mayfly effect on bass fishing

[kms399]

I went out for about 3 hours last night. boy was it slow. I caught 1 bass after around 2 hours that was it. I am trying to blame it on the mayfly hatch does that make sense. they were flying around all over the place i suppose the fish gorged themselves and wouldn't bite. I couldn't even buy a reaction strike. so do you think the hatch is the reason or something else.

[Dan:]

No, I doubt it was the mayflies.

Did you by chance happen to tie on a topwater?

[kms399]

I did, I tried 5 or 6 different poppers and spooks. I tried craw tubes, senko's, spinnerbaits, shallow and deep crankbaits, lizard pretty much all my confidence stuff. the one I caught was on an x-rap. I fished between 12 and 1 foot deep. and my buddy in the boat was trying a bunch of different stuff too. I know this lake really well I have been fishing it for about 10 years and have been doing pretty well. so if not the mayflies what do you think it was.

[Dan:]

The fish were probably just on a different pattern. Maybe you worked to fast or too slow. Maybe they were holding in different areas than usual. It could have been any one of the reasons why any of us guys get skunked on a given day.

[Mottfia]

Around my area, when the bugs get out like that the bite can get real good in areas... I believe they are mayflies but could be junebugs...I'm not really bugologist  

We try to key in on the shade under the trees that the bugs are resting in. We will swim a jig or spinnerbait around that tree and up under it if it is possible. The swimming cause is to imitate whatever baitfish is down there to feed on the bugs.

If that doesn't work we throw our lure into the tree and shake it to knock the bugs off into the water. Usually this starts a mini feeding frenzy of bream which stirs up the bass in the area.

I believe that the bugs are more for the bream. The bigger bass that you would be looking for is looking to feed on those bream not the mayflies. The mayflies just make it easier to find the bass  ;D

I hope that helps. My mind is starting to fade cause I have my first practice day tomorrow.

Mottfia

[MichiganFisherman]

Your theory may have some truth to it.  I overheard an older fisherman at a local tournament saying the bite was slow last weekend because of the mayflies and the bass feeding all night but, who knows.  Kind of makes sense to me but, it could be a number of other reasons also.

[bigtimfish]

If anything I figured the mayflies would get the fish fired up and bite more. If they are falling into the water a pop r or teeny torpedo would have been my cure for lock jaw.

[DawsonH]

Mayflies represent a very easy meal. Nothing will pass them up.

[TENNESSEE NEWSOME]

I've had the exact same experience here more than once.  Just a few weeks ago, I couldn't get a bite to save my life.  Fish teasing me all around the boat feeding on mayflies.  I threw everything in the box and varied my retrieve.  

[MALTESE FALCON]

I believe the Mayflies do have an affect on the bass biting. There have been times during a heavy hatch that I can't buy a fish, and when I do, they have a mouth full of bugs. I'm not saying that Mayflies are an excuse for all skunks, however there times when they do have an adverse affect on the bass bite.

Just my opinion,

Falcon

[mohog]

When the mayflies are hatching on our local lakes in Ga. the bite is usually on. The bass are not only feeding on the mayflies but other forage that is eating the bugs, such as shad and bream. You might have to adjust your presentation. Also in one instance i was catching fish untill around 10 in the morning. The mayflies stopped flying around and la nding on the water. I took my spook rod and threw the lure into a tree that was full of the bugs and shook the tree. A few minutes latter the bite was on again 8-)

[kms399]

well this happened on tuesday, I talked to my buddy yesterday he said it was tough but they won a small club tournament with 17 lbs and were 4 lbs ahead of second place on the same lake. he is a better fisherman than me though. I am going to try again tonight for 2 1/2 hours will post back.

[kms399]

confidence is lost, fishing sucked gonna try again tomorrow I am thinking of downsizing maybe finally try drop shot and shakey head. or if that doesn't work I am going for reaction, spinnerbait, lipless crank see what happens.

[Shad_Master]

I had just the opposite experience week before last - put the boat in the water just after 7:00 PM and started working the bank where I knew bass were targeting blue gills on the inside weed-line - picked up a couple and all of a sudden the air exploded with may files - thousands of them all around the boat and on the water surface - the blue gills were hitting 'em and the bass were hitting the blue gills - I managed 17 in the boat in less then two hours - 2 17", 2 16" and 1 15" that I measured - 12 more and 5 came unbottoned in the weeds - never had that experience before - It was magical!

[brgbassmaster]

i love fishing during the mayfly hatch especially waiding for smallies on a small river. throwing poprs its awesome.