Getting through a slump

[PBBrandon]

I haven’t caught a bass since December 28th of last year. And not for lack of trying. The past 2 weeks I’ve put in about 7 hours of fishing at Texoma and 3 at Ray Roberts with no bites other than a 1-1.5lb sand bass at RR. I’ve gone a couple of other times this year too and have caught nada. Not sure why the 2nd half of every year I usually don’t have slumps but the first half, even into the spawn, I can’t hardly catch a thing. Feels like I’m casting into empty water. Been throwing the kitchen sink too. A-rigs, T-rigs, wacky, jigs, chatters, etc. hitting points, coves, docks, everything. I know they’re down there, and I’m sure it’s just getting to my head and making me lose patience and confidence in where and what I’m casting. Whenever y’all have been in a slump, how have you been able to get out of it?

[PaulVE64]

Geez, I feel ya.

Just know it's for fun and learning can happen.

 

I havent caught a smallie since mid November. I'm hoping to find one in the next 2 weeks, which would be respectable for me.

Tight lines

[GreenPig]

Doing something unusual or maybe extreme for the conditions usually works for me. 

[bowhunter63]

Try finesse Wacky Worm will get a few going 

[Swamp Girl]

I'd follow @GreenPig's advice: If the ordinary doesn't work, try the extraordinary. 

[Pat Brown]

Sometimes on a bigger reservoir, you aren't around a substantial number of them and this time of year it can be feast of famine.  I'd try to find some shallow dirty water that's maybe four or five degrees warmer than the water around the dam. That seems to hold the biggest concentrations of fish during the transition from the winter to the springtime.

[OmegaDPW]

I'm the guy who rarely changes lures while fishing. Yeah, I know...weird. I like to stick with something until I catch something on it or I break it off. KISS principle. 

 

Regardless of whether I'm fishing a pond or heavily pressured waters, the slump killer for me is a plain ol' TX rigged worm. Usually black. Usually a Zoom Finesse or Trick Worm. I have it in my head that the slimmer profile of the Zoom worm compared to a Senko/Stickbait appeals better to a tight-lipped fish. No logic behind that- just something that I think. 😉

 

I'll stick with that until I catch something and then try something else. 

[WRB]

1 hour ago, PBBrandon said:

I haven’t caught a bass since December 28th of last year. And not for lack of trying. The past 2 weeks I’ve put in about 7 hours of fishing at Texoma and 3 at Ray Roberts with no bites other than a 1-1.5lb sand bass at RR. I’ve gone a couple of other times this year too and have caught nada. Not sure why the 2nd half of every year I usually don’t have slumps but the first half, even into the spawn, I can’t hardly catch a thing. Feels like I’m casting into empty water. Been throwing the kitchen sink too. A-rigs, T-rigs, wacky, jigs, chatters, etc. hitting points, coves, docks, everything. I know they’re down there, and I’m sure it’s just getting to my head and making me lose patience and confidence in where and what I’m casting. Whenever y’all have been in a slump, how have you been able to get out of it?

What is the water temps in those lakes? Bank or boat fishing?

Tom

[A-Jay]

A-Jay

 

[Woody B]

I struggle this time of year.  For the past couple years I thought I found or had mechanical/equipment reasons that were keeping me from catching big numbers.  I fixed these problems and started catching Bass again.   This year I've finally realized I struggle this time of year because of me, not because of some equipment problem.   I took a break this weekend.  We had torrential rains Friday so I figured this weekend would be tough too.  I got caught up on some stuff I have been needing to do around the house and done some family stuff.   

 

I've caught 3 this year 5 pounds and over, but I doubt I've caught 25 total Bass.   When the water temp gets above 55 I started back catching decent number the past couple years.  That should be soon......but I'm considering off setting the temperature reading on my graphs.  That way I'll think it's already over 55.   

[PBBrandon]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

What is the water temps in those lakes? Bank or boat fishing?

Tom

Low to mid 50s right now and climbing. Figured the fish would be at creek mouths

and points near spawning coves about to get going. Mostly fishing from a kayak with a little bank fishing mixed in.

