This is my first post and also a mild cry for help,

It has been nearly a 3 month dry spell since the last time I caught a bass. August 26th was the last time I caught one to be exact. I am still new to the sport, I have only been fishing for about 8 months. I had a lot of luck in the beginning but the bite completely died in the summer basically. I have watched tons of tutorials on YouTube, been on bass resource, etc... nothing seems to work. Obviously, I am doing something wrong and it is driving me crazy.

You could say I am desperate...

I am looking for advice on what to use and where to go. I am in DFW and I do have a cheap kayak so I am somewhat able to do more than just bank fish. I am planning on fishing all day Saturday and Sunday, and also using live bait in addition to lures. I am really hoping to break the curse this weekend so any advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

I would find a river to get into with that kayak and fish finesse worms slow , shaky head or whacky. That way you aren't having to cover a lot of water with search baits since you aren't real mobile.

I was thinking about trying Denton Creek on the North end of lake Grapevine or maybe the river between Ray Roberts and Lewisville.

Buddy, we have all been there but we need some more info. Where do you live? Where have you been fishing? What are you throwing?

DFW Fort Worth Specifically. Local ponds, Marine Creek Lake, Grapevine, and Trinity River. I have tried: spinnerbaits, senkos, ned rigs, chatterbaits, texas rigs, carolina rig, underspins, buzzbait, football jig, jerk bait, drop shot, neko rig, and live worms.

Please don't take this wrong but in a whole 8 months of fishing, there is no way you can master all the techniques you mentioned. You may be causing yourself to over think/over technique things.

Everyone goes through tough times. Keep chunking and sooner or later it will turn for you.

I would say I definitely haven't mastered [censored] at this point and that I have over complicated this . I've been trying different things out of desperation/seasonal changes. There doesn't really seem to be a logical progression as far as what to learn first/when to learn it it based on the seasons. What should I work on and when? I would be perfectly happy to work on only 1 or 2 presentation I just wan't to get better.

Why don't you give James Biggs a call and hire him for a trip. He isn't a guide but an instructional fisherman. He will teach you how to break down the water, eliminate areas, techniques for the season that you are in, etc. You will get instruction at the ramp before you ever get into the boat and then he'll show you how to do it on the water. It isn't that expensive for a few hours and will save you months of aggravation and zeros. I was blanked for a few months and called him. The next trip I was catching 15 or more in short trips to the lake.

You can find him on this forum. Fishing has been slow the last few months anyway with the crazy weather that we had gotten.

Stick with one lure type for a few trips and fish where the fish are. Rattle baits and cranks would be good to help you find and catch fish. Don’t ignore trolling. I troll from my kayak and my boat. I started trolling for walleye over 30 years ago in Wyoming and it works on bass down here I discovered when I relocated over a decade ago. Very few people down here troll because tournaments doesn’t allow it...because it’s so effective. Give it a shot to help you find bass, eliminate unproductive water, and gain some confidence back. Swimbaits and soft plastics can be trolled too very effectively.

if your going to hit Grapevine I would suggest the Dam first, left or right of the spill way tower, crank the rocks early, i like to throw Medium to Deep Divers, SK, Spro and or Bandits. You should be able to pick a couple up there. If they’re not cooperating back off about 15 yards and hop a jig or TRig in about 10 to 15 feet. Big worm, Berkley 10” power worm in Blue Fleck is my go to dragging bait on every lake in Texas first thing in the morning. There are big smallies in Grapevine especially on the Dam. Once the light gets better go back and crank the dam again. Try shad colors, i like the white black back myself, or chuck and wind a trap in chrome blue or Rayburn red. Don't give up on it, the Dam always produces fish. As my last go to i drag a Crig with 20 lb main line and 12 lb mono Tag end with a 1/2 oz or 3/4 oz weight with a clacker bead or two. When i drag its also the power worm or a craw in green pumpkin something. Good luck and keep swinging.

Grapevine, I love slow rolling Ring Frys over the rocks at Murrell Park this time of the year. Always one fatty camping out there, just waiting.

Go to Squaw creek and get some confidence. Tx rig blue fleck power work, drop shot and a square bill. Go catch some fish.

Don't over engineer the issue. Apply the KISS system. I have a friend that started throwing nothing but wacky rigs on a Zebco rod and reel. He has become a very good fisherman today by learning the simple stuff first and then moving up to another technique.

Fishing this time of year can be really tough. Especially when you first start. On most lakes the bait and fish are literally scattered from the backs of creeks to 30ft points on the main river channel.
Without a boat to cover water, it can be really hard to catch alot of fish this time of yr through winter. Even with a boat we are sneaking up on that time of year that you are, in reality, fishing all day for 5-10 bites. When you first start its hard to get in that mindset. The absolute best thing you can do is fish with other people who are more experience than you. Get a guide, join a club, or just find some guys that kayak fish and ask to go with them. Fishing with someone better than you is the best way to learn and gain confidence.

I would suggest fishing in several different water depths. As the weather changes the fish will move deeper. If you are not catching them shallow try between 15 to 25 feet.