Can’t catch anything with artificial bait!

[SMROA1983]

I’m wondering if anyone can help me because I’ve been trying to fish with artificial bait since April and I’ve caught 1 bass on a frog in lily pads. I’ve tried every color worm it seems and many different top water and other types of lures. I live in south shore mass and I’m bank fishing. Hanson,Hanover and pembroke mostly. I’m just getting frustrated because I’m seeing people nailing bass all day doing the same things I’m doing and I’ve got nothing to show for all my efforts. Any advice?

[Spankey]

Don’t get discouraged and give up. Stick with it. Never give up. 
 

I don’t know the place or situation but assume the Bass are there by your description of how others are doing. 
 

You’ll get 1001 answers to your problem. But I think I’d stick with T-rigging, split shotting, and wacky rigging a few plastics. Use the basic productive colors. 
 

Everyone has their own gig. I would scale yourself back quite a bit and stick with a technique or two. You might be throwing too many types. 

[Eric 26]

I’ll second this information. When I first got back into fishing about 30 years ago? I had one reel, (a hand me down given to me by my brother) and one rod a 5’-0” ultralight I bought at K-Mart (for those who remember them) and I bought some 1/16 oz roadrunners in various colors. That was all I fished for a year and a half and I caught bluegill, crappie and bass on them. Even to this day if I’m struggling for a bite I’ll grab a roadrunner and 99% of the time get a bite.

[Smells like fish]

Fish just after daybreak and the hour before dark. Try the Ned rig. Try a weightless GYCB Senko. Take up golf if that fails. 

[gunsinger]

A year ago, I took my SIL fishing on our local lake.  It was a grind for me as I MAY have caught 1 fish while he was yanking them out of the water.  Last Saturday we went out and I caught 25+ to his 15.  What changed?  Nothing but a year's worth of experience.  I got better at placing the bait (typically a TR worm) closer to the cover and I got better at recognizing where my best chance of catching a fish was located.  Just as important, i've learned to feel the bass on the line and watch my line for unusual activity....movement I didn't create.  When in doubt, set the hook.  Remember....you miss 100% of the fish you don't set the hook on.

 

I would encourage you to watch some of the videos on this forum.  I've learned a heck of a lot from them and I wouldn't be surprised if there aren't some on bank fishing.  

[BrianMDTX]

I feel your pain. Back in the 70s and early 80s I “thought” artificial lures were the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind. I never caught anything but stumps, limbs and rocks. And I mean that in all sincerity. And it was not for a lack of trying. But in retrospect and hindsight, it was mostly a lack of trying...incorrectly. 

 

I just got back into bass fishing last year. Am I an expert. Oh, hell no! I still struggle at times, like many do. But I have caught bass, and decent bass, on Senko wacky and Texas rigs, Zoom Tricks, Rage and X Zone craws, Neko Machos, Fat IKA’s and big Jelly Worms on weightless and weighted Texas rigs, various crankbaits and spinnerbaits, and even topwaters with a Whopper Plopper and a Megabass PopMax. I still struggle with jigs and frogs. But I keep trying. 

 

Start and stay simple until you start catching bass. Wacky rig 5” Senkos and weightless Zoom Trick Texas rigs are your friends here. Simple and easy to fish, and they do catch bass. Wacky rigs are about the simplest bait to fish. Cast it out and let it sink. If it stops before it hits bottom, or the line starts running (and you will know as the entire line moves, not just the parts of the line where it enters the water from your rod and where it sinks near the bait), raise your rod tip and reel  in the slack until the bass is hooked (use appropriate wacky rig hooks. I personally like Gamakatsu 1/0 circle octopus hooks). For the Zoom Tricks, a 3/0 round offset worm hook is good. Cast it and let it sink. You can either work it slowly on the bottom, raise your rod tip and bounce it across the bottom, swim it slowly, or just let it lie on the bottom and twitch it slightly. Wait for that tap-tap-tap and set the hook. 

 

But while doing all that, focus on what you see and feel. Watch how the line sinks when no fish is on. Learn how the line looks and stay alert for changes that indicate a bass has your bait. Learn how structure feels as you drag a worm across the bottom. It stops, but you do not feel the tug of a bass. When you do, you’ll know it’s a bass and not a rock or log. 

 

Trust me, you will catch bass. I’m proof of that! 

