So far this season cannot get a break. I get the hard part out of the way. I can FIND the bass. I know they are there.

I cannot get any of them to bite. Thrown every soft plastic I got. Tried every retrieval I know, straight back, 1/4 turn - jerk, vibrax spinners, ratl-l-traps (though I find this year I suck with them). Nothing. I usually only get 1 or 2 at most every trip. Sunday had fellows catch a few right out from under me.  No idea what I am doing wrong.

I did catch a real nice crappie 2+lbs. I had pretty much given up catching anything, threw a line out back with a deep diving crankbait 9' down and trolled all the way back to the dock (about 3/4 mile). Almost 2/3 the way there, something hammers my line. So I did not get skunked but darn.

Anyway guys and gals, I am using 8 lb test, black 20lb steel ldr, maybe a single small split shot is any weight with the plastics. 4/0 hook, plastic wrms, Flukes, tubes, just nothing. See fish large ones and tons of baitfish on the graph at 5 ft and 10 ft, temp 50 - 52 degrees. Wylie has little to no vegetation, mostly flat gently slope bottoms, I find plenty of drop offs (depth drops 15 ft - 35 ft in 3-5 ft), TONS of docks, coves.

Any ideas or anything anyone can throw at me, I am game. Just cannot find a groove.

Not sure why you'd be using a steel leader of ANY kind. Getting rid of that would be the first thing I'd change.

Good luck & keep us posted.

Thanks no1, that was my first thought to get rid of. My grandfather got me using them at the end of last year, can't say I ever thought I needed them but read a couple articles that suggested them.

So that would be 1 thing I will rid myself of next trip.

Ditto on losing the steel leader. Low 50s water temp is jerkbait time for me. I've had good luck with Rattlin' Rogues along ledges that lead from deep water to shallow flats.

Unless you're expecting toothy critters, there is no need for a leader.  I'm pretty sure you won't encounter many on Wylie.  Ditto on the jerk bait.  Fish it with long pauses between jerks.

I agree with everyone else in that you do not need a leader.

Bass are finicky right now and the leader might have put them off.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Before going to soft plastics and jigs, start with "moving"

baits like the guys have posted: jerkbaits, topwater, spinnerbait,

and Rat-L-Trap type lures. I have been having some luck with

the Swarming Hornet, too. I'm using a silver/ black Lake Fork

Trophy Lures "Live Magic Shad" as the trailer.

8-)

Try some flat sided cranks and suspending jerkbaits. They seem to produce a lot better than soft plastics this time of year.

Absolutely awesome stuff guys!! I will let everyone know how it goes.

I'm going home this weekend and I plan on hitting up at least one pond. I'll let you know how I do. I've been having troubles too.

Remove steel leader. /thread