Open your eyes

[Pat Brown]

The only time of year that I don't visually see Bass swimming around in shallow water almost everyday is when the water temperature is below the 40s. 

 

There are some years where the bass never leave the shallows like 2023. 

 

2024-2025, I haven't seen a bass in shallow water with my eyes before making a cast since November.

 

I did see some fish chase my lure in - but don't really think that counts.  I also saw some bass busting bait offshore when one of the snowy fronts hit in December.

 

Whats interesting is the water is the clearest I've ever seen it this year - when they return - gonna be easy to see them.

[CDMTJager]

On 4/20/2020 at 12:46 PM, WRB said:

Watching Glenn's vedio reminded me about being observant.

I have been bass fishing since a young child and learned bass behavior by mostly being observant by watching bass.

You can actually see bass before catching them if you open your eyes and look into the water. When fishing with a partner I am always amazed that the majority of anglers never look for fish. Everyone usually see's the swirl or splash a bass makes but don't see a bass following a bass hooked or the lure or just sitting under cover.

Seeing bass takes practice to learn what to look for. It's easy to see bass in clear water following a lure , not so easy to see a bass in the same clear water that isn't swimming. Off color water requires close attention for water movement, pressure wake or cover movement and flashes underwater indicating a bass just turned away from a lure.

Look closely and you see a dark lateral line on lighter background movements or tail or mouth flashes revealing the bass.

I can't tell you how many times I have pointed out a bass to a fishing partner or found giant bass by looking for them visually.

Tom

You boat angles got it made.

[bassmedic46]

Once in a while I can see a Bass from Shore.