Getting discouraged at blanks

I am pretty new to bass fishing. We have had a boat forever and I have taken my family fishing before. But did not focus on bass fishing. Just whatever would bite. Usually a lot of perch for the kids on live worms.

We have recently decided to try to learn to bass fish. Out of the two dozen times I've been out this year I've only caught fish once. I caught one fish last year when a buddy and I went out. I am getting discouraged. I watch hours of videos. Read article after article and then go throw that bait and or technique. Lol but still drawing blanks. Is this common?

I've gone to my local lake and have been skunked. On two of those trips That same day and time another member on here has told me he had a good day and gave me recommendations as to where and on what he caught them on. Again I go there and throw that. Still blanks. Is this just my learning curve or am I doing it wrong? As I've said my son has a true passion for fishing but I'm very discouraged. Thanks

It is an excellent investment to hire a guide to get the help you need. You can also talk to me about mapping to find the fish if you have the depth finders updated to do that.

James Biggs will come to your home lake and help you for the day in breaking that lake down and the techniques you should be using. I use the old school methods of studying the Paper Map, Nav. Apps, Satellite Views and 50 years of experience finding fish to give you the 20 best spots on the lake to go and fish.

This builds your confidence, gives you a plan to follow and will help you in locating Bass. It is also very helpful to join a local Bass Club where you can fish with different seasoned fishermen in each tournament event.

Don't give up, listen to Donald, hire a guide for a day or half day or possibly join a local club

I'd pm SteezMacQueen on here at TFF to see if he would take you on a trip in his boat

I'm guessing he fishes the lakes close to you. I think you would learn a ton

Right now can be a challenging time. Bass are transitioning from summer to fall patterns and are moving a lot

To gain confidence, keep it simple

Take four rods
One topwater--spook or chug bug
Two middle water column--senko and rattle trap
One bottom contact--drop shot

Find a point on the lake near a main creek arm with shallow grass/reeds/brush/docks/other cover
If you have electronics, scan to look for baitfish and bass
If you don't see baitfish on your electronics move to another point

In the mornings start by throwing the rattle trap along the edge of the shallow cover
Keep throwing it varying retrieves until you find something they want
Don't give up on this for 15 minutes
If you see surface activity, throw the topwater
If nothing on rattle trap, throw the senko in and around the shallow cover
Don't give up on this for 15 minutes

Keep moving to points with shallow cover repeating the above until you have success
Once you have found success, stay there

If the bite slows shallow, start moving deeper along the point, throwing the rattle trap, but let it sink like a spoon and yo-yo it back
Look at your electronics. If you see baitfish and bass and the rattle trap isn't working deep, throw the drop shot and slowly drag it back

90% of the fish are in 10% of the lake.

Consider yourself eliminating water.

I do it all the time.

I would guess you are fishing too fast.
use a 1/8 shaky head and a zoom trick worm (I would choose 1 of the many watermelon flavors) on a spinning rod. throw it within 2 ft of everything that sticks out of the water and let sink to bottom. Tighten line, but only any slack. If nothing hits it on the way down, count to 10 before you move it the first time.
also have a drop shot tied on with a drop shot hook. A robo worm or worm of similar length and shape with some blue in it.fish it the same and even slower, but remember it has open hook and will snag on sticks.
I honestly can not imagine getting blanked on a full day of drop shooting. A dink somewhere is gonna bite it.

If you're asking for help, and I think you are, read Donald Harper's advice twice and do exactly as he suggested. You won't go wrong. Fishing is fun, catching is even more fun.

Lot's of good advice above.....Tons.
But remember, no solid angler was born that way....it takes time on water, practice, trial & error and some luck along the way.
Learning to fish is a lifelong journey.....enjoy it.

Like Kevin Costner said in Tincup, "Perfection is unattainable"

Go out with James Biggs for a day, you'll be shocked by how much you will learn in a single day. He completely changed the way I look at a body of water and my catch numbers have sky rocketed since fishing with him.

Pm sent

All advice above is great, listen to it. All I will add is DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!

