does a fish fight scare off other fish

[bartoopuck]

So I fish in northern virginia, and theres a pond here with a creek that feeds it. I have pretty good luck in this creek. my question is, when i catch a fish, does the "fight"(me reeling it in) spook other fish. Should i move to another spot, or continue fishing there because I know other fish are there.

[bigtimfish]

I think I have actually heard the opposite. I heard it puts the others into a frenzy when they see another one strike and fight. I don't know how true it is but, ya never know.

[Tin]

From my experiences no, if anything it turns them on. I have caught numbers of fish out of the same tree or dock one after another. Also, especially with smallies, you will have groups of fish come to the boat with the fish you are fighting trying to get whatever they have in there mouth. I have watched a smallie try to eat the jerkbait out of the smallie I had hooked mouth and hook itself. So you have your buddy in the back cast to them right on the side of the boat or flip that fish in and get another bait to them asap.

[CJ]

I have experienced what Tin said several times with largemouth and smallmouth. Mostly fishing ledges 6-20 ft. deep. I think it goes back to the way a fish thinks or "don't think". They just react.

[Marty]

I don't know what it does to the fish, but I've often caught multiple fish from the same location in shallow water.

Should i move to another spot, or continue fishing there because I know other fish are there.

There's an old guideline that you should never leave biting fish and I'd recommend you stay where you are until a lack of activity tells you to move.

[WRB]

Fish fighting doesn't usually alarm other predator fish, like bass, however your movements and noises can.

In streams and ponds an angler moving along the bank can alarm bass. Keep a low profile and  back away from the bank while fighting the fish, then stoop down to approach the fish as it comes to the bank.

WRB

[islandbass]

I think it can either spook or excite the other fish.

There have been quite a few times when I was fighting one and other fish went into a frenzy following the hooked fish as if to "steal" what it caught so that it could have or eat it. I also observed that the chasing fish (those not hooked) were of about the same size as the hooked fish.

Other times after I hook and land and release a fish, I go no other bites in that spot. Go figure.

[Hook Set]

I've reeled in fish, only to get them to the boat to see  another LMB that could "eat" the fish i had hooked, so my vote is no.

[Lund Explorer]

I would agree with everyone here that the catching doesn't turn them off. 

But I have seen a school shut down when you start releasing them.  At least with schooling smallies, one or two tossed back or lost will kill the bite.

[Tin]

But I have seen a school shut down when you start releasing them. At least with schooling smallies, one or two tossed back or lost will kill the bite.

Maybe one of the good bio guys will help out but I believe they release something (stress signal or something to that affect) that can kill the bite. I have experienced it as well and I will keep as many fish in the well as I'm allowed in order to keep it going when fun fishing.

[VABasser]

But I have seen a school shut down when you start releasing them. At least with schooling smallies, one or two tossed back or lost will kill the bite.

Maybe one of the good bio guys will help out but I believe they release something (stress signal or something to that affect) that can kill the bite. I have experienced it as well and I will keep as many fish in the well as I'm allowed in order to keep it going when fun fishing.

Hmm, I've heard that before but didn't know whether it was true.  I hope someone more knowledgeable will enlighten us

[fishizzle]

Good thread.  A couple weeks ago I got 4 bass in 4 casts from one exact spot 2 feet wide off the corner of a tree.  They all hit a jig on the fall.  2 of them were over 3lbs and the other 2 were over 2.  In the spring I had the same thing happen, 6 bass around 2 lbs in 3 feet water under one branch on a whole shoreline of brush.  They were on a jig too.

When a bass follows another to the boat and sees you, do you think that fish will still bite after it returns to the depths?

[Chris]

When a bass follows another to the boat and sees you, do you think that fish will still bite after it returns to the depths?

yes

[NBR]

In recent years I haven't had enough large mouth action to comment. Smallies are a different matter and I think a fish on the line excites the others. When fishing with others when one has a fish on the other guy gets his lure in and pitches it right behind the hooked fish. More times than not there is another smallie right there. On a trip to Ontario a few years ago my partner caught the biggest of the trip that waas right behind the fish I had hooked.

Smallies are very competitive.

[FordNFishinLover]

I've caught many fish in the same exact spot. So i would say that it doesnt scare them away.

[SuskyDude]

"wolf pack" smallies is a pretty common occurrence during spring/fall on my river.

I usually catch  most/all of the followers, so no, it doesn't scare them. Never had a problem from instantly releasing them either.

[tnbassfisher]

If fish do get scared off wouldn't this take away the idea of your "honeyhole"?

[Under the Radar]

The front went thru last night, mild as it was.  Got out for about an hr this evening. 9 fish on consecutive casts in an area about 10 feet in Dia. Jumped off 3 more in the next 6 casts. Then it went dead. I'd say no to the fight scaring off other fish. BUT this is fishing and there are always exceptions to the rules.

1076 LMB so far this year

1> 7lbs

1> 6lbs

17> 4lbs

44> 3lbs

[SAC2]

nahhh there is nothin better then a good ol classic feeding frenzy! once you get one and the get goin crazy is when the fun really begins. its especially awesome when you got a buddy in the bite with you to make casts to the fish that are following your fish and double up! ive also tried the technique of fishing 2 flukes at once tied on leaders that come off a 3way swivel. more than once have i had a personal double!

[Jighead70]

Quite the contrary actually. I have had a largemouth at the surface,ready to lip em,and a bigger bass come up and try to eat him! I come from a Saltwater background,and I have seen this many times,especially Herring fishing. When I had a Herring on, I would just leave it there and before I knew it, I had a few more on the Sabiki rig.

[avid]

there are times where it seems that all the fish in the lake are huddled into one area less than 50 yards accross.   I have had days catching nice sized bass on every cast for hours without ever moving.   

[tnbassfisher]

Another reason that I don't believe this is true is because when I fish for a couple of hours. I rarely only catch one or two. I either: 1. Get Skunked 2. Catch quite a few normally all in the same period of time.

[VABassin'14]

I remember watching Skeet Reese catch like 14 fish on 15 casts, or something close to that, in a major tourney this past season. Therefore, I don't think it bothers them at all.

[ORLANDO32819]

next time your fishing with a buddy and he's reeling a fish in try casting right behind him. manys the time youll hook up riteaway. they seem to follow the fish being reeled in

[stupid brim]

I did this with crappie once same spot same lure three cast 3 crappie im sure almost every fisherman has done this or will at some point