Need Advice Getting A New PB. Found Her, But Can't Get Her To Bite!

[Valascus]

About weeks ago while I was out fishing at the local park's pond, I located a very large (estimating 5-7 lb) Largemouth Bass. When I first spotted her, she was cruising the bank and was completely disinterested in all the presentations I had time to try.

I have been seeing fish on beds, all smaller males, for about 3-4 weeks now. I didn't see any larger fish, presumably females, until about a week and a half ago. I have still seen some beds that have males that appear to be in defensive mode.

On last Thursday I was able to locate the large female on the main pond point. I targeted her for about 3 hours between 5:30pm to 8:30pm. She was cruising in 1-4 feet of water pretty close to a male that was on his bed. The water is an the clearer side of stained. The bottom appears to be a mix of sand and very tiny rocks where the bass have cleared their beds. The bottom in the rest of the area is the same, but covered with a decent layer of algae that is probably 2 inches thick. I just watched them for a little while and noticed that when the female approached the bed, the male would chase her away. She would never leave the general area though. That evening I tried a ton of different presentations: Weightless 7" YUM Zellmander, Storm Bluegill Swimbait, Weightless 5" Sour Grape *** ***, Rapala DT-4 Bluegill, 3/8 oz. PB&J GMAN Jig w/ Eakins Pro Craw Trailer, 1/4oz. Spot Remover w/Merthiolate Trick Worm, and finally, out of sheer desperation, a live bluegill. I tried all these presentation for about 30 minutes a each, then ran out of time. There was very little if no interest in all those presentations save two. She seemed interested in the Trick Worm and the Live Gill. As I worked the Trickworm closer to her, she would angle down to give it a look. I would then stop and shake the bait, kicking up some dust and dirt. No strikes. On the Live Gill, she didn't seem particularly interested until unless the gill was in her general area and appeared as if it were pinned against the bank.

I got up there again this last Saturday between 11:00am and 2:30pm. I checked out the water as I walked back toward the main pond point and noticed clusters of bass fry that were bunched up and holding very close to some of the larger shallow algae blooms. I didn't see any male or female bass in the same area as any of the fry clusters I found. When I came back to the bed that she was cruising around on Thursday, I noticed that the male bass was no longer there, and neither was she. I kept a close eye on the point and after about 45 minutes, she appeared on the point. She would patrol the end of the point and then swim a bit deeper, just out of the range of my visibility, then reappear somewhere else on the point. The trickworm presentation didn't garner any attention this time. So I tried a weightless 10" Black/Blue Flake PowerWorm, Rapala DT-4 Baby Bass, 1/4 oz. Double Willow Firetiger Spinnerbait, a Double Tail Grub on a 1/8 jighead, and finally a weightless 4" Chompers Hula Grub. This time NOTHING even got a second look.

Needless to say, I am confused and frustrated. I can't tell what kind of window I have to catch this fish, since I can't tell what stage of spawn she is in. She doesn't seem defensive, but on the other hand, she doesn't have the aggressive feeding nature of a pre or post spawn fish either. Maybe she is in the process of finding a male to bed with? But if that were the case, why would she stay in the same area on the point from Thursday to Saturday? Sorry for the longwinded post. I just wanted to provide as much information as I have gathered to try to get the best advice possible. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help fellas.

[Castamasta]

i have had some success with throwing a large 10'' worm into the middle of the bed and just leaving it there, also try getting a football head jig with a large trailer and simply drag the jig through the bed trying to stir up as much of the ground as possible.

[peidy_p]

try large white plastics

[Valascus]

i have had some success with throwing a large 10'' worm into the middle of the bed and just leaving it there, also try getting a football head jig with a large trailer and simply drag the jig through the bed trying to stir up as much of the ground as possible.

I noticed larger baits didn't seem to get much of a reaction at all. These fish are extremely pressured. There are a lot of fisherman that pound that pond daily so I am sure these fish see every bait under the sun. I tried the 10" worm, but only left it  on the bed for about 2 minutes with zero reaction.

[garry77]

Try a finesse worm similar to the trick worm only smaller.

[Zel]

Next time out, if nothing works, try a horizontal dropshot.  Cast the rig out beyond the bed, and work it back to where the lure is directly above the bed.  Keep the rod high, and work the bait in one spot with lifts, drops, shakes and pauses.  Do it till you hopefully drive her nuts, and she eventually slams it.

Rig the hook about 24 from the weight (I use 1oz for this, because I dont want the bait to move from the spot).  I like using a white (because I can see it easily) 3 Bass Assassin Shad for this. I use either a bait hook or a treble, and rig it (through the back of the bait) where the shad is in a horizontal position when working it.  

[daviscw]

I've noticed they wont bite if they see you. This can be hard sometimes, but you have to sneak up on them and make long casts past their bed.

[Big-O]

Next time out, if nothing works, try a horizontal dropshot.  Cast the rig out beyond the bed, and work it back to where the lure is directly above the bed.  Keep the rod high, and work the bait in one spot with lifts, drops, shakes and pauses.  Do it till you hopefully drive her nuts, and she eventually slams it.

