Some Techniques Just Don't Seem To Work. 2024
dhami013 reply :
Do you or have you ever felt like you've read all you could, tried everything you could, but just didn't get results from a technique? I must have read at least 10-20 articles, watched tons of videos, tried numerous times and I still cannot get a spinner bait to work for me. I am making it a goal to try new techniques this summer but spinner baits are making it difficult for me to complete this goal.
Granted, it is early in the summer, not even really, but I was just curious if anyone else had this problem.
deep reply :
Might seem crazy, but I never caught a thing on a zoom fluke! And it's not for lack of trying either.
The same goes for the ton of Yum and Strike King (except the Rage series) plastics I have. I keep telling myself to save some money and stick to my good old Yamamotos, but I never seem to learn.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I very rarely can catch fish on deep running crankbaits (10 feet or deeper in my book). Even if the fish are holding deep and I can catch them on something else if I switch to a deep running crank I just can't seem to get bit on it. It's frustrating to see guys catching fish on 6XD's and DD22's and try to throw them until my arms fall off and barely catch anything. I think everyone has a bait or category of baits that they just can't seem to get the hang of.
SausageFingers reply :
For me, its lipless crankbaits. Just not confident with one. I was able to break the ice with a one-knocker this spring. Im hoping I can build on it.
clayton86 reply :
I'm with blue basser I can't catch a thing on deep cranks I think all iv ever caught was a tail hooked carp and some zebra muscles and a rock
Hyrule Bass reply :
jigs, havent used them much, but never even had a bite when ive used them...
Sfritr reply :
On 5/16/2011 at 1:23 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I very rarely can catch fish on deep running crankbaits (10 feet or deeper in my book). Even if the fish are holding deep and I can catch them on something else if I switch to a deep running crank I just can't seem to get bit on it. It's frustrating to see guys catching fish on 6XD's and DD22's and try to throw them until my arms fall off and barely catch anything. I think everyone has a bait or category of baits that they just can't seem to get the hang of.
X2
Cannot get bit on a crankbait if I stuck it in a fish's mouth
Stasher1 reply :
For me it's the Senko. I have a ton of the stupid things, but the only thing I can catch with them is water. 
I'm sure there's something simple that I'm missing, but I don't really care enough to bother with them anymore. I'll just stick to other lures that actually work for me.
KurtisK reply :
Top water popper. I have no idea what i am doing wrong. It just looks stupid on the retrieve and I am sure there is a bass just laughing the whole time.
K_Mac reply :
Deep cranks are still one of my low confidence baits, but I am starting to warm up to them. When chatterbaits first hit big, I could not buy a bite with them. I kept one at hand until I finally started catching an occassional fish. It is now one of my go-to baits in stained/choppy water.
Don't give up on spinnerbaits. They are not my favorite way of catching fish, but one trip where you throw them up into cover and the bass try to rip the rod out of your hand, and you'll probably come around. 
Bankbeater reply :
I have a couple. Using in line spinnerbaits the only thing I can seem to catch is grass. The only thing that I seem to be able to catch on hollow body frogs are real frogs.
Raul reply :
I´ve been bass fishing for over 3 decades, in those 30+ years I´ve only caught 5 fish with a buzzbait, and I´m stubborn as a Mule, I still try to catch bass on a buzzbait, one day, one day I will catch fisj on buzzbaits, now it´s personal. 
FL_Sharpshooter reply :
I catch a ton of stickbass and mossbass on a spinnerbait 
. You're not the only one, they're my most difficult lures to catch fish on. I absolutely love to fish them, but can't buy a bass bite on em. Even when its cloudy, with wind, and all of those other necessary spinnerbait additives, just no luck.
Nosoup4u reply :
After 15 years of trying, I'm beginning to lose confidence in my Roland Martin Helicopter lure.
J Francho reply :
Fishing a Carolina Rig. Never catch using it. Why? Because I'd rather watch paint dry than fish it, LOL.
That's not entirely true, I'll use it when I have to.
OHIO reply :
Can't catch a thing on any type of crankbait, yet I still have a dedicated crankin rod and a ton of baits. 
WRB reply :
On 5/16/2011 at 11:47 AM, dhami013 said:Do you or have you ever felt like you've read all you could, tried everything you could, but just didn't get results from a technique? I must have read at least 10-20 articles, watched tons of videos, tried numerous times and I still cannot get a spinner bait to work for me. I am making it a goal to try new techniques this summer but spinner baits are making it difficult for me to complete this goal.
