Hi everyone, I’m fairly new here. I’m from North AL and fish mostly Lake Guntersville. I’ve been struggling to consistently catch numbers of fish and figure out any kind of pattern.

I took a guide trip last summer and caught quite a few fish, so I’ve seen the “other side” lol. I also took an electronics trip from the same guide back in February. The crappie side was good, but I was a bit let down on the bass side.

I run LiveScope, down scan, and side scan. I feel like I understand the basics, but I still struggle at times knowing what species I’m looking at and how to turn what I see into a bite.

At this point I don’t know if it’s bait selection, presentation, or just not being around the right fish or area. It’s kind of frustrating because I feel like I should be more consistent than I am.

Any advice would be appreciated!

The regional threads will be more helpful on this than having people chime in from California, Florida, Maine, or Minnesota. That's where I'd start my search.

I’m sure you’re going to get a bunch of replies and probably a bunch that are specific for that lake. I don’t know you’re lake, but I know the position you’re in. I’ll be short in my suggestions.

1- Understand bass and what they are doing. Cold, warming prespawn, on the beds, post spawn, shad/bluegill spawn, depths of summer, fall feed up, chilling out for winter. There might be some other phases that are specific to an area (herring stuff maybe?), but this is the gist of the life of a bass. Temp, light, day of the year, will all influence them some, but figure out the phase (and where they do that phase) and that will get you pretty close.

2- Pick a couple baits that are efficient for the water you fish and that you have confidence in. I have a lot of grass and pretty clear water (most lakes, most of the time). I need baits that can get through it that cover the water column. For most of the year on most of my lakes, a vibrating jig, a swim jig, a buzz bait, a Texas rig, and a neko will get over, under, around, and through the cover in most situations. Figuring out fish is about covering water, finding them, and then picking them apart efficiently. Some people love a square bill and a drop shot but neither play much for me.

3- You alluded to not knowing what fish you’re looking at. The best way to learn is to find them and catch them to find out. I don’t see many fish on side imaging (bait yes, bass no). I look for structure and bait there, and then drop in live imaging to look for fish. Maybe make a second pass with DI full screen to look if it is fish. I’ll rely on 2D to see if it is fish a lot. With FFS what I’ve learned over the past 4 years is that you can have a pretty good guess after catching a bunch of fish of different types. Best way to catch them? A 3-4” minnow dropped on their face. In water with 2’ visibility or more, they can see that minnow from a ways off and if you get it just kinda beebopping around near them they won’t refuse it. And everything in the lake (aside from maybe carp) will eat a little natural minnow that is on their nose. I keep a 1/8 oz 3” mooch minnow rigged for just this purpose. A 10” crappie and a 15” largemouth can look strikingly similar on FFS. Crappie have a wide profile and make a strong return. Big ones look like dinner plates on the screen. Other fish are different. HOW the fish cluster on the screen matters also, If they are any more than 2 high (top to bottom) they aren’t bass. So get to know your setup, your screen size, what size your bait or a fish looks like, and keep the settings (depth/distance) the same until you’ve gotten used to looking at them. After enough visuals and fish catches, you’ll get a pretty good feel for what is what. And in the mean time, you’ll catch a bunch of fish (bass or not) and have a good time doing it.

6 hours ago, gim said:

The regional threads will be more helpful on this than having people chime in from California, Florida, Maine, or Minnesota. That's where I'd start my search.

Thanks, I’ll post it there

5 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

I’m sure you’re going to get a bunch of replies and probably a bunch that are specific for that lake. I don’t know you’re lake, but I know the position you’re in. I’ll be short in my suggestions.

1- Understand bass and what they are doing. Cold, warming prespawn, on the beds, post spawn, shad/bluegill spawn, depths of summer, fall feed up, chilling out for winter. There might be some other phases that are specific to an area (herring stuff maybe?), but this is the gist of the life of a bass. Temp, light, day of the year, will all influence them some, but figure out the phase (and where they do that phase) and that will get you pretty close.

