Quarry in the Midwest. Tried ned, wacky, chatterbait, Texas rig, swim jug, nothing.
Groups of 2-3 1-2lb bass and a few solo bigger bass keep swimming past 6-10’ out which I’m guessing is 6-10’ deep.
They might quickly loo at a bait but aren’t engaging. Should I try a specific bait, different fishing style? It’s making me sad getting teased by fish.
Posted by FFJosty
13 Comments
I feel this. Have the same issue myself. I’ve had luck with the small ones using a drop shot robo worm in this situation, but even then, the big fish will just dart away as soon as the rig hits the water.
Throw something matte red, like a craw lipless. I’ve killed it two days in a row on my local Midwest pond with a biospawn craw in magma red. Lost the lure both days out now. But not without several good bites and landed 2 smaller fish today, and 5 the other day.
Remember this: if you can see the fish, they can see you. Fish know what a nearby human means. Try walking away like 15-20 feet away from the bank and cast.
waters still very cold in the Midwest even with these nice spurts of 70 degree days. I think the tight shimmy of the craw is pretty accurate for how the forage is moving down under the water, but could be wrong.
water temp might still be too cold. work the bait slower. also, try a drop shot. that seems to be a skunk killer. if all else fails, toss some live worms out there just to shake the skunk and get a litter perk from catching SOMETHING. whenever i take my 6yo out, i bring his rod and some worms. i’m usually skunked trying a bunch of different techniques and baits, but he usually gets at least one fish like a perch or small SMB and it gets both of us excited. anything is better than a skunk. also, that bank looks walkable for a majority of the perimeter. take one bait and walk the entire thing, casting and retrieving in different places and different ways. when you get back to your bag, switch baits and repeat.
if they are looking, you’re doing something right. figure out what that *thing* is, and then keep doing it. once they are consistently looking at a presentation you change little things, ONE AT A TIME, until you’ve gotten the pattern.
Try backing up from the bank. Bass can see you if you’re standing too close. Or at least try crouching down. I always try to wear earthy colors too. Greens, browns, etc etc.
I’d throw a jig or a t-rigged craw dragging and hopping it as slowly as I can stand. and if you haven’t, I’d cast more parallel to the shore and not straight out in front of you.
Grab a net and jump in..you don’t have to take that abuse from the fish..show them who’s boss. Go on offense.
Sometimes those old lures or new creations can be worth gold in these situations. Try something they’ve never seen before and I’m sure you’ll see something happen and if you still don’t then yeah, they’re laughing. They think they’re so funny swimming by all look at me, he he.
Spark Shad 3″ swimbait on a 1/8oz head
I was fishing in a pond the other day and for the whole time a HUGE carp, like at least 4ft long, was just casually floating in the shallow water right next to me watching me fishing. Like he wasn’t even scared of me. He obviously noticed my existence and didn’t swim away
Ned rig is always the answer