I have recently gotten back on the water. Was out of country for several years and just got a boat and back in the game. I have been fishing about 5 or 6 times since I got my boat. I have caught 3 fish. 2 LM bass less than a pound and a crappie (on a spinner bait).

I know I am fishing good water. I have been fishing the Ouachita River in known productive areas. Why do I say they are known to be productive? Partially personal experience and partially advice from experienced anglers.

Here is a basic rundown of what I have been doing - I usually dont get on the water until 6:45am due to prior obligations. I am fishing water from 1' out to 20'. Concentrating on shallower depth ranges early - say 1' to 10' and as the day goes on I back off a bit fish the entire depth range. I am throwing crankbaits, 6&7" texas rigged worms, Spinnerbait and a soft plastic (swim bait?) called a bass assasin. I have varied my retrieve on each lure to try and entice a strike as well as bumping structure objects and fishing various angles and depths.

I've fished fallen timber along the main river banks, Concrete storm drains that feed into the river, bridge pylons, lake points from the river side, feeder bayou points on ther river side, sandy flats off of river bends, ledges that drop shallow to deep sharply.

I have an an older Hummingbird "widevision" finder but I basically use it for depth. I am not experienced with using electronics to actually find deeper structure or fish. On top of that I am not sure my finder is very good at that.

My next stategy is to go to a Carolina Rig. I am not experience using one but I understand the concept. I have some Zoom Centipede's that are about 4" and I plan on trying them on my C rig set up.

Soooo - I know there are a lot of very good amateurs and Pros on this board - what am I doing wrong? Should I just stick to my guns and keep at it or what could I do to improve my productivity? I love to bass fish and am ready to start putting a few in the boat.

C-rig would be my approach!

Jack of all trades:Master of None. Learn to Pitch a Plastic T-Rig and learn to become proficient,with it. That's all you have to do.

Drop shot and crankbaits around pinch points are usually money on any river system! Rock jetties can be good too. Both the current and slack water sides.

Have you tried live bait?

BigDozer66

I would throw a jig (personal confidence)at the horizontal timber,a 1/8oz shakey head finesse worm, a squarebill crankbait and a frog. I'm more confident with shallow water so when I get frustrated I go to where I'm comfortable with what I'm comfortable using,hunker down and grind

Go with a 3/4 - 1 oz football jig in 15-25 feet. Try different retrieves until you get a strike: however, start with a slow drag-n-pause retrieve and bang the head against any hard bottom felt. Then, violently popped it off the bottom several times and pause, stroking the jig. Or hop it in a smooth, fluttering motion.

Or watch paint dry as you Carolina Rig yourself into oblivion.

You don't need a "depth finder" you need a "fish finder." Electronics don't lie, there are countless depth changes in any lake, increase your odds by only fishing the ones where the electronics show fish are holding...other than that your probably not doing anything wrong, it's the "dog days of summer."

Don't be afraid to use a white football jig.

Take a guided trip. That's a good starting point, IMO. You'll catch some fish and you'll learn something. Tell them where you're coming from and they will probably have good ideas on things for you to try. Get a buddy to go and split the costs. You'd spend 100 bucks in gas going by yourself anyway.

I've never fished there, but know a few that have.

Like FZ1 said, learn to flip and get good at it. I know that flippin'/punchin shallow matted vegetation on that pond will put some in the boat.

If those fish are anything like Red River fish, and the water is heavy stained to muddy, some of them will have ticks on them year round, you can't get too shallow. I've caught 'em on the Red back in the day when if you had a temp guage, it was a 2 digit humminbird guage mounted separately. No joke have seen that guage read 01 and caught 'em in 1' of water.

Small cranks on the jetties with the most current should catch 'em too. Find the sand bars that are created on those jetties too and fish a little deeper away from the rocks.

Good luck, I love me some river fishing!

Fishing. Just kidding

Lots of good advice and I appreciate everyone that has chimed in. I have a C Rig tied on right now and I am going to try it out. I have not fished jigs very much and will have to stock up. I will be stepping out side of my comfort zone and giving jigs a run. I know jigs are known for producing both quantity and size - I just never really put much time in fishing them. I got comfortable fishing T rigged worms when I first started and just had a hard time putting them down.

Main thing is I am going to keep fishing and not let my confidence level drop. I know I cam improve my presentation and technique and I will work on that. One thing I am gong to do is make a concerted effort to locate fish further off shore. I wont abandoned the shallows but I will continue to cover various depths.

Naw,man. You have to PITCH the worm! It's One Thang,like Curley,said.

Are you fishing later in the afternoon as well?......might be missing the late afternoon bite, if so...


Also might wanna try a flutter spoon, along with those jigs....and as Jay said, drop-shot should be money this time of year....keep at it..