2- Pick a couple baits that are efficient for the water you fish and that you have confidence in. I have a lot of grass and pretty clear water (most lakes, most of the time). I need baits that can get through it that cover the water column. For most of the year on most of my lakes, a vibrating jig, a swim jig, a buzz bait, a Texas rig, and a neko will get over, under, around, and through the cover in most situations. Figuring out fish is about covering water, finding them, and then picking them apart efficiently. Some people love a square bill and a drop shot but neither play much for me.

3- You alluded to not knowing what fish you’re looking at. The best way to learn is to find them and catch them to find out. I don’t see many fish on side imaging (bait yes, bass no). I look for structure and bait there, and then drop in live imaging to look for fish. Maybe make a second pass with DI full screen to look if it is fish. I’ll rely on 2D to see if it is fish a lot. With FFS what I’ve learned over the past 4 years is that you can have a pretty good guess after catching a bunch of fish of different types. Best way to catch them? A 3-4” minnow dropped on their face. In water with 2’ visibility or more, they can see that minnow from a ways off and if you get it just kinda beebopping around near them they won’t refuse it. And everything in the lake (aside from maybe carp) will eat a little natural minnow that is on their nose. I keep a 1/8 oz 3” mooch minnow rigged for just this purpose. A 10” crappie and a 15” largemouth can look strikingly similar on FFS. Crappie have a wide profile and make a strong return. Big ones look like dinner plates on the screen. Other fish are different. HOW the fish cluster on the screen matters also, If they are any more than 2 high (top to bottom) they aren’t bass. So get to know your setup, your screen size, what size your bait or a fish looks like, and keep the settings (depth/distance) the same until you’ve gotten used to looking at them. After enough visuals and fish catches, you’ll get a pretty good feel for what is what. And in the mean time, you’ll catch a bunch of fish (bass or not) and have a good time doing it.

That sounds very similar to me. Guntersville has lots of grass too. It can be somewhat clear in places but I’d say it’s usually a light stain mostly depending on rain of course. I really don’t have any particular confidence baits. Baits that I haven’t done well with are chatterbaits and jerk baits but I figure it’s either how or where I’m fishing them. Crank baits too. I have caught some on them but it’s not something I’d just be leaving tied on. Texas rig is definitely an all around staple for bass for sure.

Good points on the livescope. I’ve actually been doing that with a 1/8th head and mooch minnow. I have one of those on at all times.

I definitely need to learn more about what they’re doing and when. I mean I keep up with what phase they’re in during a particular time of the year, but still have trouble finding them.

I live in Fl. But have fished Ohio, Lake Erie, when I was in college, and both my kids have homes on lakes in Ga. A lot of fisherman I take out fishing just seem to fish too fast. When things are tough, slow down especially when fishing plastics. When you think your slow, slow down some more. Many big bites over the years have come when the bait has just fallen and is sitting dead still. Bass are curious creatures and will slowly move over to investigate what has entered their space, even though they are not hungry! Saved many a slow day for me!

2 minutes ago, geo g said:

I live in Fl. But have fished Ohio, Lake Erie, when I was in college, and both my kids have homes on lakes in Ga. A lot of fisherman I take out fishing just seem to fish too fast. When things are tough, slow down especially when fishing plastics. When you think your slow, slow down some more. Many big bites over the years have come when the bait has just fallen and is sitting dead still. Bass are curious creatures and will slowly move over to investigate what has entered their space, even though they are not hungry! Saved many a slow day for me!

I’m definitely guilty of that at times, especially as the day goes on.

This time of year, it's very difficult to pattern fish. Some are moving into the shallows, some are still holding off deep structure and some will be, in your situation, relating to current.

Identifying what species you're seeing on your electronics is more or less an educated guess, IMO. Balls of baitfish are easy, but one thing I can say with some certainty is that at this time of year you'll rarely see schools of bass. So if you see what appear to be a school of some kind of gamefish, it's likely crappie. Bass, in my experience will hold closer to bottom structure like point breaks, humps and drop-offs in small groups if any.

1 hour ago, papajoe222 said:

This time of year, it's very difficult to pattern fish. Some are moving into the shallows, some are still holding off deep structure and some will be, in your situation, relating to current.

