Detecting Bites On The Fall

[WRB]

Detecting bites on the fall I interpreted as the fall at the end of the cast, the initial "fall" with worms and jigs.

Structure spoons, tail and underspins also fall, blade baits and spin baits create a lot of vibration and they are easier to detect strikes, the fall stops before hitting bottom or the vibration stops...set the hook. Verticle spoons are similar without the vibration, if the stop falling, set the hook.

Jigs and worms are different, they fall or sink without vibration and slower, the bass tend to react to them slowly, not a slashing strike, they just engulf them by quickly opening their big mouth, pump water out the gills and vacuum in the lure. You may see the line movement or may not, with practice you can feel the difference in line pressure or any other anomaly that indicates a strike has occurred. I watch the V the cuts going through the water as a matter of habit, best sight strike indicator for me.

You know you are detecting "fall" strikes when a good % of your bass are caught as the jig or worm is falling after making the cast, if fall strikes are a rare event you may be missing a lot of strikes.

Tom

[Felix77]

This takes practice.  As others have said your best bet is to watch the line.  Where I look is at the point in which it enters the water.  Easier to see the twitch there because it causes a small disturbance in the water as well.

 

It also helps to know when you reach bottom.  Take the time to countdown how long it takes to bait to settle in the bottom.  Let's say it is 6 seconds.  If by 6 seconds you don't feel anything funny you can begin working it back slowly.

 

Good luck.

[zwhiten12]

A higher quality also helps

[Raul]

So, it´s been said that an image is worth a thousand words, it´s time:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/140644-know-your-prey/

 

To watch it again.

 

If a bass can inhale and spit a moving bait with 2 or 3 treble hooks hanging from it and you don´t notice it, imagine what it can do with a single hook bait that´s barely moving. 

[F14A-B]

I have never missed a srike buddy... No sir not i

Joking!!!!!

[Catt]

So, it´s been said that an image is worth a thousand words, it´s time:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/140644-know-your-prey/

To watch it again.

If a bass can inhale and spit a moving bait with 2 or 3 treble hooks hanging from it and you don´t notice it, imagine what it can do with a single hook bait that´s barely moving.

Exactly Raul!

[lmbfisherman]

Yes watch your line and use high vis if you can...but after Friday night I think there are times you just won't know no matter what and instinct just takes over. 

 

Friday night I was fishing a local pond.  I was using a split shot rig with a worm, I was watching my line carefully.  I cast my line out towards a fallen tree, I was watching the line and let it fall on a slack line until it hit the bottom.  I did not see any jump in the line, tension on the line nothing..I had my finger on my main line and nothing, but I don't know what it was..but something told me, Wes,...there is something odd and I set the hook and the fight was on.  I am not sure what told me there was a fish on as clearly there were no signs.  So I just think you can do everything and still can't detect the bite. 

[CDMeyer]

It is very important to watch your line, as this will tell you what your bait is doing.  Also be paying attention to the feel on your rod

[WRB]

Did any of you watch the old video that Rual posted? The late Homer Circle was the angler in the original Big Mouth video where some of the big bass eating crank baits was filmed and he didn't detect the strikes on a moving crank bait with treble hooks. Homer stated in the later video that he learned from watching this video to be more aware of any slight changes in the lure and that improved his strike to catch ratio.

You can't always see line movement, in fact you only see the most aggressive strikes watching the line! You must be totally focused on what your lure is doing at all times to detect falling lure strikes. I have said this many times that the aversge bass anglers misses a high % of strikes from big bass, this is a true statement!

Don't believe this....next spawn try bed fishing where you can see bed fish. The small male will strike very aggressively and carry your lure away from it's bed sight, watch your line and tell me what happened. The larger female may rush in and strike your lure, then spit it our after killing it....tell me how much your line moved in only 3 feet of water when you are watching the bass strike....no line movement occurs.

Now make a cast 75 feet away and tell how you believe a bass engulfing your falling lure moves your line when the bass doesn't move with the lure!

You can't rely on line movement alone.

Tom