I just started bass fishing this summer. Today I was bank fishing and got skunked, and had no clues on what setups to use. Some guys on a boat showed up to that same area I was fishing at and within 10 mins they caught 3-4 fish. I was pretty discouraged. The bank fishermen near me had no luck either so I figured whatever the guys on the boat had was what the fish wanted to eat. 

 

For this trip I used soft plastics creature baits, worms, chatterbaits, and swim baits. Nothing was biting, but I did feel a nibbles here and there(maybe I should of tried to hookset?). For reference I have two rods, one setup for finesse presentations, and the other for more action related presentations.

 

Are there baits you guys always try out when going to lakes/ponds?

Are there hooks you recommend that can use for all applications? 

What's your go to setup when you're preparing to fish?

 

I'm lost on what to use and do when things don't work.

 

If you don't mind me asking, where were you fishing?

Howdy, I know the feeling of discouragement. When you're not doing so well, you have a tendency to speed up, remember that.

 

Zoom Fluke rigged weightless, worked with slow twitches. For me, it's watermelon red, baby bass, or junebug colors. I have less confidence in pearl white or similar.

 

Split shot rig with a Zoom Finesse worm in green pumpkin or watermelon red. I throw it out and drag it back slow.

 

Zoom Fat Albert Grub, texas rigged with 1/0 or 2/0 hook and 1/16oz bullet weight. This will twist your line if you don't use an EWG hook for a keel, or if you don't have braid. Green pumpkin. Small hops back.

 

Zoom Trick worm, weightless, watermelon red, green pumpkin, or white. Worked slow.

 

Honorable mention for the Zoom Baby brush hog in green pumkin. 1/8oz bullet weight 2/0 hook. Hopped back slowly.

 

When I'm getting skunked, those are my go to, in about that order. Though.. I fish them all when I ain't getting skunked.

 

If I had to pick 1, it'd be hard choice between the fluke and the grub. I'd probably go fluke.

 

Most of the time   fishing from a boat is much easier than from bank. They can set up better angles to make the right cast. All lure catergories work. Were they casting at something visible , like weeds , logs..?  Texas rigs can be fished in all sorts of cover. Learning to detect strikes is one of the most crucial aspects of the sport. That and accurate casting. Match your lures to your rod ratings. Try to use lures in the middle of your rods rating.

You don’t mention crankbaits or spinnerbaits.  I would not go to a lake or pond without a shallow (2’-4’) and a slightly deeper running (4’-6’) crankbait, and similar jerkbaits.  Minnow colors like silver or gold are the basics, with other color patterns dependent on local baitfish.

 And I don’t leave home without spinnerbaits…at least a couple with willow blades and a couple with colorado blades, each in a light color (e.g., white or white/chartreuse) and a dark color combination (e.g., blue/black).  Trailers are optional, but there should probably always be some in the bag.   

Brands, I believe, are a personal choice.

I agree with scaleface. The advantage the boat anglers had wasn't likely their lures, but casting from a boat. I think Mr. Bazoo's suggestions are solid. 

I’d try to figure out where they were casting to not what bait they were using.  Just use the lure you feel most confident will work at any given time.  Usually that’s the one you’ll be fishing the most skillfully anyway. 👍😉

A Kayak opens up a new world. I think that you are fishing where the fish aren't. Structure and cover.

When all else fails, just tie on a heavy 1oz willow-blade spinnerbait and find a drop off and just chuck and wind over and over up drop off. 

Top 3 from the bank for me.

Finesse paddle tail. 2-3" on the lightest head you can comfortably throw. 1/16oz will let you slow roll a swimbait ultra shallow.

Senko. 4-5" t rig or wacky

Small top water. 1/4oz popper, Zara puppy, karashi or similar.

Get that finesse rod out and tie a ned rig on the end of it.

 

It's the anti-skunk master.

 

You can catch big, small, and everything in-between on it.

 

I'm about 99.9% positive I've never been skunked on it. Honestly, not exaggerating.

 

Now, have I thrown it this year?

 

No.

 

I prefer to torture myself and use "funner" lures.   

13 hours ago, Big Hands said:

If you don't mind me asking, where were you fishing?

Lake Sutherland, CA. 

 

8 hours ago, scaleface said:

Most of the time   fishing from a boat is much easier than from bank. They can set up better angles to make the right cast. All lure catergories work. Were they casting at something visible , like weeds , logs..?  Texas rigs can be fished in all sorts of cover. Learning to detect strikes is one of the most crucial aspects of the sport. That and accurate casting. Match your lures to your rod ratings. Try to use lures in the middle of your rods rating.

They weren't casting at anything visible. Just out in the open where the fish were boiling, and jumping. Other boats and kayaks that passed through weren't even catching these fish, and just glanced over and was a little bewildered. 

 

6 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

I agree with scaleface. The advantage the boat anglers had wasn't likely their lures, but casting from a boat. I think Mr. Bazoo's suggestions are solid. 

That's probably the true. I was probably a good 100ft from where their boat was at, and they were casting in an area I couldn't reach. The fish were boiling and feeding I assumed they were all over that area but maybe that wasn't the case? 

5 minutes ago, 2earlye said:

The fish were boiling and feeding I assumed they were all over that area but maybe that wasn't the case? 

 

The fish were feeding where you saw them boiling. You didn't have a chance...without a boat.

Were they catching bass?? 

They could've been using live bait......

Always try weightless senko and light weight neds

Rage Bug Rage rigged. Wacky worm, swimming worm , Spinnerbaits and a lot of Topwater. Choppo , poppers Buzzbait with a Rage toad trailer. Wacky Worm almost always gets bit. 

I've had the opposite happen a few times! 

 

I was catching from the bank and the guys in the boat were not.

 

I presume its because I was pulling my bait towards and into the bank...and they were pulling their baits away from the bank.

 

Sometimes the fish are wholly unpredictable.

When everything else fails for me, I start dragging a 4” straight tail worm on a dropshot. 

Sounds like wolf packs of Bass. They are in fall feeding mode on shad would be my guess. Try using a underspin and a small 2.5" - 3" Keitech swim bait as a trailer. I prefer the regular swing impact or ez shiner because it is less bulky and allows the underspin to sink faster. Another thing to try would a a top water walking bait like a Zara spook or Strike King Sexy dawg.

FM

13 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Sounds like wolf packs of Bass. They are in fall feeding mode on shad would be my guess. Try using a underspin and a small 2.5" - 3" Keitech swim bait as a trailer. I prefer the regular swing impact or ez shiner because it is less bulky and allows the underspin to sink faster. Another thing to try would a a top water walking bait like a Zara spook or Strike King Sexy dawg.

FM

The shad was my initial thought when I left. Too bad I didn't bring any that day. I'll have to pick up some keitech's and try that spot again.

Drop shot. 6" Roboworm -> 4" Roboworm -> Go Home.

When the bite gets tough I tend to use smaller baits. Weightless finesse worm, split shot rig, or a finesse jig if there is vegetation. I’ll use a small crankbait, small lipless crank, or a small spinnerbait in open water.