Ok!!!!! TIMES UP. I'm frustrated now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BassChump]

Yes, I figured the same thing. The bite should be on and I should be catching a few fish even if I suck at it. lol. The temps are right, the weather is right, the lakes I fish are right, and while I don't have tons of equipment, I do have some of the basics.

I do have a few jigs that I am going to throw the next time I go on the water. I do have a couple of questions about jigs though. I bought a few Booyah jigs. One is black, the other is orange and black. 3/8 ounce. I hear about pork trailers. What is that and is it just stuck on the hook or do I use the jig as it is out of the package??? I know that sounds like a dumb question but I haven't used a jig before other than a crappie jig.

So I toss the jig out around timber or docks and tap it across the bottom??? Is that right????

[Davis]

  Quote

So I toss the jig out around timber or docks and tap it across the bottom??? Is that right????

Been either throwing it (pitching) it to downed trees or stumps and getting smacked pretty much after it hits the water (so be ready). Fishing my dads pond and I'm pretty much getting bit by chuckin it into the nastious places possible. Than raising the rod tip in short hops.

So pretty much find some objects and pitch to them man. Fishing jigs in open water has never given me a fish. All my success has been throwing them around the "crap". Using 30 lb Power Pro braid and man is that stuff sensitive on a mid range rod.

[roadwarrior]

Stick with soft plastics for awhile, they are much easier to fish when you are trying to develope a feel. Although jigs produce very well for some, soft plastics are generally

much more productive in terms of numbers.

8-)

[Davis]

  Quote

Stick with soft plastics for awhile, they are much easier to fish when you are trying to develope a feel. Although jigs produce very well for some, soft plastics are generally much more productive in terms of numbers.

8-)

Agreed.

[BassFishingMachine]

Imho I'd buy a few spinnerbaits, particularly in white/chart and a pack of trailer hooks to go with em. I'd focus as much cover as I could possibly find, if the shallow cover Isn't producing, focus the deeper cover etc.

I also believe what fishfordollars said. You have to think positive, if you truly believe your not going to catch jack, then thats whats going to happen. Be confident in yourself and feel as if your going to catch a fish every cast. I know its hard to do so when you don't pull anything in on a few casts, but keep tellin yourself "this cast ones going to hit, you watch and see!". If you have a positive mind set it should greatly help. As all experienced fisherman know, confidence has alot to do with fishing, so if your thinking in your head that nothings going to bite your bait, wheres the confidence? Be confident and stick to cover, I can almost guarantee you'll be rewarded.

Another strategy I'd recommend, even though its kind of "snotty", fish in the same general area as where other boats are fishing, or if you don't want to be too rude and fish there when they are there, then simply wait until they leave and fish the exact spot.

[5bass]

Cover some water.....you will run into something sooner or later. That was Hank Parker's motto when he was on the Pro Tour.

[BassChump]

I usually cover LOTS of water.  I fully expect that very shortly everything will come together and I'll have a fun day with lots of fish.

I'm sure one of my problems might be that I'm missing the hookset with the plastic worms. I'm both not recognizing the bite and when I do, I probably am not setting the hook hard enough.

Any suggestions???

[Davis]

  Quote

I'm both not recognizing the bite and when I do, I probably am not setting the hook hard enough.

Any suggestions???

Well that is something that will have to be corrected so practice practice practice. That was a hurdle I had to overcome as well when getting bites farther out.

But if you want to get back into the grove maybe try wacky riggin some senkos with a circle hook. You don't really set the hook hard with these. Just let the rod load and reel. The fish basically hook themselves. Maybe start here?

[roadwarrior]

Here is another thread for you:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1180501296/10

Regarding the hook-up for soft plastics:

When you detect a bite, lower your rod tip while reeling downquickly. When you have eliminated slack or feel the fish, snap your wrists forcefully as you raise the rod tip to 11 or 12 o'clock. This is called a "quick-set" or "snap-set". Keep the position of your hands relative to your body constant. All of the leverage and energy is transferred by the rod.

Good luck!

8-)

[jaystraw]

I was pretty new to bass fishing last year, and I found the color of the senko really mattered. I almost always, unless I'm in stained water, t-rig a 4'' green pumpkin with black flake senko.  It's a proven fish catcher.

As far a s the hook-set goes, I usually cast, and let my senko fall to the bottom.  If I see the line stop falling before I think it should have hit the bottom, I slowly raise my rod tip and see if there is any resistance at the other end of the line.  If there is, I dr0p my rod tip, reel a few times, and raise the tip again sharply, setting the hook.  

You may catch some trees too, but it's worth the 6 pounder you will soon catch.

Another go-to bait for me is the Rapala F-11 in silver.  You can just cast it out under an overhanging tree or near wood cover in the water, and just twitch the line while it rests on the water's surface.  Maybe reel it in a few feet, and pause for a few seconds, repeat.

Just wait for the strike, and it will come

I hope you have luck soon!  Lot's of good advice, and it will click eventually.

[roadwarrior]

  Quote

...I drop my rod tip, reel a few times, and raise the tip again sharply, setting the hook.

...snap-set/ quick-set...

This will improve your hook-up percentage dramatically.

8-)

[BassChump]

I'll work on my hookset and I'll try a wacky rig. Sounds good to me. I'm going to one of the lakes in the next couple of days as soon as the weather clears. It's been very hot and dry this last week and now it has cooled off just a bit and is drizzling. I'd go out today but I came down with a cold or something. As soon as I'm up to it, I'll be on the water.

I'll keep you informed on how I do............

Any more info is greatly appreciated.

