Stubborn to a fault or determined to overcome? 2024
Eric J reply :
I posted a couple days ago about the local lake I frequent the most and how the bite has died post spawn. I've been skunked or near skunked four sessions in a row. Going out Monday and thought about going to the mountains to fish the lakes about 15 miles north of me.
But...
A huge part of me wants to keep working my local to figure it out and I guess to learn, this at the risk of another no hitter...
So... Am I stubborn to a fault or determined to overcome?
Eric J
jbmaine reply :
You know there are bass in there.
you know they have to eat.
Nothing wrong about putting the time in to figure out what works.
greentrout reply :
If you are having fun...stay with it...it will turn...me...as another poster earlier said try some small rivers and creeks...bass tend to be more aggressive...I'm gonna start doing some marsh fishing...different set of challenges...
good fishing....
Eric J reply :
Definitely bass in there... I've done very well even landing a PB. It's a great lake for bank fisherman with a very accessible walkable bank. Even backdoor pond and secret spots through the Woods.
Think I'll try topwater Monday. Something I haven't spent time with...
keagbassr reply :
Keep going back. Best thing you can do is see your local waters in all their seasons to try and figure out what works when so as to create a library of info in your head that you can work off of for years to come.
papajoe222 reply :
The most rewarding aspect of this sport is figuring out where the bass are and what it takes to get them to bite. The only way to accomplish that is to keep trying and in doing so learning. You know where they spawn and what it took to catch them. If you're going to the same areas with the same lures, you'll fail the majority of the summer. Where would they likely migrate to on that body of water? What is the predominate forage in there? Two basic questions and when you learn the answers, you have the biggest part of the puzzle figured out.
Keep at it, the rewards await.
Bluebasser86 reply :
One of my favorite lakes used to (and occasionally still does), beat me badly. I'd go with high hopes of catching the monsters I heard so much about, and often leave early with my tail between my legs with little to show for my efforts. I kept going back, kept chipping away, and I'm certainly still learning it, but now I have people wanting to go with me to see how I'm catching all the big fish I catch from the lake.
If you know they're in there and have the desire to learn it, then keep going.
thinkingredneck reply :
I live on a reservoir that some consider difficult, and it is ten times harder than where I fished when I lived in Florida. However, I can finally catch some nice Bass, most of the time if I play it right. It is seldom "easy" for me, however. I get a better sense of accomplishment on the rez than when I fish easier ponds or lakes. My advice is hang in there. I also advise a kayak ot float tube or small boat.
Eric J reply :
On 6/10/2018 at 2:52 PM, Bluebasser86 said:One of my favorite lakes used to (and occasionally still does), beat me badly. I'd go with high hopes of catching the monsters I heard so much about, and often leave early with my tail between my legs with little to show for my efforts. I kept going back, kept chipping away, and I'm certainly still learning it, but now I have people wanting to go with me to see how I'm catching all the big fish I catch from the lake.
If you know they're in there and have the desire to learn it, then keep going.
Thanks... and they are definitely in there. I did very well during spawn. I definitely want to learn this lake through each season. Tomorrow I'm out there with topwaters, a lure type I haven't spent any real time with. We'll see how it goes...
On 6/10/2018 at 6:00 PM, thinkingredneck said:I live on a reservoir that some consider difficult, and it is ten times harder than where I fished when I lived in Florida. However, I can finally catch some nice Bass, most of the time if I play it right. It is seldom "easy" for me, however. I get a better sense of accomplishment on the rez than when I fish easier ponds or lakes. My advice is hang in there. I also advise a kayak ot float tube or small boat.
A kayak is planned for next season. While I enjoy an "easy" day on the lake I relish challenges and working for that catch.
So tomorrow it's out to the local with frogs and other topwaters.
geo g reply :
You know where they live, and what they like. The only thing I would add is to slow way down, and lighten up on the weight, so you get a slow fall through the water column, and more natural action by the bait with the very light weight on the line. Just like a dying fish, a couple of small jerks, and then let it sit. On tough days it usually works for me. Good baits are senko type baits, centipedes, flukes, trick worms, beavers, Texas Rigged weightless or with a 1/32 weight. Also Try a wacky rigged trick worm or senko.
ww2farmer reply :
My home lake will get the best of me a couple times a year. For example:
This year, early May, I go to catching 100 bass in a day, with multiple 6lbers, and 11 fish over 5lbs..............to the last two weeks where I struggle to put five keeper fish in the boat.