Identifying what species you're seeing on your electronics is more or less an educated guess, IMO. Balls of baitfish are easy, but one thing I can say with some certainty is that at this time of year you'll rarely see schools of bass. So if you see what appear to be a school of some kind of gamefish, it's likely crappie. Bass, in my experience will hold closer to bottom structure like point breaks, humps and drop-offs in small groups if any.

I appreciate the info. Especially the part about the schools. I did see some smaller schools later in the evening of 4-5 fish and still not sure what they were. They were suspended side by side in a line or somewhat of a v shape. Not stacked vertically. I was thought they were small schools of bass at first but maybe they were crappie. I threw some smaller jigs at them but couldn’t get a bite. Guess they could have been white bass too

A lot of bass are spawning shallow and mid depth and deep right now - it’s just that time of year. A lot of the places you’re likely to find significant catchable populations of bass that are identifiable by biting your bait - are gonna be spawning areas like shallower flatter banks with good cover and hard bottom - think 0-6 feet ish.

Not saying electronics can’t help - but this is a time of the year you can throw your cricket at just about any pale spot or tree in shallow water and catch a bass.

11 hours ago, Checkerfred said:

I’m definitely guilty of that at times, especially as the day goes on.

I’m like you I seem to fish faster as the day goes bye. I have to remind myself to slow down, unless the bite telling something different! Two days are seldom the same! That’s what makes fishing fun for me.

9 hours ago, geo g said:

I’m like you I seem to fish faster as the day goes bye. I have to remind myself to slow down, unless the bite telling something different! Two days are seldom the same! That’s what makes fishing fun for me.

Another problem I have especially with crappie is staying in one spot/area too long. I need to get better about covering water. I’m just not always sure if it’s just what I’m throwing/presentation or if the fish just don’t want to bite.

Forward facing Livescope on Guntersville is tough because of all of the weeds. Have you tried perspective mode?

But what you really should do is map sections of the lake with side scan. Look for open pockets in the weeds and fish those locations. I've had luck with paddletails in those areas, or ripping a bladed jig or spinner bait through the weeds and into those openings.

The few times I have been there, main lake paid off more than the creeks.

1 hour ago, Kayak Koz said:

Forward facing Livescope on Guntersville is tough because of all of the weeds. Have you tried perspective mode?

But what you really should do is map sections of the lake with side scan. Look for open pockets in the weeds and fish those locations. I've had luck with paddletails in those areas, or ripping a bladed jig or spinner bait through the weeds and into those openings.

The few times I have been there, main lake paid off more than the creeks.

Appreciate the info, especially about the pockets. I’ll definitely start doing that and try it out.

Yeah livescope isn’t great in shallow grass. I’ve had some luck on it with crappie but not with bass. I’ve tried perspective and like it but it’s also hard at times to see fish with it. I need to start using it more though and I’m sure I’ll get better with it. It does work great for finding holes and stuff in the grass on the fly

Never been to Guntersville but I'll say this. Study your quarry, Prey species and their seasonal habits and it will all fall together. Technology or not, if you don't know the fish, you won't gain consistency. I'm not anti-FFS, I've ran plenty of boats equipped with it, I lost interest in it quickly, simply because it's not how I want to fish. To me, it takes the "hunt" out of the game and the "figuring it out from scratch" part is what makes it fun and keeps me engaged.

I would recommend sight fishing. Find a area with a good amount of structure and just study the bass around. I have electronics on my boat, but to be honest I usually just use them to determine the depth I am in.

Everybody knows the type of places bass like to hang out. Lure selection is pretty easy too. So usually it comes down to presentation. Putting the lure in the right place accurately and quietly. I'm not saying a person has to be the best caster in the world but decent enough to place a lure where desired most of the time with a low, precise trajectory. After a few hours a pattern will usually emerge.

I'm not familiar with Guntersville, but I fish clear water and have been sight fishing for many years (not during the spawn because the season is closed where I fish) and most of the time you can see the fish. I also use FSS for deeper water ( 10 feet and more). The biggest turn off I have witnessed is when your lure is under the fish. Most bass loose interest when this happens. Keep your lure over the head of fish if you can.

Are you familiar with the term "Search Bait"? Before the advent of electronics, that's how we found fish. What you need is a confidence presentation that you can use to cover a lot of water. You won't spend your days trying to view fish on a computer screen. You will learn what works where you fish. This is more valuable than any pixel bass.

