I can't catch fish consistently

[Bassinohio]

Hey everyone, this is my first post here on BR. I have a bit of a problem. I started bass fishing last year, and I have gotten pretty good i think. I have just one problem. I will go fishing, and do what succesful people are doing, and get skunked. Any ideas?

[BareHook]

It happens, try watching Major League Fishing sometime and you'll see some of the best bass fishermen out there getting skunked or struggling to get a bite.

When in doubt try something new or different that the bass have not seen and/or downsize line and lures to finesse bites

Ken

[roadwarrior]

"Just Getting Started"
Guaranteed To Catch Bass
I just cant catch bass
Learning to fish on your own
 

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

Give the articles @roadwarrior posted.

They're full of great advice.

[scaleface]

You havent been fishing for very long . Dont get discouraged ,   you will get more consistent . Enjoy your time fishing .

 

[Oklahoma Mike]

Slow down.

When the bite is tough, go to baits like a senko or jig and fish them super slow. When you think you are fishing slow enough, slow down some more.

Also, as stated above, you have to just accept that there will be days that don't produce. Don't let it discourage you.

["hamma"]

Welcome to what I consider the best Bass site out there.

 We all get skunked, it happens to the best of us,... but what "you can do", is search this site a bit more diligently. There are plenty of videos instructing anglers of any experience level on how to improve your fishing. And yes, its all right here. Videos, articles, tips and tactics from some of bass fishings best, area specific info, tourney tips etc.

 Whatever you need to get your bass fishing fix is right here. I'd recommend that you go to the introduction threads and tell us a little about yourself, and fill out your profile,..where you live and fish, if you have a boat,..boat"s", or fish from shore. your skill level etc.

This will give us all here a better understanding of your particular questions. Negating alot of undue questions from us all so to speak.

 Skunked, in Ohio, while fishing what successful anglers are fishing?

 Could be a number of things, speed, line, cadence, etc.,...

  DO this,... follow roadwarriors advice, and then continue searching the site some more covering techniques or tactics that you have some interest in. Then check out novice info, may be a good start, or Basics,. these should give you the tools needed to be the successful angler others will be trying to mirror.

 hope this helps some

[Heron]

This looks like a job for....The Banjo Minnow!!!

[A-Jay]

18 hours ago, Bassinohio said:

Hey everyone, this is my first post here on BR. I have a bit of a problem. I started bass fishing last year, and I have gotten pretty good i think. I have just one problem. I will go fishing, and do what succesful people are doing, and get skunked. Any ideas?

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource.

I'd like to be the first to inform you - you have No Problem.  That's bass fishing.

No one catches them all the time.  "Doing what successful people do" (trying to copy another angler's approach) can never consistently produce fish.  The are just too many variables in plan.    Keep reading, Keep learning & most importantly KEEP FISHING.  There's more to learn in a life time - and just when you think you're getting the hang of it all - you'll find out ~  you're not.  But that's the good part. 

Have fun, be safe & Good Luck

A-Jay

[DogBone_384]

What the membership already said!

Welcome to the forum!

 

[corn-on-the-rob]

Move out of Ohio... Haha. 

The key to catching fish consistently is that your approach cannot be consistent. The fish are always changing so you must also be adapting.

As an Ohio fisherman myself, one of the biggest improvements I made to catch fish more consistently came from starting to understand a simple concept: There were many days where I was fishing historically tough lakes unsuccessfully, so I just kept moving, kept covering water, hoping to find the magic area, or to pick up a seemingly random fish. That was until I realized after covering enough water that it was impossible that I haven't been around fish, passing by them all day. Therefore, I must not being doing the right things to catch at least one of them. So I started telling myself that in just about any area of the lake, I am around at least some fish, so how can I be successful, here?

[Catt]

Understand what structure is, how to truly identify it, interpret it, and then fish it effectively.

Understand what the predominate prey species in your lake and how that species relates to structure with each season...morning, noon, and night.

Understand that next after location is timing; just because you don't get bite does not mean the bass aren't there or you tied on the wrong lure.

[jr231]

Ohio offers alot of great fishing. Your location (regionally) is definitely not a problem.. you've been given some good advice. 

It's supposed to be fun ! Obviously it's more fun when you're catching fish but there are alot of things to enjoy about being on the water . My #1 is I'm not at work. Ha-ha. 

Fishing isn't as easy as some people (people who don't fish) think. There is alot to know in order to catch bass consistently.. I still haven't figured out how to catch large bass with regularity. But it's part of the game. I may never be able to without some sort of electronics. All the folks who catch big bass consistently seem to have electronics as a common variable. 

Time on the water trumps everything. Learn something every day, and you'll be on your way. 

[Bassinohio]

Thanks for all the help guys, ill try to implement some of this!

[scaleface]

If your willing to fish 8 hours and get skunked  then cant wait to go out and do it again, then you have the dedication . There is no way we can tell you what you are doing wrong . Just pay attention to everything and just dont tie a bait on without a reason . Ask yourself what you want a lure to do in the conditions you are faced with .Then choose a bait accordingly. Dont just make a cast without a reason . Every cast should have a purpose . When you do start getting more consistent it will be easier to connect the dots when you fish with   purpose . 

I dont pay much attention to what everyone else is throwing ,  I try to pick the right tool for the job . 

[Ratherbfishing]

You haven't been fishing long enough, perhaps, to realize that it happens sometimes and should be "expected".  BUT as you improve, those times will happen less often.  This may or may not be good advice but the longer I fish, the more I learn when good days are likely and when bad days are likely.  Unless you want to fish EVERY day or unless you are really limited as to WHEN you can fish, learn to discriminate and fish accordingly.

[JRammit]

"Catch fish consistently"... That's an ambitious phrase!... People who do that are on TV

If you are catching fish at all, you're doing something right... Stick with it

The biggest two things that help me fish better are confidence and stubborness 

Confidence in baits and techniques I've had success with in the past, and Stubborness to keep using them when fishing is tough

Just starting out, you should have a short list of baits you're familiar and proficient with... Be stubborn with them

 And every now and then, be stubborn with a new bait.. Go out not expecting to catch anything and use that one bait all day until you do.. Then you can add it to your list...... Eventually you'll have an arsenal of weapons and techniques you're confident with

[scaleface]

1 hour ago, JRammit said:

   Go out not expecting to catch anything and use that one bait all day until you do..  

I have never done this.

[JRammit]

43 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I have never done this.

43 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I have never done this.

I use to suck at fishing crank baits.. Had no faith in them.. Tie one on, cast it a few times, then cut it off and fish a worm

One day I got stubborn and fished nothing but cranks ALL day... Didn't expect to catch anything, but I did... Now I throw them on the regular, and I'm improving my presentation a little every time out....... If not for that one stubborn day, crank baits would never leave my tackle box