The fish just stare at me

[bartoopuck]

So often times at my local pond, I see some big beauties, lollygagging along.  I toss my lure ahead of it and reel it past the front of him.  No matter what speed,lure, jerking motion, distance from fish,  the fish just ignore it.  Any ideas....I have tried slowing down, letting the crankbait float, sink, let my spinner hit the bottom. I just can't get him to bite.

Other times, In shallow clear water,  I can see my lure coming back to me, and see fish chasing my lure, but never bite. they just kinda chase it.  It seems the only fish I catch, are within 5 seconds of the lure hitting the water.  I am relatively new to serious fishing (since this summer).  I have read tons of forums, and I just dont know....

Any thoughts?

Bart

[mr.mallard]

think about the ish tube if they are like bedding bass

[bigtimfish]

Get a tube or hollow body lizard (gene larew biffle o lizard) or hollow body craw. Put alka seltzer in it. The fizzing drives them crazy. If that don't work then I have no idea.

[paul.]

Any thoughts?

here's 4 thoughts.

1. bring some live minnows, preferably wild.

2. bring a spinning rod with light line and a small circle hook.

3. bring a scale.

4. bring a camera.

8-)

[Elite Image Fishing]

Wacky-Rig (your lure of choice). Mine would be a senko. Experiment, try things that aren't conventional. And my last tip would be pester the h*ll out of em. They will eventually get ticked off and hit your lure. Persistence/Patience/Preservation the 3-ps of bass fishing.

[senile1]

If you see them they see you. 

[Hammer 4]

Bingo..

If you see them they see you.

[-nick-]

If you see them they see you.

If you can see them swimming around good luck getting them trying to bite artificial lures. I suggest one of these bad boys!

[Hammer 4]

Ummmm..counterproductive for CPR...

If you see them they see you.

If you can see them swimming around good luck getting them trying to bite artificial lures. I suggest one of these bad boys!

[Big Mike in Fl]

try a light shakey head with a trick worm, I was in a very similar situation yesterday and caught a nice 5lber using this exact set up, a 1/16 owner shakey head with a charlie's worm pearl trick worm.

[RoLo]

If you see them they see you.

Exactly.

This comes up about twice every year.

The sight of a man, causes most wild animals to lose their appetite

Roger

[BassDeaton01]

try a light shakey head with a trick worm, I was in a very similar situation yesterday and caught a nice 5lber using this exact set up, a 1/16 owner shakey head with a charlie's worm pearl trick worm.

x2...When I'm having trouble getting a bite this choice of bait has rarely let me down. Just finesse fish it and you will be surprised.

[Lund Explorer]

If you see them they see you.

Exactly.

This comes up about twice every year.

The sight of a man, causes most wild animals to lose their appetite

Roger

Wow, only twice a year?  I thought it came up twice just this week.  People just need to learn to keep a low profile, wear subdued color clothing, and walk very very quielty.  That or take up stalking a few trout creeks for practice.

And while we're at it, what's this sexist comment about "seeing a man" thing?  Whose wife told you that one?   ;D

[Tin]

If they are still you can get them, if they are cruising they will either react to the bait or spook easily.

The whole "they see you so they wont bite" isn't completely true.

You can catch fish sight fishing for 2-3 months out of the year when they are in spawning mode. If the theory of "you can see them so they can see you" was true, then we wouldn't be able to sight fish and pluck them off beds. If you are very cautious and sneeky then you can get them. It is why I love push-poles.

[Captain Rhino]

here's 4 thoughts.

1. bring some live minnows, preferably wild.

2. bring a spinning rod with light line and a small circle hook.

3. bring a scale.

4. bring a camera.

8-)

x2... Especially in farm ponds, this is the best and easiest way to catch them (IMO)...

[senile1]

If they are still you can get them, if they are cruising they will either react to the bait or spook easily.

The whole "they see you so they wont bite" isn't completely true.

You can catch fish sight fishing for 2-3 months out of the year when they are in spawning mode. If the theory of "you can see them so they can see you" was true, then we wouldn't be able to sight fish and pluck them off beds. If you are very cautious and sneeky then you can get them. It is why I love push-poles.

Of course this is true.  The key is to be cautious as you stated in your post.  If you are not cautious and stealthy with fish cruising in clear water in the shallows I would say you're generally going to have a difficult time catching big fish. 

[RoLo]

The sight of a man causes most wild animals to lose their appetite

Roger

And while we're at it, what's this sexist comment about "seeing a man" thing? Whose wife told you that one? ;D

my mistake...I failed to mention that some women elicit that same response in animals.

Roger

[Tin]

If they are still you can get them, if they are cruising they will either react to the bait or spook easily.

The whole "they see you so they wont bite" isn't completely true.

You can catch fish sight fishing for 2-3 months out of the year when they are in spawning mode. If the theory of "you can see them so they can see you" was true, then we wouldn't be able to sight fish and pluck them off beds. If you are very cautious and sneeky then you can get them. It is why I love push-poles.

Of course this is true. The key is to be cautious as you stated in your post. If you are not cautious and stealthy with fish cruising in clear water in the shallows I would say you're generally going to have a difficult time catching big fish.

A lot of it is relative to the area of the country. Up here you can sight fish for largemouth on the edges of grasslines all summer long and in up to 15' of water. This is because the fish have become acustomed to pressure, boat-traffic, and the clear water. The only time I don't find sight-fishing to be productive is in fall and early spring. This is because I catch more and bigger fish covering water and taking advantage of their appetite with fast moving baits like traps, jerks, and spinnerbaits.

[paul.]

agree with tin.  i've caught many bass, both big and small in clear water when i've been very close.  and not just with live bait.  and not just during the spawn.  it's not easy, but sometimes it can be done.  one thing i'm suprised no one has suggested is fishing during low light conditions.  this would be another great way to catch these wary fish.

[brushhoggin]

i would advise wearing a ghillie suit and crawling up to the bank and casting a shakey head or weightless senko while on your belly

[bartoopuck]

I would agree with all the posts about fish seeing me, and spooking. but, these fish are 30-40 feet off shore. So I don't think me being there is the issue.

kinda related....

why does a fish follow my lure for a short distance, then stop and turn away. Its like hes thinking "ooo, that looks good. bah, Im not hungry"

[Big Mike in Fl]

that pretty much means the fish is interested, but there is something not quite right, something that instinctively tells them to stay away form it, could be size, could be action, could be color, but something tells the fish not to go after it after all. something doesn't seem natural to it.

[SharkHat]

that pretty much means the fish is interested, but there is something not quite right, something that instinctively tells them to stay away form it, could be size, could be action, could be color, but something tells the fish not to go after it after all. something doesn't seem natural to it.

Like walking out your front door and seeing a plate of hotwings and a pitcher of beer on the porch.  You're gonna zip right over to it, but you won't be able to tell it's plastic until you're up close.

[ab8aac]

If they are following a spinner bait then turning away try changing the blade on the top, if you have silver go with gold or copper, if it is willowleaf try colorado, if they are chasing every bait and not taking it try a ragetail eeliminator and pull it very slow just fast enough to make it wobble, that works for me, a lot.

[FishingBuds]

Wacky rig set up