Q - Bass Behavior And Shad

[68camaro]

While fishing today I found a sandy creek channel running between weed beds, only 1-3 feet deep. I started with popper, threw up into channel and worked it back.

 

The water was very clear in the channel and there were a bunch of shad, a lot of them, checking out my popper. After a while a decent sized bass followed the popper into middle of channel about 5' in front of me. For 5 minutes or so, I worked the popper around him to get him to bite but he would not.

 

But what was interesting, the shad were swimming all around him and they were ignoring each other.  I kept pitching lure out and reeling back in by bass, he clearly he was interested in it but would bite. Nor did he go after any of the shad that was there. I went and got a swim jig and when I came back bass was gone, whiling swimming jig shad were checking it out big time.

 

Question, why would shad not be scared to have big bass inches or foot from them.. Did they sense bass wasn't hungry or something? Why did bass ignore them.  By the way caught two pickerel no bass.

[gulfcaptain]

I've watched bass do that with bluegill.  Swim around them and have no intrest, but let one of them get spooked the bass is in quick pursuit. That bass may have been looking for a sick or injured fish that stuck out of the school.  The bass also may also not react and let the shad school feel secure before a quick attack.  I've watched 3 to 4 bass sit around a bunch of bluegill beds and not move.  Lull the bluegil into a false sense of security only to rush in and try to eat a few in a group attack.  

[WRB]

Classic difference between active and inactive bass, the prey fish learns the signs of danger or they exist very long. Shad school into a tight mass when a feeding predator approaches.

The Shad in your situation may have been gizzard Shad, Threadfin would have no interest in a lure. Bass are very curious fish and taking a look at your lure, this happens more than realize.

Tom

[Ozark_Basser]

They both can live in perfect harmony, but when the dinner bell rings or something triggers the school, it's on.

[stkbassn]

We were sitting in the middle of a large school of shad yesterday for a good while...apparently the dinner bell didn't ring loud enough. There were a few fish around and some did eat some shad but we couldn't get a strike on anything. Frustrating but oh well.  Saturday and Sunday I went fishing and never got a single strike on anything. And fall is supposed to be good? Smith Mountain fish didn't get that memo this weekend. LOL

[the reel ess]

That seems to happen a lot to me in fall on bigger lakes. Too much bait for bass to show interest in an artificial, especially if they're not even interested in the real bait. I usually try a bottom bumper like a T-rig in that case.

[Mike L]

They know they're the undisputed big dog where they live.

They were satisfied and had no interest in a meal at that time.

But show weakness or try to run on your own...They got ya!

Mike

[stkbassn]

That seems to happen a lot to me in fall on bigger lakes. Too much bait for bass to show interest in an artificial, especially if they're not even interested in the real bait. I usually try a bottom bumper like a T-rig in that case.

Yeah, and a couple of fronts came in over the weekend so I think that could have hurt too. Shame because the temps were comfortable and the skies were cloudy. That's my favorite time to be on the water. The sun can stay in all day every day as far as I'm concerned!

[d-camarena]

Thats when i usually pull out a bleeding shad imitation or jerkbait. Sometimes theyll go for an easy meal instead of chasing for a meal. Those shad and bluegill are quick ive seen them outrun bass many times

[fishballer06]

You know, I live close to a grocery store, but that doesn't mean I'm there eating every second of the day. But living close to the grocery store sure is nice...