Why are bass pacing along the shoreline and not biting?

[kmaot]

Hi.  Am curious at this time but can see  bass "pacing" along the shoreline.  I have seen kids drop in worms (private pond) and the bass just pace back and forth and ignore it.  I would think water temps are maybe 55 or 60.  I just haven't seen this behaviour before (haven't ever looked) but just wondered what I may be seeing.  Thanks!

[garroyo130]

Could be a number of factors but if you can see the fish they can see you. That alone is typically enough to turn them off from biting/striking.

[kmaot]

Thanks Short Fish.  I just haven't seen such pacing and non aggressive behaviour so wondered if spawning could be a part of it.  We are in Ontario.

[Scott F]

Most of us don’t eat constantly throughout the day. Fish don’t eat all the time either. 

[Hower08]

They are most likely sunning themselves. Or potentially even getting on beds. Around here in Ohio they will go through a sunning phase in the spring time during a quick warm up. Not much you can do other than look for more actively feeding fish

[lo n slo]

they’re looking for toilet paper?

[RoLo]

 

When bass aren't feeding, they deliberately cruise the shoreline in plain sight of fisherman.

This causes anglers to show them every lure in their tackle box.

When they get hungry again, they know what to avoid   

 

Roger 

[Throwafrog]

Spawning bass

[BrianMDTX]

4 minutes ago, RoLo said:

When bass aren't feeding, they deliberately cruise the shoreline in plain sight of fisherman.

In so doing, they get to see every lure in your tackle box.

When they get hungry again, they now know what to avoid.

 

Roger 

Sometimes it feels like that’s the truth! 

[Glenn]

Yes, it's spawning behavior.  They're staking out an area, getting ready to make a bed.  They're in "spawn mode" (my terminology for it), and don't care about anything you throw at them.  At best, they'll stop and look at your lure, maybe even nose up to it, but won't take it.  

 

I've seen this behavior so many times over the years.  It's always in a finite area, shallow, and in an area where they end up making a bed.  Check back in 4-8 days and see if there's a bed in the area.  Sometimes they're not obvious, but you'll likely find that bass sitting on or near it.  Of course, then he's looking for a mate, so.... same behavior with your lures again.  LOL!

[frogflogger]

While cruising bass are tough to get a bite from - I have had some success backing off and throwing an annoying topwater - sometimes noisy works and sometimes a twitcher like the original rapala will work.

Of course sometimes nothing seems to work.

[papajoe222]

Welcome to BR. There is a wealth of good information here from anglers that are willing to share their knowledge and experience. Stick around.
 

That is typical pre-spawn behavior around here as most lakes are clear. the good news is that, in most waters, not all bass spawn at the same time. There will still be some fish that haven’t moved up and others that have already paired up and built a bed. 
when I see a single fish doing this, I’ll switch my focus on the first structural break out from the area. That first drop to deeper water often holds the bigger females. I picked up my personal best fish a couple of weeks ago doing just that. 

[dodgeguy]

prespawn bass looking to make nests.

[DFWbassin]

They are going into spawning mode, and they are only gonna eat what is a threat to their eggs, if you can figure out the center of the area the bass is roaming around then you can drag a bait through his bed and eventually it might be eat it.

[WRB]

We call "pacing" cruising. As Glenn noted with water temps near the low 60's bass start to cruise looking for bedding sites. Cruisers drive bass anglers nuts because feeding isn't what is driving them, spawning is. 

Ignor the cruisers and fish out deeper water for the bass that are still in their pre spawn feeding activity.

After the spawn is over in water temps above 75 degrees the cruisers are now patrolling the perimeter hunting for food, keep a low profile without alarming those bass and they can be caught.

Tom

[Bird]

12 hours ago, frogflogger said:

While cruising bass are tough to get a bite from - I have had some success backing off and throwing an annoying topwater - sometimes noisy works and sometimes a twitcher like the original rapala will work.

Of course sometimes nothing seems to work.

This is my experience also.

 

Was amazed at all the cruising bass along the shoreline at this State park the wife and I stayed at couple of weeks ago.

 

Took my boat out and was able to land 2 fish with Senko over several hours. 

 

Next morning working tight to bank with whopper ploppers and buzzbaits, caught 15.

 

They weren't that interested in the proven Senko but was all over the " annoying " bait. Lol

 

 

 

 

[CrankFate]

I am not going to say I know what they are doing. But at this time of year they are impossible to catch when they do this. Once they start migrating around, instead of staying in one area, then they get more catchable. I sometimes think some bass do not spawn. Not big enough, not smart enough, not bad enough, couldn’t make a bed, no beds left, or they woke up late? I assume there are bass like this and these bass probably do nothing during the time that all the breeders spawn. 

[apenland01]

I've seen this in low oxygen conditions as well.  We have a lake that had an algae bloom a couple of years ago and the water hasn't really recovered.  Sometimes you will see bass cruising the shoreline, very lethargic and interested in nothing.  

[TnRiver46]

On 5/25/2020 at 9:00 PM, RoLo said:

 

When bass aren't feeding, they deliberately cruise the shoreline in plain sight of fisherman.

This causes anglers to show them every lure in their tackle box.

When they get hungry again, they know what to avoid   

 

Roger 

^winning answer 

[Koz]

On 5/25/2020 at 9:28 PM, lo n slo said:

they’re looking for toilet paper?

I find it amazing that after these many months of lock down and social distancing that most stores still have empty shelves that used to be full of toilet paper and paper towels.