welp, that sounds like kinda the usual for this time of year. seems like them bass are behaving...like bass!! damn them. i hate the cold season, because you need to go deep, and fish light line. to top it off, you get bucketmouths coming up that look like stunned rockfish. something about a largemouth with buggin eyes disturbs me...too freakin weird.
if you go back, and have a GOOD fish finder, try looking deeper...as deep as 75-90' in open water, or near deep trenches or drop offs. its weird when they go down that far. you can get em on the drop shot, or by worm shaking (doodling) in open water, but you need a really solid sounder that will show you the money. going out and trying this technique won't work very well without knowing you have something directly beneath you.
to better luck!! ...sure beats working
thanks for the report!!!!