[WRB]

What tackle are you using; rod, reel, line, lures?

Tom

 

[papajoe222]

There are basically two types of artificial baits; Those used to get a feeding response and those designed to get a reaction bite (strike). There some that do both, but starting out with artificial baits, I recommend that you start out with one that targets a feeding response, specifically a stick worm. You can rig it weighted, unweighted, wacky style, C-riggedand a number of other ways. Only use one style bait and and stick with it until you start catching fish. 

[CrankFate]

They can’t be doing the same thing in the same spot and nailing fish after fish when you get skunked.

[NoShoes]

Just keep sticking with it. Hard to be a t-rigged trick worm in GP or JB. A lot of it is now what but how and that takes time learning. 

[Fishingintheweeds]

I'm going to second what a lot of others have said. Wacky rig a 5" senko. 

 

For me, I use a small circle hook, Gamakatsu, Eagle Claw, whatever, for me, something like a size 6 or sometimes even 8. I crush the barb with pliers. I've used this setup for anyone from 3 year olds who are learning to fish, to adults who haven't fished in years or maybe never and they've all been able to catch bass on this setup. 

 

The way I use them, and tell people to, is to cast, let it hit the bottom and keep their rod tip at maybe 10-11 o'clock and just pop it up from time to time. Don't let there be a ton of slack in your line or you won't feel some of the bites. So, I let mine sink, then pop it up (rod tip to 11-12 o'clock) a few times and then let it fall again. To the bottom or not, that's up to you. Sometimes I let it sink to the bottom and pop it as soon as I think it's down, other times I pop it 2-3 times and just let it sit there for a while, give it a bath. The best way is whichever way the fish bite that day.

 

For the smaller circle hooks like that size, once you see your line move, feel a different kind of "snag" or just an obvious bite, just let your roof where it is and start to reel. If you try to set the hook with this kind of hook, you will pull it out of their mouth and probably lose them. If you think you have one on, don't jerk, just start reeling. 

 

Another important piece of information - if you feel a bite and realize that you didn't react (or a short strike), just keep doing what you were doing when the fish hit the first time. We're tempted to stop and kill it but what's worked best for me is to just continue doing whatever I was when it bit. I've never caught a fish after feeling a strike and then killing the action and stopping. 

 

The wacky rig seems a little boring but it gets the job done. I've seen all ages and skill levels catch them like this and I've caught some of my biggest just the way I described. Good luck!

[SMROA1983]

8 hours ago, Spankey said:

Don’t get discouraged and give up. Stick with it. Never give up. 
 

I don’t know the place or situation but assume the Bass are there by your description of how others are doing. 
 

You’ll get 1001 answers to your problem. But I think I’d stick with T-rigging, split shotting, and wacky rigging a few plastics. Use the basic productive colors. 
 

Everyone has their own gig. I would scale yourself back quite a bit and stick with a technique or two. You might be throwing too many types. 

 

12 minutes ago, Fishingintheweeds said:

I'm going to second what a lot of others have said. Wacky rig a 5" senko. 

 

For me, I use a small circle hook, Gamakatsu, Eagle Claw, whatever, for me, something like a size 6 or sometimes even 8. I crush the barb with pliers. I've used this setup for anyone from 3 year olds who are learning to fish, to adults who haven't fished in years or maybe never and they've all been able to catch bass in this setup. 

 

The way I use them, and tell people to, is to cast, let it hit the bottom and keep their rod tip at maybe 10-11 o'clock and from time to time, just pop it up from time to time. Don't let there be a ton of slack in your line or you won't feel some of the bites. So, I let mine sink, then pop it up (rod tip to 11-12 o'clock) a few times and then let it fall again. To the bottom or not, that's up to you. Sometimes I let it sink to the bottom and pop it as soon as I think it's down, other times I pop it 2-3 times and just let it sit there for a while, give it a bath. The best way is whichever way the fish bite that day.

 

For the smaller circle hooks like that size, once you see your line move, feel a different kind of "snag" or just an obvious bite, just let your roof where it is and start to reel. If you try to set the hook with this kind of hook, you will pull it out of their mouth and probably lose them. If you think you have one on, don't jerk, just start reeling. 

