What would you throw?

[Mike 12345]

Ok, I've fished my favorite local inlet to my neighborhood reservoir for 2 afternoons now, no dice. The inlet depths range from appx 25 ft in the main 'ditch' or 'channel' coming into the cove to about 5 ft in the back of the cove where I have been fishing.

Details: ambient temp- 75-80 degrees, water temp right about 60*.

May be working some pre-spawn, maybe some spawn, I can't tell. Topwater activity surrounding me.... fish jumping everywhere, some are big splashes. Water clarity: stained at best. I fish open cove, laying trees, boat docks/sheds, etc.

I fished spinnerbaits till I broke them all off, small shallow cranks till I lost 'em, lipless cranks, and Rapala jerkbaits for hours. I know there are fish there (although I can't guarantee species) because I see them on my Lowrance hanging out around stumps.

Still, no bites. Other guys I pass state they have caught some nice ones in the area, though are reluctant to say more.

What would you guys suggest? Next moves? Jig?

Thanks- I'd be interested in your opinion. Maybe I move to a different creek?

[Wesley]

Carolina Rig a lizard or baby brush hog, throw a weightless senko, throw a jig'n pig if that dont work buy some dynamite.

[Rayraff]

If there is a lot of surface activity try a topper water popper worked slowly. On the other hand the surface activity might be carp (I don't know much about them).  Otherwise I would go with senkos or jigs and work them around the stumps you see.  If they aren't hitting spinnerbaits/rapalas then they are probably not very active, so what ever bait you use, use it slow.

[Hawg Fan]

Carolina Rig Brush Hawg off the points in a little deeper water, you wanna catch the ones who have already spawned or who havent had the chance yet mainly off points and secondary points

[suede55bowtie]

Whatever you throw, down size and slow down! Good luck!

[Hawg Fan]

If there is a lot of surface activity try a topper water popper worked slowly. On the other hand the surface activity might be carp (I don't know much about them). Otherwise I would go with senkos or jigs and work them around the stumps you see. If they aren't hitting spinnerbaits/rapalas then they are probably not very active, so what ever bait you use, use it slow.

If the surface activity is very violent and in the shallows it might be bass chasing bluegill out of the shallow beds.

[Bassn Blvd]

If top water activity is the dominant then throw a zara spook or similar "walk the dog" type plug.

[AKFerzy7]

shakey head. 3/16th oz jig head with a green pumpkin finesse worm. if that wont work try a black finesse worm!

[Castamasta]

i agree a Jig usually produces just throw it in those beds and annoy the bass with it by scootin it along the bottom and makin a lot of commotion.

[Big-O]

Top water activity says try top baits as previously mentioned and use same ones as mentioned because water temp won't support a fast mover in my opinion. Then definitely go to T rig or Carolina rig soft plastics. Keep it slow and start shallow then to deeper front of flat or cove inlet to find pre or post spawners, depending on conditions.

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[T-rig]

LC Sammy 115, LC Real Bait, Jigs, Senkos and fat Ikas.

[SenkoBasser]

I agree with Big O. If there's top water activity around you then go top water. Maybe try one of those new Rage Toads hooked weedless, worked over and in cover. :

[ba7ss3in]

White flukes or watermelon seed flukes with chart-tail.

[rondef]

Zara Spook or a Jitterbug

[roadwarrior]

Carolina Rig a lizard or baby brush hog, throw a weightless senko, throw a jig'n pig if that dont work buy some dynamite.

Absolutely!

8-)

[BuzzBait25]

I agree try the top water, something slow due water temps. Also you said you were throwing spinnerbaits but were you cahnging the retrieve up. I find its hard for a bass to resist a slow rolled colorado blade in these condition. Anyhow if the above suggestions don't work go to a 1/16th to a max of 1/8th oz. shakey head with a darker colored finese worm and just barely work it across the bottom.

[moloch16]

I ran into a similar scenario at a local pond.  Bass were shallow with lots of action.  I think they were spawning and the action was them chasing the egg-eaters away.  They ignored all top-water and minnow type baits.  I had fantastic success with a texas rigged lizard however.  Give a lizard a try, and like others said throw some top-water to see if the action really is active feeding.