What am I doing wrong?ADVICE

[TKFactory]

Ok, here is my problem, I have only been fishing for about a year. I have spent good money for the rods, reels,tackle and more. I always notice how people on here say that have only gone about a week without catching anything. I watch these Youtubers and pros and they can go to any pond, any lake and catch SOMETHING. It doesn't matter the conditions the clarity, it just seems that they put on any lure they please and catch a record. I listen to the people telling me I can't go fishing without this or that, I won't catch anything without this or that. I go about two months maybe three without catching ANYTHING. It is so frustrating so discouraging to me. I am only doing what others are doing to catch fish and...nothing. I have nobody to personally help me or guide me, I have to figure things out on my own and not catch a single thing while everyone else catches em by the pound. I am 100% sure that I am the only person on this website and on this planet with this problem. So there is my rant. Thank you for reading. 

[A-Jay]

@TKFactory ~ 

 OK I went back and read through your posts & topics (it's raining buckets here so I have some time). You seem very interesting in tackle, lures, & techniques; which is not a bad thing for beginners & experienced bassheads alike.

 However  you may be skipping over a very important aspect of most any fishing . . Location.    Having at least some idea of where bass may be located seasonally can be very helpful for every fisherman; fishing from a boat or from the bank.   

  The Bass Resources articles section has a ton of very informative articles on this subject as well as just about anything you can think of or might need to know.  I highly encourage you to perhaps start there.  

https://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/

 

Additionally it has been my experience that although there are some baits that are better than others is specific situations - there is NO Magic Lure that's going to get you bass everywhere.  What will really improve your chances of getting fish - is to be fishing where there are fish.

 

Finally - if you can SEE BASS - THEY CAN MOST LIKELY SEE YOU.  Very rarely do they bite in this situation.  Leave and come back later but make a longer cast from a distance where you can't see them and more importantly, they do not know you are there.  Because once they do - you're probably not going to get bit.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

[Koz]

Quote

I go about two months maybe three without catching ANYTHING.

 

Just to be clear - no fish at all or no bass?

 

The reason I ask is that if you're not catching anything at all my suggestion is to set up some light tackle, get some worms or nightcrawlers, and throw a line out there and see what bites. Fishing for panfish can be a blast on light tackle. An average sized panfish on light tackle will give you a great fight.

 

As A-Jay said location is key. Not all ponds are going to hold bass or decent sized bass. But unless there's an environmental reason I have never known a pond not to have any panfish.

 

As for bass fishing, it can be easy to get caught up in all of the different lures and techniques. But for just about everyone using a t-rigged Senko or Senko type bait will be a consistent producer.

[thedilettantedad]

Those Youtubers are editing down hours of footage to show you 10-15 minutes of catching, not fishing. But you can watch Realistic Fishing get skunked. I think part of looking at Google maps and going out to some random pond is trying to find out if there are fish in there. The few times I went to scope out something new I took one rod and reel, a Daiwa Legalistic 2500 on a 7' medium Ugly Stik GX2. I have been starting with a small spinnerbait 1/8 oz and fan cast. Eventually I will switch to a wacky rigged stick bait or a Texas rigged baby brush hog with a 1/8 oz worm weight and follow my way back up to the car. Look for tall grass along the banks, points, or anything that is different from the rest of the bank and fish a little slower there.

 

I know I was pretty frustrated when I started and felt like I wasn't getting it, but I some out caught a couple dinks and just built from that experience.

 

Stay at it and try to chat up some other fishermen you might see out there.

[mrcimon]

Aye, when I can’t get anything to bite on all normal baits I throw weightless to 1/4 finesse stuff. Fish in my area love the 4” Keitech shiners but I’m sure other brands work well.  I’ll just use a center pin hook and swim it or work it back slow hoping it across the bottom. Works great weedless. 

 

I fish from from the shore only, and I’m always trying to spot cover and drop offs to fish. 

 

 

[Topwaterdude]

Probably dont want to hear this but it takes years of being on the water to be a successful angler locating fish and mastering techniques,just like anything the more you do the better you will get at it,you are paying your dues right now,your learning right now might not feel like it but you are and you will look back at this time in your fishing journey and remember things that you were doing or not doing.Thats just called experience,you will get there,this is what keeps all of us chasing that green fish.

