Keep in mind that the bass are not suspended in open water in the middle of nowhere. They usually are relating to the end of a deep point, a channel, ledge, sunken island or whatever underwater structure they can find. Largemouth bass do not want to stay in open water. They prefer the shoreline or on emergent structure.
Suspended fish in open water are very difficult to catch. It is best that one follow whatever underwater structure available and trace it back toward the shoreline. Chances are good that some of those fish are moving back looking for something to eat. That makes them vulnerable to lures.
You may find a concentration of inactive fish off shore but a few of them will move back and forth to feed. If the weather and feeding conditions are prime, then many will make the move toward the shore.
In late summer, the schools of bass that are feeding on forage fish will respond to lipless crankbaits that provide noise.
An interesting study done a few years ago by Cetacean Research Technology of Seattle, Washington opened some new views into bass behavior. We had long known that bass do respond to noise but just why and what noise was not clear.
Cetacean found that the noise from a lipless crankbait is nearly the same as that made by a schooling shad. Bass and other game fish return to feeding activity by this sound.
Some fish will respond to small, shad color topwater baits and shallow running lures.
There will be times when the bass just seem to reject any presentation. It is at this time that one should consider lure size. Try downsizing the weight of the lure. In the fall, they may be feeding on very small shad and a lure as small as ½ inch in length might be just the ticket.