Baitfish Bubbling Question

[Luna2406]

The other day I was doing the fishing thing and the lake was like glass, it was a very slow day of fishing. The lakes were up 2-3 ft and a cold front had just passed and another was starting. I saw what looked like wind sweeping over the water but then I realized it was just in one spot, so I paddled over and made a cast right to the middle of it. A 16" bass nailed my shakey head before it hit the bottom ( was fishing in about 6 ft of water). It was pretty cool to do that so then I started seeing more balls of bait come to the surface around me. I tried the same thing but got no more bites after that. Something I did notice though was that some of the balls of bait were just under the surface not breaking it, does that mean no fish is chasing them or hunting them? Now and then they would break the surface and jump. I threw top water, and worms but they still didn't bite. Anybody have any experience on the behavior of baitfish? in the fall? Thanks guys.

["hamma"]

when they were jumping, they were getting hit on by bass, the bass were keying in on that baitfish and nothing else.,..you got lucky on that first cast to get one, be grateful, most anglers get skunked when bass are "keying" in on baitfish. as the bass have locked on that size, scent, flash, etc: of said baitfish ,..whatever it may be.,..and usually if you can "match" that baitfish's size, scent, flash, etc: you might get a few hits. but its also usually limited.

[jhoffman]

I got into them like that earlier this year on a Kastmaster. Only thing I had that was close to the right size after one was barfed on my deck by a white bass.

[WRB]

Bait swimming near the surface is sometimes called puddling or nervous water, always check it out.

Tom

[Penguino]

The bait bubbling you see may not be fish at all lol.

 

I once thought this until i saw a 10 pound snapping turtle leaving a trail of bubbles behind in a small pond. Additionally, carp can also cause the water to bubble as they root up the bottom of the water.

[Luna2406]

8 hours ago, Penguino said:

The bait bubbling you see may not be fish at all lol

Maybe bubbling was the wrong word, I saw them break the surface a few times. But I do know what bubbling you're talking about. It gets me sometimes lol

[scaleface]

Sometimes entire coves are "bubbling" with shad   and if they are not jumping there are no bass after them . If they are just flicking , they are not under pressure .There might be an occasional bass bust them but I found them hard to catch .You see lots of them jumping excitedly , something is after them and the fishing can get very  hot.Sometimes they are not visible then suddenly they are busting surface   Many times I'm fishing and see a single baitfish jump .  A big bass    might not be  chasing but is on the prowl and a startled baitfish quite often  jumps.  I have caught a lot of nice fish by casting at a single tiny   minnow that is skedaddling . 

 

I have caught many bass , almost always small ones , by fishing pods of shad . I'll spot a pod , cast a plastic worm , grub...past the pod and reel it in slowly under it .

[blckshirt98]

I see these boils all the time at one of the local reservoirs and I've had luck chucking a 1.5 or 2.5 squarebill through and around those boils.  Usually though it's more closer to shore as the bass chase them up, but anytime I see that kind of activity on the surface I know there's something in feed mode, so I'll try to use a reaction bait with a somewhat slow/erratic retrieve to try and imitate a tired/injured baitfish that got lost from the group.

[bigbill]

They could be below the sight line attacking the Baitfish at the very bottom. The slower swimmer loses. I seen the 8" school of pickerel working over the bass fry. I put on a rapala original floater in baby bass and went to work. I caught every pickerel. I probably shouldn't of done that.

[Luna2406]

Looking back I Should have thrown a square bill, I'll definitely do that next time. Or a reaction bait under the ball of bait, thanks for all the info!

[geo g]

This disturbance on the surface if large in size, is baitfish being attacks by something.  Here is south Florida the peacock often school up on bait balls and attack at lightning speed.  This creates a frenzy on the surface and will often draw birds overhead.  Black bass will also do the same but not as aggressively.  Throw a rattle trap, zoom fluke, or anything in your hand, into the mix and you'll often find out who is doing the attacking.  I have seen birds over these disruptions on Okeechobee on several occasions.