Hey everyone, 

So there’s this local large pond/small lake that I used to fish at quite regularly. It receives a lot of pressure from fishermen, but most people have been throwing the same types of lures for the past couple decades, leading to a QUITE satisfying amount of large (albeit very smart & cautious) bass. they will RARELY strike at any fast-moving, flashy lures as they will just become spooked. I found a few years back that slowly-retrieved jigs work far better than any other lure I have tried (Texas rigs are far too common & overused at this lake, and I personally am not a big fan of crankbaits). 

I haven’t been fishing in about 2 years, and I’m getting a little into it this summer. I’ve been out to this lake maybe 4-5 times so far this season, and I have yet to catch ANYTHING. The water is very clear and filled with weed beds or lily pads at almost all angles; I usually fish around sunset at one of the 3 creeks that the current pushes into, or at an open area full of submerged rocks where the bass used to regularly feed. What gives? I’ve had about one bite this year. 

Are you sure nobody has been catching those bass? Might be people catching and keeping them that are knocking the numbers down a bit. 

Try fishing at night.

Bass tend to move based on weather conditions and seasonal patterns.  Another major factor that plays into their migratory patterns is the stage of spawn they are in.  

Try mixing up the baits you're throwing.   Swimbait, retrieved it right above the weeds.   Rat l trap, yo yo retrieve it so it falls into the weeds and then rip it out. wacky rigged senko or fish topwater at dusk.  Good luck!

It happens. I went to my standby pond full of stunted stupid bass and large bluegill Thursday. It's a place where I expect 15-20 fish in a few hours. First trip around the pond I got 2 tiny bass, 1 decent bass and a large bluegill. Mind you, I was bass fishing. Second trip around, just as the shadows were falling and I had changed over to topwaters, I got a goose egg. Had I just shown up for sundown, I would have endured a skunk. Bass weren't even interested in a frog in the lilies. Unheard of.

 

Go somewhere else for a couple trips.