Catch One, Then Relocate?

[Josh Smith]

Hi Folks,

 

As I've mentioned before I'm trying to figure out one particular smaller lake since the boat is down for rebuild for most of this year.

 

I've noticed that bass usually do not hang out in the same spots they use for spawning.  In fact, it's rare to find them there post-spawn.  I figured out one spot they go to, but I'm not understanding their behavior.

 

First, they seem to only bite on plastic worms.  They hold to cover as bass will, and a weedless Texas rig is about perfect.  It could be the water temperature, but I've not been catching them on topwater baits, jerkbaits, or rattle baits I've tried.  For that matter, I've had no luck with jigs. 

 

Any idea why?

 

Additionally, after I catch one, I generally have to relocate.  They don't seem to ever school.  The only times I've caught more than one in the same spot is during the spawn.

 

Any thoughts on this?

 

I'm used to finding a loose school that will give up several bass before it's fished out.

 

I'm certain I can understand this, and it feels like there's something I'm just missing; you know, one of those thoughts that's just out of reach.

 

Thanks guys,

 

Josh

[FrogFreak]

Josh, I fish small lakes as well. While I don't have trouble catching them on a variety of lure in my lakes, I do seem to find more "loner" fish than schooling fish. So I usually catch one and more on. It's actually becoming a bad habit. Now even if I catch a schooling fish, my first instinct is to move on. Not good. I do fish a bunch of different lakes and it's crazy sometimes how much the bass activity can change from lake to lake. My buddy tells me on the small lake he fishes, he can only catch them on deep weed edges with t-rigged worms or beavers. Not sure what to tell you, if we could always figure them out we'd be as rich as KVD.

[WRB]

Do always fish the same time of day, the same depths, the same type of cover or structure......if you do then you may continue to have the same results. When you find something the bass eat, stay with it.

Tom

[Mike L]

Agree

Change it up, change everything.

You already know you can catch fish useing plastics, next time don't even bring any.

Start in a different area completely, and don't move.

Throw a frog or other top water in the am.

Throw a spinnerbait, or a small crank in mid morning though early afternoon.

Toss a jig

Point is you know they're there, just not exactly where at diffefent times and depth.

If theyll hit something, that something can be anything anywhere

You'll get em, just gotta map em.

Mike

[papajoe222]

The fact that you aren't finding fish in the same areas where they spawned isn't surprising. Neither is the fact that you can only catch them on plastic worms.  Fish in small bodies of water don't have a lot of options when it comes to just about anything they do. The forage those fish are relating to obviously isn't one that schools, thus the bass don't either.  The main forage is likely of the bottom dwelling variety and that's the major reason for your success with a presentation that targets the lower water column.  They also appear, from your description, to be mostly ambush feeders (vs. hunters) which could explain the need to move on after catching.  Chances are that fish or another will use that same spot again, so don't forget to return to it fairly frequently.

There is no need to over think in this sport when you have success.  It's when you don't that you need to think things through to the best of your ability..........or quit and go golfing.  Personally, I'd rather attempt to figure out a living being with a brain the size of a deer fly than chase a little white ball all over the country side attempting to hit it into a hole rather than pick it up and just put it there.  Did I mention doing so in a clown outfit?

Wait, wait, wait...................Sorry, my brain got off on the golf exit

[OntarioFishingGuy]

I catch one and relocate too. Oh, im on a school of bass, FISH ON ZZZZZZZZZ, oh I lost it, wait, I drifted off the spot, oh the trolling motor isnt working, great. Lets relocate back home...

 

Oh and change it up, like Mike said too.

[geo g]

I find just the opposite, when I catch one fish, I will often catch a few more in the same area. I fish 6 days a week from the boat and from the bank. I am surrounded by a number of small lakes under 10 acres in size and fish these from the bank almost every evening. Just last week I fished almost an entire lake without a serious bite, and then caught 8 from one small point next to a drop off. This has also happened from the boat, where after an hour of no action covering ground, we will get into them, in one small section of lake.

Females after dropping eggs, will move off to rest and then start feeding after recovering. They will often move to the closest drop off for security. If you catch one, don't leave an area, there may be more in the same neighborhood.

[SirSnookalot]

With schooling fish it's about size, much of the time they seem to be all about the same size.  If they are small move on, if big stay put.

As of late the fish are very tiny, I'm wearing out shoe leather looking for something more interesting.  I've been fishing here 10 years, I know what kind of fish I have, unless the otters have been feasting.

[Sam]

A study was conducted many years ago regarding how long it took another bass to take up residency in a brush pile after the first dweller was removed.

 

It can take a few minutes to a few days but another bass will occupy the space vacated by the original bass.

 

The new bass will be the "master of the area" and chase other smaller bass away.

 

So after you catch one or two from one area move and fish another area and then return to the original area and fish it again in about an hour or two.

 

Bass also have their "milk runs" meaning they have their own underwater roads they take daily to swim from place to place. The study about their "milk runs" stated the runs can be as short as a one-half mile to over three miles.

 

So if you catch one on its "milk run" today you may have to wait until the one you released goes back to the same milk run or another bass takes if place.

 

Remember, bass are creatures of habit and as soon as you can figure out their habits in a specific body of water you will be successful.  This is why we "pattern" every catch to try to duplicate it until the "pattern" changes.

[Oregon Native]

Spent the winter fishing and because the water was clear we would go back with a underwater camera to check things out.  It was amazing how many fish were at times grouped together and yet you would only get one or two bites.  This was both shallow and deep as the fish were not intimidated by the camera at all.  Did not see many smallies...but lots of largemouth.

Was cool to check out areas and see all the fish just like on TV....it was also intimidating to not catch them when there were so many.

[Violinguy]

At the small lake I fish at from the banks, I always catch one fish in the same area each time I go.  Then nothing else in that area.  There is another area I can catch many bass in an hour.  I usually fish this area first for about an hour or so then move on and catch my one fish in that one spot, then move on again.

[Hattrick7]

Before you move I'd throw different plastics at em. If you caught one on a worm try a baby brush hog in a different color just something different for them to look at. You may learn that other plastics work just as well or even better than the worm.

If they're aren't biting the other ones (topwater, jigs) they don't want it for some reason. Maybe the next day they will but you'll find out the more you fish it what they do like and what they don't.

[Sam]

If there is one chances are there are two or three.

Keep fishing the area from different angles and with different baits.