Gene Golden Loc: Gettysburg PA

Dambass,
Just got skunked again this weekend at a "Big Bass Certified" Gifford Pinchot Lake, here in PA.
Tried a few different spots along the shore.
Hell, I'd be satisfied with "Small Bass Certified", at this point.
It wasn't crowded, but there were a few boats coming by.
I asked if anyone had any luck, and only one person had caught two bass. Period.

We have received a shit-ton of rain this season, including a recent 3.5inches a week ago (sorry about that - I'd share with you in CA if I could).
Maybe this has affected the catch rate.

Dambass Loc: Glendora California

Plus this fall transition is supposed to be a thought bite. I went to my my local reservoir yesterday where if I can't catch a bass I also bring my light set up for Crappy/bluegill and can always catch some of those...yesterday, different story no nothin on the bass rig and 3 nibbles on the crappy rig but no hook set. I couldn't believe it. All I know is if there is evidence of shad and birds around there are bass. We just have to figure out what they want. The bass are feeding heavily right now because winter is coming. If you can do some liplesscranking with a shad or bluegill pattern you might get a bite. The guy across the cove where I was at would come 2 days a week and he always caught at least 1, 2 or 3 pounder with a liplesscrank bait. Good luck Gene and keep me posted

Gene Golden Loc: Gettysburg PA

John,
Have you ever considered putting a HOOK on your line?
I hear that helps - not LATELY, but usually.

True story...
My nephew was 4 or 5yrs old, and with about four of us, as we fished at the C&O Canal.
Of course, we had awoken very early, and were out for a few hours.
We were all catching our fair share of fish - except for Mike, who was sitting on a rock, patiently holding his bamboo pole.
He didn't seem happy that the rest of us were still catching, so I said to him, "Let me see your hook!"
He had been sitting there, rod in hand, hook in water... NO WORM!
I told him that he had to make sure he had bait in the hook, or he'd NEVER catch a fish.

He just looked at me; slowly dropped his bare hook back into the water; and in a tired and disgusted tone, just replied ---
"WHO CARES?"

That kinda sums it up for me sometimes lately.
"Why even BOTHER to reload the hook? I'm not catching anything anyway!" 🤣

John Irmer Loc: Ryderwood wa.

I bought the pole and reel on letgo.com. I kept it like he had it...the line is white and 100 lbs test braided. No luck fishing, not a bite so I've changed the line to 20lb and set up a drift fishing setup. Hopefully I'll at least get a bite...I'll let you know if I catch one... I'm the world's worst fisherman 😥

Gene Golden Loc: Gettysburg PA

John,
Don't beat yourself up.
Instead of "the world's worst fisherman" - consider yourself "the fishes' best friend!"
You care about them; you never hurt them with hooks; and you feed them lots of worms!

One thing to consider:
Your rig may be set up for the wrong type of fishing.
If you are fishing freshwaters - rivers, streams, lakes, etc., you will need "lighter" tackle.
Since you mentioned 100lb test, that seems to indicate saltwater gear.

Without a lot of unnecessary expense, a visit to WalMart (and less than $50) can get you set up for catching.
Personally, I love to fish with very light tackle, because you can reel in nearly everything besides the lunkers.
Good-sized Bluegills will feel like Bass - and Bass will feel like Marlin (exaggerating a bit).

Smaller hooks and lures will usually produce the smaller fish, while many larger fish prefer a "Hungry-Man Meal'.
I recently caught a 6" Bass, on a 4" floating lure (Rapala), so don't underestimate their breed.
Like Chihuahuas, they don't realize how big they really aren't 😉