I Can see em, but can't catch em

[fishinTexas]

This pond that I fish is a spring fed pond and the water is very clear. Anyway I can go out in midday and on the edges in shallow water all around the pond you can see bass (large ones), perch, and thousands of baitfish all sitting there together. I run my bait through very slow, but they just get out of its way. I am thinking I am just going to have to wait until spring and water temps come up. It just stinks to sit there and look at them.

[Will]

There a lots of different things you can do to try and trigger the fish into biting. First or all, you will want some smaller diameter line maybe even fluorocarbon so the fish can't see it as good. Second of all you will want to make far casts, if you see the fish then the fish sees you. Some options for catching the fish would be a wacky rigged senko, they are a slow fished bait but lots of action that sometimes drive the fish nuts. You can try a dropshot this will allow you to shake a worm in front of the fish all day long. Last of all I would try a hard jerkbait and give it quick hard jerks trying to get a reaction strike from the fish.

[Fisher of Men]

One factor to consider is the bass's metabolism. When the water temp. changes, so does their's. When their temp. drops, so does their metabolism (the rate at which they burn energy). Therefore, they don't have to eat as much to live. They become inactive and will only feed occasionally. I would try to fish v-e-r-y s-l-o-w. I agree with downsizing the line. Perhaps try "deadsticking" the drop shot rig. Just let it sit and wait. Have you tried a tube bait, or as a last resort, a live minnow? Was this during a full moon? If so, bass will feed during the night on a full moon and not touch a thing during the day. Then again, maybe you just didn't present the bait on the one day out of the week that the bass feed.

[Raul]

I Can see em,

They can see you.

[phisher_d]

This is where you have to get sneaky

Get a spinning outfit with a smooth drag and load it up with some light fluoro line.  You might want to use a shorter than average rod to reduce your visibility even more.  Sneak up to the pond crouched down very quietly, but don't go right up to the edge.  Cast from a ways back and try to throw your bait well past the fish.  Plunking it on their heads will just scare them away.  I like a senko or tube for this type of fishing.  You want to fish real slow with a lot of deadsticking, especially this time of year.  If the lures don't work, you should definitely try a minnow (already suggested I think), especially one that matches whatever is in the pond.  This type of fishing is really more like hunting, but it can be a lot of fun.

ps. you can wear camo too, just beware that you will probably get made fun of seriously though, wearing a brown or green shirt or something natural like that really can make a difference

[ernel]

This is the reason I have not bought an underwater camera. Knowing what is there would make for more frustration. It is much easier to just say, "they aren't here" LOL Let's move somewhere else.

[Chris]

Dropshot on a slip cork. You would have the same effect as if you where right above them. <- I got a laugh out of this lol but it is true if you can see them they can see you. I would say if they where stacked up you had a cold front.

[paparock]

All the above are great suggestions. Think of fishing under such conditions as if you are hunting a wary game animal. I even have a camo finished spinning rod.

[Rattletrap]

Try cloudy and windy days. Try rainy days. Try night fishing. All of these will help you from being seen as much.

[MyKeyBe]

you can see bass (large ones), perch, and thousands of baitfish all sitting there together.

Are they really all together? If they are I would guess the bass are stuffed and short of dynamite, they will not be caught. Come back when they are hungry!

[basspro48]

I experience the same exact problem in a lake up in New Jersey I fish once a year. I catch most of the smaller bass with a super-fluke worked extremely fast right in front of their faces. But I stick most of the bigger ones by burning a 1/2oz. homemade spinnerbait with small willowleaf blades right in front of'em. Also try using small shallow-diving cranks like the Norman Little N or the Lucky Craft RC series, and when things get really slow I just toss out a 5inch senko in a bright color and just twitch it.

[Matt Fly]

Try down sizing you bait.  Try a mepps or similar inline spinner, they always work in clear water ponds for me.