[lo n slo]

do this ?

[haggard]

I just have to reiterate what others have already said because as a newbie to fishing, I still struggle to catch fish and find their advice is right on.

 

 

- Location (most important). Fish like structure. You may catch something at random out in open water with a muddy bottom but don't count on it. Find structure, whatever that may be, and focus in that area. Also shady banks.

 

- Downsize the lures. Bigger lures = fewer bigger fish; smaller lures = more smaller fish (I'm generalizing)

 

- Youtube videos are showing you the catches, not the hours of not catching. Enough said.

 

- Panfish are relatively easy and fun on ultralight rods and can boost your confidence and tune you in to what the bass might react to. I often started the work day with a stop at the local reservoir for 15-30 mins just to catch SOMETHING even if small, and it made the rest of the work day WAY better   As a bonus you can claim you at least caught something that day. Extra bonus? Catching a bass on ultralight gear   

 

- Gear matters. You don't need top tier gear to land fish but keep in mind a cheap crappy combo might make fishing seem dull, not because of the fishing, but because of the gear.

 

Keep it fun. 

[Sam]

4 hours ago, TKFactory said:

Ok, here is my problem, I have only been fishing for about a year. I have spent good money for the rods, reels,tackle and more. I always notice how people on here say that have only gone about a week without catching anything. I watch these Youtubers and pros and they can go to any pond, any lake and catch SOMETHING. It doesn't matter the conditions the clarity, it just seems that they put on any lure they please and catch a record. I listen to the people telling me I can't go fishing without this or that, I won't catch anything without this or that. I go about two months maybe three without catching ANYTHING. It is so frustrating so discouraging to me. I am only doing what others are doing to catch fish and...nothing. I have nobody to personally help me or guide me, I have to figure things out on my own and not catch a single thing while everyone else catches em by the pound. I am 100% sure that I am the only person on this website and on this planet with this problem. So there is my rant. Thank you for reading. 

The YouTube videos are staged and can be shot over a few days. Forgot them as they are trying to sell you something. If you do continue to watch bass fishing videos try to see the ones by armatures or guys who are not trying to sell you anything.

 

Water temperatures in upstate New York can be cooler than other places south of the Mason-Dixon Line so those guys will catch more than you as southern bass can be more aggressive and move around more than their northern cousins.

 

As stated above, maybe the pond has too many small dinks and not enough heavy ladies. Try fishing for catfish and bream/bluegills/Crappie and learn the forage. Any minnows in the pond? Crawfish? Match the forage with your baits.

 

Patience. Learn what "dead sticking" is and give it a try.

 

Junebug. Great color in all water conditions. Use a Zoom Junebug trick worm on a 1/8 ounce jig head or Texas rigged with a 1/8 ounce weight and fish it slow via the "fan method." Cast to your left and fish it slow. Then cast it at 10 o'clock and fish it slow. then cast it at 11 o'clock and fish it slow. Repeat until you get to 3 o'clock and then do it again in the opposite direction.

 

Early morning or late evening. Use a buzzbait or topwater. Not a frog, but a buzzbait or a topwater of your choice.

 

Read, read and read. Ask us questions. We are here to help you. Soon you will be venturing out with other baits and techniques.

 

Now go back to the pond and fish your baits s-l-o-w.

 

Good luck.

[TKFactory]

4 hours ago, Koz said:

 

Just to be clear - no fish at all or no bass?

 

The reason I ask is that if you're not catching anything at all my suggestion is to set up some light tackle, get some worms or nightcrawlers, and throw a line out there and see what bites. Fishing for panfish can be a blast on light tackle. An average sized panfish on light tackle will give you a great fight.

 

As A-Jay said location is key. Not all ponds are going to hold bass or decent sized bass. But unless there's an environmental reason I have never known a pond not to have any panfish.

 

As for bass fishing, it can be easy to get caught up in all of the different lures and techniques. But for just about everyone using a t-rigged Senko or Senko type bait will be a consistent producer.

All fish including Panfish. 

