Braid, causing no bites?

[MUSLENUTZ]

I’ve noticed the fish going after my braid or my fluro leader in the water. So obviously they are seeing it well.  By the time the bait comes they look at it and I feel like they are laughing at me lol. I’m still catching bass but less frequently especially with spring here. I use a 30lb power pro and 10-12lb seaguar fluro leader. I don’t really use mono at all except my backing.  My question is should I try straight fluro or mono on the bait caster? Also, what about braid for spinning? I usually fish around a lot of cover so I love the braid. I feel like I’m missing the fish though on many presentations. Losing some confidence here and I’m just not sure what to do now with line on my spinning or bait caster. 

[dodgeguy]

I've debated that issue for years. Personally I hate flouro. I love braid I fished straight braid for years. I would switch to flouro sometimes but give it up. I'm not a leader guy because I hate the knot going through my guides. Right now I'm using Sufix Advantage mono for lower visibility than braid. That said I don't care what line you have you need to find fish that will bite. I've seen the same thing happen with straight flouro. You either need to find active fish or switch presentations. And remember even pros get skunked.

 

[jimmyjoe]

   When you say the fish "are going after my braid or my fluoro leader", do you mean they seem interested in the line where it enters the water? If so, change to a topwater immediately. If they seem interested in the line further down in the water column, it might (I said MIGHT) be a vibration mechanism. I used to see that on windy days when my line would "hum".

   Good luck!    jj

[Matt_3479]

I’ve primarily switched too pp braid for everything. I’m even trying it on my squarebill this season. I do use leaders on my drop shot set up, my lighter jig set ups, my tube set up. So my spinning all have leaders except 1. 15lbs pp to 8lbs seagur leaders. My casting are mostly straight braid, with the odd leader. 30-50lbs pp

[MUSLENUTZ]

36 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

   When you say the fish "are going after my braid or my fluoro leader", do you mean they seem interested in the line where it enters the water? If so, change to a topwater immediately. If they seem interested in the line further down in the water column, it might (I said MIGHT) be a vibration mechanism. I used to see that on windy days when my line would "hum".

   Good luck!    jj

Bluegills in front of me seem drawn to it. Some even rub against it. My line is like a bluegill magnet. 

34 minutes ago, Matt_3479 said:

I’ve primarily switched too pp braid for everything. I’m even trying it on my squarebill this season. I do use leaders on my drop shot set up, my lighter jig set ups, my tube set up. So my spinning all have leaders except 1. 15lbs pp to 8lbs seagur leaders. My casting are mostly straight braid, with the odd leader. 30-50lbs pp

All my top water is straight braid. Besides that I run a 12lb leader. What about spinning gear, do people use a lot of braid with leaders? I usually use straight fluro. 

[soflabasser]

I have caught lots of nice fish fishing in places with clear water with braid. If the fish are very picky I sometimes use 6-8 pound test mono and that works very well for me.

[kayaking_kev]

2 hours ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

Bluegills in front of me seem drawn to it. Some even rub against it. My line is like a bluegill magnet. 

All my top water is straight braid. Besides that I run a 12lb leader. What about spinning gear, do people use a lot of braid with leaders? I usually use straight fluro. 

Bluegills do that to my str8 mono also, most of my bass bites, whether using bottom baits or moving baits come for reaction strikes. When I see one come up to it and then stop and take time to examine it, they usually don't bite, but they do usually bring even more attention to the bait from other bass in the area who will come swimming in and immediately take the bait.

[Matt_3479]

7 hours ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

Bluegills in front of me seem drawn to it. Some even rub against it. My line is like a bluegill magnet. 

All my top water is straight braid. Besides that I run a 12lb leader. What about spinning gear, do people use a lot of braid with leaders? I usually use straight fluro. 

even my spinning gear. Either straight 15 lbs braid, or 15 lbs braid with an 6-8 lbs leader 

[LCG]

Maybe try a longer leader. 

[Backroad Angler]

Like dodgeguy said, if fish don't want to bite, they arent gonna bite.

I've used mono and braid on two different set ups on the same fishing trip multiple times, and one never necessarily outfished the other.

[ike8120]

I was fishing a NED setup with braid and fc leader. I can see the fish they mouthed the bait, but just wouldn't bite.  I also tried a frog and super fluke no bites.

[dodgeguy]

22 minutes ago, ike8120 said:

I was fishing a NED setup with braid and fc leader. I can see the fish they mouthed the bait, but just wouldn't bite.  I also tried a frog and super fluke no bites.

did you try smelly jelly?thats where i like to use scent.

