Bass hitting deep water surface baitfish

[Sparse]

On our lake in PA we have schools of little baitfish that cruise out in the deep part of the laker right on the surface. Throughout the day we'll see them scatter as bigger fish slash through them, I think these are bass, I was wondering if anyone has seen this sort of thing, and what's a good method to catch them?

Thanks, Mark

[WRB]

Several presetations work for schooling bass feeding on bait fish;

Surface chuggers like a Splash-It, Pop-R or Chugbug. Cast to the front edge of the bait school and work it back.

Jerk baits like LC Pointers or Smtihwick Rogue, jerked through the bait fish.

Crank baits, Bomber model 6A in silver & white or similar smaller diving crank bait like a lipless rattle Trap.

Spoons like Kastmaster or Crippled herring csat over the bait fish schools, let sink below them and use a jerk bait type retrieve.

Underspins like Sworming Hornet or tail spins like Little George worked with a slow retrieve under the bait schools.

1/8 oz Dart head jig with 4" curl tail smoke color worms, cast into the schools and let fall, then stop & go retrieve.

All the above will catch schooling bass.

WRB

[CJ]

Man fish in that feeding mood will either hit almost anything or hit nearly nothing. I've caught them on a variety of topwaters, spinnerbaits, and plastics. If the surface is smooth it's hard to beat a spook. If there's a little ripple I like to wake a spinnerbait and kill it. Double fluke rigs work well and I've even caught em' by swiming a jig or a t-rigged senko threw them.

It can be frustrating but there is a lure and presentation that will kill em'! You just got to tinker with em' a little bit. Sometimes you may need to key in on the bait instead of the bass. I had thing going one time where I was making my spinnerbait hit the baitfish. This draw some big strikes from big fish!

CJ

[JShrock07]

I would say that it is bass since bass are pretty much on the top of the food chain in a lake. I am with the rest of the guys on this, I would throw a variety of topwater, I'd try a fluke, spinnerbait, red eye shad, and a baby 1-.

Good luck  

[Sparse]

Thanks for all the thoughts, I've tried a ton of stuff so far, the hard part is getting close enough for a cast, they move around a lot, so when I get close for one cast, then they move off in another direction 50 yards, and I have to paddle after them. The best luck I have had so far is using a spinner bait with a white fluke (don't have any spinner bait with skirts yet)... the baitfish chased after it, but that's about the extent of my good luck. Thanks I'll keep at it, and let you guys know when I get something that works.

[Jig Man]

If you have white bass in your lake it could be them.  They make raids on baitfish and drive them around all over the lake.  It is hard to keep up with how fast they move.  They are like a bunch of 13 year old boys.

[Sparse]

I've never caught one before, so I don't think it's white bass ... but who knows what's in there ...

[WRB]

It is difficult to cast a spinnerbait more than 30 yards, especially sitting in a canoe. Try a 1/2 oz Kastmaster in chrome with blue stripe or gold with green stripe. If any game fish is in the area working the bait school, you should be able to catch a few.

WRB

[Sparse]

I'll try the kastmaster, I've got a few lying around ... I've never caught anything on them, any standard retrieve I should try, or just try all sorts of retrieves?

[jiggerpole]

If you spend some time in this location you will notice some spots are where the fish feed the most. Try sitting still and waiting for the bait fish to move to you. I have alot of luck with a 1/4 ounce hopskin spoon, and zara spooks, or small crankbaits. If there are some bigger fish in the school they will be underneath all the action.

[bassbanger]

Jeez i feel your pain this morning i was watching bass demolish pods of bait, and i threw everything i had at them.  Worms, spinner bait, Buzzbait, jerk bait, cranks, lipless cranks, frogs, hell even through a wounded real fish i caught and put on the hook maybe it was to big it stunk though lol..... I didnt so much as get a nibble I am going to pickup some Spooks, and puppies see if they wont hit it next time.

[roadwarrior]

I posted this on a current thread a little while ago:

Zara Puppy, silver & black (black shiner)

I don't fish this lure anymore, it just attracts too many little fish.

I promise you, your wife will like it!

http://www.lurenet.com/productDetail.aspx?id=4807

I would also suggest giving the Fat Ika a try.  It's still my #1 soft

plastic.

8-)

[bassbanger]

Sorry for not making REF to you RW you are in fact the person i got the info from just passin it on maybe it will work for others