What am I doing wrong??? The fishing gods don't like me!!!!

[BassChump]

OK guys. I've tried everything you said. The waters I'm fishing are known bass lakes. I've fished several hours at a time, I've fished all day. I've fished in sunny weather, cloudy cooler weather, wind, no wind, early, mid day and evening. I'v used senkos, rattle traps, verticle jigs, medium heavy action poles, I've fished deep and shallow, I've fished the bank with lots of cover, and after weeks and months of this, I have caught NOTHING.

While I'm new to bass fishing, the law of averages should allow me to catch SOMETHING, ANYTHING. But the only thing I've caught is a trout when I threw an aglia for a few minutes on an ultralight rod and reel. Granted, it was a big trout, 3.5 pounds and it was great fun on an ultralight so that made me happy that day but other than that, NADA, nothing. What could I possibly be doing so wrong that I can't buy a bite????

The water temps are in the mid to upper 50's. I've read everything on this site, I've tried to implement what I can given my budget and I can't catch a thing??? I've been out on several known good baxx lakes in the last few months and I'm very familiar with one of them. I caught lots of small bass late last year on this lake just after I bought my boat when I had no tackle at all and no knowledge of anything. It was long before I found this informative site. The only thing I was tossing was a #2 Blue Fox that was gold in color but this year I can't catch a cold and I don't know why. I should, just by luck, catch SOMETHING. My girlfriend loves fishing probably more than I do and she won't even go on the boat any longer because we never catch anything. I love fishing with her and she is great fun but I miss having her on the back of the boat. I joke with her that the fish can just smell girl on what we are throwing and that  is spooking the fish in the area. lol. Unfortunately I know that not to be true but there is something going on...... Any suggestions and help would be greatly appreciated.  

["Lunker Hunter"]

When on the lakes do you see anyone else catching anything?  I would ask around and find out what is good to throw in your neck of the woods.  do you have a depth finder?  I picked up a real cheap one and it has help me locate spots to fish.  Anyway hope your luck changes.

[BassChump]

Yes, guys are catching a few here and there but certainly not a lot just yet. We have pretty weird weather patterns here on the Oregon coast. Sunny and warm one minute, blowing sideways rain the next.

Usually the guys pulling off the lake say they got one in the boat and just a couple of bites.

I'm hoping it picks up soon.

[Big-O]

A girlfriend that loves to fish, Hang on to her - she's a keeper! On your fishing situation, you might think about finding some shallow flats and locate ditches and drains that are near by. Start with your favorite above mentioned baits and if not successful try some bottom bumping with Carolina rig or drop shot rig. Be sure and talk to your friends and other fisherman at the dock to see what their using and what types of water depths they are having the most luck in. Most are happy to to help out a fellow angler. Good luck and let us know how things work out for you.  

www.ragetail.com

[WRB]

If you don't want to post the lakes you are fishing at least let us know where you are located and what type of bass the lakes have in them.

50 degree water in april would indicate you are in the northern region or higher elevation lakes.

Whatever, the upcomong seasonal bass perod is pre-spawn. This means the bass will be located near the shallower water where the bank changes depth quickly. The easiest location to locate and fish during pre-spawn are the major points around the lakes you are fishing.

A major point in the long underwater point that extends into the main lake, usually a creek arm or larger bay will be close to the point. The next type of point to fish are the secondary points inside the creek arm or large bay near the major point. These are the places where the pre-spawn bass tend to stage or school. When the water warms up above 60 degrees, the bass will then move back into the shallower wind protected areas inside the creek arms or bay and spawn. After spawning the post spawn bass will move back out to the same areas they were during pre=spawn.

Lets focus on those 3 seasonal periods and that should get you started catching bass.

The plastic worm is my choice for the lure you should master first. The presentations are; drop shot, slip shot and Texas rigged. You can use your spinning tackle for both the drop and slip shot techniques. Bait casting is a little better for Texas rigged, but the spinning tackle will work OK.

Start with 6 to 8 lb test premium monofilament line for the spinning tackle.

Hooks; Gamakatsu wide gap finesse/weedless hook and sizr 1/0 worm hook.

Weights; 1/8 and 1/4 oz Top Brass Pro-Jo and 1/4 oz round Top Brass black drop shot and 3/16 oz brown Top Brass bullet weight.

Beads; 7 mm red Top Brass faceted glass bead

Weight stopper; Top Brass Peg-It 2 or Carolina Keeper.

