They just won't bite!!

[DarnBass]

I'm a newbie and I need some help.  I just recently got into bass fishing and went out and bought me a new bass tracker 175.  I have only fished the lake by my house called eagle mountain lake in Ft. Worth.  I have fished this lake for a total of 40 hours the past couple of weeks and I have had 4 bites and one darn fish.  I have tried everything (I think), and I have fished every hour of the day.  Everyone keeps telling me to go to another lake, but the the more they don't bite, the more I want to fish there.  I have used spinners, power bait, crank baits, jigs, top water...everything in my collection.  I know they're there, they were popping all over the place last sat morning around 6.  Is it the weather change that is killing me or what???

[mgmoore7]

Have you tried senkos?  You may want to use a scent as well.  It will cover up odors such as bug spray, soap and gasoline that may be on your hands.  

I really struggled in my lake for a long time until I started the two things I just mentioned.  I know there is no "magical" answer but worth a try.

[bass86]

the spray is a good idea.  i wish i had thet answer when my lake went to crap.some fish are very weary and take notice to every little thing. this time of year it is colder and the bass motabilism is a lot slower than normal. so try the bang sent of crayfish oon a brown/green tube and fish it sloooow. also try small zara spooks early int he morning or when the sun is going down. good luck

[phisher_d]

I would try drop-shotting.  I don't know why but it seems to work in the lakes where I can't seem to get many bites.

Also, if the fish are really picky, you could try a finesse presentation. Lighter line and smaller lures could be the ticket.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

This is a job for a wacky rigged senko style bait.

[Rebbasser]

Welcome to the forum!

From what I understand Eagle Mountain is a tough lake to fish. There are a lot of guys in the DFW area that will help you out.

[fishinfool]

All these guys have given some great advice, compound all of it together and you might just turn them on. Light line, i'd go with 8#, wacky rig senko, use some attractant. Bang is the spray that i'm using right now, seems to be working better than some of the others that i've used in the past. I can't think of anything that hasn't already been said.

[justtrying]

no matter what type of bait you use.... no matter how you use it..... you wont' catch fish if you don't fish where the fish are!

Where are you fishing??  do you see baitfish?    are you fishing points? are you fishing near some current?  etc.....  (are OTHER people fishing there?)

WHY would fish be where you are fishing?  what would hold them there??   look at the lake as a whole, then, as certain fish-holding areas (a map would help Tremendously)  ...

when you find two or three areas that you KNOW are holding fish, then concentrate on those areas.  fish them with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits (finder baits).  when you find One fish, then, slow down, fish weightless worms, fish senkos, fish grubs, etc..

keep confidence. there ARE fish in that lake. it may take you awhile to find them, but, they're there. right now may not be the best time to find or catch them, but perserverance will pay off. ...one day, it will be YOUR lake, you'll know it, you'll know where the fish are, thinking about these learning days will make you smile.   ...you can do it bud!

[roadwarrior]

How 'bout a shortcut?

Hire a guide for a day or two. You will learn more from a good guide on "his" lake than you will from a hundred posts on this thread. The problem doesn't sound like lure selection to me. As justtrying noted, you have to find the fish before you can catch them.

[flechero]

I used to live in Dallas, and had a friend that used to fish Eagle Mountain Lake. (if I remember, it's rocky in areas, like my new 'home' lakes)  I now live a couple hours south of you but a suggestion if you can't afford a guide:   try some craws... our fish have been really tough to catch on anything else lately.  Having success on almost every brand of soft plastic craws, in natural colors... t-rig, c-rig, tube craws & jigs.

The tube craws have been best, they are the most realistic looking, especiall in clear water.

Hope this helps.

[Guest avid]

I think I would start off with a jig and a crankbait.  Try to bounce the crankbait off the rocks, and work the jig along rocky bottoms.  If a lake is heavily pressured though it can be tough no matter what.