Bite detection

[Fishingmickey]

21 hours ago, Ibock said:

My point was the best way to get better at bite detection in more bites. I don't think you can get more on any other bait year around than a senko.  IMO braid is way more sensitive then fluro...Its not even close.

Braid is more sensitive then fluorocarbon only when it is taut. When braid has slack in the line (due to it's being very limp) it doesn't transmit vibration at all. Fluorocarbon is a much stiffer line, therefore transmits vibration much better when it isn't taut. There is no comparison between the two.

FM

[FishTax]

Spent some time today fishing. I think it really does come down to time spent. I feel extremely confident detecting bites on shaky head as long as there is no wind. Jigs are difficult when working bottom, usually just find a bass there so I'm sure I'm missing some. Threw a wacky today, I just have no confidence in that. I can't detect bites at all. Can't imagine I didn't get any because my buddy caught over 10 on one and I was catching on shaky head so I know I was on them. Who knows, spending more time fishing and learning is a prescription I'm happy to follow 😎

[Glenn]

 

[Woody B]

Disclaimer, I'm not a hammer, and I'm not an expert at bite detection.

 

I'd guess that a Bass will hold on to a wacky longer than anything, giving a larger window for bite detection.  I keep my index finger under the line.  This really helps me feel stuff.   I'd guess a Bass will hold on to a shaky head, or t-rig longer than they will a jig.   When I was a kid an old man who occasionally took me fishing caught Bass on jigs all the time.  I rarely caught a jig Bass but could catch them on a t-rig.   By the time I was 18 I was determined to catch Bass on a jig.   I started catching a few by using a real pork trailer.  I suspect the pork made the Bass hold on longer.  After a while I got better at jig fishing.   Now I manage to catch a decent Bass on a jig occasionally.   My first 5+ pounder of 2024 was on a jig.   

[FishTax]

11 minutes ago, Woody B said:

Disclaimer, I'm not a hammer, and I'm not an expert at bite detection.

 

I'd guess that a Bass will hold on to a wacky longer than anything, giving a larger window for bite detection.  I keep my index finger under the line.  This really helps me feel stuff.   I'd guess a Bass will hold on to a shaky head, or t-rig longer than they will a jig.   When I was a kid an old man who occasionally took me fishing caught Bass on jigs all the time.  I rarely caught a jig Bass but could catch them on a t-rig.   By the time I was 18 I was determined to catch Bass on a jig.   I started catching a few by using a real pork trailer.  I suspect the pork made the Bass hold on longer.  After a while I got better at jig fishing.   Now I manage to catch a decent Bass on a jig occasionally.   My first 5+ pounder of 2024 was on a jig.   

I can catch them on jigs, but have to keep it moving to feel a bite. If I just cast and let it drop, I can line watch but I never see it do anything. Maybe I'm over thinking and there's nothing to feel because I'm not getting bit 😎

[Ibock]

7 hours ago, FishTax said:

Spent some time today fishing. I think it really does come down to time spent. I feel extremely confident detecting bites on shaky head as long as there is no wind. Jigs are difficult when working bottom, usually just find a bass there so I'm sure I'm missing some. Threw a wacky today, I just have no confidence in that. I can't detect bites at all. Can't imagine I didn't get any because my buddy caught over 10 on one and I was catching on shaky head so I know I was on them. Who knows, spending more time fishing and learning is a prescription I'm happy to follow 😎

just out of curiosity what kind of rod are you using?

[Tennessee Boy]

My opinion.   Bite detection is 99% time on the water and the other 1% can be attributed to things like your rod,  your zodiac sign,  if the cows in the area are lying down or standing,  etc.  🙂

 

It’s like learning to drive.  You start out very consciously turning the wheel to keep the car between the lines.  Eventually,  your subconscious mind learns to do the driving and you never think about the process of turning the wheel to keep the car in the road.  I’ve done some reading on this.  The subconscious mind responds much faster than the conscious mind.  When your subconscious mind is interpreting what’s happening with your bait you will know you’ve got a bite before you’ve even had time to think about it.  

[Fishing_Rod]

Greetings All,

Great information offered by all. I find it helpful and interesting.

 

Much has been said about the challenges to "feel" or detect the bites. I concur. I usually fish with the low and slow theme. So I'm generally in contact with the line and there is some limited amount of tension. I usually use Ultra lite gear so I'm in the 1/32 oz or 1/16 oz range on 4 pound mono. If I'm not touching the line then I'm watching the line. Most of the time I'm doing both.

 

I mentioned the limited line tension. Because I'm not using a really heavy bait package, the distant end it not significantly anchored by a heavy weight so the approach is to just actively monitor. Yes, this is really difficult in windy condition. When that happens, it is often time for a different approach or simply to use the 1/16 oz weight and hope for the best. At some point, before the fish rips the rod from me, I'll add some tension, even if I'm simply just testing the situation at the other end. Adding just enough input to see if I can feel anything. I try to do this with the goal of minimum movement of the bait.

