Stuck in a rut

I have been reading the MS forum for a while, but I have never posted. Since I am stuck in a fishing rut I figured I would ask the MS boys for some help. I bought my first bass boat last Jan. and did pretty good for my first year fishing big lakes. I caught my biggest bass at Enid (6lbs), but this year I can't catch a thing. I have literaly zeroed the last 3 times I have been out. I would say I have caught less than 10 fish all year. I really need some help here. I have tried everything I know from worms, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, swimbaits, jigs, even some spoons and still nothing. What gives? I usually fish Sardis or Enid. I really need some help figuring these fish out.

Couple of guys on here fish Sardis a lot. I'm sure someone will give you some pointers. Only thing I can say is keep chunking we all go through dry spells. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif Come to the Mississippi Rally in October and you will definitely catch a few.............probably some pointers too

like jim said. keep chunking and winding man. personally, if i'm struggling, i put up everything but my shakey head and a one knocker xcalibur trap.

Eric I'm glad you finally started posting in the MS forum. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif Great bunch of guys in here.

What kind of water are you fishing. I don't fish Enid but I'm betting it's a lot like Sardis. Fishing Sardis can be tough in the summer mths. Fish deep. Get you a contour map and find main lake points close to the river. I mainly fish the lower end of the big lake but have been going to the upper end this yr thanks to Joey Watts of Flatlands tackle. He has shown me some places I never knew existed. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif
Put you a c-rig on and go to chunking. Once you find some fish hit em with a texas rig or jig. Hang in there. It won't be long til the shad start moving back into the creeks.

Sardis has been tough the last month or so. Had a tournament down there 2 weekends ago and the person who won it. Caught 1 fish 30 minutes before weigh in at Engineers Point. Hard to believe as good as that lake was at one time how bad the fishing is now days. Still some fish to be caught and think it is in the process of making some what of a come back. But, with that being said all you can do is keep chunking and winding. I would take the above advice and try to attend the rally next month. Will get a chance to fish one of the better fishery's in our area and also meet some of us knuckle heads that post on the board.

Good Luck

Fishing has been "weird" thats what i'll call it this year. The summer pattern has been different than in years past. As the others said just keep at it. Heck since what your doing hasnt been working dont be afraid to try different spots than usual, or different baits.

EP's right, the fish have been weird this year.. You definitely don't want to come to Columbus to try and bolster your spirits... http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/ohwell.gif

Welcome to the forum.. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
Fishing has been tough here in Southwest MS also..

Thanks for the help guys. At least I am not the only one having an off year.

Johnny - you mentioned fishing deep off main lake points. How deep? Also how can you tell if one point will be better than the next? I know to look for creek channel swings, but it seems like everytime I find one the drop off is only a few feet. Is that really enough to make a difference?

Ed, all our lakes have filled in really bad thanks to the piss poor management we have. The Corps does not manage these lakes for our pleasure although we are the ones that pay their salary. They are all flood control lakes and any time you pull 30 plus feet out of a lake every year and then fill it back up. That is what happens over time. Places I use to catch fish at sardis 20 years ago that were 30 plus feet. Are now only 10 and 15 feet. That is why you see no contour for the most part on the lake.

So in trying to answer your question. Yes, just a couple feet can make a difference !!

Good Luck

I would think a few feet matter. I would look for stumps, logs, mussel beds, rocks on the creek channels and points. You should be able to distinguish what's down there with a carolina rig or a heavy jig.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EDUBYA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for the help guys. At least I am not the only one having an off year.

Johnny - you mentioned fishing deep off main lake points. How deep? Also how can you tell if one point will be better than the next? </TD></TR></TABLE>
Start on the bank of the point and move out. Pay attention to where you see fish holding in the water column. Look for that depth. If I knew the secret to one point to another, I wouldn't be working at a tractor dealership. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif

Remember that depth change is like I55 to a fish. It's a highway to follow.

No muscles beds on our lakes Nathan. Nothing but silt, mud and stuff people have planted over the years.