Getting a following Bass to commit in cold water

[Todd2]

The title says it all, was fishing some clear ponds yesterday and had several surprisingly nice size Bass following my slow rolled cranks but couldn't get one to bite. I tried stopping, going faster. I didn't bring my whole arsenal so swapping colors wasn't an option. I've never had that many follow without committing. Cold water thing? Any tips?

[A-Jay]

Mark the spot and come back when the fish are more apt to 'feed'.  Whatever presentations you've used with success in the past here in cooler to cold water can be could.  But consider making them in a manner in which you can not see the fish and perhaps more importantly, they can not see you.  IME, a little later in the day would be best. 

A-Jay 

[fishballer06]

Color/size/action of the bait might not be what they want. Changing one of those could help. If not, like A-Jay said, come back at another time and see if they're more active. 

[Ratherbfishing]

Once the water drops enough, you're lucky, really, to even get much of a follow.  Go back later in the day when the water has had a chance to warm a bit and try then.  Or follow with a soft plastic.

 

Oh, and try a suspending jerkbait.  I've had my best luck with these.

[txchaser]

12 hours ago, Ratherbfishing said:

Once the water drops enough, you're lucky, really, to even get much of a follow.  Go back later in the day when the water has had a chance to warm a bit and try then.  Or follow with a soft plastic.

 

Oh, and try a suspending jerkbait.  I've had my best luck with these.

This worked for me too.

 

 

[crypt]

it's all about timing..............they'll eat it when they are in a more active feeding mode.  or really ticked off......

[BassNJake]

Like already mentioned I'd try a jerkbait (soft or hard) or a small swimbait

I like to drag a jig when its cold too

[Boomstick]

In cases when they follow a crankbait but do not commit, I would try something like 1/4oz popper or a jerkbait and try for a reaction strike.

[Shimano_1]

I've had some success with cranks and glide baits stopping the retrieve and fishing it like a jerkbait to get one to commit.  Learning to fish glide baits I kept having good fish follow right to the boat. Finally had a 5 lber follow to within a few feet of the boat, I killed it, twitched it a cple times and it smoked it. I've had some luck doing the same with crankbaits 

[txchaser]

Conjecture on my part but I think they are curious but not really feeding, at least on that presentation. But when their face is in it and it jiggles or twitches you get a reaction strike. I see it with senkos sometimes in clear water. I can see that fish staring at it intently. Lift and drop gets nothing. Twitch twich gets a bite. Always makes me wonder how many fish have been chasing my worm and never bit it. 

[BassNJake]

20 hours ago, Shimano_1 said:

I've had some success with cranks and glide baits stopping the retrieve and fishing it like a jerkbait to get one to commit.  Learning to fish glide baits I kept having good fish follow right to the boat. Finally had a 5 lber follow to within a few feet of the boat, I killed it, twitched it a cple times and it smoked it. I've had some luck doing the same with crankbaits 

Ever tried the figure 8 once it gets close to the boat?