 

Most of the fish I catch are detected during a pause in movement. I'm sitting there looking for that response. Often it is signaled to me by the line (tap, twitch, or moving) or by seeing the tip of the rod flex (UL action is on the supple side and helpful for that bite detection).

 

Using UL gear compels me to "wait for a reason" to do something. I'm not the kind that swings at "everything". I tried that approach years ago and it just didn't suit my style of recreational angling. I suspect that through angling experience you do develop an understanding when you identify a fish on line. Also because of the UL gear, it is more of sweep when I do get that reason to respond.

 

I have no idea of how many missed opportunities I've experienced. I have on those occasions where I'm able to sight fish and the water was clear enough, noticed many times where I could see the fish pickup the bait but I was in no other way detecting the action. Those are the times where I'm using small weightless presentations. That is really challenging to maintain any kind of line tension when the bait is just sitting still.

 

So I just make the most of what I've got. Usually I'm not reacting till I see or feel their response, they have been good at letting me know. Then it is all about the sharp hook, good knot, and maintaining reasonable line tension all while enjoying the ride.

 

Be well and Cheers!

[Ibock]

6 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

My opinion.   Bite detection is 99% time on the water and the other 1% can be attributed to things like your rod,  your zodiac sign,  if the cows in the area are lying down or standing,  etc.  🙂

 

It’s like learning to drive.  You start out very consciously turning the wheel to keep the car between the lines.  Eventually,  your subconscious mind learns to do the driving and you never think about the process of turning the wheel to keep the car in the road.  I’ve done some reading on this.  The subconscious mind responds much faster than the conscious mind.  When your subconscious mind is interpreting what’s happening with your bait you will know you’ve got a bite before you’ve even had time to think about it.  

I agree the biggest factor is time on the water most pros are using 100-200 rods but the difference in sensitivity between a 100-dollar rod and say NRX+ is huge. Even the difference between a 100-dollar rod and a Shimano Expride is big.  The only reason the pros are not all using crazy high-end gear is that they are being paid to use inferior gear.  Remember when Tiger Woods was using Nike golf clubs years ago? 

[WRB]

Feeling a bass strike soft plastics underwater starts with your finger tips or seeing line movement and ends in the grey matter between your ears. The rod can only dampen the line moments you feel at your fingertips, can’t attenuate it!

A soft heavy fiberglass rod dampens feedback more than light high modulus  graphite rod but can see and feel line movements regardless of the rod type.

I watched kids catching bass using beer can with discarded mono line plastic worms.

I have caught thousands of bass using a tubular fiber glass rod decades before graphite rods became available.

Line can make a different but you can see and feel all line types move. FC line has less drag going through water vs mono/copolymer line. small diameter braid without slack has good feedback and it floats making braid a good choice as a sight strike detector with zero feel feedback. line isn’t a major factor if you can feel lure.

Time on the teaches that grey matter between your ears what your finger tips and eyes are telling you to set the hook!

Tom

[Swamp Girl]

I've been using braid and mono this spring. With braid, I can feel the soft tick-tick-tick as my lure ricochets off old, rotten weeds. Then there's the sharper sensation of bouncing off rocks. I can be fishing for half an hour getting all kinds of weed and rock feedback, but when a bass hits, I feel the difference...unless the bass swallows my lure and swims toward me. That's the tough hit to descry...for me. I can still sense those hits and set the hook and I catch bass that way, but if you were to ask me why I set the hook, I couldn't begin to explain it. 

[Ibock]

Listen I watch my line as much as anyone that's why I use hi vis braid to a fluro leader.  If you decide to step up like I did and spend way too much money on a fishing rod and get an NRX you can pretty much fish with your eyes closed and catch most of the fish.  If I didn't try it for myself I would not have believed it.

Fishing rod are like cars and there is a point of diminishing returns.  Can a Toyota get the job done...sure.  They are great cars but make so mistake they are not a Ferrrai or a Porche. High end rods have more sensitivity, are lighter, and balance better.  For anybody that loves to fish I truly believe fishing with higher end gear you will have more enjoyment. bI am only 38 and I use to think who care... I am a big guy what does a few ounces matter?  After several hours of fishing with a super light rod you will notice big time.  To each their own but I think everyone should fish with the highest end gear they can afford if they love to fish and spend alot of time doing it.

[Catt]

Dang I guess I don't know nuthin!

 

I throw Berkley Big for almost everything except frogs or punching. 

 

My worm rod is a 100$ Powell Inferno & the others are 150$ Diawa Tatula.

 

Casting into 15-20' of water I can feel a 1/4 weight hit bottom.

 

I don't touch my line & I don't stare at my line. 54 yrs of night fishing thought me how to detect bites.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Night fishing is the cheat code as Catt and Pat pointed out.

 

My favorite T-Rig/Free-Rig rod is 25 years old, and the fluorocarbon I use on that reel is worth more than the rod lol.  

 

Sensitive rods are nice, but they simply aren't needed for bite detection.  

