Wade Bourne: We've all been on the water on days when fishing is tough. For whatever reason, sometimes the fish just don't bite. It's not fun, but it is a part of the fishing experience. It's like paying your dues for the good days that do come along.



Still, there are some things anglers can try to get some action on those slow-bite days. For instance….

1. Try something different. If you've been soaking live bait under a bobber, switch to artificials and start moving more. Make a radical change and see if the fish might respond to a new approach.

2. Change locations. This is a no-brainer. If one spot isn't producing bites, try somewhere else. Don't camp out on a dead hole. Keep moving to try to make something happen.

4. Downsize lures and tackle. Fish that have fed or that don't want to feed are more prone to hit small lures than big ones. These little lures are like "dessert baits." A fish may not want a "full meal" bait like a big crankbait or spinnerbait. But pass a little finesse worm or tube jig under his nose, and he might be inclined to suck it in.

5. Slow down. This plays on the same principle as above. If fish are full and lazy, they probably won't chase active baits, but they might bite a vulnerable one that's slowly gliding by.

6. Pay attention to small details like making noise, casting your shadow across your fishing spot, etc. When fish are inactive, little mistakes can yield big disappointments.

The main thing is to simply be persistent and keep experimenting until you find a combination that works. Again, some days are a lot better than others in terms of how active the fish are. But even on the slow days you can usually get a few bites if you practice the tips offered above and just keep your line in the water.

 

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