Whats the bass's problem?

[CaliBassRipper]

So out fishing the last few days and i been noticing something. Il be using either a jig, jerk bait and/or worm and the bass will smash up to the bait get right on it and they just turn around and leave to never be seen from again lol. I am catching fish some quality size guys but i would like to understand a little more on whats happening here. Is it the color, maybe a smell, or they just thought it was something else. I have tried to stop moving the bait, i have slowed down, then giving it a pop and/or wiggle. I try to learn more every day and just wanna understand what im experiencing. Any suggestions would be awesome. 

[Netfish and Chill]

5 hours ago, CaliBassRipper said:

I have tried to stop moving the bait, i have slowed down, then giving it a pop and/or wiggle.

My very first recommendation until I read up to this was slow down your retrieve. Now that I see that you already have, you need to just think about a couple things.

1.) What line are you using? 

If your lake is pretty clear water, it may be worth it to put fluoro on your poles. If that fish sees that bait from a distance, rushes up to it and sees the line, it's smart enough to turn it down no matter how juicy that jig looks.

The logic you should follow is pretty simple: that fish had a reason to come after this bait, but he also had a reason to not eat it. 

2.) Maybe it wasn't the right food.

Again, this is where the uncertainty on my end comes up. I don't know about your specific lake, it's temp., clarity, or anything else. But if it is murky, the fish could have thought the bait was a craw fish or something. When he ran up to see your bait and saw that it was in fact a jerkbait, that could have been a turn off. (Although I don't believe this is the case because bass are highly oppertunistic feeders)

3.) Is your pond still in pre-spawn? 

Again uncertainty takes its toll, but it sounds like your lake/pond is still in pre-spawn. This can definintely be an akward time to fish shallow. I would try fishing drop-offs near these shallow places where you know the fish are. It kinda sounds like they're running your bait away and not actually eating it. Anyways try hitting places with a ledge. This might be where some of those females who haven't went back in the shallow are hanging. 

I personally don't believe that smell is that large of a factor in fishing. I've caught plenty of fish on a crankbait that smells like my hands or a worm that my little cousin has been holding on to for the past 5 hours. Bass are very sensory creatures, but I feel that vibration-detection and sight are their two ways of finding food. To me that rules out scent, and color was obviously working for you if they came for it. 

Really, I think it's either the line or pre-spawn. Try the line though and if that doesn't work try fishing some drop offs. Either way, check back with me on what happens! 

~ Mr. Netfish and Chill

[southernson1989]

If you can see them doing all that then I promise they can see you.  I fish a lake on the Chattahoochee. It's almost always got a good bit of stain and sometimes it's chocolate milk. I can only remember one day in 26 years it was clear as glass. Use the force. When I fish a jig where I know a bass should be I'll hop it a few times then shake a little. Then shake it a little more. Then I wait a few seconds. At this point I can usually feel if theres one eyeballing it. I'll shake it a third time and whack. Got em. If not on the third shake then more often then not they will get when I start reeling it back in and the claws on the craw trailer start flapping. I guess I can feel when they are looking at it because I've patterned them continuously. Now this isn't everywhere just spots I've fished constantly. But anyway. Do something similar based on what the bass have shown you. If you keep seeing them pull away then try dropping the rod tip and killing it before you see the bait or the fish. Also where clothing to match your background. I've definitely put more thought into my fishing camping than my hunting camp. Hope this helps. 

[GetJigginWithIt]

Bass have no ability to logically think thus will not care about line. If they cared about the line, then bass would care about the hooks, the spinner blades and the big plastic bills on the crankbaits. To the OP, what is the spawn situation where you are. Bass might be in protect the nest mode and not eat node. They will go to the bait to make sure it is not by the nest but most likely will not eat. Most if the time it will just move the bait if it has to. If you were to keep moving the bait into the same area, does the bass keep coming back? 

[INbassMAN]

My first thought is that it sounds like the water is clear. So maybe the fish is swimming to take the bait, then sees either you or the boat and backs off. Try sitting back a little farther from your target so the fish cant see you.

[IndianaFinesse]

Definitely try making longer casts, the fish could be coming u p and seeing you.  Another thing you could do is retrieve a little faster when you see them, it makes them think the bait is trying to get away.  And although I haven't decided wether the bass care, some guys think they do so flourocarbon would be a last ditch attempt to get them to strike your lure.

[WRB]

Explain smash up the bait....the bass strikes it and you missed it? 

