Bass Wouldn't Commit To My Swimbait

[Addicted to Smallies]

Not sure what happened, but it looks like my original post was deleted... I'll try again.

Today, we were fishing on the Occoquan, Potomac and Mattawoman and having decent luck with spinnerbaits and brush hogs. However, when I fished my 5" Berkley Hollow Body swimbait (shad color) through the grass flats, I noticed nice sized bass would be following it up to the boat and then veering away. This happened probably a dozen times.

I tried killing the action in mid-retrieve for the "wounded minnow" look, slowing the retrieve, and jigging it during the retrieve, but nothing seemed to work. Switched to a 3.5" and didn't even get any followers. Tried a swim Senko for a different profile and color, and again, nothing even looked at it, but when I retied the 5" hollow body, several more fish followed it nose-to-tail, all without biting it.

So, what am I doing wrong here... anyone else ever have this happen?

[North Ga Hillbilly]

It happens all the time with swim baits, Ive had many big followers, but more often than that youll see schools of smaller fish. Just try mixing it up to see if theyll commit.

NGaHB

[VolFan]

Try burning it as fast as you can and/or changing directions with the retrieve like it's trying to get away or hide. When all else fails, try a crazy Ivan.

[papajoe222]

If a bass follows your bait, the good news is you're doing something right. The bad news for you is that it isn't just quite right for that fish to commit. If you were using a hard bait, I'd say switch to a similar bait that runs a little deeper, wobbles a little tighter or wider, is a different color, etc. There are only two physical changes that you could make with the swimbait; color and sink rate. Color would be my first as you say you tried increasing and decreasing your retrieve speed. I carry markers in eight different colors for quick color changes, or just to add a splash of a certain color.

One other thing I would recommend is adding some kind of scent to your bait. It may be just the thing to turn on those followers and if nothing else will mask any negative scent that the bait may have acquired. An oil based one will also help keep weeds from clinging to the bait.

[Bluebasser86]

Like others said try changing colors or speed of retrieve. I prefer to speed up over killing my retrieve. A baitfish in it's natural environment isn't going to stop swimming when it's being pursued, it's going to speed up and try to get away. It may not take much, just a couple quick cranks or a lift of the rod can do it at times. Also, if you can see those fish they might be seeing you too so making as long of casts as possible might help too. A little bite of oily baitfish scent wouldn't hurt anything either.

[A-Jay]

If you can see them - they can see you.

That could be enough to put them off.

Backing off and making longer casts to these fish might turn them into biters.

Once they are aware of your presence, from what I've seen, the oods go down quite a bit.

Re-locate and come back later.

Perhaps a night trip would put the odds in your favor.

A-Jay

[msolorio]

Try some event. I've had bass follow my swimbait before so I smothered it in scent and bam! They demolished that thing. Just a suggestion.

[RyneB]

Im not saying it will solve your problems. But put some Megastrike on your swimbait. The worst case scenario is it comes through the vegetation better. I have tried all kinds of scents. I totally gave up on them all, then i tried Megastrike. I wont throw a bait out without it on it. It may just be a confidence thing, but when it comes to fishing, confidence is just as important as your tackle.

[Addicted to Smallies]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. The scent idea is an interesting point to discuss further... I was using the Berkley Powerbait Hollow Body swimbait... doesn't the "Powerbait" name mean it has the powerbait scent already built in?

So now I'm wondering... if you apply a different scent to a powerbait plastic (or to any other impregnated-scent plastic) does that lead to "scent confusion" for the fish, or does it "double" the attractiveness?

[Dwight Hottle]

So now I'm wondering... if you apply a different scent to a powerbait plastic (or to any other impregnated-scent plastic) does that lead to "scent confusion" for the fish, or does it "double" the attractiveness?

Scent confusion now that is a new one.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Try a bigger bait

[djmax22]

Couple of things. Speed up your retrieve. Use some sort or scent. Retrieve all the way to the boat.

[Jman59wl3]

Try a smaller swim bait!

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Try a smaller swim bait!

If the fish isn't going to commit the energy to eat a 5 inch hollow belly, going smaller on the swimbait is not going to do anything IMO. Maybe a smaller, different lure worked slower. MAYBE.

