Fish everywhere, no bites. What lure would you have fished?

fishon

Info:Friday, small lake, clear water, light line, Bass on surface jumping out of water feeding on small bait fish, Shad like. We fished the following lures. Three sizes of rattle traps, fast/slow big and little worms, swimming jigs, small top water, small and medium suspending lure. Not a bite....
Today, diferent lake, medium size lake, clear clear water, could see the bottom at 7/8 ft. Same issue as a Friday. We tried the same lures with the same results. Very frustrating. Yes it's fishing not always catching, but thought I'd see if you may,share your thoughts on what lures and how to fish them, for the described two trips above.
Thanks

abovebored

Try early in the morning or late in the evening.

fishon

We were fishing sun up, 6:15ish am to 10:30 am both days.....

capt louie

When they are keying on really small fry they get very size specific . What size are the fish that are schooling ?
I had to throw small crappie jigs to get small schooling bass to bite and then only if it was right in the middle of the activity and reeled quickly across the surface. Success wasn't good and only worked when they were striking the bait. Went back and took a flyrod with a really little popper. Wore them out. The minnows they were keyed on were maybe 1/2 inch and on the surface. Anything below that and no deal.

Granted they weren't large fish but on ultralight (4lb test) and later on the flyrod a lot of fun.

I would try a tandem rig with two or 3 small jigs (for casting distance) that match the size and color of the shad or minnows they are eating. You might be able to use 2 small jigs under a small weighted popping cork ?
Good luck

fishon

I was thinking of putting a lov lure in my bass stuff for this application.

johnD

ultra lite gear, small yozuri pin minnows , 2" 1/16 oz. they work great trolled behind the boat on 4lb test. in the grass you might want to get the smallest senko you can find ,like a 3". I have never seen them so keyed in on small bait for so long , as they have this year. When the water temps start to drop because the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler ,it will be a different game.

johnson spoons , the smallest you can find.

http://www.johnsonfishing.com/johnson-hard-bait/johnson-silver-minnow/1285602.html

GITBIT

Another vote for the 3" senko or a 4" fluke on light line, watermelon works for me in clear water.

fishon

Great replies, thanks. I'll at this lure to my bag.

kmander3

Agree with the above on the flukes. I've used flukes a lot more this year just because of them being keyed in on smaller baits. You may even want to experiment with a double fluke rig a little if you start to like them.

Buckeye John

Hey, don't feel to bad ! I fished both Friday and Saturday two different chain of lakes around Clermont and had 4 bites on Friday and 3 bites on Saturday ! All but one bite came on drop shot Robo worm we landed 2 small bass and one decent 2 lb. we got the bigger bass on a Horny Toad watermelon.