3 hours ago, scaleface said:

Everybody knows the type of places bass like to hang out. Lure selection is pretty easy too. So usually it comes down to presentation. Putting the lure in the right place accurately and quietly. I'm not saying a person has to be the best caster in the world but decent enough to place a lure where desired most of the time with a low, precise trajectory. After a few hours a pattern will usually emerge.

I don’t know about everyone lol. I have trouble finding the places and baits. I mean I get info off of Facebook that guides and other people post about lures but still struggle with it

1 hour ago, Captain Phil said:

Are you familiar with the term "Search Bait"? Before the advent of electronics, that's how we found fish. What you need is a confidence presentation that you can use to cover a lot of water. You won't spend your days trying to view fish on a computer screen. You will learn what works where you fish. This is more valuable than any pixel bass.

Yes I am. I just haven’t been having any luck with it. For instance, chatter baits. I’ve thrown one over and over and the only place I’ve caught bass on them has been in a pond. I know at times finding bass on electronics is going to be hard but then I see people using side scan to find them. Technology is here whether we like it or not. I feel like learning to use it will help be more productive as opposed to just fishing dead water.

3 hours ago, Reel said:

I'm not familiar with Guntersville, but I fish clear water and have been sight fishing for many years (not during the spawn because the season is closed where I fish) and most of the time you can see the fish. I also use FSS for deeper water ( 10 feet and more). The biggest turn off I have witnessed is when your lure is under the fish. Most bass loose interest when this happens. Keep your lure over the head of fish if you can.

I’ve seen this as well. Crappie do it too. I have had some minor success with FFS shallow but it’s been on crappie. With our grass, it can be hard to see the fish when it’s fairly shallow, say 5-6ft deep. I mostly use it for finding holes or other irregularities in the grass as I’m fishing

11 hours ago, Mike Thomas said:

Never been to Guntersville but I'll say this. Study your quarry, Prey species and their seasonal habits and it will all fall together. Technology or not, if you don't know the fish, you won't gain consistency. I'm not anti-FFS, I've ran plenty of boats equipped with it, I lost interest in it quickly, simply because it's not how I want to fish. To me, it takes the "hunt" out of the game and the "figuring it out from scratch" part is what makes it fun and keeps me engaged.

I get your point. For me, FFS doesn’t make it that much easier—I still struggle to be consistent. I know the basics of seasonal patterns, but I feel like I’m missing the finer details that separate average anglers from guides/pros.

For example, right now I know fish could be shallow, mid-depth, or even deeper, and I’m throwing the typical baits—but so is everyone else. With all the pressure and technology out there, I’m trying to figure out what better anglers are doing differently to consistently catch more fish. I often wonder if it’s my lure choice or how I’m working it. I’m not a beginner though. I can go to ponds and catch fish, but ponds are a good but different than a big lake.

Same with crappie—it’s been tough this spring. I’ve found fish and even seen them on FFS, but couldn’t get bites, while guides are still limiting out. That tells me I’m missing something—I’m just trying to figure out what that something is. Maybe it’s as simple as time on the water, idk

2 hours ago, Checkerfred said:

I feel like I’m missing the finer details that separate average anglers from guides/pros.

That tells me I’m missing something—I’m just trying to figure out what that something is.

Maybe it’s as simple as time on the water, idk

Just a reminder that many members who have responded here have 30 to 60+ years of experience, catching great bass long before modern electronics existed.

The takeaway is that fishing has too many variables for anyone else to truly tell us

what we might be doing right or wrong.

Even expert anglers miss fine details, regardless of their gear.

In my experience, we have to figure it out on the water ourselves.

Keep at it—it will click eventually.

It almost always does.

A-Jay

On 4/5/2026 at 10:53 AM, geo g said:

I’m like you I seem to fish faster as the day goes bye. I have to remind myself to slow down, unless the bite telling something different! Two days are seldom the same! That’s what makes fishing fun for me.

Can’t help you with the new fangled electronics, I only use my depth finders to find structure I wil dissect the old fashion way. I was never into video games!

I will humbly summit I am one of those who have been at it for 60+ years, meaningful fishing for the last thirty-five at least.

