Lure Choice Based on Fish behavior

[Firstoutfisher]

Went out to my usual bank fishing spot tonight after work for about an hour and a half. I was throwing a megabass Z1 crank(only setup I had at the time). There were fish visibly swimming around the area. I had several fish bump my lure but not really commit to it. They would follow it all the way back to the bank, lightly nudge it and then swim off. I have never seen this hapen before with such frequency. What causes the bass to react this way? I tried varying my retrieve to see if I could entice them but same reaction no matter what. They seemed to prefer faster retrieve. If you are in this situation what other lure would you follow up with to try and get a good bite? Normally I would just downsize but the Z1 crank is about as small as they get. 

[fishingtx]

This may sound weird but upsize a lot. When i can't get bit regular/finesse I upsize to 6-8inch baits and even 10-14 inch worms and sometimes this helps. Another thing might be color and or rattles. I'm not familiar with this bait but if it has rattles try one without and vice versa. Good luck!

[MIbassyaker]

There are a number of adjustments you could make if they will follow but not commit. This sort of thing can mean their activity level is right, but something about your presentation turns them off upon closer inspection. Changes to bait size, color, or retrieve speed can sometimes help. 

 

But it may also be visibility: if you can see them, they can see you.  It might be more useful to just be stealthier. Try to stay low, avoid casting a looming shadow from above. Avoid sudden movements, and try to walk quietly and carefully on the bank. 

[scaleface]

I had a day like that and finally went to a suspending jerkbait and started catching   those bumpers. It was a  Rapala xrap to be exact.

[Bankc]

7 hours ago, scaleface said:

I had a day like that and finally went to a suspending jerkbait and started catching   those bumpers. It was a  Rapala xrap to be exact.

That's what I was thinking.  I often go fishing with just one rod and one lure (on my lunch break), and sometimes when you can't get them to commit, just pausing the crankbait and letting it sit there, sometimes as long as a full minute, and then resuming can get a bite.  Or doing the opposite and popping the rod on a steady retrieve.  Anything different.  

 

And sometimes fishing it like a jerkbait works as well.  I've fished a lot of jerkbaits like crankbaits and crankbaits like jerkbaits in my life.  It may not be the best approach, but I can vouch that it works, at least sometimes.   I probably fished the Rapala Floating Minnow for a good 20 years before I even knew what a jerkbait was!    

[Firstoutfisher]

Read the replies here,used my nogging,looked through my tacklebox and went back tonight. Water was super clear,clearest I have ever seen it on this lake. So I took a semi transparent silent pointer 95 out and was able to get several to commit and still getting some bumps. Landed a couple dinks then started experimenting with my retrieve. As soon as I started using a very aggressive fast retrieve I got a nice hit from probably a 3 LBER but wasn't able to land it. Then immediately got the bait snagged and lost it on the next cast. On one hand it was kind of disappointing because I was THIS close to getting the puzzle solved before losing the only bait I had. On the other hand, I feel like I learned a little something and became a better angler. 

[WRB]

Look  up my Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar. I define 5 activity levels, the level you are interested is active about 20% of the daily 24 hour period.

Tom

 

[KP Duty]

I'd speed up my retrieve first, and then go to another bait if no takers.  I think 'you need to make a change' is the correct answer, and will require some trial and error.

[Darth-Baiter]

Quote

 

if you only have one bait option, the only choice is to change the speed/presentation.  

 

jerk it, speed it, go slow, crash it into things and kill it....

[FishTank]

If they're not hungry, it's just something to chase around and play with. Do whatever it takes to get them angry at it and turn them into a killing machine.  

 

On the other hand,  if you go with the same bait all the tme, they could look at it like.... I've seen that dumb thing before.

[papajoe222]

First, I add more pauses to my retrieve with cranks, then burn it before pausing again. I rarely get bit on a straight retrieve unless it's banging bottom, or bouncing off of something.

Next, I'll change colors, size and profile of the bait, in that order.