Bass Blowing Up My Lure....

[Joshd]

I have been throwing a Heddon Chug N Spook in Foxy Shad color the past few weeks. I cast it when I see bass pushing the bait fish up. If I can get the lure in there with in 5 or 6 seconds of the first fish boiling the water I can get some awesome reaction from the bass. The bass will really blow this lure up!!

The problem I am having is 85 or 90% of the time the bass will just swat it or just knock the Heddon out of the water. I have even had a few come from under the lure and jump way out of the water with their mouth closed ramming the lure. It is like they are swimming and fully committed and at the last second they close their mouth.

What should I do to get the bass to commit and bite?

[Dark3]

Try the same thing the next day

[dday07]

Are you walking or chugging it? If walking ...chug it maybe they key on it better when paused

[Bluebasser86]

Keep walking it and just wind when  bass blows up on it. If you feel the fish loading up then you can lean into them, otherwise keep fishing it along and they'll usually keep coming back until one gets the bait. You can try switching to a smaller bait like a Super Spook Jr or a subsurface bait like a Fluke to try to get it easier for the fish to get the bait in their mouth.

[tcbass]

I had a smallmouth blow up on my KVD Sexy Dawg. I didn't move it after the fish missed. I gave it a few secs and twitched it once and the fish hit it again and I caught it.

I'd definitely make sure you have sharp hooks.

[deep]

Try a different bait (different size/ color/ type) or try a different retrieve. If the bass really wanted your bait, he/ she would have got it. They aren't called largemouths for nothing.

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Try a smaller bait in a different color.

[Josh Smith]

Try twitching it erratically.

 

Josh

[smalljaw67]

When they do that at this time of year try using a wake bait! We have the same thing going on, the smallmouth are really smacking buzzbaits but they don't eat them, it is more like they are just trying to kill it but when you use the wake bait they eat it and I'm not sure why but it has been working.

[Swampstud]

Try a bait in the same color but slightly slower presentation. I fished a foggy morning with a spook, got several blow ups. It seemed like they were targeting the back of the lure or i was moving it to fast. Tried to slow it down but no takers. Switched to a large popper style topwater in same color and it was game on. Still using a quicker retrieve, but the lure stayed in the target area a bit longer imo.

[Joshd]

What color and brand?

[Swampstud]

And keep those hooks sharp, it makes a tremendous difference!

[WIGuide]

You need to focus less on the specific brand and color of a bait and listen more to the advice being given. Try something "different" than what you've been doing to get the blow-ups initially. They may want it moving faster or slower. That given day they may want it looking more like what they are feeding on or different than what they've been feeding on. That might be changing colors in the same bait. It might mean up sizing or down sizing. They may want a completely different profile. They might not even want a bait right on the surface. Color is dependent on location, forage, water clarity, and lighting conditions. There's no magic bait that is going to work in this situation every time so nobody can tell you to go buy this bait off the shelf and whenever they bat at a foxy shad spook you can pick up and it'll work every time. Take the advice given and try to figure out the puzzle for that day. It's part of the challenge of fishing that we all love. Start with something similar but different. Make subtle changes first and then progressively move out from there until you find what works.  

[rippin-lips]

He answered your question just fine. Actually its a pretty thorough answer. Maybe you just aren't getting it. It's been said a few times already.

Change speed

Change lures

Change size

Change color

[Joshd]

Here is a check list

Buy 3 different colors (clear, dark, and keep my Foxy) of each Chug N Spook.

If that does not work than get 3 Colors of Jr. Chugs

If that does not work then get 3 larger and 3 smaller wake baits in different colors.

Be sure to try many different speeds and cadences.

So for about $60 more I can be armed for top water?

[deep]

You forgot to include nightcrawlers in your checklist!

[deep]

No, seriously, change the retrieve first without buying a ton of different baits. OR maybe buy a bag of flukes and try them if they're hitting but not eating.

[Joshd]

I tried different retrieves. I get the most action when it first hits the water or when it is a steady hard 1 sec jerk with a steady cadence. I have used it on 4 different trips to Lake Quatchita (only when I see top water action) the past month and yesterday for about 4 hours on the Arkansas River.

I will give the fluke a shot!

The reason for wanting to buy all the lures is because it seams nessassary to really be able to dial in on the bass. At least that is what I tell my wife!

[MassBass]

You need to downsize to a smaller bait.

[Chris S]

Spook Jr in Ghost