We have all had days on the lake where nothing is working.  Your running out of time in the tournament and no fish in the livewell. 2 hours to go before weigh in.  What are you going to throw to catch a fish? 

strike king ocho or zoom finesse worm.

I don't tournament fish, but if it's been one of those days, I would throw a 5" green pumpkin Senko on a wacky rig.

that's a vague question, and can be answered 100 different ways, each of which could be the right answer.  depends on the body of water, time of year, what the fish are doing, etc.

black zoom trick worm.

either c-rigged or shaky head near docks.

Boy a lot of things to consider here.  I guess overall I would throw a 3 inch grub an a jig head as light as I could use that day.

black zoom trick worm.

either c-rigged or shaky head nead docks.

x2, in our neck of the woods.

i can tell you from experience.... by then i have tried everything that i think will land a fish...

what i do throw at that point..

is a wacky rigged 4" senko in pumpkin w/grn & black, a zoom finesse worm in green pumpkin magic or a zoom u-tail in watermelon seed.

that's a vague question, and can be answered 100 different ways, each of which could be the right answer. depends on the body of water, time of year, what the fish are doing, etc.

Exactly.

The knee-jerk reaction to a question like that is a finesse presentation for negative fish.

I can't tell you how many times it took a fast aggressive retrieve to turn the trick.

Roger

And the reality is, sometimes fish just won't hit anything that isn't alive..which is the worst scenairo in the world..

I would go inline spinner or a small finesse worm.

Question.... if you guys would throw all this because nothing else worked, and you're running out of time, why not just use it from the beginning?

that's a vague question, and can be answered 100 different ways, each of which could be the right answer. depends on the body of water, time of year, what the fish are doing, etc.

Exactly.

The knee-jerk reaction to a question like that is a finesse presentation for negative fish.

I can't tell you how many times it took a fast aggressive retrieve to turn the trick.

Roger

I have had those days where nothing worked till I pulled out the x rap xr10 and worked it as fast and as aggressive as I possibly could, really get the forearms to burning but its worth it.

Question.... if you guys would throw all this because nothing else worked, and you're running out of time, why not just use it from the beginning?

2x

rapala F9 in silver or minnow.

Boy a lot of things to consider here. I guess overall I would throw a 3 inch grub an a jig head as light as I could use that day.

My favorite is a black/yellow eye jig with either a smoke or pumpkinseed 3" grub.

Question.... if you guys would throw all this because nothing else worked, and you're running out of time, why not just use it from the beginning?

In my case  - inlines and smaller worms tend to be dink magnets.   They wouldn't be my first choice for catching good sized bass but I think they stand a better chance of catching something.

Dropshot.

Question.... if you guys would throw all this because nothing else worked, and you're running out of time, why not just use it from the beginning?

In my case, because a dropshot is not the best presentation for big fish. Since it is a slow, methodical technique, it is not the best for covering water, nor is it the best for catching many fish in short succession if the bite isnt wide open. Also, the dropshot really shines during mid day when the fish are deeper and less active.

I throw my gear in the truck and go get a beer or three.....

with no fish and two hours left I would fish fast moving baits and cover as much water as I could. Reason being, what every pattern I was on...was not working. Happened to me last Sunday. I managed 1 keeper with 1 hour left. Not great but every pound counts at the end...

a watermelon blk flake yamamoto hula grub on a football head jig drug across the bottom.  It will load the boat fast for me when I cant get bit power fishing.

dynamite?

I will throw a Senko texas rigger

Question.... if you guys would throw all this because nothing else worked, and you're running out of time, why not just use it from the beginning?

good question.

but really i think it comes down to size of fish. many want to go out and power fish and get the 3-6lbers and then find a kicker. but if all that fails and you got two hours left... downsizing and using a technique that is more of a numbers thing is the way to go.

most reach for a senko. you know you can catch SOMETHING on a senko...i personally go for the trick worm. its my senko.

if the fishing is so tough for you that youre not catching them cranking or jigging or whatever "big fish" tactic you started with... chances are it  is tough for the rest of the field too.  better to put five 2lbers in the boat and try to make a top 5 then keep going for those fish that havent responded all day.

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