Worms; Don Iovino S8A Oxblood, S10A Blue Shad and Smallmouth Killer, 5" straight tails.

Roboworms; 4 1/2" curl tails, Oxblood with red flake, Aaron's Magic with red flake.

Use the wide gap weedless finesse hook for both the drop and slip shot. Use the 1/0 worm hook for the Texas rig.

Fish the Texas rig down hill; cast to shallow water and bounce along the bottom into deeper water.

Fish the slip shot rig parallel around the points sides and down the top ridge.

Fish the drop shot straihgt down along the top ridge and sides. Start in about 3 feet and work down to 30 feet or so.

PM me and I will send you shetches how to rig and fish these worms.

WRB

PS; while I was slowly typing this you noted you are in Oregon coastal area. All the above will work well there.

[BassChump]

Thanks for the responses. I was getting pretty frustrated knowing there are fish in these lakes and not getting a bite every time I went out.

Sorry about not listing the lakes.

Here is a list of lakes that I fish. All these lakes are within a 15 minute drive from me in Florence Oregon.

                                       Munsel Lake.

My favorite as it is a proven bass lake, it's easy to get to just down the street from my office, I've caught bass there before and it's convenient for me. Lots of drop offs and downed timber in the water. Fairly deep at spots. Around 80 feet in some places but there is a large flat on the northwest side of the lake that goes out almost to the middle before it drops to deeper water. This flat is only about 8 feet deep. The flat itself is probably 50 acres with docks along the bank.

                               Sutton Lake

A relatively small lake, probably around 200 acres and very shallow. The water warms much faster in this lake than all the others because it's such a shallow lake. Deepest is around 25 feet. This lake is not fished much but does have bass in it. Weeds around the banks with a little downed timber on one side of the lake.

                               Mercer Lake

Another coastal lake that has produced some nice bass but not very well known and not fished much as it doesn't have great access. I again have not fished this lake but took a look at it yesterday and I'm planing on dropping the boat in here when we have a day that isn't going to blow sideways rain.

                             Siltcoos Lake

A well known bass lake in the area with tournaments during spring and summer although this year, I think they have moved the tournaments to the next lake because of a water quality problem late last year. I think it killed off a bunch of fish. This lake is large and very shallow.

               Takenitch Lake.

One of the best known lakes in the area for bass. Honestly, I haven't fished this lake yet but am hoping to soon. It's a relatively large lake that has lots of tournaments and from what I understand it has produced some big fish.

                Tenmile Lake

Another larger coastal lake that has lots of tournaments here. I took the boat here just last week but I could only spend an hour on the water so I can't say much about it from a personal standpoint other than the beer was cold at the local tavern.

Those are the lakes I'll be fishing in so if I didn't give enough information, let me know or look them up.

   Thanks again for all your help. I was getting kinda fed up but I feel better now. hehe

[Bassnbrett101]

I'd try to find a nice farm pond, I know I have lol

[Tpayneful]

Maverick, don't be discouraged!  I struggle in water temperatures below 60 degrees!  I prefer water temperatures above 65!  What is the water clarity of the water you are fishing?  How many feet before you can't see your lure anymore?  Generally you want to use natural colors in clear water and bright or dark colors in stained water.  

WRB has a great suggestion about learning how to fish a worm.  I like the 5" straight tail Roboworm in Aaron's Majic color.  I fish it texas rigged with an 1/8oz black bullet weight.  Cast it to shallow, count it down one second per foot.  If the water is 10 feet deep, count to 10.   If the lure stops before 10 a fish has probably eatten it!  I like to jiggle the rod tip a little, wait and then move the rod a little, turn the reel handle to take up the slack.....repeat.  This is my emergency technique when I am fishless in a tournament.  

Good luck and remember that the Bass' metabolism doesn't peak until the water temperature is in the 80's.  You will start to catch fish and it will get better and better until the dog days of Summer......if you have them up there!  Master the worm and then choose a new technique to master!

[ksbasser]

I know this will go against the purists beliefs but you might consider using live bait to locate fish and then find artificials that will catch them. I had a frustrating guided trip on lake fork a few years ago and the guide finally pulled out a cooler with live waterdogs. We nose hooked them on a split shot rig and pitched them around seed beds and cover. We fished them alot like a jig but left them in place longer. That saved the trip and we caught some nice fish. This has worked for me on tablerock also. You can drop shot a live minnow to deep brush and catch lots of kentucky bass. I definitely prefer artificials but sometimes bait can save the day. Don't lose that girl or you might become a master baiter lol

[WRB]

For those lakes with a lot pads, you can fish a soft plastic jerk bait like a fluke, but you will need heavier tackle. If you plan on fishing the heavier cover use a bait caster and go with 15 lb mono and you be alright if you can get to the bass fast enough. Other wise just cast to the edges and pockets with the Texas rigged worm and you be able to catch a few.

