I’ve never caught a fish non- live bait

[SMROA1983]

So I’ve been struggling all year with non-live bait(senkos, lures, top water etc). Only thing I’ve managed to catch is some small perch and bluegills with a worm and a bobber. I live in south shore mass and I’m mostly bank fishing or sometimes from a kayak. I’m about ready to throw all my stuff away and quit but any help would be good. Just looking for some ideas or maybe some fishing spots where I’ll have better luck. Thanks 

[BrianMDTX]

What rig(s) are you using? If you have a finesse spinning rig, wacky rig or weightless Texas rig 5” Senkos should get bites. Also try Zoom Trick worms on a weightless TR or with a 1/8 oz bullet weight. 

 

If fishing ponds, look for areas where bass lay in wait for prey. Look for sunken limbs and stumps, and where low-hanging branches extend over the water. 

[MickD]

I have not used any live bait in years.  When one learns how to use artificial lures, both hard and soft, he will most likely be more effective than he was in his "live bait" days.  But it does take time and patience to learn.  The advantages of artificials are many, including not getting bait bedding all over the boat, not having to keep bait from dieing, and versatility in method.  Especially for bass and pike, artificials are probably more effective since one can cover so much more water with them.  Less time fishing an empty hole.

 

I suggest starting by getting some tubes, 4 inch swimbaits with appropriate jigs, Ned rigs, and some Rapala DT crankbaits.  No snap swivels, just small snaps or tie direct.  Watch some videos for technique, sites like InFisherman.com and others.

[roadwarrior]

 

[Biglittle8]

This might be a stupid question, but are you sure there is a bass population in the water you're fishing?  You haven't expressed if you're fishing a river,creek, pond or lake. Assuming there is a bass population where you're fishing, try some easier baits like spinnerbaits(Beetlespins are great) or a Texas rigged worm. Try using fast and SLOW retrieves.

[SMROA1983]

42 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

What rig(s) are you using? If you have a finesse spinning rig, wacky rig or weightless Texas rig 5” Senkos should get bites. Also try Zoom Trick worms on a weightless TR or with a 1/8 oz bullet weight. 

 

If fishing ponds, look for areas where bass lay in wait for prey. Look for sunken limbs and stumps, and where low-hanging branches extend over the water. 

I’ve tried Texas and wacky. Swivel and no swivel. 3 different size hooks. I use braided line if that matters. Bait casters and spinning reels. Haven’t tried a Ned rig yet

[DanielG]

Used to catch a lot of stuff with live bait but with that it's sort of like waiting for the fish to come to you. Works really good but it's all up to the fish. They all like live bait all the time. 

More of a challenge with artificial... probably why I don't do that well! ?

 

[QED]

Probably more about fishing where the fish are rather than gear.  Buy a book on bass fishing that includes the basic biology stuff - cover, temperature, clarity, oxygen level, etc.

[gunsinger]

There are numerous excellent how to videos on this site. Check em out. I’ve learned a lot. 

[WRB]

Can’t catch bass if they are not where you fish?

If you have confidence with live bait suggest trying a 6” live Canadian Night Crawler. Hook the crawler in the tail with a size 1 drop shot hook no weight and fly* line the worm.

* fly line means casting without added weight or bobber. Watch your line closely where it enters the water for any movement.

If a bass is around it will eat it!

After you start catching bass then use a 5” Senko wacky rigged and fly line it and watch your line for movement.

Catching bass is about confidence and finding the right locations.

Tom

 

 

[813basstard]

I wouldn’t throw anything that’s not a worm. Ive read somewhere that large mouth bass will attempt to eat them mistakenly thinking it’s an actual part of the forage. 

[Fishin Dad]

4 hours ago, SMROA1983 said:

So I’ve been struggling all year with non-live bait(senkos, lures, top water etc). Only thing I’ve managed to catch is some small perch and bluegills with a worm and a bobber. I live in south shore mass and I’m mostly bank fishing or sometimes from a kayak. I’m about ready to throw all my stuff away and quit but any help would be good. Just looking for some ideas or maybe some fishing spots where I’ll have better luck. Thanks 

If you can fish with someone who catches fish on artificial baits, it will move you in leaps and bounds forward.  It is all about confidence.  Seeing someone catch fish and knowing you are doing it correctly significantly shortens the learning curve.  Even watching someone you don’t know where you fish who is catching some.  I agree that you can’t catch a fish with anything if they are not there.   Watch people around you, if they are catching fish there, you at least know you are in the a spot with fish potential.  

[Bass Junke]

 Where are you? Where are you fishing? Have you posted on the local forum? 

[MickD]

4 hours ago, SMROA1983 said:

Haven’t tried a Ned rig yet

Ned is the easiest technique there is.  Done right it's just leave it there and the fish eat it.  Or you can, like I do, get impatient and move it around, nudging it a little, hopping it now and then.  BUT, it only works if, as mentioned by another, if there are fish there.  

[JustJames]

Sound like my young friend, that just moved here in canyon lake. I provided him, whatever I think would be the easiest to catch bass here, even show him a few bass while he was watching. So far he caught none when I caught plenty. Why?

1. One time he called me to fish with him, 15 mins later I got to the spot but he wasn’t there. I called him and he said, he tried 10-15 mins, no bites why he left.

2. After I caught a bass and missed another bite, I gave him the same rig to try. I showed him how to move the rod tip, how to slow down. His retrieved was still twice or three time faster than mine and nothing but just cast and reel.

3. He always fish at this location (about a minute walk from where he lives). I told him that spot is only good for certain time of the year. So far he never make it to other spots that I show him pictures of my catches. 

He is not in-experience at all, he said he loves saltwater fishing and want to go out on charter boat with me. He always use live bait or cut bait and only caught one bass on Senko (with me on my boat a few years back).

He is only 25 years old that got very short attention, less patience and choose conveniences. I don’t mean this is you, I just want to said, patient, slow and move to where fish might be are the key to catch bass.

[soflabasser]

Try fishing with a spinnerbait. It is one of the easiest lures to fish with.

[DogBone_384]

8 hours ago, SMROA1983 said:

I live in south shore mass

Firstly, welcome to the forum.

 

Secondly, browse through this thread: 

It has more than a decade of eastern MA fishing experience, reports, and suggestions.

 

Drop me a PM. I fish from Boston to Cape Cod. I’ll help you find your bass.