The bass was so so aggressive in the beginning that I could catch 2 at a time on a crankbait but now I can throw plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, spoons and swimbaits. It does not matter they just will not bite. Not even the young bass that I need to take out of the pond for management purposes.
It has become very frustrating for me for sure.
How many years back was the aggressive striking and landing?
What is the water clarity - are you casting far enough the bass cannot see you?
If you know your bass are hitting live shad, is there a reason you're not fishing with live shad as your bait?
You've said you see them hitting shad, but you haven't said if you use shad as bait - only that the artificial lures aren't producing as you want them to. I don't understand this part - if I knew a species of fish was hitting something as bait, I would use that bait or something that is as close to that bait as possible.
