Spring"'cold" Water

[junebugmn]

This is frustrating the heck out of me!!! The bass are picking up and dropping anything I throw as far as soft plastic's, i'll feel the pick up then wait for the run then when i'm ready to set the hook they will drop it!! They have been nailing the spinnerbait's though. Help!! Junebugman

[00 mod]

Set the hook when you feel them pick it up!!

[SausageFingers]

If they're crushing a spinner bait, they're telling you something. They're likely keying on baitfish. Keep throwing baitfish imitators.

They're just curious about the plastics but aren't really in the mood to eat it. In order to satisfy their curiosity, they have to pick it up with their mouth. They really dont have much of a choice. By the time you feel the strike, they've already dropped it.

[gobig]

This is frustrating the heck out of me!!! The bass are picking up and dropping anything I throw as far as soft plastic's, i'll feel the pick up then wait for the run then when i'm ready to set the hook they will drop it!! They have been nailing the spinnerbait's though. Help!! Junebugman

Most likely bed fish. Try downsizing to a 3in tube or something along those lines. Also don't wait so long to set the hook as mentioned.

[Jigfishn10]

If you feel the pick up, tighten down on the line a bit, they tend to clamp down a bit more or even try an get a better grip on the bait while they are running with it. You'll know when to set the hook at that point. It appears to me that this happens more in the spring and late fall, but that's what I've learned anyway.

Hope this helps.

[ww2farmer]

Your waiting too long to set the hook. That and or bluegills are picking up the bait and swimming away with it and your pulling it away from them with you hookset. BTW, waiting for them to swim off with the bait???? Very poor technique. Thats how fish get gut hooked.

[Bluebasser86]

Bass usually inhale a soft platic very quickly. If they aren't eating it they're telling you something. Try a different color or bait style. If they still aren't eating it then they don't want a slow moving plastic bait that bad. I'd rather set the hook fast before they have a chance to realize they made a mistake then make sure they've got it good.

[slonezp]

Give 'em what they want. Throw spinnerbaits.

[Crestliner2008]

Try a little MegaStrike on the soft plastics. That'll turn their key.

You might also try a soft jerk bait (with MegaStrike), like the Strike King Coffee Shad.

[Big Fish Rice]

I have to agree...if they're hitting the spinnerbait, stick with the spinnerbait. Don't ignore what the fish are trying to tell you.

[junebugmn]

I have to agree...if they're hitting the spinnerbait, stick with the spinnerbait. Don't ignore what the fish are trying to tell you.

Thank's for the advice everyone!! Appreciate it!! I'll keep trying. June bugman

[Jigfishn10]

SausageFingers is dead on. A bass can drop a lure faster than the transmission of the pick-up runs up to your rod tip. If a curious bass picks-up, it may not always have a good grip on it. If you ever sight fished you would see things that would amaze you. Pick-ups you don't feel. Pick-ups at the tail section of the lure and the hook not even close to it's mouth. Pick-ups on the fall and you don't feel it until it swims off and even then you don't know if it was a solid pick-up. So be careful if you get a pick-up and swing for the fences and find a lure whizzing by your head.

[RoLo]

Unlike game fish with teeth (such as pike), bass typically swallow their food headfirst and in one fell swoop.

Their gills flare explosively and the forage jumps into the vacuum created.

Just as the saying goes: "The first tap you feel is the bass inhaling the bait,

the second tap you feel is the bass regurgitating the bait”

Roger

[breezy]

Water temps have been quite a bit lower than usual here. Not quite in the 50's, but barely over 60. IMO, if the bass are nailing the spinnerbaits then keep throwing it. I've had some luck throwing spinnerbaits in submerged brush this year.

Also, while throwing a spinnerbait, trap, etc I like to have another rod close by with a senko or some type of soft plastic ready to go. A lot of the times when you get a bite with no hookup on a spinnerbait, tossing a plastic back in that spot will get the fish in the boat more often than not.