Smaller spinnerbaits like Markey's Bushmaster series is very good on some of the lakes to mentioned with shallower water. I would go with the 1/4 oz model with your spinning takle.

Google Don Iovino products, Roboworms, Markey Bushmaster lure, Top Brass fishing Tackle etc for the links to those companies. Success in bass fishing is in the details, like quality tackle, not necessarily high cost.

WRB

[PondBoss]

When I start having trouble getting bites I always go to the greatest stand by ever.  DYNAMITE!!!!

[Big-O]

Good post WRB

www.ragetail.com

[BassChump]

Thanks for all the advice everybody. I truly appreciate it.

First of all, as far as the girlfriend is concerned, right at the moment she isn't my girlfriend although we are talking. Yes she is definately a keeper. The only thing more fun than bass fishing?? Bass fishing with her and I guarantee you that if I caught a bass or two, she would be right back in the rear seat and all would be well. Not sure if it would be as a girlfriend or a fishing buddy but I know she would be there every time if we were catching something and that's a good thing either way.

I do have a fish finder with temp and I've seen some fish in areas so it isn't that I can't find them, I can't get them to look at my stuff. Kinda like my girlfriend. hehe.

Presentation??? Color???? Or is it just that I SUCK?? lol

The water clarity on most of these coastal lakes is usually pretty good. I'd guess 6 to 8 feet.

The next good day we have I'm going to fish Sutton as that warms up really fast so I'm guessing it may be pushing 60 or better but I'll know when I drop the boat in or throw a temp gauge in there. It's supposed to be only in the mid 50's for the next couple of weeks around here so I'm not hopeful we will get a rise in water temp anytime soon but you never know around the Oregon coast.

Sutton is actually 2 lakes joined with a small canal that one boat can just fit thru. It's my understanding that the back lake is much better fishing. I have been water skiing on that lake a million times so I know it pretty well but I have never actually fished it. It's not well known although I do know some tournament guys that tell me they have fished it before and caught plenty of bass out of there. My business partner is best friends with Jay Yelas so I get a few tips from him now and then although I try not to bother him with my petty problems. He is a busy guy and I'm guessing the last thing he wants to do is talk shop with a newbie so I leave him alone most of the time but he has been helpful for sure.

Hmmm!!!! Dynamite???? That certainly would be a foolproof method although I think the men and women in the little green unforms might not take kindly to that and to top it off, I had dated a women from the ODFW and if it doesn't work out with my girlfriend, I would like to look her up again so I don't think she would appreciate knowing I would go nuclear on the fish.

Anyway, keep the posts going. It's a big learning curve and I'm trying to figure it all out so everything helps.

                       Thanks again

[rfrazier]

pm'd

[key chain bass guy]

My .02.  Quit thinking so much. Relax and fish.

[roadwarrior]

This might help:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1158577137

8-)

[nboucher]

Chump, repeat after me: I will catch fish, I will catch fish

Believe it or not, fishing has an important mental component: relax and have confidence, because you will catch fish . . .

As for practical advice, when the water temps are in the 40s and 50s, you must fish SLOWLY. You cannot work your bait too slowly in cold water. Think about it: the body temp of the water dictates the body temp of the bass. Imagine your blood at 50 degrees. Moving takes a lot of effort, and although you might be starving, chasing down a meal takes a lot of effort and determination. That's why you've really got to let your bait sit and then move it slowly. The trick is to make eating it be as easy as possible.

[BassChump]

Yes, I realize the fishing isn't great right now as it is in other parts since the water is so cold. I'm frustrated at times but I'm not going to stick my head in the oven or anything. Hmm. Come to think of it, that won't work either. My oven is electric, not gas. Darn, I can't even get that right. lol.

The ODFW just stocked a local lake with a bunch of 3 pound trout so I think I'll try that just for a few hours. Catch a few fish, feel that I can get a tight line once in a while and I'll be fine.

I'm sure when the weather and the water warm up just a bit, I'll be posting some pix of me with a nice bass, a big smile and much more enthusiasm. Guaranteed.

Stay tuned.