I by no means have the skills the majority of the members here have!

I go out and have been skunked.

It doesn’t mean I can’t fish, it means I didn’t have the proper technique and presentation working at the right time for the conditions I was fishing. I didn’t put the puzzle together.

Some days are tougher than others.

As stated by several members the biggest thing to understand is where the bass should be, how they react to conditions changes and what is the “supposed “ pattern for right now.

In my mind I have to consider; bass should be at transition points, near deeper water with cover, in the shallows making beds to spawn or in the process of spawning. Presently they are spread out! What’s the water temperature, is it a pre or post cold front, warming trend or stable for several days?

These combined factors drive fish to distinct areas.

Using these factors to help determine a lure and technique that suits the conditions the best and target the areas that conditions dictate with positivity.

A search bait is the best method for covering water efficiently, even more so than watching electronics. I feel the fallacy of the “new” electronics is helping to dumb down experienced skill, just as the calculator has diminished math skills. If you notice most respondents here use electronics for water temperature, structure and finding bait.

The electronics will help in determining part of the equation and getting you to the general area but it can’t read the environment above the water, that’s between your ears.

2 hours ago, Checkerfred said:

I’ve seen this as well. Crappie do it too. I have had some minor success with FFS shallow but it’s been on crappie. With our grass, it can be hard to see the fish when it’s fairly shallow, say 5-6ft deep. I mostly use it for finding holes or other irregularities in the grass as I’m fishing

I get your point. For me, FFS doesn’t make it that much easier—I still struggle to be consistent. I know the basics of seasonal patterns, but I feel like I’m missing the finer details that separate average anglers from guides/pros.

For example, right now I know fish could be shallow, mid-depth, or even deeper, and I’m throwing the typical baits—but so is everyone else. With all the pressure and technology out there, I’m trying to figure out what better anglers are doing differently to consistently catch more fish. I often wonder if it’s my lure choice or how I’m working it. I’m not a beginner though. I can go to ponds and catch fish, but ponds are a good but different than a big lake.

Same with crappie—it’s been tough this spring. I’ve found fish and even seen them on FFS, but couldn’t get bites, while guides are still limiting out. That tells me I’m missing something—I’m just trying to figure out what that something is. Maybe it’s as simple as time on the wat

5 hours ago, Checkerfred said:

I’ve seen this as well. Crappie do it too. I have had some minor success with FFS shallow but it’s been on crappie. With our grass, it can be hard to see the fish when it’s fairly shallow, say 5-6ft deep. I mostly use it for finding holes or other irregularities in the grass as I’m fishing

I get your point. For me, FFS doesn’t make it that much easier—I still struggle to be consistent. I know the basics of seasonal patterns, but I feel like I’m missing the finer details that separate average anglers from guides/pros.

For example, right now I know fish could be shallow, mid-depth, or even deeper, and I’m throwing the typical baits—but so is everyone else. With all the pressure and technology out there, I’m trying to figure out what better anglers are doing differently to consistently catch more fish. I often wonder if it’s my lure choice or how I’m working it. I’m not a beginner though. I can go to ponds and catch fish, but ponds are a good but different than a big lake.

Same with crappie—it’s been tough this spring. I’ve found fish and even seen them on FFS, but couldn’t get bites, while guides are still limiting out. That tells me I’m missing something—I’m just trying to figure out what that something is. Maybe it’s as simple as time on the water, idk

Time on the water is the biggest thing. A huge part of it for me (back in the stone ages) figuring it out was paying attention to the structure and contour when I would catch them. If I'd gone down a bank without getting bit and start catching them when I got to a point, I'd fish it out and pay attention to things like the depth, How the point broke (was it steeper on one side) and where the bites came from on the point, was it in direct sun, which side was the wind coming from, all that kind of stuff and then I'd sit down and drive until I saw another spot that looked like it and fish that one. Or if I was fishing down a bare dirt bank and started catching them where I'd come up on a patch of chunk rock, same thing, study the area and go look for more like it.

Theres a ton of little details like coming into where you want to fish with the sun in your face. Maybe it's just me being superstitious, but I'm a firm believer that if you throw the shadow of the boat on fish that are up feeding, game over.