a couple of buddy and myself went fishing this morning, we got to the lake right on sunrise, there were a few big bass hitting topwater all around us. I tried using topwater like my Zara Spook and then i tried crawling on the bottom with lizards and worms and still nothing. I also tried the trick where, when they hit up top you cast right around where they came up and still nothing. The conditions were low winds and clear and about 36 degrees this morning

any advice? i want to catch some fish before it gets toooo cold because i fish off of shore, i've notice that the bass's are moving deeper and away from shore lines

also jj's doesnt work for me

I like a Carolina rig when things are slow, but its hard to answer that with any degree of accuracy.  Sometimes you just have to keep throwing stuff, and alot of times you need finesse rigs, small jig and grubs, etc.  

i agree when fish are present and not biting try finesse baits.

id try a finesse jig with small trailer

Yes, I have felt your pain.

A few suggestions.

1.  Go with smaller baits on a spinning rig and fish it finesse style. Or go with a smaller spinner bait or Rat-L-Trap (black for cloudy days and blue back for clear days) on a baitcaster with 10-pound test mono for the Rats and flouro for spinnerbait.  Add trailer hook to spinnerbaits and buzzbaits.

2.  Try a drop-shot or split-shot presentation using a small #1 hook and a "wiggly" plastic worm.

3.  Take your time. Be patient.

4.  The Carolina rig suggetion is great. Try a C-rig on a baitcaster but with a "wiggly" worm.

5.  Try a smaller size Cavitron buzzbait or another buzzbait.  Usually black does well but the color is your preference.

6. And throw your crankbaits.  Shad colors.  A Bandit 200 should do the trick.  Use 10 to 12 pound mono on a cranking stick.  You can go up to 20 pound test if your rod can handle it.

The fish are telling you that they are on the move, feeding for winter, and are looking for moving baits.  So try to "match the hatch" according to what they are eating, such as bream, bluegills or shad.

If bluegills or bream, use a white, yellow with some blue spinnerbaits.  The "blue" is the key color if they are eating bream and bluegills.

Don't blame JJ's.  The fish are moving around too fast in cooler waters and will only know JJs is around if they actually hit your baits.

And when throwing Senkos are you wacky rigging them?  If not, please do so along with any plastics you are throwing on your spinning set-up.

There are so many possibilities that you will have to choose three or four and go with them and then use other techniquest and baits the next time.

But go with the Bandit 200 cranks; smaller size spinnerbaits and Rats; and that Carolina, Split-Shot and Drop-Shot-rigs with the "wiggly" worms.

Good luck.

thanks alot Sam I'll have to give that a try next weekend. I couldn't appreciate your advice more. Hopefully I'll be able to hook some nice ones up this weekend. thanks alot

I would try some suspending minniw type baits just to cover the mid depths. Obviously as the other guys said size it down a bit with some finesse baits as well. Small worms and the like. Good luck.

Like them other said, I would go finesse! Personally I would use a Drop shot, with a 3" senko, Berkley Gulp Alive 4" Goby or a Mann's leech!

are you 100% sure there bass becuase here in new mexico we have carp that jump all the time and i have confused them for bass..casting for the for 10 minutes then drive up and see a school of carp.