Shallow water cruisers

[Wpcat6611]

I go to a lot of public lakes an fish from shore I see fish cruising an they will not bite anything! Anyone got some tips 

[GORDO]

Are they in schools? Also, are you sure they are bass?

If you can see the fish, they can see you too. Bass aren't that stupid. 

[Wpcat6611]

No just one or two I was watching a bass event an the guy just keep throwing a jig at one doing that but it just spooks them here 

[BassB8Caster]

This has been discussed fairly often. In short, you can try burning a bait by to entice a reaction bite. But most agree to ignore them. They are not gonna bite

[Paul Roberts]

Cruising bass at this time of year are almost certainly on the hunt. However, lures aren't food, and they aren't magic despite what it may say on the package. Also, fish have two most basic operating modes: inhibitory and motivational/exploratory. The first is exemplified by caution and fear. The second by curiosity and aggression. Trip the first and the second is out for the count.

What to do: Stealth, and triggering. Neither are very often accomplished via simple chuck-n-wind.

[WRB]

Paul is spot on with his statement.

Pond bass normally cruise the shoreline because that is where the majority food source is located and the adult size bass know every inch of the pond. Bass have predators that hunt the shoreline that they are wary of, any shadow alarms them to danger so keep out of sight and your shadow off the water.

Tom

[watermeat]

16 hours ago, Paul Roberts said:

What to do: Stealth, and triggering.

^ This

I have very rarely caught bass that are visibly roaming around like that. The most memorable was a 4-5lber roaming around my local park. I spotted her waay off and got bit by running spinnerbait straight into her.

[Wpcat6611]

So stay out of site go super finesse I guess?

[Paul Roberts]

11 hours ago, Wpcat6611 said:

So stay out of site go super finesse I guess?

You may not need to go to "finesse" gear if that's what you mean. That's more a matter of conditions (light in particular).

It's amazing how uncatchable fish can suddenly become catchable when two things happen: no negative cues, and the right positive ones. The latter is the where we all focus, but cannot be seriously addressed until the former is covered. Unfortunately, many, esp new, anglers depend on some kind of magic residing in the lures. And this isn't completely off the mark. What "run-n-gun", "power fishing", etc is all about is finding the most aggressive fish and letting them operate. And finding fish that will meet our "strengths" half way. 

But, we don't always have that happen, especially in small waters. Then the game begins. And it's not always winnable. But over time you can develop quite a tool box of effective techniques that should keep you in fish most of the time.

[stk44]

I caught some pond cruisers yesterday on a weightless 4" purple senko. For the last three weeks, weightless soft plastics have been all I can get them on at this particular pond. 

[Robeng]

Well, if they are roaming in schools, you can't catch them until recess!  :-)

Seriously, slow presentation, finesse, sometimes dead sticking, don't show yourself, cast parallel to shoreline and bring it to them with the direction of the wind or current is best.   Live bait often helps.  Then, sometimes, they just wont bite.  Move on and try that area later in the day.  Good luck.   

[Wpcat6611]

I get called a cheater if I use live bait lol

[J Francho]

Didn't know there were rules for fun fishing...all I know is if you caught the biggest fish in the pond, you are the winner.

[Paul Roberts]

2 hours ago, stk44 said:

I caught some pond cruisers yesterday on a weightless 4" purple senko. For the last three weeks, weightless soft plastics have been all I can get them on at this particular pond. 

Weightless soft plastics, esp the 4" stickworms are hard to beat for sight fishing. They are just about the closest thing to cheating I can think of. I've been known to cheat here and there.  Other sight-fishing baits I like are tubes, swimming worms, and killed jigs.

[stk44]

12 minutes ago, Paul Roberts said:

Weightless soft plastics, esp the 4" stickworms are hard to beat for sight fishing. They are just about the closest thing to cheating I can think of. I've been known to cheat here and there.  Other sight-fishing baits I like are tubes, swimming worms, and killed jigs.

I've heard so many people say that it's boring or they don't have the patience for weightless stick worms. I think it's really fun. 

I never could see any fish since the water is pretty stained, but on occasion, I would see a swirl in a known bass holding spot and cast to it, and those are always pretty aggressive strikes. I can't wait to go back out and do it again.

[A-Jay]

Getting Shallow water cruisers to bite, as noted by most of the members here, is fairly challenging.

Over the years my personal average on doing so is well below the Mendoza Line. (which is pretty low)

Despite the apparent futility of it, I still try as every so often, if I haven't been detected, one will oblige me by eating my offering.

Weightless stick baits, drop shot baits and sometimes a small topwater bait as appeal.

All is not lost however.  This approach can certainly raise one's catch ratio quite a bit.

 

It's advisable to check with both state & local regulations before doing so.

Kidding ~

A-Jay

[Airman4754]

On 9/13/2016 at 2:21 PM, Wpcat6611 said:

I go to a lot of public lakes an fish from shore I see fish cruising an they will not bite anything! Anyone got some tips 

This is a similar scenario at some unrealistic water. We used to fish the man made ponds in southern AZ constantly and in the spring and fall they would be cruising the shore. 

This was before the glide bait craze, so we used big suspending jerk baits and sight fished for them. We fished them way slower than you would ever fish a jerk bait normally. You really have to tune them so they stay right where they are in the water column. We would dead stick them for three to five minutes and twitch it once. 

I would imagine something like a 6" S-Waver or a Ganterel Jr. would be an ever better alternative. 

[jr231]

You might be a redneck if you insist on smoking a cigarette while throwing your cast net. 

[beardown34]

Mosster47 -- deadsticking for 3 to 5 minutes blows my mind  

[Wpcat6611]

I'll try it had no luck the past few days 

There is a ton of grass in the lake but its mostly brown an stinks 

[S. Sass]

19 hours ago, Wpcat6611 said:

I get called a cheater if I use live bait lol

If that offends you please don't mention if you ever took a bass home and ate him.  To some here its sacrilegious.  

The good part is most of us are in the United States and still have a few freedoms left. Use what ever bait is legal and have a good time.  

[Further North]

On 9/13/2016 at 4:58 PM, GORDO said:

If you can see the fish, they can see you too. Bass aren't that stupid. 

Sure they are.  I can't possibly count the bass that have hit well within visual range, plenty right at the side of the boat.

On 9/15/2016 at 1:43 PM, J Francho said:

Didn't know there were rules for fun fishing...all I know is if you caught the biggest fish in the pond, you are the winner.

Actually...if you catch enough fish to make you smile...you're the winner.

[Wpcat6611]

Soaked my plastics in RBI bass attractant overnight got two bites this morning but they came off think I might have found my answer