Getting Skunked

[TylerT123]

Last year, I fished a wacky rig almost all year, this year it hasn’t been working the few times I’ve tried it. I’ve tried jigs, cranks, poppers, walk the dog, wacky, craw, buzzbaits, flukes, drop shot, in-line spinnerbaits, frogs, lipless cranks, worms and swimbaits. I fish stained water, it’s a nasty shade of green, recently it’s gotten hot(almost 90° today) and windy. I don’t know what to try. I’ve never thrown the Ned rig, I intend to though. I’m also going to try some tubes and maybe spoons. Anyone have any suggestions besides the usual suggestions like the Ned rig, Senko and Trick worm?

[LionHeart]

3/8 -1/2 oz Spinner Bait with Reaction Innovations Little Dipper trailer and shad colored skirt is working well for me.  

 

Also if it's windy, casting a spinner bait can be tough, try a Z Man chatter bait with same skirt and trailer.

 

Medium to slowish medium retrieve with a few quick pops then let it fall for couple of seconds around brush or cover in shallows and up to 8 feet of water.  I have been having luck mid afternoon to afternoon.

 

Also been killing it with a T rigged 6 inch plastic lizard and pegged 1/4 oz weight with 4/0 offset hook.  Drag it slowly about a foot, then a couple of hops.  Had those things since last year and started using them few weeks ago.  Now I always have one rigged up.  Working great around cover and hopping it down ledges.

[TylerT123]

49 minutes ago, LionHeart said:

3/8 -1/2 oz Spinner Bait with Reaction Innovations Little Dipper trailer and shad colored skirt is working well for me.  

 

Also if it's windy, casting a spinner bait can be tough, try a Z Man chatter bait with same skirt and trailer.

 

Medium to slowish medium retrieve with a few quick pops then let it fall for couple of seconds around brush or cover in shallows and up to 8 feet of water.  I have been having luck mid afternoon to afternoon.

 

Also been killing it with a T rigged 6 inch plastic lizard and pegged 1/4 oz weight with 4/0 offset hook.  Drag it slowly about a foot, then a couple of hops.  Had those things since last year and started using them few weeks ago.  Now I always have one rigged up.  Working great around cover and hopping it down ledges.

I’ve got the original chatterbait in black/blue and yellow, rarely throw it, I overlook it. Thank you.

[Beetlebz]

Don't overlook the fact that the chatterbait is still a jig. If the bite gets particularly tough you can always fish it like one. Craw trailer and I fish it with hops instead of dragging, like I would an arky or flipping jig. That vibration during the hops is like a strobe light to call in fish. Just a little audible if they won't bite it by swimming it. I don't fish it alot like this, buts it helped and gotten bites on tough days. 

 

My go to when I'm afraid that I might get skunked is a light t-rigged 7" power worm (a heavier shakey head, 1/4 or so works too) fished slow with alot of soak time. 

[Yudo1]

Try a weightless fat ika rigged with the skirt up.

[OnthePotomac]

I really like fishing the Fat Ika that way on the Potomac on a 5/0 EWG hook.  It will often get their attention when little else will.

[Falkus]

4 hours ago, OnthePotomac said:

I really like fishing the Fat Ika that way on the Potomac on a 5/0 EWG hook.  It will often get their attention when little else will.

Dont share the "secret" for the Potomac 

 

Those bass just hammer it ! 

[NY_Jig]

Might not necessarily be what you’re throwing, but where you’re throwing it. Can’t catch fish where there aren’t any to catch. Hot weather is a good time to start fishing docks, submerged wood, or anywhere you can locate cooler water temps. Mouths of creeks that run into the body of water you’re fishing often bring cooler water with them. Good place to catch fish that are stacked up to feed and stay cool. 

 

As for baits when the bite gets tough, for me anyways it’s simple, PB&J colored jig with a green pumpkin or black/blue trailer depending on water clarity. Fish your confidence baits to help keep your mind in the game!

[TylerT123]

2 minutes ago, NY_Jig said:

Might not necessarily be what you’re throwing, but where you’re throwing it. Can’t catch fish where there aren’t any to catch. Hot weather is a good time to start fishing docks, submerged wood, or anywhere you can locate cooler water temps. Mouths of creeks that run into the body of water you’re fishing often bring cooler water with them. Good place to catch fish that are stacked up to feed and stay cool. 

 

As for baits when the bite gets tough, for me anyways it’s simple, PB&J colored jig with a green pumpkin or black/blue trailer depending on water clarity. Fish your confidence baits to help keep your mind in the game!

I fish ponds with few brush and quite a bit of weeds, I don’t have any real confidence baits.