Y'all were right

[Helluva_Engineer]

So admittedly I was skeptical on the advice to stand behind a tree for those bass you can see but can't get to bite. Well today I came across that exact situation and after a few attempts where the bass just didn't seem interested, I took a walk up the bank about 20 yards and found a tree. Waited 5 minutes then cast a ways past the bass and slowly drug a soft plastic lizard right past it. Man was it satisfying when I felt it pick up the hook, set, and then scrambling back down to the shore to land a solid three pounder. Never would have thought to do that before, thanks for the great advice guys. Hopefully I'll spot a bigger one next time

[firefightn15]

Sniper fishing, that's cool.  Anyone spot you sneaking around in the trees? ;D

[tbird]

Yeah, they teach that technique in the Navy Seals ...stealth fishing 101

T

[SDoolittle]

I used to do a lot of that stealth fishing when I was a kid in Colorado. I would wear camo and sneak into casting range of a trout in crystal clear streams. You're are right, it is very satisfying when you fool one.

[Paul Roberts]

Bass can see much better out of the water than most people seem to realize. And it doesn't take much to put off educated bass. Being "put off" can be really subtle, it doesn't mean that they bolt.

I will cast to fish that have seen me, and in many waters and times, it works just fine. But if they've been shallow a while, are fished to, or it's under high vis conditions, I'll go into stealth mode and it really does work like a charm -like night and day. Jaded fish become biters.

Back when I fished for huge lake run brown trout I found them to be the same way -worse in fact. I was so paranoid that if I spotted a good brown, I'd just about automatically assume it saw me, mark the hold, and sneak back after 10 minutes. The challenge with bass is that, being in still water, they cruise and it's easy to lose track of them. Thus the frustration lots of people feel chasing "cruisers".

You'll see more "cruiser" posts coming -'tis the season.

[Raul]

So admittedly I was skeptical on the advice to stand behind a tree for those bass you can see but can't get to bite.

My friend, the devil knows more from being old than from being the devil. 

[stealthcaster]

Behind a tree is great.  If you can't get behind a tree, move slow, keep low, and wear camo or soft colors.  Try not to make the presence of your rod obvious by standing back a few feet.