Tough Night

[Preytorien]

Fished a pond I frequent. The bass here rarely see people, so they're spooked easily. Seemed like every bass in the pond was hugging the shoreline. Every cast I threw, didn't matter how near or far spooked a fish or three away. I could barely catch any they were so spooked. Tried downsizing to see if a smaller profile would help, didn't make a difference. It was a tough night, only caught a few since I kept spooking them, even from 40-50ft away.

 

Any tips for situations like this?

[Senko lover]

4-inch finesse worm, weightless. 

[A-Jay]

Good chance that not all the bass were doing the the same thing at the same time. 

 

Perhaps fishing a location with deeper water and less chance of "Spooking" the bass.

 

Also since you could see the bass "spooking", I'll always contend that they could see you; or at least be generally aware of your presence.  Never the best case scenario when it comes to getting bit.

 

I'd try a few presentations there, but unless these are truly HUGE Bass, I'm moving on.

 

I can get skunked anywhere on the lake, might as well look for more cooperative bass in another location.

 

A-Jay

[F14A-B]

Night fishing? It's a crescent moon, if you were night fishing, what kinda light were you using? Maybe I'm missing something, but if your seeing these fish at night, in the shallows, then you must be using a light source. Perhaps that's why they are spooking rather easily. A-Jay is right though, search for other fish in deeper water.. After failed attempts at shallow fish, time to change the plan up & go after different fish, behaving differently. (At least in theory, & yes it's a sound theory )

[bigbill]

If I know they are there I cast past them and 10' to the right or left of them. I draw them out. I do this when there tearing up the pads on the surface too. I never cast at them. I work my spook slowly by them.

Tip if there close to shore, from a boat the eels are inches from the shores. Black rubber 6" worm split shot cast on shore and drag it into the water. Stealthy.

From shore cast parallel two or three feet from the shoreline.

[ned_riggins]

If I know they are there I cast past them and 10' to the right or left of them. I draw them out. I do this when there tearing up the pads on the surface too. I never cast at them. I work my spook slowly by them.

Tip if there close to shore, from a boat the eels are inches from the shores. Black rubber 6" worm split shot cast on shore and drag it into the water. Stealthy.

From shore cast parallel two or three feet from the shoreline.

 

I second this. Get something weedless and cast it on shore if possible and gently drag it into the water, if they spook from that you just arent gonna catch em'.

[bigbill]

I use weedless hooks.

Stealth is the key to fish these non fished places.

In vt where the white river comes out of the mountains to catch the native trout in this small running spring u have to crawl up to it and fish.

If u can see them they can see u. Move slowly, cast slowly.

No bright clothes. Blend in to the surroundings.

Keep the flash lite low and hidden. I use to lid on the tackle box with a single aa battery flashlight.

[everythingthatswims]

Long casts and light line

[Scarborough817]

i would probably drop shot it if they are spooked easily leaving something suspended from the bottom that looks like bait they are used to eating can normally work pretty well