I live on Lake Erie and often fish a hand shaped lagoon/marina that has plenty of largemouth most of the year. There are lots of lilly pads, docks, and overhanging trees, but the bottom composition is just mud. For the past couple weeks the bass moved off of the dying lilly pads and under the docks. Now the dock skipping bite has gone cold and there have been giant bait balls pushed up in the far back fingers of the lagoon. They're very little minnow like bait fish and definitely being chased by something, as you can see them flying all over the place and getting hit up out of the water. I have tried sticking near these bait balls, but have had no luck. I've ran spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, mid diving cranks, whopper ploppers, and jerkbaits through the bait balls without even a nibble. Is there anything else that works better for this specific situation? Im starting to wonder if it is a different species that has them pinned up and the bass are elsewhere? Any advice is appreciated. 

Probably Emerald shiners and lots of predators feed on them.

My 1st choice in the fall with bass feeding on bait fish is structure spoons. Simple spoon to try is a Kastmaster 3/8 oz gold with green. Cast to the boils and let it sink on a controlled slack line. Set the hook when the spoon stops falling.

Tom

I always first go for the typical options but I have a lake nearby that is loaded with threadfin and catching schoolers can be next to impossible.  Since my obsessive compulsive nature won’t let me quit trying, I’ll share two off the wall ideas, one I have tried and the other I may try this fall.  
 

In shallower water, I have used a split shot with a floating bait (ElaZtech StreakZ 3.75”) and a long leader, nose hooked with a #1 or 1/0 drop shot hook.  Letting it float up into the bait and twitching has worked pretty well.

 

Before I get crap on my next idea, did I mention I am obsessive compulsive and can’t leave schooling fish?  Though I haven’t tried this (yet), I would think floating a slip rig through the bait balls might work.  I know it has a bobber and may require me wearing a skirt but it works in salt water.  Did I mention I am obsessive compulsive.

Sounds like you've already shown them something different than the baitfish, so it might be time to try and match them as close as possible. 

 

When the smallmouth here get on the baby shad or shiner bite, a Zman TRD minnow swam along quickly where they're feeding on them usually does the trick. 

I’d fish a zoom fluke 

10 hours ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

I’d fish a zoom fluke 

I did this too just forgot to add it to the list ? 

I have been faced with your exact situation on my highland reservoirs here in WEstern NC. I have seen whitetail shiners and blueback herring skipping all about. Balled up. Have thrown every baitfish imitator I know, and they won’t touch it sometimes. When this happens, I think crawfish. Look for hard structure of any kind and drag a jig past and see what happens. Skip them under your docks. I am convinced bass prefer crawfish to baitfish when they are active.