Not Catching Enough Fish. Not Doing Something Right... 2025
Bass newb reply :
Okay, so I just started fishing bass a few weeks ago. Probably right around three weeks. I've talked to a lot of fishermen and watched a lot of instructional material and really put in a lot of time. I usually fish for 1.5 to 3 hours a day. I've had off days of course, but that's about what I've maintained for the past three weeks.
I have caught a 14" spotted bass, my first fish actually, and four other bass from 9 to 11" long and a few bream. I primarily use shaky head worms, texas rigged worms, or jigs or crankbaits. Got a single bream and bass on crankbait, every other bass was on a finesse worm presentation. I'm told that this 95 degree heat is hard fishing.
Fishing on the Coosa river in the middle of Alabama.
Can someone give me something to go on? I've been shaking worms for a loooooong time to only have a single good sized bass under my belt. I just set up with a fish finder garmin 43dv and I fish off of a Bote Ahab stand up paddleboard.
Thanks.
Fyi, i fish when i get off work from 5 to 8pm usually...and every single fish that I have caught was between the 6:30 and 7:30 timeframe.
A-Jay reply :
Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~
Three weeks is not really a long time when it come to bass fishing. There is quite a bit to learn. So much in fact, that a life time doesn't seem like enough time.
The good news is that although reading & watching video's can be helpful, the majority of what is "learned" happens while we're fishing. So keep at it.
Good Luck
A-Jay
FinCulture reply :
On 8/14/2015 at 10:41 AM, A-Jay said:Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~
Three weeks is not really a long time when it come to bass fishing. There is quite a bit to learn. So much in fact, that a life time doesn't seem like enough time.
The good news is that although reading & watching video's can be helpful, the majority of what is "learned" happens while we're fishing. So keep at it.
Good Luck
A-Jay
completely true. no video can teach you where the bass are in your local fishing holes. You have to move around and find out what baits work when and where in your conditions. Skill will come with experience.
MIbassyaker reply :
If the art of catching bass was so simple that you could learn enough in three weeks to always catch fish, of good sizes, everywhere, most of us would probably be bored with it by now.
One of the main things you'll need to work on is finding where the fish are in your waters, and understanding why they are there and what they're doing. How deep are they? What are they feeding on? What kinds of cover or structure features are they relating to?
And, understand, sometimes the bass are just going to win no matter what you do.
SirSnookalot reply :
No species of fish are turned on 24/7....365. Many factors why and most have to do with mother nature. A good rule of thumb, if you're not catching them you're not finding them. Need to try different times of the day or other locations. The majority of my bass fishing is done with no more than 4-5 lures.
IndyGlockMan reply :
I started Bass fishing last year and I barely have a fraction of the time that a lot of these guys have on the water.
River fish up here can be tougher to catch and are often smaller on average than lake fish, but I'm in Indiana.
Sounds like you have gotten off to a good start.
The big ones are coming!
Just got to figure out where they are, what they want to eat, and how and when they want to eat it.
You might try using some Strike King Rage Craws. I catch most of my bass on those this time of year.
Also watch the weather. Weather can be a big factor.
I've found that if the weather is great for us, the fish are less active. If the weather sucks for us (raining, cold, windy) the bass are more active.
Try fishing early in the morning a couple times vs. evening. You may have better luck.
Lastly, look into joining a Bass fishing club.
CrazyFluker reply :
The last few weeks have been tough on my lake. The temps have been high with the water in the mid 80's. I did catch a 3lb and my buddy caught a 5.5lb last weekend but it's been a few weeks of trying to figure them out.
Yesterday had one bass chase my bait up to the boat and turn away. Then a couple of perch messing with it. I keep seeing guys catching these little 6-8" bass but I really don't want tiny fish, 3lb and up is what I'm after.
I think next month things will get a lot easier but I use this time to "try" to think outside the box and try other things. The patterns change but they will eat if you can figure out the combination.
Alonerankin2 reply :
Yea, try a 3" tube, w exposed hook if possible. Bass fishing can be brutally tough at times. Study the seasons, how they affect bass. Study your water ( area ) learn vegetation, learn drops, structure.. Prey types, etc.. Most of all stay determined. Welcome to the site..
frogflogger reply :
ned rig
gulfcaptain reply :
As a lot of us have said, three weeks isn't much time. Do some research on what Spotted bass in rivers look for. Remember to always fish up river and bring the bait back down with the current as river/current the fish will relate and wait for food to come to them. Welcome to the wonderful world of bass fishing. And when you think you have it all figured out, well the whole game will change on you overnight. Pay attention to where you got bites and caught fish. Then look for similar spots and areas. Good luck and welcome to the forums.
RAMBLER reply :
Three weeks and you've got that many bass!! Heck, I've been fishing for over 50 years and I went out, yesterday, to admittedly not a good place, and caught only one dink bass. And, I did better than a couple of other people I talked too. Remember, being out is not just about the fish. If that was all there was to it, you might as well just buy fish at a market.
