Fishin' Been Slow... Need advice.

[IdahoLunkerHunter]

So I went out yesterday and found fishing to be very tough. I started out in a creek channel busting a spinner bait through reeds. I had one good strike but he just hit the bait and didn't close his mouth. Changed blade color twice and skirts three times nothing.

Moved back a little farther in the creek to a pocket with a little deeper area with some downed trees. I thought that they would be hiding in the brush. Tied on a space monkey and started banging the brush. Had one follow but nothing. Threw back into a grass pile in about 1 foot of water and bang got a 2 lber. I thought I had found a pattern. I banged the grass line for about 30 mins and nothing else.

So I wasn't seeing much action in the creek channel in water between 3-7 feet. I moved out to the main river/lake channel to the first drop off. 6-7 feet to 12 feet. Heavily weeded I threw a spinner bait for about 15 mins but just wasn't feeling it. Changed to a owner twist/space monkey and was getting nibbles from smaller fish but no luck. Moved to a deeper ledge in about 18-25 feet.

Started throwing a 6 inch shakey head motor oil. Started getting nibbles. I was like finally I found something. After about 20 mins of fish nibbling on the bait I finally hooked one and it was a 8 in smallmouth. I switched over to a smaller profile craw and threw that for about 30 mins and nothing else, just nibbles. I was going to try drop shotting a 4 in stick but had to go.

Any suggestions. I tried locating the thermocline but no success.

[Fishing Rhino]

Try finessing them.  

A shaky (I like the ShakE2 jig heads) jig head rigged with a four inch finesse worm might do it.  You can "tickle" it along the bottom, bounce it, or whatever comes to mind.  Don't be hesitant to change your retrieve.  Bass don't know how to read "the book".

Try some smaller jigs, or tubes.

They could also be looking for a slower, easier "prey".

The drop shotting is a good idea as well.

When they are not biting what you are offering, make a significant change.  Go to an entirely different bait.

[bigtimfish]

What were water temps? Move to deeper water if the water was hot.Throw some cranks

[IdahoLunkerHunter]

I threw a couple rattle traps and cranks in between. No takers

[IdahoLunkerHunter]

Water temp in the creek was 78-80 river channel was around 76-78

[bigtimfish]

Do you have any really thick grass mats to punch a heavy jig through?Maybe they are under grass mats.

[Shane J]

Today, when the bite got tough, I ended up finding the fish under thick patches of pads with a Rage Toad, witch is weird for this place. Usually they go deep and you have to get 'em with a C Rig, but today when I was about to throw in the towel waiting for another boat to launch, I said "what the heck", and tossed the toad, and BAM, discovered what was goin on!

[cabullwinkle]

I'm gonna duplicate what Shane J said.  Throw that carolina rig.

[RobE]

This might be a good time to refer to the Bassin' and Beer thread.  ;D

[Glenn]

Deep diving crankbaits and Carolina rigged plastics are a good idea.  Outside weed edges too.  Usually you have to go deep this time of year.  Since it's a river, focus on current breaks right near the main channel.