What was i doing wrong and how can i catch more?

[Scorcher214]

I went to one of my older stomping grounds that i had not been to in months. Its a pretty big creek with a massive amount of slop on the top. Weed growth is still pretty good. I started throwing at Space Monkey as a top water frog. On the 4th or 5th cast i had on hit. He came off at the end of the fight. I kept casting the same thing up and down the bank and nothing. I kept seeing "fish" blow up the surface. I'm pretty sure it is not carp since the spawn is over. I also saw Baitfish hopping out of the water every so often and biting at the surface. I fished from i think 6pm-8pm. Other lures i tried were: Texas rigged trick worm/power worm, spro frog (in black, white and green/yellow), Zara spook. I even tried a double fluke rig with two baby bass colored spooks. Nothing. All the while, fish are exploding the surface with the baitfish popping aroung. What the heck do i gotta do to catch em?

[NateFollmer]

That's about the time I get the fly rod out and whip the old bug at them. (are you fishing in a creek with smallies?) Smallies can be very picky at times and they may just be eating whiteflies or drakes or something (don't know what flies you have in your area). I've seen carp surface even after the spawn, so it may be carp still. Yes, they are bottom feeders, but they won't pass up a fly either.

That doesn't really help, so here is something that may:

If the fishing is that tough, revert to the tactics you used when you were a kid! Toss the good old in-line spinners! You may ****** a panfish or two with it, but who cares, you're catching fish!

[Scorcher214]

Hmmm, I got a fly rod, but don't use it much. mainly for panfish in my backyard. I should have tried and inline spinners. Atm i only have 12lb mono on  but i got some 50lb braid im gonna put on. There is some REALLY nice slop farther down the creek, that last year produced really well with a topwater frog.