How to catch "roaming" fish

[Ohio Yakker]

One of the lakes that I frequently fish is very clear. Water clarity is roughly 15'-20'. I was there last weekend and the water temp was in the upper 50's. I caught 3 fish, 2 on a chatterbait in about 5' of water, and the other on a shakey head in about 10' while sight fishing. But I saw dozens more just "roaming". Any tips on how to get more roaming fish to bite? My initial thought was to use a wacky rigged senko and the shakey head and cast in the direction the fish were moving, but when I only got one bite doing that I made the switch to the chatterbait. Any advice/suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

Quite Often "Roamers" are pretty hard to catch, especially in super clear water.  At least when compared to fish on a bed or guarding fry.

If you can see them, they can see you or at the very least sense your presence. Sometimes a very long cast works but it usually has to be made well Before you're in the area.

But at least you know where they are so trying again during very low light (or at night) could increase your odds.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

My advice is similar to A-Jay's. Roamers I have encountered
were simply uninterested in anything I had to offer. They'd be
better caught in low-light situations, and maybe even then it'd
be tough.

I encountered about 8 or 9 big bass roaming in shallows around
beds, though none of them were on beds, and they were all 
together. It was fun watching, but that was it.  

[BronzeChaser]

I just fished a lake last weekend that has a regular water clarity of about 15' and it was more clear than normal this time around. There are only smallmouth in it, no largemouth. But I did encounter roaming fish swimming along the bottom in about 10' of water. I was in a kayak so I just smoothly passed by until I was out of sight. Then calmly through back with a wacky or neko rig to where the fish was, and they were on it. I think the biggest thing is to be as stealthy as possible.

[avidone1]

I agree about the roamers being next to impossible to catch.   I will always try, but I've learned to move on.

 

[Ohio Yakker]

Part of my thinking is that bass are ambush predators, so if they're in the open and not on beds that they are probably not in an eating mood. But it's so hard not to try and catch them! 

But thank you all for the feedback. I'll try and keep my distance a little better and maybe try going later at night. 

[WRB]

You may be seeing pre spawn cruisers checking out spawning areas. Cruisers are not interested in eating as a rule. You are better off fishing the staging areas where the bass hold prior to moving up to spawn.

Tom

[Glenn]

Here ya go!  This is exactly what this video is about.

 

[BassB8Caster]

Glad i came across this topic. Lots of valuable info here. I had the same issue/experience with roamers. I fish in a kayak and usually you dont see them until you are right on top of them. They didnt seem spooked at all. Just kept roaming. But i could not get them to bite. There were couple 5-6lbers too. Its awesome seeing them. But stinks not being able to catch them. The way i looked at it was atleast i saw them so i have an idea where they are. This was a new small pond so i had no experience and success finding fish there yet. The point of being out there is to catch fish, big ones at that. But there is also something about being in clear water and being able to watch fish in their environment, like watching an aquarium.  

[ww2farmer]

I try not to bother with them. For every bass you see out "roaming" around, there is one (or more) hiding that is easier to catch.

If you must try and catch them.............skip your bait across the top of the water, this gets their curiosity up, as a regular cast, and the bait flying in the air spooks them. Then don't try to finesse them into biting. Burn that thing as fast as you can right by their face like it's something trying to get the heck out of there before getting ate up. Usually by doing this, there is one aggressive one in a small pack of these "roamers" that will snap at it out of instinct. But after it's hooked, the rest of them all bolt 100 mph out of the area, and you have to play this game again with another pack.

Like I said, I'd rather not fish for these fish, but some times I do, and I have had good days doing it. But it is eye opening to know how many fish your catching as opposed to how many you have seen. In a good couple hours of fishing like this, under these conditions, I have caught 20-30 bass..............and seen 400 LOL.

[BronzeChaser]

11 hours ago, ww2farmer said:

I try not to bother with them. For every bass you see out "roaming" around, there is one (or more) hiding that is easier to catch.

If you must try and catch them.............skip your bait across the top of the water, this gets their curiosity up, as a regular cast, and the bait flying in the air spooks them. Then don't try to finesse them into biting. Burn that thing as fast as you can right by their face like it's something trying to get the heck out of there before getting ate up. Usually by doing this, there is one aggressive one in a small pack of these "roamers" that will snap at it out of instinct. But after it's hooked, the rest of them all bolt 100 mph out of the area, and you have to play this game again with another pack.

Like I said, I'd rather not fish for these fish, but some times I do, and I have had good days doing it. But it is eye opening to know how many fish your catching as opposed to how many you have seen. In a good couple hours of fishing like this, under these conditions, I have caught 20-30 bass..............and seen 400 LOL.

Another good tip. A lot of guys try to finesse them, me included, and sometimes it works. But I do agree that putting a bait right on their nose will trigger a bite more often.

[sprint61]

Trying to catch fish with this behavior can be very tough but possible. Like ww2farmer said BURN your bait. This is the only method I've really had success with in this situation.

[strikefc34]

Depending on initial reaction to your bait hitting the water they can be caught. If I cast 20-30 feet in front of the fish and he takes off and doesn't turn around forget about it. If he scoots off 5-10 feet and turns back towards the bait theres a chance. I've found dead sticking a small tube or senko type bait most effective. If the fish shows interest you'll have to figure out if it wants it dragged, hopped or completely still. Sight fishing can be frustrating as heck!!! Light flourocarbon, light lures, natural colors, and patience will increase your odds.

[Dye99]

3 hours ago, strikefc34 said:

Depending on initial reaction to your bait hitting the water they can be caught. If I cast 20-30 feet in front of the fish and he takes off and doesn't turn around forget about it. If he scoots off 5-10 feet and turns back towards the bait theres a chance. I've found dead sticking a small tube or senko type bait most effective. If the fish shows interest you'll have to figure out if it wants it dragged, hopped or completely still. Sight fishing can be frustrating as heck!!! Light flourocarbon, light lures, natural colors, and patience will increase your odds.

This.

Ive also had luck before making a long cast, that the retrieve intersects with the roamers path using a top water lure, then dead sticking it when they get within a few feet of each other.

[everythingthatswims]

I would never throw a chatterbait in 15-20' vis!!!!

 

Try a small swimbait weightless or on a light jighead. A small JB can be good as well.

[Ohio Yakker]

21 hours ago, everythingthatswims said:

I would never throw a chatterbait in 15-20' vis!!!!

 

Try a small swimbait weightless or on a light jighead. A small JB can be good as well.

The chatterbait is one of my confidence baits so I throw it a lot, in various conditions, and it usually works at that lake. And I was planning on stopping by BPS on my way home from work today to get some swimbaits, so I'll be trying those out this weekend.

Thanks everyone for the input!

[Ratherbfishing]

My advice:  Fish for the fish you can't see and ignore the ones you can.