Been bass fishing 3 years. Not a single bass. Looking for some help from northwest indiana

[Jabbaman]

So, to put it simply. Sometime a few years ago, I got tired of catching bluegill and catfish and when I'm fishing with friends it can get a little crowded if we're all going for the gills. I bought some gear ( Some senkos. Crankbait.  Buzzbait. Recently some ned rig stuff. Frogs. Etc etc.) I fish with a fairly average 6'6 baitcasting rod or a 6ft spinning rod.  My baitcaster is loaded with 50lb braid and sometimes a leader. Spinning rod is 8lb mono

 

I've been fishing multiple times a week during the warm weather. Specifically for bass, for 3 years. I haven't caught one. I've been taking in all the advice I can soak up from youtube and elsewhere, none of it has helped. Even talking with local anglers out on the lakes, none of them say they've ever had luck with bass. A few older guys have told me they only get bass when they go out on vacation. 

 

At the same time. I know they're in the lakes, and I know people online say they get them.

 

Is there anyone from the region ( Northwest Indiana) who has any advice? Or would like to go fishing and help a new guy out?  I'm from northern merrillville. Typically I'm at Lake George, Lake Rosser. Lake Robinson. Grand Blvd Lake. I only fish from shore, as I lack a boat.

[roadwarrior]

 

[Jabbaman]

5 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

 

I don't have anything like the fat Ika. Maybe I should get some. I've tried a similar tactic of fishing the whole shoreline in a similar way you've described. Is 6lb line needed? Most of the lakes near me are weed pits and snag heaven. Even in the spring 6lb seems light.

[roadwarrior]

Well, try it my way. After three years what do you have to lose?

 

[Jabbaman]

Just now, roadwarrior said:

Well, try it my way. What do you have to lose?

 

Nothing I suppose. I'm more than willing to give it a shot. I can do this at a couple of different close by lakes. The fat Ika and some line won't cost much.

[Hower08]

A weightless worm either senko or trick worn is guaranteed to atleast catch A bass but typically multiples 

[Ppennin986]

Don’t know if your willing to fish other places but couple of those lakes aren’t known for ANY bass lake George isn’t the greatest from shore but it isn’t impossible just have to explore other places I started out Texas rigging a worm easy to learn there really isnt a wrong way to do it 

Walmart your best friend for cheap stuff that works yum dingers 2.99 a bag for example 

Certain times of the year you can catch small mouth from shore on Lake Michigan 

[Jabbaman]

18 hours ago, Ppennin986 said:

Don’t know if your willing to fish other places but couple of those lakes aren’t known for ANY bass lake George isn’t the greatest from shore but it isn’t impossible just have to explore other places I started out Texas rigging a worm easy to learn there really isnt a wrong way to do it 

Walmart your best friend for cheap stuff that works yum dingers 2.99 a bag for example 

Certain times of the year you can catch small mouth from shore on Lake Michigan 

I'm willing to go anywhere in lake or Porter county. Closer to home the better. 

[Jabbaman]

On 8/16/2020 at 6:20 PM, roadwarrior said:

 

So far no luck, two different lakes about three hours each. Not giving up yet though.

[Hower08]

Looked up your county. Found a lake called silver lake at  valpo park I think it's called. Theirs also spectacle lake at Lakewood park and  bigger lakes called Loomis, Long , and Flint right next to it. I would look at these lakes 

[Jabbaman]

10 minutes ago, Hower08 said:

Looked up your county. Found a lake called silver lake at  valpo park I think it's called. Theirs also spectacle lake at Lakewood park and  bigger lakes called Loomis, Long , and Flint right next to it. I would look at these lakes 

Silver lake has very limited access but doable. Flint lake is a no go. It's all private land. Long lake is limited to a small public area, the rest is private. Loomis and spectacle look promising, but both are paid lakes. I think it's 10 bucks to get in.  Plus it's all an hour drive away.  Maybe a holiday I could check out spectacle and loomis. It looks like it could yield results.

[Jabbaman]

On 8/16/2020 at 6:20 PM, roadwarrior said:

 

I've done this experiment and sadly it was futile. Since the time you linked this I've done this on four different lakes.  All of them yielded no bass.

 

I'm beginning to think that there just isn't good largemouth fishing in the area.

[txchaser]

Look on the fishbrain app. You'll see catches and lakes and often what they were fishing with. Maybe enough to get you on track.

[Bassnajr]

 Very simple....bass need cover. Put a Senko on the hook and throw it to and around cover. ( grass, trees, docks etc.) Important: the Senko has to fall on slack line for optimum fish catches. Good luck!!!

[zell_pop1]

Have you tried the Kankakee River for smalljaws?

[Jabbaman]

16 hours ago, zell_pop1 said:

Have you tried the Kankakee River for smalljaws?

I have not. That's a little far from me but I'd be willing to go.  I'm not sure where though. I don't have a boat and I feel like the shore fishing opportunities might be limited. 

Where's the good bank fishing and what do you usually get them on?

On 8/29/2020 at 5:36 PM, Bassnajr said:

 Very simple....bass need cover. Put a Senko on the hook and throw it to and around cover. ( grass, trees, docks etc.) Important: the Senko has to fall on slack line for optimum fish catches. Good luck!!!

Looking for more specifics than put a senko on a hook and fish cover. I've been at this for hundreds of hours as gruesome as that sounds. Believe me. I've tried this. To no avail

[zell_pop1]

1st I second the fish brain or fishidy type apps as you can see where people caught bass/walleye/crappie etc and alot are bank fishing.

But basically you go to the fish and wildlife areas on the river find a spot and fish. I am from north central Indiana so I do not know the river real well but have fished some north of Knox and caught a few.

