Top Three Things You Should Avoid That Turn Off Bass Strikes?

[Mr Q]

  I don't get to talk to many bassers so I'll ask here since its my gateway to others who enjoy the hobby.

 

  What are the 3 most  effective things to do (to avoid at all costs) that will suddenly turn off bass strikes?  Of coarse there are many but what 3 do you consider the most important?

 

   For me, sudden noise above/along the water, fish blood into the water and human scent getting on lures/bait.

 

What are the 3 most important things to avoid for you?

[flyfisher]

Never even thought about it before as i do not believe there is something that you could do that would automatically turn off the bite the than the obvious.  As far as fish blood goes, that is a new one for me, i figured that would get them more riled up and ready to eat....i mean do you honestly think they could tell the type of blood in the water?

[Choporoz]

One of my biggest frustrations is pulling up to beautiful looking cover and getting snagged with first cast.  I've been known to lay down the snagged rod and throw something else....only to immediately have two lures hung while I motor in and announce my presence.

[Mr Q]

Never even thought about it before as i do not believe there is something that you could do that would automatically turn off the bite the than the obvious.  As far as fish blood goes, that is a new one for me, i figured that would get them more riled up and ready to eat....i mean do you honestly think they could tell the type of blood in the water?

 

 I have seen this in many magazines and books over the years and it does explain my sudden loss of strikes when a bass partially swallows the hook and the blood reaches the water. The bass (its said) sense the blood as a danger signal . from another bass that is being attacked by a predator and sounds the alarm to leave the area at once. This effect has lasted several hours when it happens to me .  Also, never gut fish at the shore before leaving for the day - it will ruin new comers to the water for many hours. Since I only fish for bass, I assume this applies to other fish as well but not sure.

[J Francho]

1. Not packing your gear

2. Not going to the lake

3. Not casting your line out

[JeziHogg]

Bananas.

[geo g]

I'll give you a sure one!  Fishing too fast.  When things get really tough, slow down, and when you think its real slow, go slower.  Patience is key when the bite is tough.. Loads of bites occur while the bait is sitting still.

[GetJigginWithIt]

I highly doubt blood in the water would be a deterrent to bass since bass will eat smaller bass. A blood trail in the water means dinner time. If had to worry about human scent on my bait I wold never be able to tie a bait to my line. Noise on the water depends on what kind of noise I suppose. Every time I cast a bait into he water there is a noise and a splash. Bass are curious and will check out what made that splash and noise. 

[IndyGlockMan]

I bank fish a lot and one big no no is wearing bright clothing.

Bass can see the shore line and can get spooked and move off if you really stand out, so leave the hunter orange at home when fishing.

 

Also, tread lightly when approaching the bank.  

Bass can detect vibration and heavy foot falls near the water especially if they are shallow and near the edges - like now

Often, I will make my first few casts about 10 feet away from shore.

 

Works

[Senko lover]

Forgoing a quiet presentation has spooked many a shallow bass for me.

[A-Jay]

I never like letting a dink go right in the middle of a hot bite.

 

Because every time I do - I just know that little stinker is going right down to those other bass and telling them all that I'm up there trying to catch them.  So I just put him in my pocket until I'm good & ready to let that big fat blabber mouth go.

 

 

A-Jay

[Mike L]

Well I'd have to say in no particular order...

A heavy, splashy entry up close in shallow water while flippin and or pitchin.

Getting impatient during a tough day and working a bottom contact bait too fast.

Letting the trolling motor kick up a cloud of dirt/muck while trying to maneuver in shallow water.

While trying to get into some shallow backwater area, you let the boat bounce off submerged wood or scape the bottom on some rock.

Mike

[DrKnew]

This is actually for a certain pattern, but when it applies it is the difference between catching fish or no fish at all.....Sometimes you need to fish on the bottom with very small plastics, and very slowly crawl them along......It's amazing how much difference it can make when other things don't catch you any fish.....If you feel that bass are where you are ,but no bites, small can be the ticket.

