Only catching fish on backlashes - what??

[Nepatizz]

Hello! 

 

I've been in a huge slump lately and haven't caught much of anything with my bank fishing. I'm learning how to use a baitcaster and it seems I can only catch a bass after I've backlashed and I'm standing there briefly pulling the line out of my reel to re-spool it. Usually it only takes me about 10 to 15 seconds when that happens, but I've noticed THREE TIMES now, I've had a bass on the line right after I engage the reel and start pulling in the line again. I'm usually pretty patient with letting my plastic sit on the bottom so I'm not sure if the time I'm waiting is making a difference. 

 

Normally I'm fishing a senko or a Texas rigged soft plastic when this happens. I've heard about guys pulling out their line on purpose after cast with a soft plastic has hit the water, but I've purposely experimented with this technique and A. havent noticed an increase in bites when purposely doing it and B. haven't noticed any change in my lure presentation when that happens. If anything it wraps me around a rock or something on the bottom. 

 

I've also noticed that when this happens, I'm not usually able to feel the bite. Which also makes me question whether I've been completely missing bass picking up my lures when they're sitting on the bottom. I watch my line for movement always. 

 

So what is it? Pure and utter coincidence? Something to do with me pulling out my line? Something with how I'm using I'm baitcaster? Getting these fish "accidentally" is discouraging. I'd like to have more command and know when I got one.

 

My set up has been an Abu Garcia Silvermax on an RT1 Graphite Series 7' MH Fast rod with 15 lb power pro. Not a great rod which may contribute to the lack of feeling or seeing bites. 

 

Let me know what you think. 

 

Thanks!

[J Francho]

So, slow down when you don't get a back lash.

[Ratherbfishing]

I'd say it's a combination of letting your bait sit long enough and, perhaps, the very subtle movement of your bait as you're picking out the line.  My tongue in cheek advice: keep your thumb OFF the reel spool and let the backlashes begin!  ;  )

[MassYak85]

If you notice this happening it's time to sloooooooow down. Sometimes they want it sitting there that long. 

[JediAmoeba]

Along with the obvious, slow down, if you are noticing this you may be casting too far.  When you backlash the lure probably isn't going as far... 

[geo g]

Every time you catch a fish it often tells you something.  It's not so often what you throw but how you work it.  If it happens more then once, you might be into a pattern.  This has happened to me over the years.  It tells me to let it settle and just gently shake the bait like you do when pulling out a over run.  I would do what other said by slowing down, subtle shakes and letting it sit again.  Always think about what you were doing when the bite occurred.

[WRB]

You are dead sticking or close to it when pulling out line and you are shaking it called doddling when picking out the backlash. 

Don Iovino is the father of finesse bass fishing and coined the term doddling. What doddling is rhythmic shaking the slightly slack line using just the rod tip to impart slight movements to the soft plastics without moving it along the bottom. Doddle slide is just that shaking and slowly dragging the soft plastic on the bottom.

Today bass anglers rarely doddle instead the drop shot presentation has taken over the technique of shaking. 

I still use the Brass n Glass T-rig; painted brass bullet weight, 8mm glass faceted bead and plastic worms. Cast let sink watching the V in the line for movement, let sit on the bottom and shake it, lift the rod tip to move the worm and repeat shaking. Slow presentation that still works.

Tom

[Todd2]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

What doddling is rhythmic shaking the slightly slack line 

It's interesting that Iovino and Brewer had different takes on this. Brewer really taught no shaking or erratic actions. Both finesse masters, different approaches, both of which work. I've seen it myself too...sometimes a little shake seems to help...sometimes not. I think there is a little debate on this with the Ned die-hards too.

 

As far as the OP, I've caught fish after a backlash several times over the years. One time, my wife called and I stopped mid retrieve. I got off the phone after maybe 5 minutes and started to move the lure and it loaded up with biggest fish of the day. 

[Tim Kelly]

12 hours ago, Todd2 said:

As far as the OP, I've caught fish after a backlash several times over the years. One time, my wife called and I stopped mid retrieve. I got off the phone after maybe 5 minutes and started to move the lure and it loaded up with biggest fish of the day. 

I've had the same experience, makes for a depressing day when you realize that you really have to fish super super slow to catch fish, yet you've no idea quite where the fish will be. Concentrates the mind on where your next cast is going, in about 10 rather dull minutes!

[Catt]

20 hours ago, Nepatizz said:

Getting these fish "accidentally" is discouraging. I'd like to have more command and know when I got one.

 

Actually you're learning how to properly fish plastics!

 

Ya gotta give em what they want, how they want it!

[Johnbt]

I don't catch as many fish as I did when I smoked.    Set the rod down, fish out the pack of smokes, find the lighter, light one, put the lighter away, stretch, look around, smoke some, pick up the rod. Worked in saltwater, too.

 

I've had bass pick up a spinnerbait off the bottom and hook themselves. It was probably the trailer they were after. It's just a jig with moving parts.

[scaleface]

When that happens , loosen your brakes to get more back-lashes .

[geo g]

19 hours ago, Todd2 said:

It's interesting that Iovino and Brewer had different takes on this. Brewer really taught no shaking or erratic actions. Both finesse masters, different approaches, both of which work. I've seen it myself too...sometimes a little shake seems to help...sometimes not. I think there is a little debate on this with the Ned die-hards too.

 

As far as the OP, I've caught fish after a backlash several times over the years. One time, my wife called and I stopped mid retrieve. I got off the phone after maybe 5 minutes and started to move the lure and it loaded up with biggest fish of the day. 

 

 

When the bite requires a subtle technique, I will change up from a dead stick, to a slow pull, to a stop and shake.  I wait to see what they want and then repeat until on a pattern.  The fish will tell you what they want, that day, that hour.  It often changes as the day goes on and the light conditions change.  Its seldom the same trip to trip.  They are often in the same territory but technique often changes.

[Black Hawk Basser]

8 hours ago, Johnbt said:

I don't catch as many fish as I did when I smoked.    Set the rod down, fish out the pack of smokes, find the lighter, light one, put the lighter away, stretch, look around, smoke some, pick up the rod. Worked in saltwater, too.

 

I've had bass pick up a spinnerbait off the bottom and hook themselves. It was probably the trailer they were after. It's just a jig with moving parts.

Yep yep.  I've had this happen many-a-time.  I wouldn't encourage picking up the habit of cigarettes just to catch some fish, though.  But I wouldn't shame anyone for casting out, reaching into the pocket, and lighting up a doobie.  

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, Pickle_Power said:

Yep yep.  I've had this happen many-a-time.  I wouldn't encourage picking up the habit of cigarettes just to catch some fish, though.  But I wouldn't shame anyone for casting out, reaching into the pocket, and lighting up a doobie.  

I dig out a cig and light it between casts. Far as the doobie...tried it back in college 40 years ago and all it did was give me a headache - never tried it again---or anything harder.

[Black Hawk Basser]

9 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I dig out a cig and light it between casts. Far as the doobie...tried it back in college 40 years ago and all it did was give me a headache - never tried it again---or anything harder.

You must not have inhaled. ?

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, Pickle_Power said:

You must not have inhaled. ?

[Glaucus]

3 hours ago, Pickle_Power said:

Yep yep.  I've had this happen many-a-time.  I wouldn't encourage picking up the habit of cigarettes just to catch some fish, though.  But I wouldn't shame anyone for casting out, reaching into the pocket, and lighting up a doobie.  

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[jr231]

Switch ur line to 30 or 40lb test. 15lb braid is so thin and the Thicker line should help with less backlashes. If you're worried about your line being too strong and want more of a challenge, use a leader.