Why can't I catch anything? No matter what I do I can't manage to catch a freshwater fish: I’m sure there fish in the lake I’m going to. -- by AlbigensianGenie...

FS Digest

I’m sure there fish in the lake I’m going to.

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by AlbigensianGenie

FS Digest

Fishing is very subjective. It takes into account many factors at any given time. What species are you looking to catch? Let’s start with that and we can figure out what you need to do.

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by Huntinbucks1

FS Digest

Bass anything I’m able to eat basically.

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by AlbigensianGenie

FS Digest

I've never been able to catch something on those storm lures.

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by toytun11

FS Digest

I have definitely caught speckled trout on them and they used to be my favorite bass lures.

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by enthion

FS Digest

Try live bait

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by soyboy911

FS Digest

Bass are fun to catch but don’t discount easier to catch fish either like crappie and bluegill. I personally thing they are more tasty. Anyhow, water temp has a lot to do with where fish are hiding. Also water clarity determines what colors to use. A simple rule of thumb is match color for color. Clear water you can use bright colors ( whites, blues, pumpkinseed etc) stained water go for dark colors ( stick with black/blue and anything that makes vibration underwater).

It’s early spring so fish could be real sluggish right now depending where you are in the country. I’m personally around Lake Erie so it’s cold as balls and the fish are VERY slow. So I usually start with slow moving jerkbaits or or real slow moving soft plastics.

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by Huntinbucks1

FS Digest

There are so many types of lures methods or retrieval for each lure water and weather conditions for each type or color that it's impossible to say "use this and you will catch fish".

Talk to other people that fish in your area and see what they are using. Just don't ask them to give up the location of their favorite hole.

Or like others have said, one of the best baits is always live bait.

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by LethalBaboon

FS Digest

When I go to a new lake I try lures that have a lot of action. Spinnerbaits and Rattle Baits are a good option. Color of the lure also plays an important role. You need to figure out what the fish are eating. Is it perch , minnows, craw fish, frogs, worms, leeches, etc. Water temperature and clarity are also factors. Live bait seems to outperform lures in tough fishing conditions. Worms, leeches, minnows. More information on type of fish targeting and location will help determine the strategy.

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by EMBFishing

Moondawg Loc: Natchez Ms.

Don't waist your time any money on asking local fishermen what baits are catching fish, as a general rule of thumb they will lie to you and giggle when you walk away to go spend your hard earned money on lures. Just stick to the basics, you don't need 25 different colors and you don't need the baits that catch fishermen. Clear water, natural colors, dark colors for muddy or stained waters. Good luck !!! If you talk to a fisherman about what they caught something on or where they caught it, your 95% of the time talking to a liar....this includes your so called friends. It's sad but true. Tight lines !!!

Moondawg Loc: Natchez Ms.

Don't waist your time any money on asking local fishermen what baits are catching fish, as a general rule of thumb they will lie to you and giggle when you walk away to go spend your hard earned money on lures. Just stick to the basics, you don't need 25 different colors and you don't need the baits that catch fishermen. Clear water, natural colors, dark colors for muddy or stained waters. Good luck !!! If you talk to a fisherman about what they caught something on or where they caught it, your 95% of the time talking to a liar....this includes your so called friends. It's sad but true. Tight lines !!!

Moondawg Loc: Natchez Ms.

And for God's sake don't take advise from tackle shops, they'll sell you what we they havn't been able to sell

boatmaster53 Loc: Baker Fla.

My friend start out simple. Buy two bags of zoom trick worms 6 1/2 inch Junebug and Watermelon red, a pack of 3/0 worm hooks and a pk. of 1/8 oz. worm leads. Rig Texas style. Throw one out as far as you can. Slowly lift the end of your rod, reel back down, repeat. This is the easiest way to catch a bass for the beginner. From this you can advance to other ways of catching them at different times. Also one of the cheapest way to learn. Plenty of videos on u tube to teach the beginner

wd4ity Loc: Middle Georgia, Forsyth

What part of the country are you in? For me here in the South, the best all around bass lure is the shallow running (3' to 5' deep) Shad Rap. I use the SSR7 model in either the shad color or the crawdad color depending on the water color of the lake. The Shad color for clear water, Crawdad color for stained water. Sometimes the "bluegill" color works well. Cast shallow and work out from the bank. Work close to cover like blowndown trees or docks. The retrieve speed will be relative to water temp. If the water is below 60°, a slow retrieve just fast enough to make the lure "swim" like a baitfish.

tevogel46

The surest way to catch "something" (usually bluegill and crappy) is to use a #8 aberdeen hook tied directly to the line about a foot under a single split shot about 3 feet deep (Use a float) baited with a piece of a night crawler. Cast it out and slowly reel it in, keep it moving. No terminal tackle! Just the hook and split shot. When you start catching fish go on to using something like a beatle spin tipped with a worm. Good luck fishing!