IDK guys, i thought i  couldf ish pretty well but so far this season iv fished 4 days and all 4 days i have been skunked, im seeing fish jumping,seeing fish but i just cant get a bite idk whats up,i've tried plastic worms, crank baits, jitter bugs, spinner baits and i havent even had a strike this year I don't understand guys what am I doing wrong? now ididnt have a verity of colors i had a smallammount to work with as far as tackle but still..... fish crawfish color crank, green/orange spinner, green jitter bug, blue flaked cigar soft worms.....

Hang in there, nothing stays the same forever.

 

Many years ago my mentor spent his vacation at his mother's cottage on a large lake here and was skunked eight consecutive days. When he finally caught something he was met with a loud round of applause from the folks on shore.

The fishing here is slowly picking up after all the torrential rain. The day before yesterday the bass wanted an in-line white spinner. Today I picked up seven on a small single blade spinnerbait. The color of preference was a white head and skirt with a fluorescent red Colorado blade for thump. You just have to keep experimenting. You'll soon crack the code.

Hang in there. I've gone a handful of times this year and got skunked, but today my fortunes changed.

I agree....Hang in there. My first three trips out this year were met with absolutely not so much as a hit. Big goose eggs. Then yesterday, I laid them out on a lake I had never fished. I finally found something they would hit. Funny thing is, they probably wouldn't hit that same lure today. Try not to get to discouraged. They'll come around eventually.

jerk bait jerk bait jerk bait in my opinion thats the best cold water bait i live in ks so we have to fish it alot due to cold weather months and if u have any questions pm me or youtube it great in 45 to 60 degree waters they look like injured bait fish and bass cant resist it. it will get the skunk out of the boat

Try smaller baits.  Fish generally in the spring are reluctant to hit, and small baits can sometimes

get that hit.  Finesse it with no splash, and soft entry.

I feel your pain i fished my first tournament a few days ago and didnt even get a bite. There were very few fish brought to the scales but most of them were caught on jerkbaits.

alright guys thanks for all the tips, i wont get discouraged, ill be back on the water today, if mother natures wants to allow it, looking a bit like rain, and wont have a chance to go until about 3 or 4

Keep at it buddy.  Sometimes you get a stretch of days like this.  As crazy as this sounds don't think about catching fish per-se but think about working the lure properly.  Practicing how you are fishing the lure will help you not only master that lure but teach you the subtle feel of the lure.  When there is a difference it could mean a bass.

 

Maybe this will make you feel better ... Yesterday I was out fishing and my buddy was catching them on one lure.  No matter what I threw I couldn't catch a thing.  He asked if I wanted to try his lure.  I said sure and we switched rods.  Within 10 casts he caught a fish on MY setup.  What a kick in the YOU KNOW WHERE!

 

You just have to love fishing ... sometimes you are just not meant to catch em'  

Keep at it buddy.  Sometimes you get a stretch of days like this.  As crazy as this sounds don't think about catching fish per-se but think about working the lure properly.  Practicing how you are fishing the lure will help you not only master that lure but teach you the subtle feel of the lure.  When there is a difference it could mean a bass.

 

Maybe this will make you feel better ... Yesterday I was out fishing and my buddy was catching them on one lure.  No matter what I threw I couldn't catch a thing.  He asked if I wanted to try his lure.  I said sure and we switched rods.  Within 10 casts he caught a fish on MY setup.  What a kick in the YOU KNOW WHERE!

 

You just have to love fishing ... sometimes you are just not meant to catch em'  

i kno thats right, oh i love to be on the water weather im catchin or not, nice and relaxing

It happens. It happens to everyone. Keep on keepin' on!

It happens all the time but most of us are too embarrassed to let the rest of you know!

 

I know it happens to me. The last two weeks I said "the heck with it!". I decided that I was going to throw a 1/2 oz Rat'L'Trap until I got bit. And I finally did. But I had a mindset of "if I can't catch them on this, I can't catch them at all."

 

I made a ton of casts in relation to the few that I caught, but it broke a cold streak for me and gave me some confidence. Just one fish on the line fixes everything.

I'm glad I'm not the only one.

This weather is just rough on the fishing here. We cant string together a solid number of decent days to fish. 

Hey bud, i had a slump that lasted for all of 2007!!! It gets better. 2008 and 2009 were my best two years ever...

Be patient, sometimes on the water we DONT think about the stuff we read on here or sound fundamentals, we just go with the moment. If going with the moment doesnt work within the first hour, drop back and punt. Meaning; sit down, put the rod down, and answer some fundamental questions. What season is it, what are the fish normally doing, what signs am i seeing, whats the water temp, what forage have i seen or do i know whats here?

Answer those questions and dont be affraid to do something that you dont like or dont completely understand. Make a point cast fewer times, but make them accurate and give the lures a soft landing. Focus on exact technique...try other presentains.. and remember to focus on where the fish are in the water colum, not where you want them to be.

And if all else fails, just whip out your smart phone and make a "help me post on BR" and somone will respond.

Good luck buddy... and one more thing...when it doubt, slow down

Here is what I do when the bite is tough:

 

First of all Flourocarbon. It is the single most important thing in my whole setup. 4# for small grubs 8-10# for other plastics. 

 

Try smaller baits. Soft plastics on small hooks, small senkos(3-4 inchers). In other words FINESSE!!!

 

SLOW DOWN. By slow down I mean moving the bait not more than 2 inches in places you know hold fish. 2 inches and long wait periods are the difference between catching one(even if its a dink a catch in a tough day always brings joy and knowledge) or getting skunked.

 

If the bite is tough reaction baits are not the best way to go. 

 

EDIT: it also seems to me that you are changing between a lot of different lures when thing arent going you way. Pick a lure and stick with it. Maybe try a different stop with plenty of cover. 

it's been tough here in  knoxville, too.  the weather has been erratic & has got them screwed up.  local wildcat starts thursday night, so i hope to get 'em dialed in.  i should have those new crazy running rapalas by then.  i plan on slinging the snot out of 'em.