I went fishing with my brother the other night and couldn't even catch any on live bait. Now we could see them in the shallow water (2 ft?) cruising around and ocaisionaly sitting still. I tried allot of things and they wouldn't even look at them except one, an LC pointer. I would work it as slow as I could but the second I stopped and it would rise a little bit it would swim off. I was thinking a jig but as I don't have any I couldn't throw any(don't have confidence in them). Any idea what was going on or what to throw next beside a jig? Also as far as I could tell they are not bedding yet and I think the water is too cool where I am yet.

Paul

You could drag a shaky head worm or a drop shot in front of them and shake it in their face until they can't stand it.

Some days they don't bite not matter what you throw  

Shallow water I would try a slow falling bait like a Senko, weightless worm, Paca Craw on a Spot Remover Jig.

I would try burning a Bandit footloose or slowly working a weightless trickworm with a hook only heavy enough to make it sink very very slowly.

Pick up your cell phone , dial your ol lady and say your comin home early cause you miss her

I have been fishing situations like that every day for the past 2 weeks, back off and make longer cast's, downsize your lure and line, and be stealthy..........it works. I have gone from getting skunked on days like this to them becomeing my most productive.

Well I did try a wacky rigged senko, 5 inch watermellon green with black flake. I didn't even think of a trick worm or shaky head. Will have to try that friday night! I was even throwing small crappie cranks and grubs and no go. Thanks for the help guys.

Paul

I had a day like that yesterday.  I took the little kids and even the wife down to the neighborhood pond.  The kids and the wife were fishing with hotdogs under a bobber (I know, I know, but it works good at this pond...usually).  A front had come through earlier and they didn't get even a nibble.  Not even the gills were biting.  I didn't have much time to fish myself between putting the "bait" on the kids hooks and casting for them.  When the kids got bored and went to catch some frogs I finally got a chance.  I put a zoom trick worm on a spot remover and...started catching.  I got 4 (small ones) in the next half hour.  When the bite is slow, fish even slooooower.

Well for me, if they absolutely won't bite--I go carpin'

Pick up your cell phone , dial your ol lady and say your comin home early cause you miss her

hahahaha Nice Muddy I like that.  8-)

Only one thing to do.  

All of these great replies and I can't believe no one brought up the obvious.

On calm days and in clear enough water you can see the fish you are trying to fish a quarter stick of DYNAMITE works great!  Go to maybe a half stick on windy more murky waters.   ;D

Only one thing to do.

I'm with you!

8-)

Try putting on a slip sinker heavy enough to keep your bait from rising, (I use pyrmid sinkers) and just hold the nose of your lure to the bottom, if the fish shows any interest quiver the bait slightly, or else just bring it up and down about an inch or 2 from the bottom to mimic a baitfish feeding, that can draw attention from a cruising fish.

It sounds to me like the fish were suspended.When they are like that they are very difficult to catch.The only time I have luck during these periods is to fish after dark.

good luck

If they aint biting i look for snakes If i dont find any snakes i go to the beach  and look at sweetbeavers  ;D ;D

When they absolutely won't bite, what next?

Step by step guide:

1.- Breath in, breath out, breath in, breath out

2.- Sigh

3.- Put down rod

4.- Sit down

5.- Open cooler

6.- Grab beer can

7.- Pop open beer can

8.- Drink twice

9.- Burp loudly

10.- Grab cancer tank

11.- Put cancer tank in mouth

12.- Light up cancer tank

13.- Puff a couple of times

14.- Grab beer

15.- Drink twice

16.- Burp

17.- Puff a couple of times

18.- When cancer tank runs out open cooler

19.- Grab nourishment

20.- Chew on nourishment

21.- Grab beer can

22.- Drink Twice

23.- Burp

24.- Chew on nourishment

25.- Repeat previous steps 5-25 as needed.

Enjoy the scenery.

If they aint biting i look for snakes

LOL!  I do that too!  

I don't believe there is ever a time when they "absolutely won't bite".

I get skunked, but I always believe there is something that will trigger some bass to bite, only I didn't come up with it that day.

Well I can say for sure that I didn't figure it out, but I have many ideas now because of you guys. And while I was there I was carpin' too and no bites on my corn either. I would never have thought of putting a slip sinker ahead of the lure to keep it down, I will definatley give that one a try. I am off to go fishing. And as always no matter what I do or don't catch it's always fun. Thanks.

Paul

I had a day like that yesterday too. Paddled the yak for three hours in the sun and could see the bass cruising but couldn't get them to bite on anything. Felt a few halfhearted tugs on a senko but no cigar. Still had fun though. I was apparently ticking off a couple of beavers (the furry kind...ok, maybe not specific enough...the kind that build dams) and watched them swim around and snort at me for a while before packing it in, going home and mowing the lawn.

Still a good afternoon on the water. Maybe next time.

Pick up your cell phone , dial your ol lady and say your comin home early cause you miss her

LOLOLOLOLOLOL I WILL SO BE USING THIS FROM NOW ON!!!!!!!!!!!!    THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTION!!!  

C6H2(NO2)3CH3 aka 2,4,6 - Trinitrotoluene

wow the actual chemical formula for dynamite !!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry to get serious again,

But I re-read my post and realized I didn't offer anything helpful.

On the days when a senko won't work (rare)

I drop shot a zoom finesse worm.  I like this rig because I can fish it shallow or deep and put the bait exactly where I want it and keep it there.  This is especailly useful on lakes you are familiar with because you have "confidence spots"  i.e. places where you know bass like to hang out.

One of my favorties is a football shaped hole that is about 25 yards wide by 20 accross at it's wide point.

Like I said I have been skunked but patience with a drop shot is as good as it gets for getting stubborn bass to bite.