[fishballer06]

Slamming doors on compartments in the boat

Noisy trolling motors, or hitting a piece of structure with said motor

Sunscreen or bug repellent getting on finger/lures

Bright colored clothing (I do think this makes a difference, even in a boat)

[TX18_E90]

1) Trolling noise while shallow

2) Dropping a rod on the deck

3) working baits to fast

[everythingthatswims]

Fishing too close to the bass, or the cover you are targeting. Sure you may still get some bites, but from a further distance you decrease your chances of spooking them, particularly old and wise bass (which are the ones we want to catch!)

[*Hank]

I'll give you a sure one!  Fishing too fast.  When things get really tough, slow down, and when you think its real slow, go slower.  Patience is key when the bite is tough.. Loads of bites occur while the bait is sitting still.

X2. I have found that out durring slow days sometimes you just have to slow down with light line and wait it out.

[basshole8190]

I have seen a study and bug spray containing deet was a definite deterrent

I have 1st hand observations on trolling noise and how it effects the fish in shallow water.on multiple occasions I've quickly worked thru spots with the trolling motor on continuously and seen fish come up and inspect my baits and at a certain point say 10-15' from the boat they stop following and sink back to cover. I come back later and coast into a spot tm off and same bait, same angle presentation etc. and boom! Fish on!

Also another deterent can be lack of confidence. If you're out there just going through the motions half heartedly you're not gonna get many if any bites.

[the reel ess]

I usually cautiously approach a particular laydown that just looks perfect. I wait until the boat's in position. I cast my bait and get snagged first cast!

 

Noise, dropping stuff, my daughter throwing things in. My daughter paddling her kayak between mine and the bank. My daughter swimming where I try to fish. I am patient. 

 

For some reason I feel compelled to throw back a fish on the opposite side from where it was caught-like it matters.

 

Friends getting too drunk to fish.

[the reel ess]

I have seen a study and bug spray containing deet was a definite deterrent

I have 1st hand observations on trolling noise and how it effects the fish in shallow water.on multiple occasions I've quickly worked thru spots with the trolling motor on continuously and seen fish come up and inspect my baits and at a certain point say 10-15' from the boat they stop following and sink back to cover. I come back later and coast into a spot tm off and same bait, same angle presentation etc. and boom! Fish on!

Also another deterent can be lack of confidence. If you're out there just going through the motions half heartedly you're not gonna get many if any bites.

I recently walked the bank at a pond and saw some nice fat mamas (for this small pond) on the bed close together. I spooked them off. I put my kayak in and went the other  direction around the pond. Came back to them about 30 min later and caught both where I saw them. One ate the worm off my hook. I rigged another up and caught it next cast. They have short memories.

 

+1 on the confidence too. If you don't feel something won't work well, you won't give it a fair shot. I haven't given jigs or swimbaits a fair shot yet. I'd like to fish with someone who is good at them to learn.

[CDMeyer]

For me the biggest problem is going to a really good spot or any spot for that matter and getting snagged.  This could be on your first cast or your 100th.  For instance say you are killing fish in a bay on stumps and lay downs, you get hung up make some noise an it is over

[RoLo]

I never like letting a dink go right in the middle of a hot bite.

Because every time I do - I just know that little stinker is going right down to those other bass and telling them all that I'm up there trying to catch them.  So I just put him in my pocket until I'm good & ready to let that big fat blabber mouth go.

A-Jay

 

I used to do that too, but no more.

One day I forgot I had a bass in my pocket   

 

Roger

[papajoe222]

Giving up on a spot too soon.

Abandoning my game plan too soon

Fishing recent history and not current conditions

[the reel ess]

My dad throwing the anchor in from his pontoon boat. My dad casting a lure in the trees after we pulled up to a prime spot. God love him!

 

Going to the lake, launching the night before so the boat's ready, spending the night, getting up one hour before sunrise, heading to the best spot I can think of, and two boats are already in the cove. I know they've already fished it thouroughly. I just crank up and go elsewhere. Maybe come back midday. This is why I bought the kayak.

[RSM789]

1. Wearing white or loud colored clothing.  Hats off to Skeet Reese to catch what he does while wearing dayglow yellow.  Maybe the fish think he is a big duck.

    

2. Making noise in the boat by dropping something or dragging something, anything that will reverberate thru the hull to the water.

    

3. Making a horrible skip cast that goes over the dock (instead of under it), up into the yard & hits the lawn furniture.  Ditto for bouncing your T-rig weight off a homeowners boat while he is standing there on the dock.