no bites after three days

Question
My question is : My friends and I have been fishing Lake Madison in Minnesota over the past three days, we have tried hitting the bass with spinner rigs and shad raps and even jigs tipped with fat heads, we are trying this near reeds, 5-7ft< 10-12ft drop offs, and next to docks even 3-5ft water near reeds and  Lilly's. We haven't had any bites through all these methods, we start deeper and as the days grows to night we move in towards the shore, however we have tried slamming the reeds earlier in the day to look for fish taking relief of the sun. Can you help with our problem? - novice and hopeful fisherman in MN

Answer
While I have never fished Lake Madison I am sure there are lots of bass in the lake.  At this time of year if it is still hot up there(my thermometer showed 106 at 4pm today) the fish may be much deeper than you are fishing.  You did not say whether you are fishing from a boat or not.  If you are move out to deeper water and swim a plastic worm along any drop off.  If you can get them a very good bait for bass this time of year is nightcrawlers.  You will have to fish them in deeper water to keep the small sunfish from eating the bait off.  Us a #1 sproat hook or something similar with no weight or a tiny split shot to help cast.  Toss the worms toward deep water then let them settle to the bottom.  Keep trying all around the lake around 15-20 feet deep.  This should get some bass.

I am very surprised that you haven't had even a bite though.  Try slowing everything down and then slow down some more.  

Have you tried fishing after sunset.  I have caught many good bass from sunset to full dark in northern Minnesota.  We used topwater baits a lot.  A hula popper or other popper tossed at the edge of those reeds after sunset should get some strikes.  Just keep trying.

I am headed for northern Wisconsin tonight.  Gonna give the muskie a shot.