 

[MUSLENUTZ]

I just took off 130 ft of braid, left a backing and popped on 12lb fluro. Have to change things up, ideally we have had a very late spring here and it’s June in CT. So slow bites across the area, my spinning rod has straight fluro. Regardless I’m in a slump, I feel as if I’m over thinking and I’m probably causing a lot more than I think. I need to Texas rig, whacky or shakey head things. It’s what I do best until I get more bites. I’m open for any advice guys, only been bass fishing three years. I’m doing everything you tube says so. I feel like I’m on the right track. Using 3/O and 4/O hooks. Took my son fishing with some shiners and things went well but that’s not my idea of fishing 

[Dens228]

I was out today in a quarry, vis was at LEAST 8 feet since I could see the gravel/rocks on the bottom at that depth. 

I caught 1 on a spinnerbait, 3 on a t-rigged Spicy Beaver, 2 on a MegaBass popper, and 14 on a squarebill.  All were on either 20 or 30 lb braid, no leader.    

[FishTank]

On 6/1/2020 at 2:10 PM, MUSLENUTZ said:

I just took off 130 ft of braid, left a backing and popped on 12lb fluro. Have to change things up, ideally we have had a very late spring here and it’s June in CT. So slow bites across the area, my spinning rod has straight fluro. Regardless I’m in a slump, I feel as if I’m over thinking and I’m probably causing a lot more than I think. I need to Texas rig, whacky or shakey head things. It’s what I do best until I get more bites. I’m open for any advice guys, only been bass fishing three years. I’m doing everything you tube says so. I feel like I’m on the right track. 

I say use patience.  When the bite is slow so should you be.  

 

Also, I will second the use of Smelly Jelly.  It won't attract fish but if they bite, they will hold on.  Besides most bites aren't really bites per say> bass tend to inhale/slurp the bait when things slow down. 

 

 

 

 

[RoLo]

 

Lois & I were on a smallmouth bass vacation in Parry Sound, Lake Huron, Ontario (Glenn Burney).

I was using my own pre-tied rigs that included a walking walleye sinker and 1-inch cork float

to suspend the bait above bottom (you know, like a dropshot rig). I was getting bite, after bite, after bite.

I was setting the hook repeatedly, time-after-time like a kid with a canepole, but could not stick

a single fish. I've never encountered such a perplexing situation in my life.

Finally, the mystery was solved by a small pod of smallies that followed my rig to the boat.

The bass were not at all interested in my bait, instead, they were totally enamored

by the 1" cork float, which they repeatedly attacked with abandon.

 

That's a lesson coming directly from the fish, a lesson forever etched in my mind.

It clearly demonstrates the sharp division between the angler's mind and the mind of fish.

Hey, we're all welcome to our opinions, but don't take them too seriously ?  

 

When strikes are hard to come by, the rush to judgment generally involves 'lure color'

and 'line visibility', stuff that a 90yr old angler can still see. We can only wish it were that simple.

Though it flies in the face of conventional wisdom, I place lure color and line visibility

at the back of the line (the caboose). Not to anyone's surprise, I use straight leaderless braid

all the time. 

 

Roger

 

 

[RoLo]

.

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

I just took off 130 ft of braid, left a backing and popped on 12lb fluro. Have to change things up, ideally we have had a very late spring here and it’s June in CT. So slow bites across the area, my spinning rod has straight fluro. Regardless I’m in a slump, I feel as if I’m over thinking and I’m probably causing a lot more than I think. I need to Texas rig, whacky or shakey head things. It’s what I do best until I get more bites. I’m open for any advice guys, only been bass fishing three years. I’m doing everything you tube says so. I feel like I’m on the right track. Using 3/O and 4/O hooks. Took my son fishing with some shiners and things went well but that’s not my idea of fishing 

NED RIG !!!! SMELLY JELLY !!!

[MUSLENUTZ]

2 hours ago, RoLo said:

 

Lois & I were on a smallmouth bass vacation in Parry Sound, Lake Huron, Ontario (Glenn Burney).

I was using my own pre-tied rigs that included a walking walleye sinker and 1-inch cork float

to suspend the bait above bottom (you know, like a dropshot rig). I was getting bite, after bite, after bite.

I was setting the hook repeatedly, time-after-time like a kid with a canepole, but could not stick

a single fish. I've never encountered such a perplexing situation in my life.

Finally, the mystery was solved by a small pod of smallies that followed my rig to the boat.

The bass were not at all interested in my bait, instead, they were totally enamored

by the 1" cork float, which they repeatedly attacked with abandon.

 

That's a lesson coming directly from the fish, a lesson forever etched in my mind.

It clearly demonstrates the sharp division between the angler's mind and the mind of fish.

Hey, we're all welcome to our opinions, but don't take them too seriously ?  

 

When strikes are hard to come by, the rush to judgment generally involves 'lure color'

and 'line visibility', stuff that a 90-yr old angler can still see. We can only wish it were that simple.

It may fly in the face of conventional wisdom, but I place lure color and line visibility

at the end of the line (the caboose). Not to anyone's surprise, I use straight leaderless braid

all the time. 

 

Roger

 

 

Great stuff. Thanks for the inspiration lol. True though!