In a slump, and out of ideas...

[IgotWood]

So, I have caught only ONE fish out of the last six outing between Thanksgiving and now. I know it's winter, and activity is slower...but if the water isn't frozen, I'm fishing! I have spent time fishing jigs, senkos, cranks, and jerks, soft plastic t-rigs....I am out of ideas. When I was out on Sunday, I noticed that I put in almost no effort. I wasn't changing baits, wasn't really trying to put myself into good positions, etc. I found myself just going through the motions. I'd roll up to a spot, make a few casts, let the wind blow me out, cast into the middle of nowhere...repeat. I enjoy being outdoors, and being on the water...and having a rod in hand is a bonus. However, I just feel that at this point I am beating a dead horse.

 

So, for the remainder of the winter, I am going to try to fish a couple of lakes that I am unfamiliar with, and also a technique that I have never used...the carolina rig. I'm just gonna drag the entire bottom of the lake and hope for the best. Just curious what everyone else does when the fishing gets tough?

[A-Jay]

Find the steepest drop you can - preferably one that's on an inside turn and drops directly into the main lake basin or the deepest water available.

 Watch the video in this link, tie on a 1/2, 5/8 or 3/4 oz blade bait and fish it exactly like Scott does and I bet you'll get bit.  Try setting up on the shallow side, cast into the deep and work it back - the reverse is often very effective as well.

Good Luck

A-Jay

[Ktho]

This time of year I just focus on fishing structure. It's been really slow for me too. The weathers been a lot cooler than usual and storm after storm keeps rolling through yoyoing water temps. The few bites I've been scrapping by have all been on steeper drops and humps. I like to think of it as deep water near shallower water. The fish like to hang in the deeper water and then come up into the shallower water it seems like to feed. Timing has been important too, although it's really hard to know when that right time is. I'll go 4 hours without a  bite and then get 3 in 30minutes.

[bassguytom]

Yep. Try throwing a blade bait. I have caught white perch, yellow perch, Pickerel, Pike, crappie, and occasionally a bass.  I'm not too picky this time of year. I happy just getting out this time of year and with the blade bait odds are I'm going to catch something. 

[scaleface]

Like others have said I seek out steep sunny banks . I fish slow.  Jig n pig , short arm spinnerbait  , even cranks but everything is slowed down to a crawl  .

[NCbassraider]

3 hours ago, IgotWood said:

So, I have caught only ONE fish out of the last six outing between Thanksgiving and now. I know it's winter, and activity is slower...but if the water isn't frozen, I'm fishing! I have spent time fishing jigs, senkos, cranks, and jerks, soft plastic t-rigs....I am out of ideas. When I was out on Sunday, I noticed that I put in almost no effort. I wasn't changing baits, wasn't really trying to put myself into good positions, etc. I found myself just going through the motions. I'd roll up to a spot, make a few casts, let the wind blow me out, cast into the middle of nowhere...repeat. I enjoy being outdoors, and being on the water...and having a rod in hand is a bonus. However, I just feel that at this point I am beating a dead horse.

 

So, for the remainder of the winter, I am going to try to fish a couple of lakes that I am unfamiliar with, and also a technique that I have never used...the carolina rig. I'm just gonna drag the entire bottom of the lake and hope for the best. Just curious what everyone else does when the fishing gets tough?

 

I'm not far from you in NC and it has been tough fishing this region this Fall/Winter.  The weather stayed warm so late into the fall then suddenly we got very cold night and the water temps dropped suddenly.  Here, we were basically robbed of crankbait season.

 

I've had some pretty good luck with jerkbaits but if I were you I would find some deep warm water and dropshot or fish a weightless Senko super slow.  Gary Yamamoto says a 3/0 always on a 5" Senko.  You can't fish a Senko slow enough but it's so hard to when you're frustrated.  That makes you fish everything too fast.

 

Water temps are in the high 40's now and they are not chasing anything so remember that.  I'm heading out tomorrow afternoon rigged with a couple jerk baits and Senkos which I will barely move at all.

 

My friend has a lot of success in these temps just slow dragging a finesse jig right along the bottom.  Also takes a lot of patience.  

[CrustyMono]

good luck

[WRB]

It's mid winter cold water period nearly everywhere. Cold water is relative to where you live, 40 degree water is very cold for bass. Where I live 50 dergree water is the cold water period, in both cases it's as cold as the water gets for those bass that live in that water. Bass slow down in cold water and don't need to eat very often, but they still need to eat something. That something is prey close to them and a easy meal.

I spend a lot of time trying to locate bass before trying to catch them because I know covering water vacant of bass is a waste of time and energy. Sonar is you best tool to locate bass in deep water where they most likely are located. Spend more time looking, then use lures presentation that are proven for cold water.

If the bass are feeding on baitfish, use baitfish imitating lures like structure spoon, tail spins, under spins, blade baits, drop shot and dart jigs with finesse worms/grubs, jigs.

If you meter bass close to structure then they maybe feeding on crawdads, use jigs, T-rig craw worm and drop shot worms.

Dragging a C-rig only works if you drag it in front of a bass interested in eating it, very low percentage presentation, unless you know bass are in the area.

Tom

 

[everythingthatswims]

Study topo maps and look for lakes with the least amount of winter time habitat, this will let you fish areas that you know the bass will have to be concentrated in, so you can get a grip on it and expand to other waters.

 

As others have stated, a blade bait is the way to go this time of year. Don't overlook an Alabama rig either, I have found it to be effective even in the 40 degree water temps I am currently facing here in VA, make sure to use keitech swimbaits so you still have good action on a very slow retrieve. The Alabama rig is a good way to cover water and find bass that you can jig up with blades. I also will drag a jig or texas rig very slowly, pausing for the same amount of time that I would with a jerkbait, but only in areas that I KNOW are holding bass, because it is so time consuming to complete a retrieve doing this.

