When bass don't bite...

[Ravox]

What you guys do when the bass don't bite? Here in Florida we have different species living together with bass, like peacock etc and if you notice that the bass are not going to bite do you change strategy and go after another species?  like you have a multi-species bait on your bag just in case? what bait you guys use?

 

Asking that because a lot of times I go out with the objective the catch bass using baits that are bass specific like senkos etc, but sometimes I face myself with this situation and always regret to leave a multi-species bait at home

[TheBasslayer]

I always take a big fishing bag with me, and it has all sorts of stuff in it. If you have your heart set on catching bass that day, then just switch lures and keep bass-fishing, but if they really aren't biting, then I would bring some multi-species lures just in case. With some baits, you'll never know what you will pull out!

[Biglittle8]

Beetle spins.

[Jigfishn10]

If the fish don't bite I have burgers on the grill instead...?

 

[GreenPig]

I generally head out targeting LM & Spots. I fish for fun so if I see stripers & hybrids schooling I'm on them. Many of the same lures will work, I just present them differently. 

[Bankc]

If the LM and spotted bass aren't biting, I'll usually just troll for white bass on my way back to the dock.  That's usually the last resort for me, and doesn't really require any special gear, you're just using what you already have in different locations.  

 

Most other species nearly require different rods, lines, and bait, or a coming back at night.  

[NavyVet1204]

2 hours ago, TheBasslayer said:

I always take a big fishing bag with me, and it has all sorts of stuff in it. If you have your heart set on catching bass that day, then just switch lures and keep bass-fishing, but if they really aren't biting, then I would bring some multi-species lures just in case. With some baits, you'll never know what you will pull out!

This. I normally pack enough baits and lures in my bank backpack to equip a small army just so that I always have choices.

[DitchPanda]

I go out targeting bass 95% of the time with the exception being if there is a decent walleye bite going. If the bass are a no go then I will target bluegill or crappie...sometimes for sport or sometimes for an unplanned fish fry.

2 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

If the fish don't bite I have burgers on the grill instead...?

 

Or this. Maybe its burgers , pork chops, a big ol rib eye ..you get the idea. Usually accompanied with some grilled green beans, asparagus or corn n the cob. Dessert usually consists of a generous pour of bourbon or scotch.

[Bankbeater]

A lot of the time I'll start catching bass on the bluegill and crappie baits.

[E-rude dude]

“Somewhere on this body of water there is a fisherman having the day of his life.”

 

This is what I tell myself when I’m skunking up the joint 

[Bird]

Inline spinners for at least something. 

[Black Hawk Basser]

I generally don't resort to panfish when bass aren't biting.  I usually just keep trying to grind it out for the bass, hoping I'll learn something in the process.  If I have the time, I'll leave wherever I am and head for the river and toss a jig/plastic or a crank since about everything in there will take a swipe at those.

 

Addendum: I have been known to pull out the fish whistle from time to time.

[E-rude dude]

1 hour ago, Pickle_Power said:

 

 

Addendum: I have been known to pull out the fish whistle from time to time.

?

[jbsoonerfan]

They weren't biting Saturday, so I beached the boat a few times and looked for mushrooms. Only found 4 of those though. Good thing I wasn't fishing and foraging to survive. LOL

[the reel ess]

2 hours ago, Pickle_Power said:

I generally don't resort to panfish when bass aren't biting.  I usually just keep trying to grind it out for the bass, hoping I'll learn something in the process.  If I have the time, I'll leave wherever I am and head for the river and toss a jig/plastic or a crank since about everything in there will take a swipe at those.

 

Addendum: I have been known to pull out the fish whistle from time to time.

Same here. It only takes one good fish to make a trip worthwhile for me. And I learn more sometimes grinding it out than I do catching them easily. Occasionally, I'll load the kayak up and head to a different place.

[Darth-Baiter]

I’ll suffer and grind thru the troubles.   If it gets really awful, I’ll go home. 

[Bluebasser86]

What do you mean "When the bass won't bite"? Not something I'm familiar with ?‍♂️

 

 

I'll fish for anything. If I'm having a tough day, I have no problem switching to targeting another species if something else is being a more willing participant. Best case scenario, I can fish a bait that is catching bass really well AND catching other species of fish in process. Bycatch can be just as exciting as target species if you have an open mind. 

[scaleface]

13 hours ago, E-rude dude said:

“Somewhere on this body of water there is a fisherman having the day of his life.”

 

This is what I tell myself when I’m skunking up the joint 

Just because I'm not catching them doesnt mean they are not biting . I just keep on keeping on . Many a bad days I finish with a flurry .

[softwateronly]

2 hours ago, scaleface said:

Just because I'm not catching them doesnt mean they are not biting . I just keep on keeping on . Many a bad days I finish with a flurry .

This is the truth.....

[cdlittle]

If I can't get bass, then I'll switch to my BFS gear and go after panfish, often catching a few bass on those smaller presentations. 

[gim]

I don't usually "specifically" target multiple species of fish because the gear I use is often quite different.  I go with the intention of targeting one species like bass.  Quite often though, I'll catch other types of fish along the way by accident (by-catch).  Almost every time I go I catch at least a couple of northern pike.  If you can't catch any of those, then the fishing is REALLY bad.

[Bankc]

13 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

They weren't biting Saturday, so I beached the boat a few times and looked for mushrooms. Only found 4 of those though. Good thing I wasn't fishing and foraging to survive. LOL

I have a buddy who is always running around this time of year searching for those things.  I've gone bank fishing with him where I think he just used the fishing as an excuse to get out, into the woods to look for morels.  

[CrankFate]

Nothing. I keep fishing.

[geo g]

The best piece of advice I can give is when things are really tough, pull out a small worm Texas rigged, find the thickest green veggies and SLOW pull a bait out and often let it sit.  It may be like watching paint dry but it has saved many a day for me over the years.

[Big Hands]

23 hours ago, Ravox said:

What you guys do when the bass don't bite? Here in Florida we have different species living together with bass, like peacock etc and if you notice that the bass are not going to bite do you change strategy and go after another species?  like you have a multi-species bait on your bag just in case? what bait you guys use?

And if I do happen to catch 'another species', I may or may not tend to reel them in v-e-r-y   s-l-o-w-l-y.