Granted, it is early in the summer, not even really, but I was just curious if anyone else had this problem.
Right lure in the wrong place will get the same results regardless how often you try.
Spinner baits are reaction lures, if the bass are not reacting to the lure, you need to change someting. That something is uaually the size, speed, depth and location.
The next outing that you are catching active bass, try the spinnerbait during that bite.
If you are using a 1/2 double willow model, change to a 1/4 oz single or double brass/nickle colorado in chartreuse and white.
Tie it on and wait for active feeders, your luck should change.
Trying to force feed inactive bass a reaction lure doesn't work very often.
Tom
Lund Explorer reply :
On 5/17/2011 at 1:34 AM, Raul said:I´ve been bass fishing for over 3 decades, in those 30+ years I´ve only caught 5 fish with a buzzbait, and I´m stubborn as a Mule, I still try to catch bass on a buzzbait, one day, one day I will catch fisj on buzzbaits, now it´s personal.
Good for you, never say quit!
Now when you finally start catching them on one of those things, drop me a line and I'll go buy a new one. The buzzbaits I used to have I gave away.... to people I didn't like! 
Goose52 reply :
Jigs for me. A proven, effective bait, but I just haven't used them enough to have any confidence in them. All of the other baits mentioned so far I catch fish on although I'm still weak on deep cranking. I think that's more of an indication of my lack of experience in identifying and exploiting deep structure than any shortcoming with the bait...
Buzzbaits - haven't used them much so far this year but did OK last year - 31 fish.
Lipless cranks - my FAVORITE hard bait - 136 fish, up to 5.42lbs, so far this year on lipless.
Spinnerbaits - getting better on these - have caught bass up to 4.87lbs so far this year.
Chatterbaits - just started using them - got my PB (9.06) on a chatterbait in February.
And when all else fails, I have my bag of trusty 5" grubs...
Fat-G reply :
I can count all of the baits I will need on one hand for the fishing I do.
Jigs
Plastics
Frogs
I can catch fish on everything, I just always do best on the big three.
Jigfishn10 reply :
Fishing deep. 20' plus deep. I don't do very well deep water fishing.
The Color-C-Lector has always alluded me.
dhami013 reply :
Like someone said on here, I think it's just the wrong application of the lure. I'm gunna keep trying though. I've stowed my plastics for the past couple of days and only used my spinners and cranks. I hardly take them out. Needless to say my past couple days of fishing haven't been too successful. Yet I don't blame the techniques entirely. A storm front has moved in. Lots of thunderstorms yesterday and today, and to continue through out the week. Oh well.
Just gotta wait it out.
Nibbles reply :
I catch more white bass than largemouth with jerkbaits. It's pretty infuriating when something hits your jerkbait really hard, only to disappoint you when you reel it in.
tholmes reply :
My personal nemesis is the Zara Spook. I've got a handful of them and I used to throw them on a regular basis, but NEVER caught a single bass on one. I catch bass on other topwater baits, but not even a dink on the Spook. They've all been relegated to the big box of lures that I'll get rid of someday.
Tom
clayton86 reply :
Another one for me is the drop shot I have such a hard time with it iv caught fish on it but it was when they were destroying anything I threw in the water. So drop shots and deep cranks are my nemesis. It used to be spooks like tholmes till last year now there one of my go to lures.
TerryR reply :
I never caught a thing on plastic worms, lizards, or any of that stuff. The only plastics that ever worked for me is 3 inch curly tail grubs on a jig head.
manny729 reply :
On 5/17/2011 at 3:09 AM, Nosoup4u said:After 15 years of trying, I'm beginning to lose confidence in my Roland Martin Helicopter lure.
Hey I'll sell you a new set of them used once and no bite marks!
jokerjp reply :
One word. SWIMBAIT!
Blue Streak reply :
There are techniques I try that just don't work. Probably my fault, maybe wrong time, wrong place. But when I pick them up and try again I just don't believe I am going to catch a thing, so I guess it is confidence. Whatever it is I have never been able to overcome it.
Reel_Kaotic reply :
Zoom fluke!
grimlin reply :
Jerkbaits......Everybody swears by them,I swear at them....lol
I've watch videos,read articles even watch a few guys who caught them around me, tried doing what they were doing. Nothing,nada,not a single dang bite.
ChiCityBasser reply :
Inline spinners are not a friend of mine and have been barred from my tackle box!! 
dhami013 reply :
I'm not giving up on spinners yet. And to be honest I haven't caught squat on crank baits lately either. So I'm sticking to working on those for a while.