[farmpond1]

Basschump,

If I may, and this is only one opinion, worry less about which lure to use and concentrate more on where the fish are likely to be. Then, once you think you've got that down, ask yourself which lures can cover that area most thoroughly or effectively and what mood the fish are in. It's all a big puzzle. Some of the time we successfully put the pieces together and some of the time we're left staring at a mass of pieces that all look like sky.

Early spring, cold temperatures, and rapidly changing weather/conditions can be really rough times to fish so don't be too hard on yourself. Normally this time of year wouldn't be considered "early spring" but the weather has been goofy. I'm sure you're asking yourself if you've made a good investment. It would be cheaper, of course, to just go to the fish market to buy fish, if that's your goal. But then how would you get sleep deprived, bug bitten, and sun burned all on the same day? Just hang in there and expect some victories and some defeats.

[roadwarrior]

  Quote

Basschump,

If I may, and this is only one opinion, worry less about which lure to use and concentrate more on where the fish are likely to be. Then, once you think you've got that down, ask yourself which lures can cover that area most thoroughly or effectively and what mood the fish are in. It's all a big puzzle. Some of the time we successfully put the pieces together and some of the time we're left staring at a mass of pieces that all look like sky.

Early spring, cold temperatures, and rapidly changing weather/conditions can be really rough times to fish so don't be too hard on yourself. Normally this time of year would be considered "early spring" but the weather has been goofy. I'm sure you're asking yourself if you've made a good investment. It would be cheaper, of course, to just go to the fish market to buy fish, if that's your goal. But then how would you get sleep deprived, bug bitten, and sun burned all on the same day? Just hang in there and expect some victories and some defeats.

The three most important considerations:

#1 Location

#2 Location

#3 Location

With the best lure and presentation, you won't

catch a thing if there are no fish. On the other

hand, the wrong bait in the right place often

works just fine!

8-)

[1fast68]

Get a map of the lake you are going to most and find as many people as you can to mark spots that they have caught fish. I have some good friends that have done this for me cause I was having the same problem. Fish all day with no bites. I think my main problem was I wasn't fishing my worms slow enough. I now put my trolling motor as low as I can and still turn the blades and sometimes that's a little to fast to fish a wacky style worm. Also learned from a friend, they were watching their line. I could never see mine because I used green line. I have switched every thing from green to clear. You'll be suprised how many times your line will go sideways and you don't feel pressure yet. Just some things I have tried and learned. Still learning cause last trip I only got two in the boat. Lost one trying to lip it at the boat....another thing, even if by yourself, use a net to pick your fish out of the water....you won't stop thinking about that 4 punder you got to the boat and not in it.

[BassChump]

It IS actually early spring here in Oregon. We haven't seen anything above 60 until last week and the temps are going back down again for a few days. The water temps were in the mid 50's last week and came up about 10 degrees in just a few days. That's how it is on the Oregon coast. We usually don't have much of a summer right on the coast. It stays pretty cool around here.

My favorite lake is called Munsel Lake and it's right down the street from my office. I have caught lots of smaller bass there late last year just after I bought my boat so I know there are bass in there.

I have looked around on the net and I can't find a map of the lake. Where would I look????

I almost always use a net so that isn't a problem.

I know that VERY soon I'll have the best fishing day of my life. Some of the locals I've talked to have told me that even though the temps are up, it's still a week or two away from the really good bass fishing although one guy I met at Munsel Lake caught 4 bass in a few hours so it's just a combination of luck, bad presentation and/or not recognizing when they bite on a worm.

As far as an investment???? That isn't why I kept the boat. It's purely for pleasure and while I can't spend a fortune on boats and tackle, I'll spend what I need to. Being able to relax and enjoy life is just as important as work and financial gain if you ask me. Balance, balance.

I'm going to Tenmile Lake sometime in the next week or so and give that a try also. Definately a well known and proven bass lake. That will give me an indication of what the problem is. If I catch nothing there, I can't catch anything anywhere and I'll figure it out from there.

Again, thanks for everybodys imput and keep it coming. It's a big learning curve for me and even though I complain a little bit now and then, I enjoy it immensly.

[jaystraw]

  Quote

  Quote

...I drop my rod tip, reel a few times, and raise the tip again sharply, setting the hook.

...snap-set/ quick-set...

This will improve your hook-up percentage dramatically.

8-)

[Unknownwaters]

i just wanna say i thought this thread is very helpful, i have the same problem all the time.  Ive fished Lake Lanier for years with my dad and the only time we catch anything is on live bait, nomatter what lure i try.  Im going to take some of this advice for my next trip and see what i can do

[peidy_p]

try this lure try that lure just throw what u have confidece in and what the conditions call for. You just need to try different patterns. Read magazines and watch videos to learn the different patterns during the defferent seasons.

GO GETTEM

[clipper]

In your first post you said you caught bass last fall on a lightweight outfit with a blue fox spinner. I'll bet that lightweight outfit had 4,6, or at the most 8lb test line on it?  If the water is very clear and you put heavier line on your new rigs that may be your problem.  

When I first started fishing Lake Allatoona in Georgia I was using 12 and 14 lb line which is what I used to use on other lakes.  I didn't catch a thing until some local guys told me to use light line that the fish couldn't see so well.  I also used smaller lures.  I started catching fish.  If your water is clear, try some 6 lb line and a smaller lure, preferably a soft plastic without exposed treble hooks.  Also try to fish where there is at least a ripple on  the water as it cuts down on the light penetrating the water and the fish can't see as well, so I'm told.  One more thing, most bass winter in deep water.  They may not have moved shallow yet.