Just think of all the pretty lures and trinkets there are to buy yet!!!!!!!!!!! 
Bass newb reply :
Thanks for the replies. I work with guys who get bass 10 times if they go fishing 10 times. That's what I want. At least get nibbles or an indication that I'm doing something right. This one fish per 8-10 hours of fishing isn't cutting it.
I guess I need to find where the bass are at first.
gulfcaptain reply :
On 8/14/2015 at 10:43 PM, Bass newb said:Thanks for the replies. I work with guys who get bass 10 times if they go fishing 10 times. That's what I want. At least get nibbles or an indication that I'm doing something right. This one fish per 8-10 hours of fishing isn't cutting it.
I guess I need to find where the bass are at first.
You hit the nail on the head. You ned to find where they are first. I've fished days where I've worn them out, come back and not a bite. The fish didn't want what I was throwing. Sometimes it's a certain color, other times it's the speed of the bait. These are all things you will learn to figure out the more time you put in. I got back into bass fishing 5 years ago. Caught a lot of smaller fish, not too many larger ones. But the more time I spent and learned how to read the water and the conditions, figure out the suttle changes I needed to make my production and fish size went up. Some days I'd be glad for 1 fish in 8-10hrs of fishing. I've had times where I've gone without a bite for days only to unload on them another.
wnspain reply :
nevermind
A-Jay reply :
On 8/14/2015 at 10:43 PM, Bass newb said:Thanks for the replies. I work with guys who get bass 10 times if they go fishing 10 times. That's what I want. At least get nibbles or an indication that I'm doing something right. This one fish per 8-10 hours of fishing isn't cutting it.
I guess I need to find where the bass are at first.
I'd ask to go fishing with them. Perhaps you'll pick up some useful tips here & there.
One thing is for certain, when you make enough trips with them, you'll find out first hand that everyone has "Tough Days".
A-Jay
rabidsquirrel reply :
On 8/14/2015 at 12:22 PM, SirSnookalot said:No species of fish are turned on 24/7....365. Many factors why and most have to do with mother nature. A good rule of thumb, if you're not catching them you're not finding them. Need to try different times of the day or other locations. The majority of my bass fishing is done with no more than 4-5 lures.
While I generally agree with what SirSnookalot says here, I would add a caveat. The fish - E.g. bass, are almost always biting something somewhere. Tournament fishing has taught me that. You have got to constantly experiment with lures, colors, presentations, depths, cover types and/or locations until you find a pattern that is producing. There is almost always a pattern that is producing somewhere...
I can't tell you how many times during tournaments we've struggled, trying a variety of things, only to come across another competitor that tried something we didn't and stomped us at weigh-in... I've been on the other side of that equation too. Figuring out a pattern that no one else was on. When you do that, it is often lights out for the competition, and it feels great!
The point I'm ultimately trying to make here is that even though SirSnookalot's overarching theme to his comments - "Sometimes the fish just aren't biting", does apply in rare cases, I'd say it isn't applicable 98% of the time. In other words, Don't Give Up! I know that it can get tiresome when you are beating your brains out, tying on 20 different lures, running to different spots, all in 100 degree heat (I.e. down here in Central Florida), but if you truly want to be successful, you gotta do it. No excuses.
My rule of thumb these days is if I haven't gotten a nibble in ~20 casts, I need to change it up somehow - could be a different color, lure, depth, cover type, etc... After re-reading your initial post, it is going to be tough for you on a paddleboard, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't.
More experience will help you tremendously. More 'good' experience translates to doing the painful stuff I stated above. You'll figure out producing patterns faster with additional experience. The learning curve is daunting, but that is what makes it fun and worthwhile.
Consistently catching quality bass is very difficult. I don't care what anyone says.
NathanW reply :
You are fishing from a paddle board? Pretty impressive.
A-Jay reply :
On 8/15/2015 at 1:28 AM, NathanW said:You are fishing from a paddle board? Pretty impressive.
X2 ~
Me too. Some how I I missed that little tidbit of information in my first response.
I have very little knowledge or experience with that "craft" - How is the stability ?
A-Jay
lectricbassman reply :
On 8/14/2015 at 10:43 PM, Bass newb said:Thanks for the replies. I work with guys who get bass 10 times if they go fishing 10 times. That's what I want. At least get nibbles or an indication that I'm doing something right. This one fish per 8-10 hours of fishing isn't cutting it.
I guess I need to find where the bass are at first.
Dont compare your performance to others when youre just getting started, youll only hurt yourself by smashing your confidence. Good anglers get skunked all the time. The difference is they spend enough time on the water and learn what to do different or better. It takes time. I picked up bass fishing last summer and almost gave up because i wasnt getting the results i thought i should be getting. Stick with it and you will get better. I still get skunked (last night) but nearly as much!
