Puzzling Scenario .... 2025
SanteeCooper81 reply :
Let me lay out the factors and I would appreciate you guys opinion on whats going on and what you guys think would be the best approach to what I have going on.
Location : South Carolina
Water Temp : 49-55 degrees
Lake level is high and more than normal current
Ok guys here’s what I’ve got ....
I fish a Shad lake and have been consistently on fish through the winter and have been catching them good on 4-8’ diving crankbaits in 4-6’ of water in one spot . Anytime we have a cold front or randomly at anytime I can fish this same spot for 8-10 hrs in a day and never get bit . I know the fish are there , I’ve thrown jigs , spinner baits , Texas rigged worms , chatter bait .... and I am all out of ideas on how to get em to bite on days like this . I know that’s fishing ... but if any of you have a technique that you think would trigger these fish and are willing to share , I’d appreciate it. What do you guys suggest trying and what are your opinions on what’s going on when these fish are ABSOLUTELY shut down ? This is my first post & Thanks in advance for your responses .
jimmyjoe reply :
Two things:
1) I have no idea how to solve your problem, but ....
2) Welcome to Bass Resource. ???? jj
Bird reply :
Welcome to the site.
I've been fishing for 50yrs and when fish shut they're mouths.....nothing goes in. Lol
Hammer 4 reply :
I'd give this a try. 2.8 kietech on a weedless beasty underspin, fished Very slow right off the bottom.
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Flashy_Swimmer_with_CPS_2pk/descpage-OFSCP.html
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
Jerkbaits?
Finessegenics reply :
The classical skunk buster, a ned rig in a shad pattern (zman makes mud minnow and the deal). If we’re just talking Zman plastics try the Finesse TRD, and the Finesse Shadz. I also feel like a dropshot could work well with whatever bait you feel confident in.
813basstard reply :
So your saying there are fish present but your having a hard time getting them to bite....
Well, sir, that pretty much summarizes fishing completely. Actually 100% of the reason why we fish right there.
Welcome to the game
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/29/2020 at 9:59 AM, 813basstard said:So your saying there are fish present but your having a hard time getting them to bite....
Well, sir, that pretty much summarizes fishing completely. Actually 100% of the reason why we fish right there.
Welcome to the game
Yep - I've been totally skunked plenty of times. Reason it's not called 'catching'. You do your best but sometimes the bass don't cooperate.
Bluebasser86 reply :
Shad lake and winter time, I'd try an A-rig if you can and if you haven't.
Ppennin986 reply :
If you think your fishing slow try even slower painfully slower hair jigs and tubes sloooowy dragged Ned rig also if no chance of getting hung up
dodgeguy reply :
Ned rig
ohboyitsrobby reply :
Have you tried the good ole #7 shad rap? That's a cold water skunk killer.
lou304 reply :
I'd second the A-Rig or jerkbait. Or I'd stay home on those type of days!????
TnRiver46 reply :
There is no magic bullet. Standard answer in 2020 is Ned rig, although I’ve never used one. Standard answer in 2010 would be Alabama rig (don't have any of those either). Standard answer in 1995 would be slow down and downsize your bait and line size. The bass have not changed but the crap people will sell you has
galyonj reply :
The popular thinking is to go smaller and slower, and that works (but I need somebody to come shake me awake every so often).
Another option I haven't seen mentioned here is a reaction bite. Try burning a crankbait through whatever level the fish are at in the water column. Also, especially if shad are a major forage where you're at, a jerkbait might be a good choice.
If they're not in a feeding mood, it's hard to get them to switch gears. However, it's much harder for a fish to ignore something that's making noise and beating up their lateral lines. So you try to make them mad enough to hit your lure instead of looking like food.
NittyGrittyBoy reply :
In your OP you said one spot . Uh I have to ask, have you tried moving to a different spot?
Choporoz reply :
On 1/29/2020 at 9:31 AM, Bird said:Welcome to the site.
I've been fishing for 50yrs and when fish shut they're mouths.....nothing goes in. Lol
+1
Doesn't mean I won't try. But a couple of skunks in a row when water temps are stuck in the 40s and I take it as a sign that I should be organizing tackle, maintaining gear or upgrading my kayak instead. I also remind myself how much sweeter those first days are going to be when they come out of hibernation.
