I'm about to give up on bass fishing around here in Northern AZ. I'm having a very difficult time patterning the fish since I'm not catching any bass at all Ive tried everything.
last year I caught 2 nice bass one afternoon using a hot pink whacky worm in late june other then that I havent caught any more Im totally lost, idealy I need to find someone to fish with out here to maybe show me the ropes on catching bass out here. anyone have any experience catching bass in this area or maybe have any ideas that might get me started? back home in kansas city and other midwest lakes I have no problem picking up on patterns but here in Arizona I just cant figure it out for nothing im so lost here...

It seems the bass here dont have a good source of baitfish to feed on so mimicking bait fish is kinda out Ive found there is alot of insects and crawfish that the fish have got to be feeding on ive tried jigs and crawfish lures but with no prevail. any ideas and input would be greatly appreciated. thanks guys

First , I'm a visual person . I need to mentally picture what your situation looks like .Here are a few qustions.
1. Are you walking around this lake or fishing from a boat?

2. What kind of aquatic plants are in the lake?

3. What is the bottom like? Sandy , rocky, muck, weedy , brush ?

4. How big is this lake?

5. Does it get alot of pressure?

Worm color and presentation can make a difference. Last week I took a very nice young man fishing who had much less experience than me. First..I went to a place where there was a lot less fishing pressure. The fish would not take any kind of spinner, top water or crank baits. When that happens I must patiently fish rubber worms. So Chris and I began fishing .I was using a Junebug type color Texas Rig and Chris was using Fire and Ice Culpret worm with a Carolina Rig. He was getting twice as many hits as me. After his 3rd nice fish ..I ended up rigging just like him and using Fire and Ice as well. Then, I was catching fish. High Desert Wolf...I'm sure you know these things but here are the types of structures I fish.. from Greatest to Least. Also I fish alot by the moon phases. New moon being best .and the week before the full moon being next.


1. I love the points of an island. I back off abouit 20 yds and fish that point real good.

2. Drop offs. Where it goes from 12 footish to 3 foot .

3, Brushpiles in deep water.

4. Flipping cat tails in the summer can still be productive if water is at least 3 foot deep.

When no lures produce....I fish my 6" rubber worms real slow. Don't be afraid to change colors.
Some of my best colors.
A. Red Shad
B. Fire and Ice
C. Black Grape
D. Black / Blue tail
E Black / Green Tail
F. Christmas Tree glitter
G. Purple / Red tail

When texas rigging....light bullet sinker.
When Carolina rigging...small split shot only 14" above worm

Been working for me.
God bless,
Chuck7

PS Get away from the extras like snap swivels, great big hooks, and use the lightest and most invisable line you can get by with. Also...I stick a glass rattle in my rubber worm. Bass also attack by sound. That is why they have those lateral line on their sides.

Whats the water clarity like? What size line are you useing?

main lake points, channel bends, underwater structure. THe key to summer bass is deep water. Its all relative. In a shallow lake, 10 feet may be deep enough.

Carolina rigged lizards and craws are my biggest producer this time of year.

Sometimes I like to use buzz baits when they just won't
bite good. Or a fly rod and a mouse or a grasshopper tied
on.

And then sometimes...the darn fish aint biting.Let's be honest folks. Sometimes it doesn't matter what you throw out there they aint hitting, I nearly got skunked today...except I caught a few small bucks on a Rooster tail. I fish mainly by the moon phases. Teh other day my friend andI tore them up at a certain place. Today...my friend struck out and I only got 2 small ones. That's life and that happens. Same lure , same hole same time of the day.

DING,DING! 10-4 good buddy!

Your right Chuck sometimes they jusy will not bite anything. I find the worst time for me is right after a storm for a couple of days.

when the bite gets tough, the best advice i can give is down-size baits and line dia. what body of water are you fishing, you may have to fish extremely deep with a drop shot rig, what is the water clarity like, water temp, the fish may be suspending[:@], following bait, look for bird activity for schooling fish,


man it could be so many different things, BTW sending you a p.m. that may help some

"When the bite gets tough, the best advice i can give"..Keith, let me finish this sentence....is to drive to your favorite grocery store.Order 5 pounds of crab legs and have them steam them cajun for ya. Yeah! That's what I'm talkin bout.