 

I have a Striker 4 that I sometimes use on the kayak. I just usually have 2-3 hours here and there so I don’t really set it all up if I won’t be out long lol. I’m sure that would help pinpointing fish too

[rgasr63]

I haven't caught a fish on a Texas rig yet this year. However I have caught fish in every calendar month. All my catches have been off of a treble hook bait. Jerk baits and my red chili square bill so far. But things are not always the same everywhere all the time. Keep a open mind and try different things in places you believe that fish are in the area. 

[softwateronly]

I think bite windows are more prominent in cold water, if you can't spend more time on the water maybe you can vary the time you're getting on the water.  There's a surprise early morning bite up here as the shad migrate.

 

scott

[NorcalBassin]

Former Chicago Cubs first baseman Mark Grace had a very interesting approach to slumpbusting, but you'd probably just be better off tossing a wacky rigged 5" green pumpkin senko along shoreline structure now that it's March. Best of luck! 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

In my own case, time on water is the only thing that works, the more I fish the better I get.   The quickest and easiest way to catch more fish, is to simply fish more as stupid, simple that sounds.    

 

You'll turn the corner soon, and we all struggle and have slumps.    Last Fall was absolutely brutal for me given the level of commitment and time on water I had during it.        

 

We or at least I tend to forget how hard it is to catch Bass in comparison to almost every other gamefish in FW, and most in SW as well.     

[Bird]

8 minutes ago, NorcalBassin said:

Former Chicago Cubs first baseman Mark Grace had a very interesting approach to slumpbusting, but you'd probably just be better off tossing a wacky rigged 5" green pumpkin senko along shoreline structure now that it's March. Best of luck! 

Mark Grace was in a slump ? Lol

Along with Ryan Sandberg ?

Just kidding but definitely agree, wacky rig is a slump killer.

[LrgmouthShad]

Usually if I am not catching anything for extended periods of time, I trend towards thinking that I am fishing nowhere around where good numbers of bass are. I'll switch up my areas and approach until I get bit. Same goes for if I am only catching small ones.

[Koz]

Between winter weather and lake conditions and the short bite window it can be frustrating. We all feel your pain.

 

The good news is that the water is warming and the days are getting longer. Better fishing is right around the corner.

[TnRiver46]

4 hours ago, OmegaDPW said:

I'm the guy who rarely changes lures while fishing. Yeah, I know...weird. I like to stick with something until I catch something on it or I break it off. KISS principle. 

 

Regardless of whether I'm fishing a pond or heavily pressured waters, the slump killer for me is a plain ol' TX rigged worm. Usually black. Usually a Zoom Finesse or Trick Worm. I have it in my head that the slimmer profile of the Zoom worm compared to a Senko/Stickbait appeals better to a tight-lipped fish. No logic behind that- just something that I think. 😉

 

I'll stick with that until I catch something and then try something else. 

This fall my buddy caught lots of 21-23” SMB on a black zoom finesse worm T rig out the back of my boat 

27 minutes ago, Koz said:

 

The good news is that the water is warming and the days are getting longer. Better fishing is right around the corner.

Cold water fishes better for some of us 

[NorcalBassin]

1 hour ago, Bird said:

Mark Grace was in a slump ? Lol

Reference to an interview on the Jim Rome show about 20 yrs ago that became a thing of legend in the years that followed. NSFW as they say.

[PBBrandon]

Well I broke the skunk today. Went to a park pond for an hour or so and tossed a t-rigged baby brush hog around the fishing dock. The dinks couldn’t keep their mouths off it. Caught 3 in a 15 minute span and had another couple of bites. They were all about 3/4 of a pound but definitely a confidence booster.

 

Hopefully the warmer, rainy weather will drive the fish shallow and get them going. Fishing is looking good now

[king fisher]

Book a trip to Mexico.  If slump continues, take up golf.

[PBBrandon]

17 minutes ago, king fisher said:

Book a trip to Mexico.  If slump continues, take up golf.

Recently started golfing a little. I can’t afford another hobby though so it’ll stay on the back burner for now lol

[Susky River Rat]

My whole fishing “career” is s slump. Boozin snd going to work remind me I’d rather be fishing. 

[Pat Brown]

Thank goodness @PBBrandon!  I guess you can stay on Bass Resource for a little bit longer but don't let it happen again, ya hear?

 

😉😂

 

(Seriously that's awesome!  Glad you got through the slump, they're the worst!)