Scorcher214 reply :
Poppers, never caught one on a popper.
JoePhish reply :
Of all the techniques I give a legitimate effort in fishing I have to say I have zero success fishing suspending twitchbaits. They say they're what works well in the cold winter months (whoever "they" are). I'll try again next winter.
I do have some other "nevers" to add.
I've never caught a fish on a "Sexy" colored lure.
I've never caught a fish on a Zoom soft plastic other than flukes or grubs.
joshholmes reply :
i have 2 low confidence baits, jigs and anything on a dropshot. jig fishing and dropshotting dont feel natural to me like a lipless crank or any soft plastic feels. i have a medium amount of confidence in deep diving cranks but their not and probably wont ever be a go to bait for me.
dhami013 reply :
You know I've heard people talk about drop shotting but it just doesn't seem appealing. I'm sure I'll try it this summer though. I'm really looking to expand that way I don't get locked into one way of fishing. I've seen it happen to plenty of people. And I almost got stuck in just using a bullet weight and a t-rigged plastic. Past couple of times out, I start with a spinner which I hate, then after 20 mins or so I switch to the weightless senko. Something I've read about but never tried.
And the season has only begun. Gotta keep the options open.
JaxBasser reply :
Spinnerbaits!
I'll be throwing them in what seems to be perfect conditions and can never catch a thing. I'll throw a fluke or some other plastic in the same spots I was fishing the spinner and catch fish right away.
The closest I've come this year is having a bass chase my spinner and miss it.
dhami013 reply :
On 5/20/2011 at 10:30 AM, JaxBasser said:Spinnerbaits!
I'll be throwing them in what seems to be perfect conditions and can never catch a thing. I'll throw a fluke or some other plastic in the same spots I was fishing the spinner and catch fish right away.
The closest I've come this year is having a bass chase my spinner and miss it.
Yeah man, definitely know where you're coming from on that one. It seems like every bait is "the most versatile bait" then you try things like the spinner bait and nada.
Fishing Doug reply :
Ika
Sloan reply :
Crankbaits for me. I can have people all around me catching fish on them and I won't get a bite. That and purple worms. Alway hear thats a good color but never get bit with them. Must be a confidence thing
fishingkidPA reply :
On 5/19/2011 at 1:34 AM, ChiCityBasser said:Inline spinners are not a friend of mine and have been barred from my tackle box!!
i love inline spinners, i catch way more on inline that my offset.
AndyPlaysDrums reply :
On 5/20/2011 at 11:27 AM, Fishing Doug said:Ika
I'm with you, so far, on that.
dhami013 reply :
Caught something a spinner bait, I caught a chain pickerel today. Also had a lot of luck on crank baits today. Bought a 3 set of bombers cranks you can get it a Dick's for 10 bucks, which is pretty cheap. So I got suckered in and bought them. So glad I did. I was killing them on those cranks. And the colors are great for all day. You've got one for each part of the day.
JaxBasser reply :
I caught a bass on a crank today! A nice 3lber on a KVD 1.5 in bluegill color. I also caught a HUGE mudfish on that same crank.....lol. Now if I could just catch something on a spinnerbait.....
BassThumb reply :
Deep cranks(10+) - I don't have any confidence or patience for deep cranking, and that probably why I don't catch any fish with them. Instead, I use heavy spinnerbaits in deep cranking situations.
Hollow bodied swimbaits - I've had a few good days with the Money Minnow, but more often than not, I can't get a bite on them.
Red Bug colored plastics - Soft plastics with green flakes are some of my favorites, but not Red Bug. Funny, since it's a very popular color nationally.
Hound_dog reply :
Swimbaits are my weak point.
As for the guys having problems with spinnerbaits my experience is that the type and combination of blades is a big influence into if they are productive or not. There have been times where I would be throwing one combination of blades and catching them and my fishing buddy would be throwing the same color and weight with different blades and not catching a single fish. Next time you think they should be hitting a spinner bait try a different blade combo. I own over 100 different spinnerbaits with various blade combinations. I have a spinner bait tied on year round and they produce for me year round.
Flangler reply :
On 5/16/2011 at 8:24 PM, SausageFingers said:For me, its lipless crankbaits. Just not confident with one. I was able to break the ice with a one-knocker this spring. Im hoping I can build on it.
Xcalibur one knocker? If so, those are great lures!
