fish tracking bait????

Hello group--I went to the lake yesterday and the bite was really
slow.Didn't catch any keepers and had about a dozen fish follow my bait
right to the boat and then turn away.I tried twitching the bait ,start and
stopping and a speed retrieve. Nothing would coax them into biting.I tried
different size bait and changed colors but not much.What approach would you
have used.One other thing. When you fished open water the bass wouldn't
follow the bait .Only from cover
Thanks in advance
Ken Blevins