Will they still be there?

[kbj3579]

Ok guys, heres the deal!  Yesterday I experienced something that I have heard about but has never happened to me!  I have a Childrens Miracle Network Classic Tournament this weekend, so yesterday I went to practice.  I wanted to concentrate on finding some productive docks to fish after the morning bite was gone.  I only caught one keeper and was not seeing many shad.  So I decieded to make a move, I went as far back into a creek arm as I could.  There is a big flat and as I was cruising in I could see 2" shad flipping everywhere, I mean dark spots of shad everywhere.  I knew if anywhere there should be some bass it would be here.  I fished through the flat and actually had my boat up into the creek channel bottomed out.  No bites.  I heard one slam the surface behind me,  I didn't have a buzz bait tied on so, I hurried up and tied one on.  My first cast to the spot, I heard one break, fish hit my buzz and I missed it.  That seemed to start a frenzy.  They were busting in 6' radius of where I threw my bait.  I preceded to catch 4 fish, none under two pounds and one was 5lbs 1 oz. (rapala digital).  As quick as they started it ended.  About 5-10 min. long.  It was awesome.  I missed several.  Everytime I cast there they would come up and slam it.  

My questions:

1.  Do these bass move up to feed out of deeper water somewhere, because I just fished through the area they started busting with no hits.

2.  Should the bass stay there as long as the shad stay back there?  In other words if I go back there Sunday and the shad are there, would you guys fish that area most of the day in hopes of them coming back up to feed like that again?

That was the craziest thing I've ever seen.  

[Matt Fly]

This is where the bass are this time of year.  Unless you are up north and the shad has migrated back to the deep in the main lake.  If your weather holds,  they should be there sunday.  Some cranks that only run 2-4 ft should work.  A rattle trap will knock them dead.  Are the shad gizzard or threadfin.  1/4 or 1/2oz trap?  black/chrome or a blue back? When not on the flats, back out and find the bends of the creek or find the edges with deeper water and cover.  They will not be far from the food source.  Some deeper running cranks may be the tichet if not shallow.

[alhuff]

If I remember correctly the bass will follow the shad, so staying after they leave maybe a waste of time.  I'm not sure how hard it would be to follow the shad but if you could the bass should be there.

I love lakes with shad...

Hope this helps.....

Alfred

[Will]

The bass started busting because you drove through the shad and got them jumping and nervous. Once the shad get nervous and scattered the bass come in and start eating. There are a couple things to try. First run through the shad with your boat to get the shad excited. Second use a bigger spinnerbait and run it through the shad, the goal is not to necessarily catch the bass with the spinnerbait but get the shad moving so go big. Once the bass start busting switch to a lure such as a smaller spinnerbait, crank, or buzzbait and throw it at them.

[justtrying]

fwiw - the further away you can stay from them, the better you'll be. ..i've seen catching opportunities completely disappear when fisherman let the wind blow him on top of school.

[senko_77]

try a manns baby minus one crank.  u should wear them out.  also, if you choose to continue with the buzzbait, have a weightless for a follow up on the buzzer.    since your missing that many fish, you will be able to catch alot more with that follow up bait.  i would suggest a 5-7 inch purple paddletail worm rigged with a 4/0 wide gap with no weight

good luck at the tourny

[Chris]

If you found an area that bottle necks the shad then the bass might stay there but is the bass are just following the bait and schooling your taking your chances with sticking around. You can have a area chuck full of shad and never catch a bass until something rings the dinner bell. This time of the year if bass are still busting shad make sure you have a rod handy rigged with something that casts far and will work on schoolers. That way if the window opens it's just a matter of grabbing a rod and casting. After a school busts the shad take some time throwing something that works the bottom. Sometimes fish will hang out under the area that they where busting the bait and a bottom bait will get you a few more fish. Catch them when they are in a frenzy with your topwater or traps then when the action slows pick up a jig or tube and work on the inactive bass under them.

[kbj3579]

Thanks guys for all your help.  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Good luck this weekend!

Catch 'em up!

[gatrboy53]

the shad will most likely still be there ,a change in conditions could change that. the bass will be there there also but they will not feed like u experienced all the time . u triggered a frenzy. even if they are not busting shad on top some r still feeding in the pods ...deeper. try different tactics ,sometimes a reaction lure will trigger them but sometimes it will scare them away.when they're busting on top throw some reaction type baits, small spinnerbait waked, spook jr. and i like a weightless fluke worked on top, also , try for some of them that r feeding deeper,lipless crank, shallow crank ,i like shadrap #4 that suspends, small jerkbait. i'm fishing shad balls right now and it can be very frustrating sometimes ,it seems no matter what u throw they wont bite even when they r all around other times it seems it doesn't matter what u throw they bite..go figure... if i found shad and knew there were bass around i would stay there and try to catch them..i think the biggest challenge is finding fish and if i found rhem i would stay there and try to catch them