Bass rarely hit something twice unless guarding a nest.

Tom

[scaleface]

Theres a lot of things to try .One is to retrieve very quickly . This will work often , the fish doesnt have time to reject the lure . Its .a technique that has worked well for me with smaller spinnerbaits .

  I dont know what a basses mental capacity  is but they do have the ability to reject . I believe line can play a factor . I have experienced it often .

[CaliBassRipper]

So imma try to answer all at once. I had a pole with straight 50 lb braid and one with 12 lb flouro. some of the water is stained some is clear depends on what part of the water im on. I noticed this more in the clear water since i can see a lot farther. As for the spawn i believe some have already spawned since there is fry everywhere in parts but i still seen some fish on beds so i believe its in the middle of them spawning. There are lots of lil males that are always within feet of the fry as well. I have tried to give a quick snap of the rod and reel in quickly they just back off. I did have some pick it up but spit it out really quickly. By the time i saw set the hook it was already spit out and my lure was flying out the water lol.  As for the water structure it went from really shallow (1ft) to a depth of around 5ft so there was a drop off. I did catch some nice 2 lbers but i am trying to increase my hook up rate. You all brought up some good suggestions maybe this will help a lil more.

27 minutes ago, WRB said:

Explain smash up the bait....the bass strikes it and you missed it? 

Bass rarely hit something twice unless guarding a nest.

Tom

The bass never would take it they swim up fast check it out then casually swim away.

[WRB]

You have a few late pre spawners, some spawners and post spawn transitioning. 

Try soft or hard bluegill swimbait like a Hudd gill or Mats ultimate gill, bluegill spawn after the bass and the bass will kill them.

Tom

[CaliBassRipper]

Sounds good i will have to try that and see what happens. 

[eyedabassman]

More than like'y they are FEMALES! Mood swings!

["hamma"]

could it be that when you see them you alter your retrieve expecting the hit? what i mean is,.. say your using a jerkbait at a certain cadence, you see a fish coming after it and you freeze in anticipation of the hit?? like now you changed what attracted them to begin with

[papajoe222]

I'm always happy to see bass showing interest in what I'm offering because I know I can get their attention. I've solved the oh so important piece of the puzzle; location. 

Fishing is like figuring out a puzzle, you accomplish the task by following clues.  Those fish are giving you a big clue, they're showing interest in what you're offering, but they're also telling you something isn't right. That puzzle piece looks like it should fit, but something is off.  Did you try slowing down your retrieve, or speeding it up? I'm not talking about once you've seen the fish, I mean the entire cast.  Mix it up on the same cast. If that doesn't work, try something else like changing colors, size, a similar lure with/without rattles, or as someone mentioned the line.  Rarely is a major change (switching the type of lure) needed to turn followers into biters.

 

[CaliBassRipper]

Yeah i did actually change expecting a hit. That could be it. My lure was always close to the end of the retrieve and didnt wanna pull it out the water so i would slow way down then hit it a couple quick times. 

1 hour ago, papajoe222 said:

I'm always happy to see bass showing interest in what I'm offering because I know I can get their attention. I've solved the oh so important piece of the puzzle; location. 

Fishing is like figuring out a puzzle, you accomplish the task by following clues.  Those fish are giving you a big clue, they're showing interest in what you're offering, but they're also telling you something isn't right. That puzzle piece looks like it should fit, but something is off.  Did you try slowing down your retrieve, or speeding it up? I'm not talking about once you've seen the fish, I mean the entire cast.  Mix it up on the same cast. If that doesn't work, try something else like changing colors, size, a similar lure with/without rattles, or as someone mentioned the line.  Rarely is a major change (switching the type of lure) needed to turn followers into biters.

 

Ya thats a really good way to look at it. Kinda simplifies things. I am gonna be able to get a couple hours after work thurs to throw some baits around. So il take these things in consideration and see if i cant get a few extra hook ups!

["hamma"]

next time out dont alter your retrieve whatsoever. dont anticipate a hit, if they really want it the way you presented it and you follow thru, they will hit it .especially for large fish, they dont like wasting any energy chasing something down without getting that energy back.smaller bass harbor alot of energy to move a relatively small mass of water, and can afford to "chase" a bit more than a large fish.  I know its difficult to see a big fish chasing your bait and not freeze waiting for that pig to hit,... but when you get past that , you'll be lippin those fish instead of watching them swim away