 

Oh yeah, if you think you have shallow fish, SHAD RAP

[roadwarrior]

Troll an Alabama Rig

 

[Catt]

 

[Todd2]

I went out on Jan 2....low 40 water temps and stained. My skunk killer ( late in the day) was a grub on a 1/4 jig head slow rolling those steep drops. Dip that tail in Chartreuse in off water. 

["hamma"]

  The statement "I found myself going through the motions", tells me that your concentration is lacking.  Without such, your really not "in the zone" and putting forth a concerted effort.. No matter what you have tied on the line.,... I found myself in that situation before, and found I needed to address the things that were on my mind, that had nothing to do with my bass fishing at all. Could this be what you are going thru? Something else in the background maybe?

 Just a thought

 

   As for your final question, what I do when fishing gets tough?,..I slow down, and fish smaller profile lures, with a heightened amount of concentration. In this time of the year, Id be tying on a small hair jig with a tiny, cut up with a razor blade, pork frog, also a 1/4 oz, or smaller jighead with a 3" grub. A smaller profile 1/4 oz, bladebait, a silver buddy or sonar. Also, (heres a blast from the past) another jighead and grub, but with a smaller beetle spin arm and blade, and a small swimbait. And lastly, and kind off the mark,.. a rather large suspending jerkbait in the lakes previlant baitfish pattern. Fished S-L-O-W!

 All of these get smothered with a scent, bass are slower in colder waters and will react in a slower manner. I believe the addition of a scent aids in a hit in colder water, just as the fish will be slower, they may actually be "inspecting" the lure, and deciding whether to strike or not for a longer period of time.

  Also I will target the deeper waters in the lake/pond, as this is where most bass tend to winter. Your depthfinder "should" be your best buddy this time of year

 At least this is what "I" do,..

 

[Fishes in trees]

Consider going "ned". Throw the ned rig

[WRB]

14 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Troll an Alabama Rig

 

Heresy 

[Angry John]

I am new to the area i am fishing and have found success on two baits that have worked year round for me.  The first is a swim jig with a 4" keitech on the back.  This is able to be worked from slow to a crawl on the bottom.  This is a year round bait for me and you can try just the keitech on a ball head if you dont have a good swim jig.  The second bait that has been working is a 4" weightless green pumpkin lizard.  So far this winter it has worked best just swimming it fast enough to move the legs and tail.  This lizard has worked best in very shallow ponds around Memphis. 

[NCbassraider]

I went out today just for an hour as it was very cold and I was pressed for time.  I started with some 6' diving jerk baits and nothing.  Switched to a 5" Senko, weightless.  Fished the deepest water I have which is about 17'.  I went with an all white Senko for visibility and tip dipped it in chartreuse Spike It.  I just twitched it on the bottom very slowly and subtly.  

 

Had two hits and the first 5 minutes and ended up catching 4 largemouth in about 40 minutes.  Nothing over 1.5 lbs but I was on the right bait.  The fish were very warm feeling in relation to the temp of the surface water which tells me they were in the warmest water down deep.

 

Hope this helps.

[tander]

On 1/4/2017 at 1:20 PM, Fishes in trees said:

Consider going "ned". Throw the ned rig

 

+1 When you think you are fishing it slow,slow down some more.

[Coonedawg]

A few ideas that will at least get you bit.

1.) "Ned" rig. Hard to beat a Zman Big TRD

2.) Small underspin with a Zoom Fluke on it. Casey Ashley won the Classic last year on it when weather was freezing.

3.) Rooster tail or Mepps in line spinner. Either will work. 

4.) Vertical jigging a spoon will work as well. 

[IgotWood]

Thanks for the replies. Lots of suggestions for blade baits,and neds, and believe me...I tried them. It's just too grassy where I'm fishing. I just purchased a new rod that will be suitable for dragging a small A-rig, so that's what I'm going to do. Unfortunately, the reservoir I normally fish is quite shallow, with only a few small areas reaching 10'. There are however lots of cypress throughout the lake, and many of them are standing in the deeper section. Perhaps I'll go with the senko again too.

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, IgotWood said:

Thanks for the replies. Lots of suggestions for blade baits,and neds, and believe me...I tried them. It's just too grassy where I'm fishing. I just purchased a new rod that will be suitable for dragging a small A-rig, so that's what I'm going to do. Unfortunately, the reservoir I normally fish is quite shallow, with only a few small areas reaching 10'. There are however lots of cypress throughout the lake, and many of them are standing in the deeper section. Perhaps I'll go with the senko again too.

 

Now knowing a little more about the waters you're fishing, a blade bait is not what I'd be throwing there either - wrong tool.

What does sound viable though (depending on the water clarity - the clearer the better) is a Quality Suspending Jerkbait. 

It can (and should) be presented around the cover and over the grass.  Play with the pause length and instead of hard rapid "jerks" - think subtle with plenty of pause time.  Give the bass a chance to get the bait.  In cold water conditions, a slow smooth steady "pull" and pause works too (instead of the jerk).

 Mark Zona details the technique in this short video.  He talks about using a deep diving jerkbait but this is just as effective an approach with a standard jerkbait.  And in your case either bait may work as long as you can keep it above & out of the grass.

 

btw - as soon as that water warms a little, that place you've described, sounds like a squarebill crankbait could Demolish bass in & around those cypress trees.

A-Jay

 

[IgotWood]

@A-Jay Thanks! I have seen that episode before, and others have also recommended the same technique with deep jerks. I recently picked up a few LC Staycee's (which hurt my pocket). I gave them a try, but because of my lack in confidence for them, I think I may have been too hasty to change lures again. Next time I am out, I will try to spend the day just fishing those.