 

Another important piece of information - if you feel a bite and realize that you didn't react (or a short strike), just keep doing what you were doing when the fish his the first time. We're tempted to stop and kill it but what's worked best for me is to just continue doing whatever I was when it bit. I've never caught a fish after feeling a strike and then killing the action and stopping. 

 

The wacky rig seems a little boring but it gets the job done. I've seen all ages and skill levels catch them like this and I've caught some of my biggest just the way I described. Good luck!

I have tried the wacky rig but the only thing is where I live the ponds have a ton of weeds and grass. So every cast I’m pulling off 2-3 feet of weeds. I’ll have to try that kind of hook though I’ve never done that. Thanks!

6 hours ago, WRB said:

What tackle are you using; rod, reel, line, lures?

Tom

 

Medium heavy rod, 6:4-1 baitcaster, 10 pound braid. Whopper plopper, frog, spinners, chatterbaits, jigs and senkos. I’ve also tried the Ned rig but I have a lot of weeds and grass where I live and the water is very dark. A couple of different jerk and crankbaaiys also.

[Fishingintheweeds]

1 hour ago, SMROA1983 said:

the only thing is where I live the ponds have a ton of weeds and grass

Think of what you'd do if you threw your worm into a tree. You'd try to snake it through. Think of the grass in a similar way. Jumping or popping the worm should help get through some of the grass also. Really what I mean is that when you think you're smashed or pulling it in, raising your rod tip and shaking it will help you be able to work through the grass also. Think more of shaking it loose if you think you're legitimately snagged or about to be in grass. 

 

The last thing you want to do if you think you're snagging grass, is start jerking on it and ripping up at it. You're guaranteed to bring in all the grass that way. If you HAVE grabbed too much grass with your hook, reel the slack or of the line, point your rod straight to where your worm is and slowly pull straight back. Most of the time this will free it without actually catching the grass and you will be able to continue fishing that cast. 

 

Another thing you could do, is aim for the edges of the grass or any holes. Those could be nice spots to find fish. Probably though, if there is grass, there are fish. 

 

If you want to try something more exciting, try a chatterbait. I've done pretty well with them in a lot of different conditions and a lot of people love them where there's grass. It's a while other conversation but I like to go ahead, with braid, and throw them at pads even.

 

There are so many ways you can go at this. The way I mentioned with the Senko is the simplest way I've found to catch fish, even with a pretty good amount of grass. 

 

Maybe look into learning how to skip them also. If you're using a spinning rod, it's pretty simple and fun. 

[Spankey]

11 hours ago, SMROA1983 said:

 

I have tried the wacky rig but the only thing is where I live the ponds have a ton of weeds and grass. So every cast I’m pulling off 2-3 feet of weeds. I’ll have to try that kind of hook though I’ve never done that. Thanks!

Medium heavy rod, 6:4-1 baitcaster, 10 pound braid. Whopper plopper, frog, spinners, chatterbaits, jigs and senkos. I’ve also tried the Ned rig but I have a lot of weeds and grass where I live and the water is very dark. A couple of different jerk and crankbaaiys also.

Weedless, peg your weight and don’t expose the hook. Fish weightless. 

[scaleface]

11 hours ago, SMROA1983 said:

I have tried the wacky rig but the only thing is where I live the ponds have a ton of weeds and grass.

Look up Chara algae and see if this is what you are dealing with . I have to fish that stuff all the time and have pretty good success.

[Eric 26]

Went out for about an hour before sunset. Dead calm thick  weeds out to about 8-10 feet the key for me is getting past and keeping just above the weeds. Tried a frog first no luck, grabbed a road runner and caught this guy.

[WRB]

MH Bait casting combo with 10 lb braid jumps out.

How you manage 10 lb braid on a bait casting reel is questionable most anglers have problems with very small .006 diameter line. Spinning tackle OK, bait caster not so good.

Casting any lure 1/8 oz or less is usually spinning tackle, like the Ned rig.

Heavy aquatic cover limits what you can use regarding lures, they must be weedless type. 

The hollow body frog, solid body toads, weedless rigged soft plastics, weedless surface spoons like a Johnson Silver Minnow and punch rigs work good with your tackle.

