RandyCompass

This has happened to me many times. What has often saved the day after multiple hours of no fish, is a drastic switch in color, speed or water depth. By habit, I like light lures, fast retrieves and shallow water. I hate fishing slow - with dark colors, in deep water - but sometimes it works. And then there are some days - where nothing works and you just take a deep breath, and enjoy the quiet and the outdoors.

I have seen other fish school and fly down rivers or along the shore before, but not small mouth. That doesn't mean they don't do it, I just have not seen. My only thought on the topic is that they are migrating to new waters for the season - warmer, cooler, deeper, shallower, etc...

I can relate... For me, I try to keep my equipment list on the short side, so it is easy to pack-up, leaving as much of it in the truck and boat as possible, and then have a cup off coffee or get a few minutes of exercise to wake-up :-). That usually will make it easy enough, and I'll be awake enough to take the next step and go. One other thing that works for me - look at some photos of big fish!