My bass won't bite!

[Great White Fisherman]

I've heard Spring prespawn is a great time to catch bass. Well, in my experience, that is entirely false. Locating the fish hasn't been an issue because I wear polarized lenses when I hit the pond, I can SEE the bass floating around, and in numbers! It's remarkable actually. So I can see where they are, I cast past them, and work the bait right up to them. What do they do? Act like it doesn't exist or sometimes run away like they're spooked. What's the deal?! They're not hungry? Senkos freak them out? I don't get it. I've tried all kinds of lures from jigs to cranks to plastics and fished in the morning as well as noon (I work nights so evening is not possible). I don't understand how I can bring it right to their mouth and they turn away...

[scaleface]

Are you 100 per cent positive they are bass ?

[Great White Fisherman]

1 minute ago, scaleface said:

Are you 100 per cent positive they are bass ?

Oh yes! No doubt. Only thing in this pond is gills and bass

[Scott F]

Bass don’t feed continuously.  They might also be spooked by your presence. If you can see them, they can see you too. 

[Great White Fisherman]

2 minutes ago, Scott F said:

If you can see them, they can see you too. 

Yes, but the ones I try to catch are a distance away. There's no way they can see me because of refraction. I can only see them because of the sun shining on them and the lenses. 

 

And the feeding continuously part, that's why I've tried different times trying to find their feeding time. No dice

[WRB]

Fly line a live big 6" to 8" Canadian night crawler using a size 1 drop shot hook on 8 lb test line.

Fly line means no weight. Either nose hook or tail hook the night crawler so it's free to move. If the bass ignor a live night crawler they are alerted to your presents and watching you, so keep a low profile and watch the line move where it enters the water for a strike indicator. 

If this works soft plastic natural color worms wacky rigged same as the night crawler should work.

Bass are only active feeding about 20% of time during a 24 hour period, or 5 hours out of 24, usually in short 30 minutes periods depending on the water temps and matabelism (need for food). If your pond has lots of prey available the bass get on a specific schedule that you need to discover.

Tom

PS, if the bass are suspended, not moving around, they are not active feeding.

[Great White Fisherman]

21 minutes ago, WRB said:

Fly line a live big 6" to 8" Canadian night crawler using a size 1 drop shot hook on 8 lb test line.

Fly line means no weight. Either nose hook or tail hook the night crawler so it's free to move. If the bass ignor a live night crawler they are alerted to your presents and watching you, so keep a low profile and watch the line move where it enters the water for a strike indicator. 

If this works soft plastic natural color worms wacky rigged same as the night crawler should work.

Bass are only active feeding about 20% of time during a 24 hour period, or 5 hours out of 24, usually in short 30 minutes periods depending on the water temps and matabelism (need for food). If your pond has lots of prey available the bass get on a specific schedule that you need to discover.

Tom

PS, if the bass are suspended, not moving around, they are not active feeding.

I don't know where I'll find a worm that big...and a castable one at that

[WRB]

Check out your local mon & pop tackle stores and aquarium shops for large  "Canadian" Nightcrawlers. You cast them using spinning tackle or ML or M mod (crankbait rod)  tackle.

Tom

[Bankbeater]

How much fishing pressure does this place see?  I've had bass act that way in the public park near my house.

[Hartwood71]

Have you tried different times of day as well?  
 

 

[Born 2 fish]

Have you tried a weightless fluke?

[Bluebasser86]

Don't target the bass you can see. For every bass you can see, there's probably 10 more you can't that are much more catchable. This is a mistake anglers make during spawning times too, getting wrapped up fishing for those few fish on beds when there's hundreds of fish not on beds that are much more cooperative.

 

Prespawn is some of the best fishing of the year, especially for big fish, but targeting cruisers is rarely a good way to get a consistent bite.

[roadwarrior]

 

[TnRiver46]

I agree with @Bluebasser86, it’s hard to catch a bass that you are looking at. If you see them, it’s over, move on. If the only thing in the pond is bass and gills, I’d fish with a live gill 

[lavbasser]

Cold, ultra clear water can be very tough to fish.  Some of my local lakes are treated with ALUM a few times a year.  Afterwards the lakes are crystal clear for several days.  You can see fish from a distance but they are tough to catch. I think the fish are very aware that they are exposed and are more wary and they will often suspend.   I will downsize to 4lb test and use very light tackle.   Sometimes a faster presentation, even in really cold water, is better.   Try going fast and speed it over the top, don’t let it reach close to their depth.  Don’t let them get a good look.  Also try windy banks.  Very early and late in the day can be better too, even in late winter. 

[FishingGeekTX]

I suppose if they ignore your lures, ignore them too.  Fish how you normally would if you couldn't see them...cover, weed edges, search deep and mid-water column.

For morning, get there before light, or fish dusk.  Maybe they feed a lot at night..clear water I assume they can see easier in moonlight than if it was murky.

[NorthernBasser]

On 2/29/2020 at 12:14 PM, Great White Fisherman said:

I can SEE the bass floating around

If they're floating, they're probably dead. Which would explain them ignoring your lures.

 

Sorry. I got nothing else. Others have already given good info. ☺️