I only use 4 lures for river Smallies. A white Wareagle 5/16ths spinnerbait, a 1/8ths head green pumpkin tube jig, occasionally a white 1/4 oz popper, or 4" green pumpkin Senko. If there are walleye/saugers around a 1/4 oz rattlebait too but that is rare. 

[zell_pop1]

15 1/2" smallie on the tube I referenced. 

[Bassnajr]

On 8/30/2020 at 8:40 PM, Jabbaman said:

I have not. That's a little far from me but I'd be willing to go.  I'm not sure where though. I don't have a boat and I feel like the shore fishing opportunities might be limited. 

Where's the good bank fishing and what do you usually get them on?

Looking for more specifics than put a senko on a hook and fish cover. I've been at this for hundreds of hours as gruesome as that sounds. Believe me. I've tried this. To no avail

The secret is that it must fall on a slack line. Also fish it slow. Sometimes they grab it on the fall but they will also take it after it hits bottom. When you see your line moving or feel that twitch....ser the hook.

 

 

[Jabbaman]

On 8/30/2020 at 8:52 PM, zell_pop1 said:

15 1/2" smallie on the tube I referenced. 

Sweet fish man, that's awesome.

On 9/1/2020 at 8:29 AM, Bassnajr said:

The secret is that it must fall on a slack line. Also fish it slow. Sometimes they grab it on the fall but they will also take it after it hits bottom. When you see your line moving or feel that twitch....ser the hook.

 

 

Tell that to the bass around me, ha! They don't seem to know those rules. I happened to be out bluegill fishing and had my bass rod in the car to try what you said. I'm sure I've tried that method before, but figured I'd try it again.

 

Again, no luck. I tried it weightless texas rigged, and wacky rigged.

[Boomstick]

So what I would do is go out at dusk or dawn and try throwing something like a spinnerbait or a crankbait, and at night a black spinnerbait with a single colorado blade. I would think at feeding times, you're bound to get something!

 

When the going gets tough, I bring out the T-Rig or a Jig and when it gets really tough I usually get out the drop shot or Ned rig (ned rig is easier from shore when you can hop it on the bottom).

 

Some questions - Is the water you fish clear, dirty or mildly stained? Do you see baitfish in those areas?

 

 

 

 

[MGF]

I'm in NW Indiana but I'm near Winamac so not familiar with the lakes you mention. I have a lot of lakes close by but I wouldn't know how to catch a LMB from the bank because the public access is so limited with most of the shore line being private property. Need a boat. 

 

When I leave the boat at home I wade a river. I wade because, again, public access is limited and not always where the fish are. There are a few access sites where there is access to larger portions of the river like the state parks.

 

They say that 90% of the fish live in 10% of the water. That means if you pick a random spot on the bank odds are that there aren't any bass there. For many years I was an avid diver and I cruised an awful lot of fishless water. Sometimes I can't help but chuckle when I'm fishing and the bite is tough because I know exactly what it looks like down there.

 

 I would really look at the rivers and creeks.

 

Check this out for a guide to public access. https://indnr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=79b2d75076774c248adcd918f699753e

[MGF]

On 8/16/2020 at 7:01 PM, Jabbaman said:

So, to put it simply. Sometime a few years ago, I got tired of catching bluegill and catfish and when I'm fishing with friends it can get a little crowded if we're all going for the gills. I bought some gear ( Some senkos. Crankbait.  Buzzbait. Recently some ned rig stuff. Frogs. Etc etc.) I fish with a fairly average 6'6 baitcasting rod or a 6ft spinning rod.  My baitcaster is loaded with 50lb braid and sometimes a leader. Spinning rod is 8lb mono

 

I've been fishing multiple times a week during the warm weather. Specifically for bass, for 3 years. I haven't caught one. I've been taking in all the advice I can soak up from youtube and elsewhere, none of it has helped. Even talking with local anglers out on the lakes, none of them say they've ever had luck with bass. A few older guys have told me they only get bass when they go out on vacation. 

 

At the same time. I know they're in the lakes, and I know people online say they get them.

 

Is there anyone from the region ( Northwest Indiana) who has any advice? Or would like to go fishing and help a new guy out?  I'm from northern merrillville. Typically I'm at Lake George, Lake Rosser. Lake Robinson. Grand Blvd Lake. I only fish from shore, as I lack a boat.

Did you ever find any fish? How about an update?

[Jabbaman]

On 10/2/2020 at 5:31 AM, MGF said:

Did you ever find any fish? How about an update?

No bass. I went to a few different spots and tried all the techniques mentioned here. I've even tried streamers and poppers on my fly rod. After another 2 months since this thread of fishing three times a week most weeks four or so hours each trip. It's not worth my time to pursue these fish. Back to panfish like everyone else.  I'm convinced the bass here is non existent. My talks with tons of local fishermen validates this.

 

I've pretty much given up unless a local who has good luck is willing to go and teach.

[MGF]

On 10/10/2020 at 9:34 PM, Jabbaman said:

No bass. I went to a few different spots and tried all the techniques mentioned here. I've even tried streamers and poppers on my fly rod. After another 2 months since this thread of fishing three times a week most weeks four or so hours each trip. It's not worth my time to pursue these fish. Back to panfish like everyone else.  I'm convinced the bass here is non existent. My talks with tons of local fishermen validates this.

 

I've pretty much given up unless a local who has good luck is willing to go and teach.

I think it's a little bit east of you but a couple weeks ago I took a ride to Knox and fished the Yellow river. That's Stark county.

 

There's a park there with a boat ramp right where the river goes under Rt 35. I stood right at the ramp and caught 5 smallmouth bass and a bunch of rock bass in a short time. One bass was about 15" and the rest were pretty small. Still, not bad for taking a few casts off the boat ramp just to check out a new spot.

 

Again, If I was stuck on the bank I'd be looking at the rivers.