Nice_Bass reply :
Most folks issues I have seen in my life with both swimbaits and spinnerbaits is that they think of them as chuck and wind baits. In reality, they need to be fished at the correct depths for the targeted structure, speeds, etc. Blades on spinner baits in my opinion only matter in the amount of lift they provide the bait, not really the action/disturbance a particular blade causes in the water (I may get crucified for that statement, but that is my experience with these)- Fall may be a different scenario though in regards to open water fishing and winding through bait schools… Anyhow, I have caught fish and from time to time using a drop shot- but line twist seems to be my enemy, and I usually switch to a bit different bait.
Lesley reply :
On 5/16/2011 at 11:47 AM, dhami013 said:... and I still cannot get a spinner bait to work for me. I am making it a goal to try new techniques this summer ....
Offset spinnerbait with large fin or multiple blades works best for me if I am in a boat retrieving from shore. Inline spinnerbait works best for me if I am standing on shore with no cover retrieving parallel to the shore. Offset spinnerbaits called beetlebaits work best for me if I am on shore and drop them under cover.
My worst performing are deep cranks (digs up weeds) and jigs (how are you supposed to jig from shore anyway?).
OHIO reply :
On 5/25/2011 at 2:17 AM, Lesley said:My worst performing are deep cranks (digs up weeds) and jigs (how are you supposed to jig from shore anyway?).
I had to learn to do this too. You can't really flip or pitch, or at least I can't.
When I first heard about jigs I thought the only purpose for them was to flip and pitch, but I was way wrong.
When I fish jigs from shore, I either swim them or crawl them on the bottom with a craw trailer always on.
I also fish them on top sometimes, but not a lot. There are so many different ways to fish a jig.
Just go out and experiment and I guarantee you'll catch fish.
J Francho reply :
You can't pitch jigs from shore? Why? I've been catching bass everyday at lunch, pitching jigs to beds from shore.
lynyrdsky1 reply :
For me it's the dropshot but this is probably cause I don't throw it much.
Spinnerbaits (if you use it right) should be easy to catch fish with. But then again, it's what you have confidence in. I keep seeing people that say they can't catch fish on a spinnerbait or a carolina rig but those are the 2 baits I always have tied on. Again, it is just what I have confidence in.
Gangley reply :
Cigar Style Top Waters.
I have one tied on most times and try them quite often, but I just can't seem to get a bite on one. I've become proficient enough to walk them with ease, even getting them to almost do 180's on command. However hard I try though, I get no love from Zara Spooks, Torpedos, Devil's Horse, etc.
justin apfel reply :
On 5/16/2011 at 11:41 PM, Stasher1 said:For me it's the Senko. I have a ton of the stupid things, but the only thing I can catch with them is water.
I'm sure there's something simple that I'm missing, but I don't really care enough to bother with them anymore. I'll just stick to other lures that actually work for me.
I have a technique that is deadly for me. I usually fish from a kayak or a boat so I line myself up parallel to the bank. I fish a gary yamamoto senko, usually june bug color, weightless on a 3/0 hook. Let it sink to the bottom and give it a fast pull and let it sink back down. They'll hit it on the downfall and your line will start running. I usually cast about 3-5 feet from the bank. I do really well with this technique early spring through summer
bassnleo reply :
Every "Technique" has it's place and time. Within each technique, there could be hundreds of bait choices to use.
That's what makes bass fishing so fun for me. Trying to first figure out what technique will work and within that technique, what bait to throw to acheive the desired results.
I've said this before, IMHO, the best fisherman are the ones that can look at the day and all the components of that day, and pick a technique and location given the time of year, and put bass in the boat.
It's not about the right bait, it's about about using the right bait and technique at the right time.
dhami013 reply :
On 5/26/2011 at 9:19 AM, bassnleo said:Every "Technique" has it's place and time. Within each technique, there could be hundreds of bait choices to use.
That's what makes bass fishing so fun for me. Trying to first figure out what technique will work and within that technique, what bait to throw to acheive the desired results.
I've said this before, IMHO, the best fisherman are the ones that can look at the day and all the components of that day, and pick a technique and location given the time of year, and put bass in the boat.
It's not about the right bait, it's about about using the right bait and technique at the right time.
Too true, I strayed away from anything but soft plastics for awhile and have began to pick up my cranks again. I'm doing pretty well. And I actually caught a fish on a spinner the other day. Though it was a chain pick and not a bass. It was a good fight, and now I'm enticed to fish them more. I plan on going to buy a couple tomorrow before I go out.
If I could get spinners down, I'd have a pretty good skill set going.
BrianSnat reply :
I've never done well with jigs or deep running crankbaits.