[FishTax]

I'm not willing at this time to buy expensive gear. I can feel a spinnerbait blade turning on my $100 rods, airdx, etc. I can tell bottom composition with my rods. I'm not saying it wouldn't help or be enjoyable, I just can't spend the money at this time. I know modern gear at $100 is probably more sensitive than anything available 30 yrs ago (maybe?) and guys like @WRB and @Catt have been slaying for decades without today's high end modern gear, so for me I want to hone my skills before making huge investments. Maybe one day, but for now I'm good watching and feeling the line, and doing some night fishing soon to establish better feel. 

Thanks to everyone for great replies and discussion!

[TnRiver46]

Give me any rod over $40 and I’m almost 100% guaranteed to break it 

[Ibock]

16 hours ago, FishTax said:

I'm not willing at this time to buy expensive gear. I can feel a spinnerbait blade turning on my $100 rods, airdx, etc. I can tell bottom composition with my rods. I'm not saying it wouldn't help or be enjoyable, I just can't spend the money at this time. I know modern gear at $100 is probably more sensitive than anything available 30 yrs ago (maybe?) and guys like @WRB and @Catt have been slaying for decades without today's high end modern gear, so for me I want to hone my skills before making huge investments. Maybe one day, but for now I'm good watching and feeling the line, and doing some night fishing soon to establish better feel. 

Thanks to everyone for great replies and discussion!

If you are saying you can feel the bottom composition then how are you missing bites? I'm confused?

[Tennessee Boy]

2 hours ago, Ibock said:

If you are saying you can feel the bottom composition then how are you missing bites? I'm confused?

It’s not about feeling, it is about interpreting.   If you don’t know what a bite feels like then it doesn’t matter how well you feel it.  If he can feel the bottom composition then his rod is good enough to feel the bite.  He just needs to learn to associate the sensation with a bite.  That takes time not a new expensive rod.

[Bankbeater]

After all these years I still get fooled at times. Last year, fishing clear water, I had a bass hit a swim jig and spit it back out a split second later before I could set the hook. If I had not seen that bass hit the bait I would have sworn I hit a piece of vegetation. 

[Catt]

@Tennessee Boy to steal from someone else. Detecting the bite is 90% mental & the other 10% is in your head.

 

I often explain it this way. I could give my wife the most sensitive rod Gary Loomis has ever produced, put the best high dollar reel on the market, spool it the finest flourcarbon available & it wouldn't be any more sensitive to her than a Ugly Stik, a Zebco 33, with Wally World monofilament.

 

Why! Cause what's transmitted up the line, though the rod, down the arm, is lost in the brain.

[Pat Brown]

@Catt coming in hot with wisdom that can save you a lot of time and money.  👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

 

Basically you gotta get bit a lot of times before you start to figure it out and figuring it out happens in your mind.

 

I can feel a drum hit a shrimp on a C rig on 20 lb mono 200 ft from me with a 50 ft sustained bow in my line from an offshore wind.

 

It takes many hours of *productive* time on the water to develop your own frame of reference for bites.

[WRB]

Catt has always recommended to fish a T-rig at night to teach you to focus on feel without the distraction's, he is right!

I never gave the night strike feel much thought because my strike fell was well developed before night bass fishing. A light tap at night feels like the bass is trying to take the rod out of your hand you are so focused.

When I was tournament night fishing always stared out with a crank bait before dusk, a big wake bait or double buzzer at dusk, then settles down to worm and jig fishing, my strengths until lines out.

Although I have fished all my life tournaments always keyed me up and using moving lures at the start helped to settle me down and focused on what I do best. 
Tom

 

[crypt]

Night fishing for me was a big lightbulb going off years ago when I started fishing.Has made all the difference for me after 50 plus years.......    Like my dad would say it's all between the ears......

[FishTax]

I'm definitely going to try night fishing soon! Seems like that may be the closest thing to a cheat code in rapid skill improvement

[A-Jay]

51 minutes ago, FishTax said:

I'm definitely going to try night fishing soon! Seems like that may be the closest thing to a cheat code in rapid skill improvement

While I can certainly applaud your willingness and enthusiasm.

Remember that although night time does hide some of the boat’s & the lures negative cues, please know that night time is not some magic witching hour for bass where all the trophies become suicidal and will attack any & every lure with reckless abandon.  This is simply not the case.  Lures still need to be presented with the same Stealth & Care at night as they do during the day to be effective.  

 And well before you recognize any benefits that being successful at night can offer,

you'll need to actually get good at fishing at night.

And in the beginning it's not 'easy'.

If it were, everyone would be doing it, but the truth is, they don't. 

And believe me, it's a whole new kind of ball game.

Totally doable but certainly not "rapid" by any stretch.

It's just different and forces us to use skills

that we might not really & totally key in on during daylight fishing. 

But at night, some of these are all we have. 

So going out and night fishing IS, IMO, very beneficial,

but please know that there's a learning curve.

Good Luck & stay safe.

A-Jay

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/176285-night-bassing-~-a-jays-version/