I can't walk the dog. They only pop with me.. I do believe it's my rod because the butt of the rod is a little longer than normal which hits my arm.. Who knows

Once again back to senko fishing. I tried my confidence color the cinnamon with black purple flake.. Nothing.. Watermelons , green pumpkin etc nothing.. 

All of a sudden switch to 4inch JuneBug Senko. BANGGG! Fish on.. Just under 4lbs. Ended up landing 4 in 30 mins. 

I was so happy. I just can't figure out what is going on with these fish.. Why such a drastic change.. Location,lures etc

 

 

 

[Polo]

I cannot upload pictures from my iPhone.. I guess iPhone photos are too large?? 

[z7master167]

Its part of fishing brother. When you think you have them figured out, they become non existent. Happens to everyone

[Jonathan Evans]

Hope someone can answer this. I had the same thing happen to me at a honey hole I found on google maps. Would go at sunrise and cast a small Spook along the bank of the pond. I could watch 3 or 4 bass go after the spook and miss on one retrieve before one caught it. they are only about 2lbs but I would catch bass all morning. Now its like a light switch and nothing at all the last few trips.

[IgotWood]

Patterns change over time. Often, there is no explanation. Over the past few years, winter has been reaching parts of the country where it normally does not, winter and summer  keep showing up later, and lasting later too. This could have something to do with it. Most of the trends that I've known my whole life have changed over the past 5 years or so. Many of which do not make any sense. 

[Polo]

What I'm also having trouble understanding is why I can't catch on frogs but others can.. I find it very hard to get a strike.. I fished the same spots that people have caught and can't pull anything with frogs.. I went to spend 50 bucks on different color and sizes of the live target frogs. Maybe it's a teqnique issue? I can only get the frog to pop.. It won't walk.. 

 

Rod setup

bass pro graphite series 7ft med heavy fast tip 

bass pro pro qualifier bait cast reel

suffix 832 super line braid 60lbs test.

 

now the problem I noticed after I bought the rod is that the butt on the rod is super long.. When I try to walk I have to do it at an angle so the rod tip doesn't end up in the water when I'm wadding.. Which then causes the butt of the rod to hit my arm.. 

Does any one have any tips? 

[z7master167]

Cut about an inch off one side of the rubber skirt