Jay, have you ever insulted an old gypsy woman?

On 9/1/2025 at 2:18 PM, DontFeedJay said:

Hey all, 

 

  Got into bass fishing a few months back, and am seriously considering giving it up. I fish local lakes in the Elgin area of Illinois. I've been waking up early and getting to the lakes as soon as the park opens, fishing for 6+ hours at a go. I move around the lake, change lures, and get skunked.

 

Since I started, I've caught a total of 4 bass. I spend about 10 hours a week fishing at a minimum. It's not that I'm failing to hook or land, I literally get no bites. 

 

A non exhaustive list of baits/lures I've tried: bladed jig, buzzbait, whopper plopper, frog, spinnerbait, in line spinner, all sorts of jigs, Texas rigged worms/creatures/etc, wacky rig, ned rig, jerkbaits, swimbaits, and more. The vast majority of my time is spent walking and casting. I don't get bites, and get even less fish.

 

Any advice would be wonderful.

 

I'll recommend two things.. 

    - Use a drop shot

    - Don't wake up too early

 

 

On 9/1/2025 at 1:18 PM, DontFeedJay said:

I fish local lakes in the Elgin area of Illinois. I've been waking up early and getting to the lakes as soon as the park opens, fishing for 6+ hours at a go. I move around the lake, change lures, and get skunked.

 

 

Can you describe these lakes/areas you are fishing.

 

Is there decent cover? How deep? Water clarity?

 

Have you tried night fishing?

Another thought is to join a local bass club. Getting some local knowledge and some back seat time can really change your perspective. 

The fact that you’re a cast away from giving bass fishing up means that you never really got hooked! 

If everyone gave it up for being unsuccessful when first starting out, this forum would have only a handful of members.  The reality is, there are some who have fished for decades who still struggle on some waters.  The fact that you’re seeking advice says you’re not ready to give it up.  Experiment with baits.  Try different times of the day.  When you get a hit, wear that bait out.

Or, like I said earlier, visit the Fox River and target smallmouth.

Great advice given. Me? Slow down, and when you think you

are slow enough, slow down some more. Try throwing some 

soft plastic baits like Finesse worms, 4" stick worms. Try using

the wacky rig technique, the Drop shot, Ned rig. 

 

I'd even suggest you try live bait. Even if you just catch smaller

panfish like bluegills. They'll give you a taste of what more is 

waiting for you out there.

 

I'm also among those who suggest stepping down/over to a

spinning rig with lighter line, smaller presentations. No idea

the pressure your water has from other fisherfolk, so it is hard

to say what else may be impacting you.

10 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

Can you describe these lakes/areas you are fishing.

I've already tried asking this question twice. @DontFeedJay has logged in after he started this thread. Nothing but crickets. Maybe you're more charming than me and you'll get a response.

7 hours ago, Zcoker said:

The fact that you’re a cast away from giving bass fishing up means that you never really got hooked! 

Perhaps he just came here to vent? Wouldn't be the first time a new poster started a thread, received thoughtful advice, then evaporated without a sound.

4 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Perhaps he just came here to vent? Wouldn't be the first time a new poster started a thread, received thoughtful advice, then evaporated without a sound.

My favorite of these are the

"I'm in the market for a new boat".

Then . . . . . . . Nothing.

😎

A-Jay

 

12 hours ago, OldManLure said:

If everyone gave it up for being unsuccessful when first starting out, this forum would have only a handful of members.

 

So true. My first fishing trip was with my dad and three brothers. We didn't have a clue how to catch anything, so we caught nothing. We later took a trip to northern Michigan and I cast my cheap red and white spoon and let it sink to the bottom. I then waited for a hit. When we finally started to catch bass, they were 14-inchers. I always wanted to catch a 17-incher like my brothers had caught, but everyone I hooked broke free. 

You're not cursed, you just haven't learned to fish.  I didn't say you haven't learned to go fishing, I said you haven't learned to fish.  LEARN, like all successful anglers did when they started.

This is a great thread. I hope you don’t quit. No reason to quit. I don’t know you but what may be a big problem is that you are absorbing too much too fast. Please do not take that as any negative. In today’s world it is easy to happen. There is endless baits out there, endless manufacturers selling a ton of stuff. Don’t get hung up in all that stuff. Not right now, something for later on. I don’t think you need to be chucking a ton of stuff. I’d keep it simple as a few others have said. Try it to perfect some fishing with soft plastics (worms), will generally always draw hits and will get you bit. Basic type of worm PowerWorm, Culprit RibbonTail, RoboWorm Straight Tail, Zoom Finesse or curly tail. Fish slow and pick apart your cover available. 
Leave everything else at home. This will force you to fish them. It will give you time to perfect and become one with the worm or soft plastic you throw. 
If bass are there, I have to believe they are or you would not be there. I think you’ll start getting more out of it. 
I might get poo poo’d here on my thinking on the line of worms. Things take time. Get some fish under your belt.
Then move on to some basic crankbaits or fish a jig and pig. Or just jig fish with Fat Albert’s or PowerGrubs. It’s a good bottom contact bait that is a proven fish catcher. 
Don’t quit. Hang in there. Use some of this seasons short falls to help you for mental season.

I think you should keep it as simple as you can with baits and colors right now. You have a lifetime of trying new things. Try to make starting out more productive and enjoyable. 

 Today about hour west/south of Elgin got 9 bass in 2hrs mix of senko and jig/craw so they biting.