Fish get big by using as little energy as possible to eat the biggest meal possible.

[Curved]

I'd say go smaller and slower/more wounded. When I see fish do that, I think what's happening is they see the lure and are deciding whether its real or not. A smaller lure is harder to see so they have more time to get excited before they are on it.

[J Francho]

If the fish isn't going to commit the energy to eat a 5 inch hollow belly, going smaller on the swimbait is not going to do anything IMO.

The reason so many people downsize is that they are often rewarded by catching a fish. Most often, it's a smaller, more aggressive fish, not the slob you're after.

[NEjitterbugger]

I agree with going smaller with the swimbait...I use 3-4" ones usually and still generate some big bites. My dad caught a 38lbs stiper on a chunk of mackeral or herring that was less than 4 inches long... Fish dont always go for bigger bait, sometimes they will go for things the same size of them and sometimes they will go for things the size of their eye, if a fish is that hungry it won't think twice about the size of it's prey.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

The reason so many people downsize is that they are often rewarded by catching a fish. Most often, it's a smaller, more aggressive fish, not the slob you're after.

See, Francho gets it!

Swimbaits don't work unless you live in California.

[cheezylotus]

what i usually do is scream and cuss at the fish for being so "stupid" but what i recommend, especially if its happening a lot, quickly drop the rod and pick up a finess type bait, like a jig, or weightless worm or whatever, and throw it out there where you think the fish is following from. it doesnt work everytime, but its fun when it does.

[cheezylotus]

See, Francho gets it!

Swimbaits don't work unless you live in California.

hahaha, funniest thing ive ever read!!! that is awesome!!

[gobig]

One thing that I have not seen anyone mention is casting angles. Even 6in swimbaits have a fair amount of drawing power. If you are not bringing the bait into ambush points but you are casting to them you very well could have been drawing fish into open water. When you do this the odds of a fish commiting to the bait go way down. I don't see followers as a negitive thing. For one if you pay attention they will help you understand how the fish are relating to a piece of structure or cover. Keep in mind the time of day. The suns position and the way it casts shaddows will play a huge roll. It helps to really familiarize your self with the area's you fish. There are the shadows we phisically see and there are the subsurface shadows we don't see. For instance if you had a rock pile 100 yards off the bank in open water. As the sun comes up in the morning there will be a shadow on the opposing side of the rock pile. You can't see it but its there. As the sun moves over head throught out the day the shadow tightens up. This can make the area much more spot specific shrinking the amush point.

[RyneB]

One thing that I have not seen anyone mention is casting angles. Even 6in swimbaits have a fair amount of drawing power. If you are not bringing the bait into ambush points but you are casting to them you very well could have been drawing fish into open water. When you do this the odds of a fish commiting to the bait go way down. I don't see followers as a negitive thing. For one if you pay attention they will help you understand how the fish are relating to a piece of structure or cover. Keep in mind the time of day. The suns position and the way it casts shaddows will play a huge roll. It helps to really familiarize your self with the area's you fish. There are the shadows we phisically see and there are the subsurface shadows we don't see. For instance if you had a rock pile 100 yards off the bank in open water. As the sun comes up in the morning there will be a shadow on the opposing side of the rock pile. You can't see it but its there. As the sun moves over head throught out the day the shadow tightens up. This can make the area much more spot specific shrinking the amush point.

Great post. I always try to explain casting angles to my fishing buddy. I learned a lot about casting angles fishing small creeks for smallmouth.

[gobig]

Great post. I always try to explain casting angles to my fishing buddy. I learned a lot about casting angles fishing small creeks for smallmouth.

I believe it's something that is not discussed enough or in great detail. It's fairly difficult to explain with out video or illustration. This is something I am still learning but it has sky rocketed my swimbait success in the last few years. The cool part is that in many cases you can literally predict the point at which you get bit. Short of what Matt Peters in Southerntrout eaters and Bill Siemantle with is book and various videos have shared its hard to find good info on the subject. The only free info I have found is on youtube at the BBZ tv channel. Here is an example...

[mikey5string]

Maybe it just wanted to make friends.

[retiredbosn]

I've heard Bill Dance say many many times if they follow but don't commit its color 9 out of 10 times.