How do you pass the time when fish aren't biting?

[TcRoc]

I just keep fishing or practice skipping because ... well I suck at it.

[RoLo]

 

From the moment the boat is launched, my wife & I never forget that Mother Nature

is the producer and director. As driven as we might be on catching fish, 

we're always looking and listening to our surroundings. You can never grow tired

of learning to identify every species of bird, baitfish, plants, even mineral deposits.

My Canon 35mm is always at ready, whether the fish are biting or not biting.

We believe that the wide-angle view, offers the widest reward  

 

Roger

[A-Jay]

If the bite is off - 

I'm doing recon.

SI  DI  360 imaging - GPS Mapping

So I'm idling & scanning something with the electronics.

#iburngas

A-Jay

[ww2farmer]

There is no "passing the time" between bites for me.

 

I can't help it, but I fish every single time I am on the water like it's a tournament and my livelihood depends on it. I'm super, to a fault, competitive. Most people are not like this, but some are, and the ones that are know exactly what I'm talking about. 

 

I know that's not what fishing is for a lot of folks, but that's the beauty of this sport, if you want to relax, spend some time outdoors, and have fun....there's nothing wrong with that, it's just not my approach.

[rtwvumtneer6]

Anyone else thinking about the 1990 (I think) Classic when Clunn was recorded to make 2,300+ casts in a day?  That'll keep ya busy!

 

Please know the electronics I use are basic.  I'm about a decade behind in that category.  But, if time permits I'll drag a Carolina rig around to feel what I can't see, and it's been known to catch a fish every once in a while.  Also helpful to interpret what your screen is showing.  

 

I save the knots and organization and time consuming activities to the winter.  We get hard water, so when I'm able to be on the water, I'm fishing.  

 

 

[TnRiver46]

If the fish aren’t biting, I just keep waiting......

[Bluebasser86]

In between bites, I'm trying to make the next one bite.

[WRB]

I learned a long time ago that inactive bass don't strike anything no mater how hard I try. Those same fish will become active, it's issue of determining the timing after I found them. I am catching bass about 20% of the time on the water, fishing 5 hours catching about 60 minutes of that time. That means I am trying to locate and catch bass 80% of the time on average. 

The odds go up as you get tuned in to the basses rythym, when to be where is about timing.

Some days you catch em some days you don't.

Surveying with sonar is your best search tool, eliminates water faster and locates bass much faster then pounding unproductive water.

Rom

[Herbert Lorenzo]

When the fish aren't biting , open the cooler and grab a sandwich , or a drink and think to myself , " Well genius , what do we do now? "

[wis bang]

I start at the ramp and fish. Have caught a lot within 200 yards of the ramp. 

 

Always have a few 'tried and true' items rigged up and always add something 'new' -or- 're-discovered' to the mix.

 

No activity makes me move some and start over eventually getting further and further from the ramp.

 

When I am feeling 'fed up', I crank of the engine and motor to another spot, usually somewhere I haven't yet fished on this lake until the heat and boaters -or- the darkness and the bugs make me decide I've had enough. 

 

Even when skunked, my wife says I look more relaxed!

 

Each fish caught extends the amount of time I spend on each trip.

[Mike L]

If I’m there to fish, I’m there to fish. 
If I want to enjoy the sights and sounds I’ll bring a chair and sit on the shore for awhile. 
 

If I’m catching I stay with it, if it slows I do to. 

If they shut off, then for me that’s when the fun begins. 
 

 

Mike

[TriStateBassin106]

Beer.. then the trip becomes enjoyable again.

 

All seriousness this is an interesting topic for me because I only have a two 1/2 hour window to fish at my ponds during the week. I either arrive 8/10 times during a bite window that ends shorty after I start fishing or a bite window that begins 30 minutes before I leave. It's rare for me to fish during a full bite window that begins when I start and continues until I leave. In the time between though I'm usually junk fishing and having a run and gun approach, 30 minutes on a moving bait in a spot nothing bites = slowing down for another 30 minutes, if I don't get anything doing that I switch spots and stick to the slow down approach until I get bit. 

 

 

[Teal]

By making more casts..or trying different techniques,  different areas or trying new mod to old techniques.... sometimes, if its not too hot, I'll go burn some gas and mark areas

[ArthurLK11]

Probably doesn't answer your question, but if the fish aren't biting, I'm not fishing. I'll usually go out for 2-3 hours. If the fish are biting then I've caught enough and I leave happy. If the fish aren't biting then I haven't caught enough and I leave disappointed. Either way though I fish the whole time no matter what the action is like. You never know when the bite will start. 

[Todd2]

Sometimes I just sit down with a nice PB&J sandwich and chill. Then get up and move.

[Oregon Native]

On 8/25/2020 at 12:14 PM, BrianMDTX said:

I agree 100%. If I’m fishing...I’m fishing!

No kidding....this was kind of a jaw dropper...

[ATA]

I change technics and try different things till I figure it out, anyways this few times I catch no bass even I tried, but I got cats and striper, anyways ill never stop.

[Tom D]

I enjoy the quiet.

[lo n slo]

right now it appears that my fish are keying in heavily on schools of baitfish. and they’re extremely particular it appears. i’m finding large schools of both predator and prey about halfway back in some creeks. i’m throwing different stuff and catching some fish but it’s a struggle right now for me. fishing can be like that sometimes and i’m fine with it. it’s supposed to be a challenge. that’s the sporting element to me and that is what drives my passion. when they’re not biting, i want to try to figure out why. i love fishing and i go when the bite stinks just as much as i do when it’s good.

[Choporoz]

19 minutes ago, lo n slo said:

right now it appears that my fish are keying in heavily on schools of baitfish. and they’re extremely particular it appears. i’m finding large schools of both predator and prey about halfway back in some creeks. i’m throwing different stuff and catching some fish but it’s a struggle right now for me. fishing can be like that sometimes and i’m fine with it. 

It is an interesting time of the year....can't believe that I'm saying this, but it is almost ok not catching for a while each afternoon.    Watching the bass round up huge schools of bait into a cove and then just go to town....I fooled a couple the other day, but couldn't get the hooks set.  Seems they are always coming at me about 90 miles an hour when they hit and I can't catch up....so I tell myself it's fun to just watch 

[schplurg]

I also do the "eat something and regroup" thing when I'm not catching. But the thought of stopping for any length of time - I just feel like I'm going to miss a bite if I do that.

 

I primarily bank fish so there isn't much else to do but fish or change spots. Even while I'm eating I'm constantly watching the water looking for signs of fish.

[Guitarfish]

You need to get a plastic boat Schplurg, it will open up a whole new world.  You know I spent a lot of time working in Morgan Hill, and I don't recall seeing any fishing areas.

[scaleface]

Just because a person is not catching doesnt mean there are no fish to be caught . Make some decisions and change some things . One might get lucky and make the right call . 

[Dogfish_Jones]

On 8/25/2020 at 11:22 PM, Herbert Lorenzo said:

When the fish aren't biting , open the cooler and grab a sandwich , or a drink and think to myself , " Well genius , what do we do now? "

That’s me too

[evo2s197]

You won't catch fish without the line in the water, if they they aren't biting try new techniques you aren't good at or rarely use.