Captin Obvious reply :
My last nemesis bait was the Fluke and only because I hadn't put the time in.
Other than that no lure or technique has ever eluded me for long.
I always fish something new in a small pond with easy to catch bass. Once I get a few in there I take it out to the big lakes.
Now that does not mean every bait is my strength and that I'm great with all of them. What it does mean that If I need to I can do it.
I'm also not one of those guys who won't fish something because its to slow or fast.
To me a lure is a tool and a tool needs to be used in the right way to catch fish.
Don't give up. take it to a small pond catch a few and get back out there because then you will have confidence in it.
Capt.O
OHIO reply :
On 5/26/2011 at 4:26 AM, J Francho said:You can't pitch jigs from shore? Why? I've been catching bass everyday at lunch, pitching jigs to beds from shore.
I didn't mean it wasn't possible, I just meant that there isn't a reason for me to do it.
dhami013 reply :
Just caught my PB tonight on a white terminator spinner bait, between 8-9lbs. My scale is kinda old and the spring holds a little too tight. I think it may have been more. But it was a shock to catch such a big fish on a new bait. I was stoked. Thought my Medium rod was gunna snap. Such a great fight.
Lake Forest Bassin reply :
Spinner bait's and lip-less cranks are the ones I can't catch a cold on.
BTW Congratz on the Hawg!! 
dhami013 reply :
I think the scale is off, it's the spring one it was real close to 9. She didn't quite have the length but she definitely had the girth. She was fat.
PondBoss reply :
Carolina Rig, Drop Shot, and Deep Crankin my guess though is these are "typically" either deep water applications or more vertical. I typically fish from the bank, so I'm way out of practice with these presentations.
To the OP though, Jimmy Houston once told me to real a spinner bait so that you can just see the blades flickering. The water clarity will dictate how deep you can fish your bait. I have always listened to his advice when fishing a spinner bait and have always done well with them.
Scorcher214 reply :
I also have the inability to catch anything on a tube bait.
Nick reply :
For all you feckless Flukers, I wish I could take you out for a day of catching. You could really improve your technique, because success with the Fluke is based on several angler initiated movements, many which are overdone or not done at all. Far and away, the fluke does its best in warm and shallow water worked close to cover. Many days in clear, moving water, it may be the best lure choice.
JDuncan reply :
I'm certain a lot of people would say banjo minnow.
dhami013 reply :
On 5/31/2011 at 10:03 AM, Nick said:For all you feckless Flukers, I wish I could take you out for a day of catching. You could really improve your technique, because success with the Fluke is based on several angler initiated movements, many which are overdone or not done at all. Far and away, the fluke does its best in warm and shallow water worked close to cover. Many days in clear, moving water, it may be the best lure choice.
Would you be willing to share some of the angler initiated movements? I've never used a fluke, heard of people doing really well with them.
stkbassn reply :
I'm with you and everyone else, some things just don't work me either.
I hate the drop shot...hate it ! It doesn't work for me. Neither do flukes....can't stand em'.
I do love the spinnerbait though! I will say I've had more success on a War Eagle Spinnerbait than any other spinnerbait I've ever tried. I think it's the wire that's used with this bait that gives it more vibration. If you dare, give War Eagle a try ! if you haven't already.
I'd say don't give up on the blade but I gave up on drop shots and flukes and all finesse fishing so who am I to talk! HA. Good luck !
dhami013 reply :
It's been about a week since I've been on the water and I'm dying to fish.
Having a bad case of withdrawals. I've been with family in KY and have been on this site quite a lot.
Ha cannot wait to get back to VA and slay some fish.
Since the OP I've really picked up using spinners and chatterbaits. I just had to get a good color and blade combo tied with the way to fish it. The night I caught my PB. My fishing partner and I had unknowingly both tied on white spinners with 2 willows at the same time. We both were catching fish and realized we were using the same thing.
It was a good laugh and a good time. Just hoping to do it again soon. Hope everyone is giving the bait that never worked another try as I did. And I hope you all have some good luck.
Tight lines Gents.
Steven Dauster reply :
No matter what I do on a regular senko of any color I cant buy a fish all my friends and everywhere I read it supposedly "fool proof" and a thousand different ways to fish it. But ribbontails I seem to be much better w/ and the only technique ive found to work for spinnerbaits is when the suns at its highest and its the hottest part of summer I just throw it over open deep waters and burn it back to shore for the short time its stays above 95 here in NJ the spinner is my go to if that helps anyone having touble w/ em spinnerbaits seem to be the only thing im well versed in
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