Rig the hook about 24 from the weight (I use 1oz for this, because I dont want the bait to move from the spot).  I like using a white (because I can see it easily) 3 Bass Assassin Shad for this. I use either a bait hook or a treble, and rig it (through the back of the bait) where the shad is in a horizontal position when working it.  

I also think this should work and if not, go into stealth mode (Night)

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[Catt]

Huddle Bug in the color of your choice & I can tell you right up front 2 minutes aint long enough  

[Valascus]

Next time out, if nothing works, try a horizontal dropshot. Cast the rig out beyond the bed, and work it back to where the lure is directly above the bed. Keep the rod high, and work the bait in one spot with lifts, drops, shakes and pauses. Do it till you hopefully drive her nuts, and she eventually slams it.

Rig the hook about 24 from the weight (I use 1oz for this, because I dont want the bait to move from the spot). I like using a white (because I can see it easily) 3 Bass Assassin Shad for this. I use either a bait hook or a treble, and rig it (through the back of the bait) where the shad is in a horizontal position when working it.

I also think this should work and if not, go into stealth mode (Night)

Big O

www.ragetail.com

I also thought that her being able to see me may also be a problem. However, I am not too sure what I can do about that. The point is long and narrow, so I can't back up further away and make a cast. I can't stand further down the bank and cast either due to the fact that the bank is riddled with small saplings and brushpiles that overhang the bank she is positioning herself on. Also, it is a public park. Only open from Sunrise to Sunset. Oh, and no boats allowed. So She is just gonna have to see me aggravate the heck outta her until she bites.

Keep the ideas coming fellas. All this is helping the wheels in my head turn towards other ideas and presentations I haven't tried yet. The dropshot will certainly be given a go.

[senko_77]

You know exactly where she is, so just cast to the area. You don't have to see the fish once to catch it. When I bed fish, never once do I see the bed or fish. I drive by it once and mark it with something on the bank or a marker bouy. Come back 5 minutes later and make a long cast to the object on the bank....MONEY.

Big fish are difficult once they see you. Don't let her see you and she probably will bite. I bet since it's so pressured she has kinda figured that everytime someone is walking on the bank, things start ploppin down all around her. Be stealthy.

Good luck. Fishing for a big girl you can see is probably the most thrilling thing in fishing.

[surfer]

Awesome write up. I am on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the catch.

If she has seen it all then dont be seen.  The only things I can add is use Fluorocarbon and wear camouflage so that you blend into whatever background she would see. Blue sky, grey sky, green and brown trees, that kinda stuff. Crouch down, sit down, lie down, and get out of her site. Don't move. Motion gives away position more than color.

Maybe try live worms?

[fishfordollars]

Welcome to the world of bed fishing. It can be very humbling. Good luck.

[Crestliner2008]

O.K., first off, what are you wearing? Try to wear something similar to your surroundings if possible. Wear soft soled sneakers (they don't call 'em "sneakers" for nothing!). Take your time walking out on the point. Do like you would if you were stalking a deer. When you get into position, sit down. Don't move at all. For a long time. When you feel that you need to empty your bladder, that's the time to make one cast - without moving your position! Cast well out beyond her normal position on the point. Use a large plastic bait, such as a 6" or 7" Senko, Texas rigged with 7/0 hook on 20# test fluorocarbon line. Cast it out, let it sink to the bottom. And start to wait again....as long as you can! 10 - 15 min. is not too long. Then "stitch" it in about 4" - 5". And wait again. (If you do not know what stitching is, do a Google search.) Keep your rod tip Very low. She will take. Trust me. In your situation, patience and stealth is all you have going for you. Just give her something totally irresistible and take your time. If you feel you are moving too slow....SLOW down some more! Remember one thing. Whenever you see a bass, they also can see you. Normal response then is for that bass to "shut down" until she feels the threat has passed. Good LUCK!

[surfer]

Val,

Have you been back out to catch her yet?

[xps94]

try the shaky head technique..i havent tried it but it sounds nice for the fish you describe..

[Valascus]

Val,

Have you been back out to catch her yet?

I have been going back to this pond steady for the last 10 days. As I suspected, the ponds spawn is complete. There are teeny bass fry EVERYWHERE. The next time I went out after I posted, she was no longer holding on the point. We had some rough weather...and have still been having some pretty frequent rough weather. So I have not seen her. However, I ran into a conservation agent down at this particualr pond and got to chat with him about the fishery. I found out that there are two 8 lbers, some 4-6 lbers, and numerous 1-3 lbers in that tiny municipal pond. So, I am keeping up the hunt. I am going again this weekend at sunrise to take another crack at the beasts.

[roadwarrior]

Well, if you saw the "What's Working For You?" post, you have already seen my

suggestions. Just to repeat, 1/2 oz stand-up jig with a Baby Paca Craw trailer

or the new Shak-E2 Head with a soft plastic bait. I had great luck with the

full-size Paca Craw, Roboworm and GYCB Kut-Tail.

8-)