Bass Jumping For Birds?

[hoosierbass07]

  I've noticed this happening this spring as I've been fishing for bass.  I will cast out my plastic worm or lizard into the water.  Now, when it hits the surface a ring of water will form.  I have noticed, sometimes I see two rings form.  After a while I started to realize that this may be fish jumping up as my worm flies overhead.  

 

 Last week I was bank fishing and there were some birds on the shore wading around.  I saw one fly off and it started out real low to the water.  I saw one ring of water form after another - plop, plop, plop, plop, plop.  The only thing I could think is that it was bass or other fish seeing this bird fly close to the water and wanting to grab it.  Another bird flew off and it started out close to the water surface and again I saw rings form - plop, plop, plop, plop. 

 

 So, do bass have good enough eyes to see up and out of the water?  Are there eyes good enough to spot low flying birds?  Is this what top water fishing is based on?  Instead of a bird flying overhead you throw a walk-the-dog lure or frog? 

[Mccallister25]

I saw one fly off and it started out real low to the water. I saw one ring of water form after another - plop, plop, plop, plop, plop.

If you gotta go, you gotta go!!

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I usually cast near where the birds are circling Most if the time it means baitfish.

[Oregon Native]

Have seen bass grab black birds outa tulies on California Delta

[hoosierbass07]

If you gotta go, you gotta go!!

 

 

  Hmm.  Yeah, that's a possibility.  So is it birds "going" or fish jumping?  I don't know! 

[hoosierbass07]

If you gotta go, you gotta go!!

 

 

  The more I think about it, you might be right.  The water rings that formed were in a straight line.  I don't think bass would like up in a long line all jumping for one bird.  

[Mccallister25]

Honestly, it could be something as simple as the birds crapping in the water but it could also be smaller baitfish scrambling around, being spooked by the birds.

[notevenanibble]

I'm gonna agree with the bird pooping theory.  w/r/t the worm cast making rings sometimes i'll have that and assume it's bits of grass or water coming off my lure.

 

in high school i worked at a hotel and there was a 2 acre pond with a few large bass in it.  each year when the ducklings were hatched i witnessed one being pulled under by one of the big bass swimming around.

[David D.]

I would guess it is water dripping off of the birds as they are flying. As to the second ring around your bait, it could be skipping occasionally when it hits the water leading to more than one set of ripples.

[Pz3]

Depends on what you are pitching. Texas rig the weight will sometimes slide down the line mid flight. Two plops.

As far as bird plops. Probably water or poop.

However. I have seen and witness LMB following around ducks waiting for them to crap. I guess they are either looking for baitfish or a snack themselfs.

Pan fish will eat just about anything floating in the water.

[BassinLou]

Yes, bass eyesight is very good according to the Bass professor. I don't know if what you witnessed was a bass going after the bird, however I have seen bass time the landing of my bait to strike as it hits the water. It's a cool thing to witness. 

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

I have seen pan fish usually shad or blue gill take off anytime a shadow is casted above the water. It's usually a swirl though not a ring. Your bait coming out of the sky would also cast a minor shadow that could spook the already skittish fish.

J-

[bartdude186]

Not sure about birds, but i had 2 bass in the same day last year that ate my fluke about 1-2 inches before it hit the water, both were on long cast that went too high, giving them enough time to see it coming i'm guessing.

[Mccallister25]

both were on long cast that went too high, giving them enough time to see it coming i'm guessing.

Now thats crazy. Id love to see that happen!

[livetofish28]

i watched a monster bass launch itself about 3 foot of water while eating a small duck so birds are bass bait lol 

[boostr]

Sometimes your also get water dripping off your line.

[Nice_Bass]

birds eat bass when they are swimming, bass eat birds when they are swimming, but bass are not eating too many birds when they are flying nor are birds eating too many bass when they are flying!

 

it was most likely fry or bait fish that scramble away due to a shadow overhead.

[hoosierbass07]

 The craziest thing I have seen was in my back yard gold fish pond about eight years ago.  I saw a little bird fly up to the edge to drink and a frog surfaced and went for the bird.  The little bird jumped back but there were stones behind it, so it was sort of trapped.  The frog made a few lunges and the bird got scared and flew off.  It happened so quick I could not believe a little frog that can fit in the palm of your hand would go after something a lot bigger than itself.  

 

 So yeah, I believe a bass would go for birds.  It would be pretty cool to see too.   

[porkleaker]

Occasionally birds eat your lure too. d**n seagulls :| 

[Raul]

Yup, they do jump for birds.

 

For many years in the ponds I fish ducks and geese are kept to mow the vegetation ( geese are also used to guard the ponds ) but a strange phenomena occured, there were no ducklings or baby geese,. One day we discovered why, momma duck enters the pond with baby ducks behind her and POW ! one duckling less. Bass were eating the ducklings and geese.

[bigbill]

There are bird lures for bass too. I been buying the mouse flys for bass fly fishing.

[everythingthatswims]

I'm gonna agree with the bird pooping theory.  w/r/t the worm cast making rings sometimes i'll have that and assume it's bits of grass or water coming off my lure.

 

in high school i worked at a hotel and there was a 2 acre pond with a few large bass in it.  each year when the ducklings were hatched i witnessed one being pulled under by one of the big bass swimming around.

I put 2 blue cats in the 10-12lb range in my neighbor's pond last spring to hopefully help out with the stunted lmb, last week my little brother witnessed one of them snatching a gosling while it was swimming across the pond! 

[bassguytom]

I saw a smallmouth pull a bird away from a largemouth then it beat the crap out of the largemouth with it before it ate it.

[bass2bluegill]

ive seen a bass take a swallow when it went down to get a bug off the water. pretty crazy stuff

[Maico1]

Get yourself one of these and see what happens....http://www.flipinthebird.com