[BigAngus752]

32 minutes ago, TKFactory said:

All fish including Panfish. 

You've already gotten some spectacular advice in this thread but considering you've been at it so long with what sounds like NO bites from ANY fish at all I have to ask two things:

1.  Are you certain that there are fish in the body of water you are fishing?

2.  How long at a time are you fishing?

 

I ask these things because there are some retention ponds in subdivisions around our city that are completely lifeless.  Also, if you are spending only 30 minutes at a time fishing then I'm not surprised you are having difficulty catching.  In the hot summer months I may only catch one or two fish in 5 or 6 hours and I'm in a boat.  If you are spending a considerable amount of time fishing water that you KNOW holds fish then all I can add to what these guys have suggested is SLOW down.  And then slow down some more.  Slow down until you are bored to tears.  When you catch something you won't be bored anymore.  

[haggard]

1 hour ago, Sam said:

The YouTube videos are staged and can be shot over a few days. Forgot them as they are trying to sell you something.

Not necessarily. Youtube vids showed me the basics and taught me how to fish for bass, how to operate a rod and reel. Just learn to filter out the nonsense. Even if they're pitching a product, not that there's anything wrong with that, you can still learn some basics. 

[SWVABass]

I think possibly opening up your post to include more about what, when, where, how and why your fishing an area will help all of these guys dial you in more to options to try out. The one thing I did when I started to fish heavily was pick out one bait and figure it out. For me that was a crankbait. I would throw it sun up to sunset. After awhile I started catching fish and better fish. Then I started to progress into other baits. I now throw a crank with the upmost confidence and use it as a search bait. Good luck man you’ll figure them out.

[TKFactory]

48 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

You've already gotten some spectacular advice in this thread but considering you've been at it so long with what sounds like NO bites from ANY fish at all I have to ask two things:

1.  Are you certain that there are fish in the body of water you are fishing?

2.  How long at a time are you fishing?

 

I ask these things because there are some retention ponds in subdivisions around our city that are completely lifeless.  Also, if you are spending only 30 minutes at a time fishing then I'm not surprised you are having difficulty catching.  In the hot summer months I may only catch one or two fish in 5 or 6 hours and I'm in a boat.  If you are spending a considerable amount of time fishing water that you KNOW holds fish then all I can add to what these guys have suggested is SLOW down.  And then slow down some more.  Slow down until you are bored to tears.  When you catch something you won't be bored anymore.  

You are right, I only fish for about 2 hours. I notice blowups in the water. I have also thrown a small jig in this floating green stuff on the water and a giant one cut throw the green stuff to go to the middle of the pond. 

9 minutes ago, Swbass15 said:

I think possibly opening up your post to include more about what, when, where, how and why your fishing an area will help all of these guys dial you in more to options to try out. The one thing I did when I started to fish heavily was pick out one bait and figure it out. For me that was a crankbait. I would throw it sun up to sunset. After awhile I started catching fish and better fish. Then I started to progress into other baits. I now throw a crank with the upmost confidence and use it as a search bait. Good luck man you’ll figure them out.

To help you and others out, I fish at about 9 am until noon. This fish you see in my profile is my first ever just last week and that was late afternoon. Most days I go fishing it is cloudy and water is at about 55-60 degrees. I know this because I carry a thermometer. I am a bank fisherman. I have been trying jigs(all kinds)cranks(all kinds) senkos, and swimbaits. I fish each for about 10 casts and get discouraged and change. While doing this I see big blowups so I know there is fish there. Decent size. Maybe I need to just pick one bait, go out early and just study it for the whole day. 

[diehardbassfishing]

A lot of "blowups" are carp - not bass. Especially if it seems too big to be true. I see the pic posted of TX rig ribbon tail worm. This has been my go to this season. Without it I'd guess that my catch would be close to zero. In previous years, crank baits would produce. Locally, this season, crank baits have been pretty much a waste of time.

 

Karl

 

 

 

 

 

[Derek1]

Get some bait for carp and you’ll have some fun. 

[Derek1]

Oh yeah, hold on tight

[scaleface]

Are you fishing from bank or boat ..? are you fishing public lakes ,ponds..?

