A noob fisherman getting discouraged

[bgaviator]

I didn’t really get into fishing until this past spring. I was catching fish left and right in the spring, purely on fake lures. So much so I kept telling my friend who is mostly into live bait that I was confident fake stuff caught just as much, If not more than live bait.
 

Seems like since summer has hit, the fishing has dropped off tremendously. I have worse and worse luck every time I go out now it seems. I thought now that it has started cooling off the fishing might get better but today (Sardis Lake, MS) I didn’t even get a bite. I threw everything in my arsenal, including live nightcrawlers.  An older guy started fishing next to me at the spillway at the next set of steps and caught two decent bass fairly quickly. I asked him what he was using and he said a spinner bait, no trailer. So I tied on a spinner bait myself….nothing. Granted his was pure white and all i had on hand was a chartreuse one, but still..

Getting very discouraging.

[Tennessee Boy]

Hang in there.   Fishing changes with the seasons.  Their location,  their activity level,  their diet, all can change with the seasons.   You need to change also.  It could be as simple as the speed that you are relieving the lure or you may be missing the more subtle bite.  Enjoy the cooler weather and keep fishing.

[N Florida Mike]

I remember the first time I officially went bass fishing. I had 6 fish bite on creme worms, and missed all 6, because I couldn’t get the timing on the hookset down. I also fell in the water as I got out of the boat at my friends house. I think he caught around 5 nice fish.

I was disappointed, but not discouraged. I was back on the water asap., and slowly began doing better.

Im sure you will do better eventually. Look at it like a puzzle you are trying to solve. Talk to older fishermen that have fished there a long time. Fish other waters. And by all means, keep fishing!

[Darren.]

I agree with @Tennessee Boy, change is part of fishing is part

of seasons is part of life. Patience, vary retrieval speed. Read up

on things in your area (ask questions of seasoned fisherfolk).

 

Try different tactics and colors. White could have been more

attractive to the bass at that time.

[DitchPanda]

You can read and watch videos all day everyday do all the research you want but there is no substitute for experience on the water..and if you just started fishing then that's what your missing..experience. I have a good buddy that just started targeting bass this summer but has fished his entire life. I gave him baits, spots and times of day to go on ponds I've fished 20 years...he's getting better but it takes time. We had alot of mornings when he got skunked and I caught 6 or 8. Now after 4-5 months of fishing with me he's consistently catching a few each time we go out. Id definitely try to find a fishing buddy..preferably a guy that's got years on your local bodies of water.

[scaleface]

Spillways are pretty good . Strike king Rocket Shads fished down stream along the rocks , if there are any  will catch a lot of different species . Cast upstream , retrieve downstream ..

[GaryH]

2 hours ago, bgaviator said:

I didn’t really get into fishing until this past spring. I was catching fish left and right in the spring, purely on fake lures. So much so I kept telling my friend who is mostly into live bait that I was confident fake stuff caught just as much, If not more than live bait.
 

Seems like since summer has hit, the fishing has dropped off tremendously. I have worse and worse luck every time I go out now it seems. I thought now that it has started cooling off the fishing might get better but today (Sardis Lake, MS) I didn’t even get a bite. I threw everything in my arsenal, including live nightcrawlers.  An older guy started fishing next to me at the spillway at the next set of steps and caught two decent bass fairly quickly. I asked him what he was using and he said a spinner bait, no trailer. So I tied on a spinner bait myself….nothing. Granted his was pure white and all i had on hand was a chartreuse one, but still..

Getting very discouraging.

Don’t get discouraged. You just nailed what makes fishing so much fun. It’s fishing not catching and the best feeling is when you can figure out what they want and how they want it. Then you’ll realize that you are a fisherman.

[CrashVector]

Stick with it.  The end of summer (september) and the winter transition are some of the toughest bass fishing.

[Bankbeater]

Hang in there.  Around here it was like someone flipped a switch and all the bass disappeared.

[Log Catcher]

48 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

Hang in there.  Around here it was like someone flipped a switch and all the bass disappeared.

I know the feeling. Been the same way around here for me. Hope it gets better next year since I am probably done for this year.

[cyclops2]

Something to realize about fishing THIS year.  Last year a LOT of people took up fishing.  EVERYWHERE  Some just killed every fish by tearing the hook out of the belly  or throat.  Others took all home to eat.

Some like a neighbor sells every fish to local restaurants for all you can eat Friday nights.

 

So it wipes out all the fish for several years. Cold water fish must take longer to grow big enough again.

 

You did not change.  You can still catch them.

IF  IF   there are any left. 

 

Cyclops sees a lot with 1 good eye.