Following hooked fish

[lenogris]

So this morning fishing I noticed that ever fish I caught would have a larger fish following him all the way in to the boat.  I wanted to know if the following meant anything, or if I should adjust my fishing when I notice that type of action.

 

Here is the setup if needed.

 

I was fishing a robo worm shaky head in very thick trees and brush in the back of a cove in about 7ft of water. The water temp was 59, clarity was about 2 ft. All the fish we're caught when I was skipping as far into the brush as I could get. None on the edges.

[Further North]

Happens a lot here with smallies...they often cough up what they were eating and the other fish eat it...

 

Another fisherman on the boat can often capitalize on it by tossing in a lure that's close to what they are coughing up.

[TnRiver46]

^whst he said. If you are fishing alone keep a tube on a second rod and drop it right Behind the hooked fish. 

[J Francho]

That indicates a very aggressive and active feeding pattern.

[lenogris]

So basically I found some active fish, and I need to or have co angler follow up near the hooked fish to try and snag another one.

 

Thanks for the information.

[everythingthatswims]

I have a pretty good bit of experience with fish acting that way. With largemouth, once they are close to the boat, you typically can't get them to eat. Smallies are more aggressive and you'll have a better shot at them when they are right beside your boat.

 

With schoolie sized bass, a lot of the time you can cast to them as they are swimming away after following a hooked fish, and they will eat. With bigger fish, however, your best bet is either to quickly get a bait near the hooked fish while it is far away, or let the area rest for a while after catching the fish so that they have some time to regroup and reposition themselves as they were.

 

When the pros were on the St. Lawrence this summer, they would catch a fish off of a key area, and talk about all the big ones they could see following it. Many of them would leave to let the fish regroup before making a cast to the same spot, often a single boulder.

 

[IndianaFinesse]

1 minute ago, everythingthatswims said:

I have a pretty good bit of experience with fish acting that way. With largemouth, once they are close to the boat, you typically can't get them to eat. Smallies are more aggressive and you'll have a better shot at them when they are right beside your boat.

 

With schoolie sized bass, a lot of the time you can cast to them as they are swimming away after following a hooked fish, and they will eat. With bigger fish, however, your best bet is either to quickly get a bait near the hooked fish while it is far away, or let the area rest for a while after catching the fish so that they have some time to regroup and reposition themselves as they were.

 

A jerkbait is KILLER when bass are acting like that.

^^ This-especially that bit on the jerkbaits.  When I see followers, I immediately tie a jerkbait on, regardless of depth or clarity. The majority of the time the bass go crazy fighting each other for the bait.  Had some great days fishing clear water fisheries that way.

[everythingthatswims]

And sometimes a 4lb green one follows in a little brown one. This largemouth followed for long enough for me to get my phone out and take a picture. Then she hung out by the boat for 30 seconds while the smallmouth wasn't even in the water!

Note the Jerkbait!

[38 Super Fan]

If I was consistently getting followers like that, I'd consider throwing a double fluke rig too.

[Bluebasser86]

I keep a Ned rig or senko handy and manage to capitalize on a good number of those followers. Put the rod with the hooked fish between my legs and drop the other bait right next to it. 

[lenogris]

Sounds easy, ill try tossing a wacky rig, or whatever else I have rigged close to the hooked fish and see what I can get.