Can't even force-feed plastics...

[fun_all_wrong]

Last few days I have been fishin in the Guadalupe River (up by Kerrville) and I have thrown just about everything- but I cant catch on most any of the soft plastics.

Nothing caught on my Culprits, nothing on the tubes, nothing on my baby brush hogs, nothing on the flukes (and a knock-off) nothing on my jogger worms, nothing on my trick worms, nothing on my twin tail ribbed grubs...  The only exception is one 12" fish on a zoom horny toad (and even it didn't catch as well as I would have liked it to)

We have however picked fish up on jerkbaits, poppers, and torpedos...  what gives?

Isn't that backwards?  Arn't plastics your "money" bait?

[Boo]

Its the money bait if thats what the fish want! :-/

[chefxian]

Try those Storm swim baits. The ones that look like Shad or Baby Bass. Those might help with schooling bass.

[D.Taylor]

Sounds to me like your fishing under the fish with a majority of those plastics.

[fun_all_wrong]

ok- more info-  the water isn't that deep nor is the river that wide.  The deepest water is maybe 15 feet- and a lot of times we are fishing 3 foot or so.  The River is small enough that we put our boat in the middle of the river and can fish both sides.  (Its a small boat- dont' even have a motor-  14' I think.

The fish were also not hitting flukes, trick worms, or joggers, so Im not sure Im getting under them because I fished these at all different levels.  Top, middle, and close to the bottom.

Im thinking my problem might have been the 30 # fireline- I think they see the line, thats why with my "jerkbait/topwater" rod I catch (spooled with 20# fireline.  So now Im going to throw 20# fireline on my big baitcaster- 16# fireline on the big spinning and 10# power pro on my light rod...

Maybe this will help

[roadwarrior]

f_a_w,

Still too heavy. I am a firm believer in lighter line. First of all, the fish can't see thinner line as well (they can't see mine at all). Secondly, you will be able to cast further. And perhaps most importantly, lighter line allows more action from the lure, especially soft plastics.

[MrJS]

10# on your light rod? I have 4# on my light rod. 10# on my heavy. I have never had luck with heavier line. Just set your drag right and you can catch any size fish on any line, you will just have to tire the fish out first

[dodgeguy]

they obviously want a reaction bait so why fight it?soft plastics usually work when they are hungry and looking to eat.reaction baits are just what they say they are.they cause a non-feeding fish to react and attack them.just go with the flow.

[BiggerWorm]

Try fishing your plastics texas style and weightless.  If the water is clear or fish are spawning, make sure you are using small dia. line and casting well ahead of your boat, so fish don't spook.  If you still don't get bit, add a small weight and slow retreive.

[D.Taylor]

Dodgeguy is right.

Lets look at the tittle of your post Force feed. Thats the rut all bassfishermen hit at one time or another. We all try to make the fish bite what we want them to bite. When in all honesty we should be fishing what they want to bite. This is why there are basspros that do this for a living because they have learned threw years of experience to know when to holdem and when to foldem. Heck even Brauer has been seen crankin.

Also maybe they wasnt on the bank and were sitting on the ledge approximantly where your boat was sitting.  Just a thought

[clooney]

I agree.  You do use some pretty heavy gauge line. I would go a little lighter and keep using whatever they are biting on.

[BassBandit35]

Or it could be your presentation? Did you worked each plastic all the same way? If so, then it might be the problem.

[fun_all_wrong]

I talked to a few people who fish the river most of them are using 17+ pound mono.  So that makes me wonder-  my diameter is smaller...

The other part of it I fished each bait like you are supposed to- many of them in different ways- so maybe it was just the fish not wanting plastics-  turns out nog much later a storm hit (48 hours)

Im thinking that day they simply didn't want plastics- like ya'll said- fish what catches- not what you want to throw.....

Thanks for the advice