Tom

 

 

[PressuredFishing]

It can be difficult, I have caught tons of fish with soft plastics but let me tell you this, nothing competes with a whole dropshotted nightcrawler, or splitshotted, or weightless nightcrawler twitched on bottom. Also live lining shiners and shad is killer although make sure to use light wire hooks, hook style is preference but the lighter the hook the better the fish can swim, I'll even use em on ultralight with 2lb test and size 6 or 8 eagle claw baitholder. Fish can swim easy and a hell of a fight. My fisheries are so pressured it's hard to catch em sometimes on soft plastics but just keep trying, I remember when I first started I wanted to quit but, if you keep trying eventually you will catch one

[ajschn06]

34 minutes ago, PressuredFishing said:

It can be difficult, I have caught tons of fish with soft plastics but let me tell you this, nothing competes with a whole dropshotted nightcrawler, or splitshotted, or weightless nightcrawler twitched on bottom. Also live lining shiners and shad is killer although make sure to use light wire hooks, hook style is preference but the lighter the hook the better the fish can swim, I'll even use em on ultralight with 2lb test and size 6 or 8 eagle claw baitholder. Fish can swim easy and a hell of a fight. My fisheries are so pressured it's hard to catch em sometimes on soft plastics but just keep trying, I remember when I first started I wanted to quit but, if you keep trying eventually you will catch one

You must have missed the entire premise of the thread which is catching bass on ARTIFICIAL baits

[Boomstick]

First and foremost, I would put at least 30# braid on your baitcaster, personally I would say at least 40# if you decide to stick with braid. It will improve your casting and greatly reduce birds nests. Set your drag as if it was 20# flurocarbon (so 4lbs). Personally, I would go out and get 15# monofilament or fluorocarbon if you don't fish topwater, but that's just my preference.

 

Artificial lures can be tricky because you have to impart action on the bait and learn what bait to fish and where. I would start with some chuck and retrieve lures like a crankbait or spinnerbait, probably a spinnerbait on a MH but a 2.5 sized crankbait is passable. Look for stumps to bounce them off. Try to hit the crankbait off rocks off the bottom. If you have grass, a chatterbait can be very good. And a swim jig can be very good in clear water or around wood in particular.

For lily pads, try a hollow body frog. If your lily pads are thick though, a medium heavy rod may not be strong enough to pull a bass out of the thick cover before it figure 8s every lily pad in the place.

 

Finally, I would learn to fish a texas rigged soft plastic. Start with a senko and a ribbon tail worm, the latter in open water and the senko in cover.

[PressuredFishing]

9 hours ago, ajschn06 said:

You must have missed the entire premise of the thread which is catching bass on ARTIFICIAL baits

I'm just telling him that if he is getting bit on live bait why change, you missed My premise lmfao ?

[SMROA1983]

So today I went out at like 9:30 this morning and I used a weedless hook and I wacky rigged a green pumpkin senko and cast in various places around lily pads and weeds and open water for 2 hours. Nothing. Texas rigged the same worm color for another hour. Nothing. I tried a top water frog pad crasher for awhile after that and got 1 bite but didn’t hook it. Just think nothing will work for me. 

[WRB]

Go at early dawn, the bite maybe over by 9:30.

If the pond/lake has a dam or points fish there.

Tom

[Boomstick]

2 hours ago, SMROA1983 said:

So today I went out at like 9:30 this morning and I used a weedless hook and I wacky rigged a green pumpkin senko and cast in various places around lily pads and weeds and open water for 2 hours. Nothing. Texas rigged the same worm color for another hour. Nothing. I tried a top water frog pad crasher for awhile after that and got 1 bite but didn’t hook it. Just think nothing will work for me. 

The bite definitely slows around 8-9am in the summer and often drops off around 11am. And picks back up at sunset again. You can still get them, but it's much harder.

Frogs can be a challenge to get the hookset down. Basically 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi set the hook. The idea is to wait for them to turn with it first.

[SMROA1983]

4 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

The bite definitely slows around 8-9am in the summer and often drops off around 11am. And picks back up at sunset again. You can still get them, but it's much harder.

Frogs can be a challenge to get the hookset down. Basically 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi set the hook. The idea is to wait for them to turn with it first.

I figured as much but I couldn’t get there any sooner today. Hopefully the rain will stop this weekend for a little while so I can try again

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Go at early dawn, the bite maybe over by 9:30.

If the pond/lake has a dam or points fish there.

Tom

I wanted to but I couldn’t get there any earlier today