Or take mid-late summer 2016...I won four tournaments in a row on this lake with 18-20lb bags.....then put up a long string of terrible finishes stretching well into the 2017 tournament season.
It's just how it goes. I am pretty versatile, but I get curve balls that I can't hit all the time. That's one reason I drive a garbage truck for a living, instead of a wrapped bass boat.
Todd2 reply :
This year has been a strange one for me. Every time I go out, I have a different thing that works. The Ned rig, one day in particular, was the only thing that seemed to work. I had a really good day when everyone else seemed to struggle. I've had days where they were only hitting a Mepps, one day crankbait, last night I was out until about 3 and found a pretty good C-Rig bite after dark. Next time, who knows? But it's fun trying to figure it out.
Koz reply :
The post spawn lull just finished in my area. Things are starting to get fun again!
Mike L reply :
Sometimes we're all stubborn to a fault and determined, so what's wrong with that?
If it was easy every time we went and didn't have to think about it, I wonder how long it would be before we just stopped trying.
Mike
Graham reply :
Hey Eric, the post spawn fishing in general has been whooping me. I can relate. In a bit of a funk, but you gotta fish through it and learn to adapt. It’s not that I’ve been completely skunked but I haven’t caught anything over a few pounds in 2 weeks, and it’s starting to mess with my head. Keep us updated, I’m sure you will get on some good ones soon!
NHBull reply :
I love a challenge and post spawn can slowdown. Use it as a learning experience.
WRB reply :
The lake I fish regularly is a tough lake with very short active periods, if you are not in tune it's a long day for everyone.
Tom
Eric J reply :
Just got back from this morning's outing. Fished a Popr, a frog and a Sexy Dawg. Spent a bit over an hour each with the popr and the frog. Had a very tough time getting the feel for the popr, its a Clear Lake I received in my LTB box. Need to watch a few videos as I didn't think I was retrieving correctly and there was almost no splash.
Do you jerk them or just straight retrieve?
I feel like I worked the Delta frog better but had no luck with either. I was working the cover deep with the frog but nothing.
The Sexy Dawg I was really just curious about the action. Spent about twenty minutes with it.
Hoping to head out again this evening...
Eric J
tcal4404 reply :
I tie braid direct to a pop-r and can get it to splash or just do a slight twitch. I like that it can be more more subtly as the slight twitches right over their heads gets them to react sometimes.
I was in the same situation in post spawn funk. Decided to try a much larger body of water figuring it'd be cooler and further behind in the cycle and was able to find some hungry fish up shallow, on a jerkbait.
Catt reply :
Sometimes when a particular body of water is giving me hard time I'll switch to a different body of water just to put fish in boat. Refresh my mind & refine my trigger finger!
Junger reply :
On 6/11/2018 at 11:08 PM, Eric J said:Had a very tough time getting the feel for the popr, its a Clear Lake I received in my LTB box. Need to watch a few videos as I didn't think I was retrieving correctly and there was almost no splash.
Do you jerk them or just straight retrieve?
I love popper fishing, it's an efficient way to present a lure in my opinion. I hardly ever lose a popper, there's no doubt if you get a strike or not, and it's so entertaining to watch the lure get inhaled and taken under. To me, poppers either represent dying or fleeing baitfish, and those will determine how you present the popper.
Popping - To me, popping or making the lure "bloop" is presenting them as dying baitfish and I prefer this 90% of the time, it is an easy snack for a predator fish and you can keep it in the strike zone for a long period of time. The action on your rod should be slight jerks on slack line to give the lure a "bloop", how hard you jerk can determine how loud it pops, with some other factors involved, such as water chop and wind. I think slack line works the best because you're accelerating the line with the jerk and all the force hits the lure at once, which in turn forces the water to move very quickly through the cup of the face of the popper.
Spitting - To me, spitting the popper, or a walking the dog motion represents a fleeing baitfish. This works when the fish are more active and you also need to cover more ground to find that strike zone. Some poppers have less cup in the face, and are made to spit more than pop. I jerk it on line with no slack in it to get them to spit. Contrasting with what I said above, you're accelerating your line and the lure at the same time so it's continually moving water through the cup face instead of all at once.