Reading articles and watching videos are great ways to learn but you need to consider if that angler is fishing the same type of water as you. Techniques that work in clear water don’t always work in muddy water. You also need to consider geography and whether the angler is facing the same basic weather pattern as you. Stick to a few basic lures/presentations like the ones others have mentioned. Things are going to get better when Fall weather really kicks in - don’t give up!!!

A guide is a great way to learn. If that is outside of your budget then join a local club and ride backseat. A great way to learn as well.
Discouragement is just part of the game, we have all been there. The small successes make it all worthwhile.

I went through it too. I would have good days then a stretch of blanks. I fished one lake for 2 months without catching a fish. I finally got where I could go out and I'd catch 1 fish. I took others advise and hired James Biggs. He will sit you down and tell you how to break down a lake, what types of presentations to use at different time of the year, etc. Then he'll take you out and show you how to find them and more importantly how to catch them. Since I went with him, I have been back numerous times to my lake and others. His advise works on any lake. I don't think that I have gone to my home lake and caught less than 15 bass per day regardless of the conditions. I'm catching when others around me can't get a bite because techniques that he teaches really work. I'm hoping to go back out with him again and improve my knowledge.

I have gone with a few guides before and they just try to put you on fish as their primary job and not instruct. James is the opposite. He will teach and catching is secondary but you will catch. Sometimes it is hard to make yourself pay someone but in the long run, it will save you money in expenses and lots of frustration. Trust me, give him a chance and you'll be on here singing his praises also.

Thank you all for the encouragement. I really do appreciate it. I was putting in today as SteezMacQueen was coming out. We talked for quite a while. Good guy. Also got a PM from James Biggs today. I called and talked to him briefly. I'll talk to him again this week. Thanks again y'all. I'll keep y'all updated.

You need to learn to pitch a tx rig creature bait with a 3/16th tungsten. Practice this until you can put the bait where you want it. I watched a few tutorials on youtube then practiced.

If you learn to pitch with a very light tx rig, you can easily pitch with heavier weights. Try a pit boss or rage craw in green pumpkin or watermelon red. If you can pitch your bait where others can't or won't, you will catch fish.

Just enjoy your time on the water.

+1 for James Biggs. I've been out with him twice recently on 2 different lakes and have a third trip coming up very soon. I'm also new to the sport, I read insatiably, watch video after video and frequent these forums and while I've learned a ton from those sources James has simplified things and helped me eliminate a lot of mistakes I was making. You'll be glad you used his services!!!

Maybe I can can hire him as a tourney partner?!

I went through a couple months of getting skunked a lot but if you just keep at it you'll become a better fisherman and get past it just keep fishing

Learned to bass fish by watching Bill Dance videos and reading a book that came with my first BASS subscription called "Bassin Magic". Neither my dad nor my brother fished so I was on my own. Fortunately I had access to some stock ponds and a stretch of Denton creek that held some bass, that really helped me get a feel for the new techniques. Once I started fishing lakes it became more about locating fish, IMO that's the most important thing to learn. Most people can catch em, what separates the good fishermen from the not so good fishermen is the ability to locate and understand why the fish are where they are.

It is a chore and takes a lot of learning to locate them Mr. Buda. One thing I've noticed over many years is the little ones are a lot easier to find and catch than the bigguns which lead me to think that bass do have brains and the older/bigger they get the smarter they get. Sometimes I think a lot of luck goes into catching the really big ones. I can't deny luck didn't play a part in the bigguns I caught.

looked for James number or website - no luck
how do i contact him?

Send PM;

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/11120837/#11120837

Word on the street says you catch them just fine sir.

Thanks for all the kind words guys, and Mr Harper for that link. I like seeing people excel & have fun on the lake. This is one of the few sports without coaches.

Yes, I spoke with James for quite a while on Monday. As soon as I can get all of my gear in line we are going to get a trip together. Looking forward to it.

James is a great guy. You will learn more in one day with him than you would have learned in a year by yourself. I have told folks that for many years. Same goes for a good guide. Money well spent.