[HAWG SLAYER]

     I've read most of the replies, and I'm learning as well.  Myself, my advice would be to use a Culprit Watermelon Red Super Fluke Carolina Rigged, with the Fluke trailing the bullet about 14-16 inches.  I've caught huge numbers of Bass in Probably all but one or two of the lakes I've fished. 

     In the early morning, I fish it weightless with a swivel 14-16 inches back.  That is what will hold/keep your bullet away when you add the weight later in the a.m. once it starts heating up. 

     The Fluke has tremendous action when fished correctly with the weight off the nose and away, or especially weightless. put one in the water in front of you with slack, and tug and jerk it around/put action on it, and watch how it does, this will give you an idea on how to retrieve it.  Try this in conference with the other tips some morning or evening, nothing wrong with going to another lure when one isn't working out. Good Luck, and hang in there.

[jasondaily]

If you can afford it. It might be helpful to find a guide on your lake. They will be able to put you on some fish and possible teach you a thing or two about your lake.  

[Deleted account]

What am I doing wrong?

 

ADVICE: I don't think it's a matter of what you are doing wrong, as much as what you aren't doing, and what you aren't doing is finding fish. Forget the rods, reels, what others are doing or how they are doing it. You are in upstate NY, there aren't many areas up there where you can't catch some somewhere near you (yeah, access can be an issue). You have a few weeks before lures start bouncing off the surface up there. Find a couple of places near you that you can fish regularly, and fish them hard. If you can get with some decent anglers willing to share and go with them, that's always a plus. Keep lure selection simple and put your time in. Soon you'll develop some confidence with lures and presentations, that you can use to build on and expand. 

 

[roadwarrior]

 

[NYWayfarer]

12 hours ago, haggard said:

- Downsize the lures. Bigger lures = fewer bigger fish; smaller lures = more smaller fish (I'm generalizing)

 

- Panfish are relatively easy and fun on ultralight rods and can boost your confidence and tune you in to what the bass might react to. I often started the work day with a stop at the local reservoir for 15-30 mins just to catch SOMETHING even if small, and it made the rest of the work day WAY better   As a bonus you can claim you at least caught something that day. Extra bonus? Catching a bass on ultralight gear    

 

Sage advice here.

 

I suggest a 3" Yum Dinger wacky rigged on a 1 or 1/0 finesse wide gap hook on 6# mono.  Cast it out and count how long it takes to hit bottom. When it does lift the rod and let it fall again. Repeat until it's back to shore.

 

If you go the Ultralight rod method pick up a pack of Berkley atomic tubes. Panfish, Perch and small Bass love them. Cast them out and give them a twitch or two as they sink. These lures are pond and canal magic. These two fish were caught by me last week in upstate NY in the Glens Falls area on the grasshopper color tube.

 

[Bolar]

When all else fails, and it often does, I throw a Rapala Ultra Light Minnow size 4/Chrome.  Everything hits this.

 

https://amazon.com/dp/B005OSYWM0/?coliid=I48BAMG1BOMQE&colid=39ILC0QR4E09L&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1&psc=1

 

 

 

[Boomstick]

Don't worry about the youtube videos -- they may not even be shot the same day as others have suggested. Often, Youtubers will know the lakes they fish at or own a boat and know where exactly to go to find them, where if you don't own a boat, you're limited to shore access spots and sometimes the bass end up largely being at the other end of the lake with no shore access, that's just life.

 

Last year, I got skunked a lot. I probably caught two or three fish in August and fished all day every weekend (one of them was this absolutely massive two foot long smallie so that kind of helped make up for it). I probably got skunked at least a dozen days last year.

 

This year, I have not gotten out as much due to health reasons, but have only been skunked two or three days all year, and have caught many more fish already than I did all last year despite much less time on the water. I found some great new spots at new lakes and have done better at the local lakes as well, largely from bait selection (there's only a few shore access spots that you can catch bass). For example, in most of the smaller lakes I fish in Vermont or further south, I can make a killing on a spinnerbait but on the local lakes, I'll only catch something at one of them and it's most often chain pickerel, but a crankbait is quite effective this time of year.