Alonerankin2 reply :
On 8/15/2015 at 2:01 AM, lectricbassman said:Dont compare your performance to others when youre just getting started, youll only hurt yourself by smashing your confidence. Good anglers get skunked all the time. The difference is they spend enough time on the water and learn what to do different or better. It takes time. I picked up bass fishing last summer and almost gave up because i wasnt getting the results i thought i should be getting. Stick with it and you will get better. I still get skunked (last night) but nearly as much!
Yup, I've been fortunate at times to catch big bags of FLMB by the end of the first hour of fishing, conversely, I've also fished all day long, and caught a big bag the last hour.. I've been burned more than you can imagine in Florida, Kentucky, & Indiana.. In other words a big fat 0.. Bass fishing is not bluegill, crappie or catfishing. It can & will frustrate a angler. ( that might well be the alure of it for me )
Bass newb reply :
On 8/15/2015 at 1:58 AM, A-Jay said:X2 ~
Me too. Some how I I missed that little tidbit of information in my first response.
I have very little knowledge or experience with that "craft" - How is the stability ?
A-Jay
You can buy as much paddleboard as you want for stability. I started with a 12' board and then moved up to the ultra stabile 14' Bote Ahab. You can bring a cooler to sit on when you wanna relax.
Bass newb reply :
RMcDuffee726 reply :
Only thing you can do is "grind" out hours on the water. Three years in and I'm finally beginning to understand what I'm doing and also making critical decisions on the water to catch fish. It's a hell of a journey, enjoy it!
MIbassyaker reply :
On 8/15/2015 at 3:12 AM, Bass newb said:
That is pretty great.
Catt reply :
10% of the water holds 90% of the fish!
Learning presentations is helpful; learning to locate fish will fill the livewell.
Bass newb reply :
Well I ended a week long draught tonight! It was exciting to pull two 13 and a half inchers out of the river on a t rigged worm. I could have caught several more if I'd been a better fisher. The bites were on at about 6:30/7 pm. I was beginning to wonder if I was ever gonna catch another fish again!
I went back to the bank where I caught my first bass 3 weeks ago and threw worms to the edge of the bank and dragged them back to the board real nice and slow. I missed several bites and saw a fish try to hit my worm as i was fast reeling to make another cast but he missed it. I'm glad I bought a net last weekend because they were both hard to handle when I got them back to the board to take the hooks out. I didn't net my first, and looking back, it was amazing that I didn't lose him without a net.
Turkey sandwich reply :
It's awesome that you're seeing some success. Staying motivated without it is very hard. I would stick to the more general advice listed, and not pay too much attention to anyone talking about specific lures,etc. Right now, you need to build patience and learn to take in what you're seeing on the water. Find fishing buddies, and pay attention to what they do when they're successful. There is no short cut. There is no magic lure. There are no secrets. Learn basic techniques like Texas rigging, Carolina rigging, and how to throw basics like spinnerbaits. You'll spend a lot of time obstruction free, and what you'll learn from fishing those types of rigs, you can apply to almost anything else.
Neil McCauley reply :
It might be worth picking up a book on bass fishing basics to get the fundamentals down. Videos and advice might help you pick up a fish here or there but in the long run if you want to really be successful you should build a good foundation of the basic knowledge and reading is the best way to do that.
Bass newb reply :
^believe it or not my girlfriends grand father was a legend in the fish and game world especially here in Alabama. ..he wrote books on it,they're in her library and I've been introduced to them...reading will be winter work for me. Cant be stuck inside reading during these summer months.
JStevens reply :
This is a great topic with awesome replies. I'm in a lull myself but these posts with different views and words of encouragement made me realize I need to work on my versatility. I've tried swimbaits, crankbaits, drop-shotting, jigging, spinners; but only one at a time. I need to be prepared to change it up on the fly versus using only one style each time I go out.
Congratulations on ending your dry spell Bass newb! Don't get discouraged if you experience it again, just keep changing it up until you find something that works.
JStevens reply :
I had a rough day a few weeks ago. I was out for several hours. I was tired, hungry, and sweating my butt off and decided to call it. As I was paddling in I would occasionally throw a spinner to the banks and it paid off. I ended up catching this 9.5 lb snakehead; it made my day!
Bass newb reply :
^ hey thanks JS! Yeah I came to some of those same realizations. I just frog fished my way to 3 fish that were 2+ lbs in tbe last two days! That was after several hours of worm fishing and not catching anything. That might not be anything to some, but for me, it's validation after many long days of learning how to bass fish in the last 5 weeks. I'm super excited at the thought of frogging some more bass soon.
JStevens reply :
Hey Bass newb, I hope you're busy catching fish but in case you're not, you should try the "Ned Rig". If you haven't tried it before, there is a plethora of information on how to rig one. I used a 1/16th chartreuse jig jead and a senko worm cut in half. I had to cut my time on the water short (I only spent about 25 minutes fishing), but I caught a 2-pounder right away.
Bass newb reply :
On 8/14/2015 at 7:59 PM, frogflogger said:ned rig
At first I thought this was a typo, until I saw the ad for it...
I just bought some last night.
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