Each lure takes different action, so just keep practicing, watch some Zell Rowland youtube videos for tips, and keep at it. Good luck!
bhoff reply :
Would say that determination/persistence is a very key trait to have when bass fishing. If everyone was to quit the first time they come back empty-handed, there wouldn't be a forum like this. Stick to it and figure them out, it will feel all the better once you set the hook.
Fairtax4me reply :
Persistence will pay off and changing up lures and retrieve will show you what the fish want.
That also somewhat Depends on what kind of structure is in the lake. I fish a few small ponds on the regular and in summer the bass get deep into the grass in the middle of the ponds during the day. Occasionally I see them out cruising around mid day, but they aren't usually interested in eating, just taking a peek at what's out and about.
Early morning and late evening are your best times for summer top water. Or a cloudy day. If the sun is out, something swimming at mid depth, or something that works on the bottom is usually the ticket.
If you have grass in your lake, weightless worms/creature baits, spinner baits, or rattle traps worked on the edges of the grass may produce a few bites for you.
StrikePrince reply :
On 6/10/2018 at 2:52 PM, Bluebasser86 said:One of my favorite lakes used to (and occasionally still does), beat me badly. I'd go with high hopes of catching the monsters I heard so much about, and often leave early with my tail between my legs with little to show for my efforts. I kept going back, kept chipping away, and I'm certainly still learning it, but now I have people wanting to go with me to see how I'm catching all the big fish I catch from the lake.
If you know they're in there and have the desire to learn it, then keep going.
Curious what adjustments you made in your techniqe or outlook that allowed you to turn the corner and have more success at that lake?
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 6/12/2018 at 6:19 AM, StrikePrince said:Curious what adjustments you made in your techniqe or outlook that allowed you to turn the corner and have more success at that lake?
I learned the when, what, and where of the lake after years of trying. I learned they had very specific taste and developed baits just for them. I've been fishing it for 18 years and I'm still learning new tricks everytime I go there, just a very weird lake.
Quarry Man reply :
if it is pressured lake, throw stuff others aren't, like drop shots and other finesse baits.
LionHeart reply :
Just my experience but I have had some pretty tough days on my local lake. I keep going back because it is so close to my house. It can definitely get discouraging if you have a string of unproductive trips to the same place.
There is a pond near my work that I fish on lunch breaks some times and can dependably catch at least one fish per trip. This helps tremendously as far as confidence goes.
Give the new spot a try. It may be even worse, but it could be a great spot.
As far as fishing a popper goes, I typically try to give it an erratic set of pops/twitches, then pause for 3-4 seconds. 5-6 twitches, pause, 2-3 twitches, pause, 6-7 pops, pause, so on and so forth. One of my favorite lures.
ClackerBuzz reply :
On 6/10/2018 at 10:45 PM, geo g said:You know where they live, and what they like. The only thing I would add is to slow way down, and lighten up on the weight, so you get a slow fall through the water column, and more natural action by the bait with the very light weight on the line. Just like a dying fish, a couple of small jerks, and then let it sit. On tough days it usually works for me. Good baits are senko type baits, centipedes, flukes, trick worms, beavers, Texas Rigged weightless or with a 1/32 weight. Also Try a wacky rigged trick worm or senko.
This.
OP your post spawn is my year round life. I live on a lake with brutal conditions and had to develop a system (even live bait was barely producing).
1- light lures, light line and long casts. my lure of choice has become a 1" nail weight in a 6" zoom trick worm. there is just something so appealing to bass about the way it glides down on a 45 degree angle. and if you sweep it forward 4ft it glides back at them which they aren't used to.
2-retrieve: deadsticking is an understatement. these bass will NOT hit a lure on the fall so it's going to be a long day if you keep casting for it. you need it to settle to bottom and sit a minimum of 60 seconds before even thinking about moving it only 6 inch. when the bite is 'aggressive' it's a minimum 2 min cast with the bite coming on the second drag. when it's bad go ahead and cast the rod, set it down, fish a second rod before going back working the first rod 3-4 mins later. brutal.
3-an anchor is mandatory. you can't do the retrieve above unless ur boat is stationary. drifting with the wind is far too fast and unnatural, i know b/c i've tried it hundreds of times when i give up for the day and drift home (although crappie love it).
exciting way to fish? not on ur life. but man does it taste sweet when you catch bass and especially sweet when you trick the big ones.
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