Hook2Jaw reply :
On 1/29/2020 at 9:25 PM, NittyGrittyBoy said:In your OP you said one spot . Uh I have to ask, have you tried moving to a different spot?
This is something I didn't think about but something I end up doing when I make a ride to a lake. I simply don't have time to try to force feed fish, if I know the lake I may as well head to another spot that holds fish that I'm aware of. If I don't know the lake, I may as well graph so when it happens the next time I've got another spot to try.
If you've got to stay in that one spot, a Carolina rig or Petey(downsized Carolina) are some other rigs I'm a fan of besides what's been said already.
GioFromNJ reply :
can i throw in -- have you tried drop shot? you said there is current...and yes it's a slower method but if you drag it across their face they might just bite it..
Jermination reply :
On 1/29/2020 at 8:45 AM, SanteeCooper81 said:Let me lay out the factors and I would appreciate you guys opinion on whats going on and what you guys think would be the best approach to what I have going on.
Location : South CarolinaWater Temp : 49-55 degrees
Lake level is high and more than normal current
Ok guys here’s what I’ve got ....
I fish a Shad lake and have been consistently on fish through the winter and have been catching them good on 4-8’ diving crankbaits in 4-6’ of water in one spot . Anytime we have a cold front or randomly at anytime I can fish this same spot for 8-10 hrs in a day and never get bit . I know the fish are there , I’ve thrown jigs , spinner baits , Texas rigged worms , chatter bait .... and I am all out of ideas on how to get em to bite on days like this . I know that’s fishing ... but if any of you have a technique that you think would trigger these fish and are willing to share , I’d appreciate it. What do you guys suggest trying and what are your opinions on what’s going on when these fish are ABSOLUTELY shut down ? This is my first post & Thanks in advance for your responses .
alright man this is one of the biggest things i struggle with and know how hard it is to leave fish when you know they are there. If they are in a mood you just have to crank up and go find more active fish. There's no other way around it. You could ned around for hours and maybe entice one to bite eventually but its going to make for a very long day. If you are around A BUNCH of shad, try to find smaller groups of shad. preferably one big bait ball in a creek channel. Chances are that smaller amount of bait will be corralled there for a reason. If you must stay and fish there I would recommend throwing something that moves to try and stir them up then follow up with something that sinks and is subtle. The options given above are all decent, but i think the main thing here is you can't force them to bite and need to expand your horizon and search for some more active fish. If the smallmouth are in one of these moods on some of the local lakes around here i crank the motor and go up lake to hunt for green fish. Not sure if this helps but do know this happens to everyone!
scaleface reply :
I look for a good extended point or two . Try to get something going there .Plus go junk fishing around the best cover I can find . Cover and structure are what I seek out on every trip and every body of water .
Paul Roberts reply :
Welcome.
"The fish are 'there'". Where is 'there'? 4-6ft doesn't describe a spot well.
WRB reply :
Cold front is the clear cold windy days following a low pressure cloudy front.
Approaching low pressure brings clouds and predators become very active. The cold front high pressure brings bright sunlight and wind.
The question is where are the shad the bass were feeding on? Find the prey and the bass usually are around their food source if active.
Most bass anglers target heavy cover that provides shade and cover during cold fronts or fish deeper water structure that provides shelter and shade.
Tom
txchaser reply :
Spend a couple of hours max trying what is posted above. Maybe you'll get on just the right thing. But if/when that two hours runs out, move.
Water temps in north texas are similar right now. As an example, this weekend I fished a spot with stacks and stacks of bass over deep water. They wouldn't bite anything I tried. Decided based on some posts I've read over the last few weeks here that I needed to go find fish that were interested in biting. So I started moving, fishing a chatterbait (was low vis) and covering a lot of water and started catching fish. Basically there were two groups - the suspended bass that were inactive (at least to me) and a different group that was out hunting and were catchable.
Might also look at shallow water next to deeper water for a spot to fish slow. Fish slow. near the transition.
Koz reply :
Welcome to winter fishing. The fish are there, but with a slower metabolism this time of year their feeding windows are much smaller. As WRB said, find the bait - but even then it might not be in their feeding window. But sometimes if you manage to get a jerkbait in front of their nose it triggers a strike.
My advice? Every fish you catch in the winter is a bonus. In the meantime, think spring.
Comfortably Numb reply :
Just because one day (or time period) they were in 4-6' water, does not mean they will always be there.
I would move deeper and use your electronics to find structure and bait
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