Super User Goose52 Posted December 17, 2011 Super User Posted December 17, 2011 Anyone have any observations on bass behavior when there are a lot of ducks and/or geese in the area. Do the bass get tired of all the webbed feet splashing around above them and take off? Do the bass hunker down and perhaps not be in a mood to bite? Is there no effect and the proper course of action is just to put a well-aimed cast between Daffy and Donald and keep fishing as usual? Quote
Super User Sam Posted December 17, 2011 Super User Posted December 17, 2011 I hate to say it, but I have never given much thought to ducks and geese on the water and their affect on bass behavior. I have not read any articles about it nor discussed with anyone. My opinion is that the ducks and geese make no difference unless they are by the shoreline or a grass bed and the bass move on as the birds being in the same area will chase the baitfish away. Really interested in reading the various replies you will get. Merry Christmas! Quote
Super User Marty Posted December 18, 2011 Super User Posted December 18, 2011 Can't answer your question. But hooking a goose, bringing it to the shore and pulling it through a bunch of brush in an attempt to unhook it is quite an adventure. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted December 18, 2011 Super User Posted December 18, 2011 Can't answer your question. But hooking a goose, bringing it to the shore and pulling it through a bunch of brush in an attempt to unhook it is quite an adventure. Do tell. Quote
Brandon K. Posted December 18, 2011 Posted December 18, 2011 I dont care if there is a 10 pounder sitting by a stump holding a sign that says "WILL BITE!!". If I'm fishing from the bank geese ruin my whole day. Been attacked by them one to many times. Quote
Super User 00 mod Posted December 18, 2011 Super User Posted December 18, 2011 I dont care if there is a 10 pounder sitting by a stump holding a sign that says "WILL BITE!!". If I'm fishing from the bank geese ruin my whole day. Been attacked by them one to many times. I would risk a lot more than a goose bite for a 10 lber!! Jeff 1 Quote
Super User Hi Salenity Posted December 18, 2011 Super User Posted December 18, 2011 i' I would risk a lot more than a goose bite for a 10 lber!! Jeff I'd CPR the 10#r but the goose would be on the table next Sunday... 1 Quote
basscatcher8 Posted December 18, 2011 Posted December 18, 2011 There are advantages to bass fishing during goose season. I can load decoys into the boat with my rods just as easy lol. Quote
Super User Goose52 Posted December 18, 2011 Author Super User Posted December 18, 2011 Really interested in reading the various replies you will get. Merry Christmas! Well Sam, we're not learning much yet! My own observations are that I've caught bass when there are a limited number of mallards around. When there's a duck convention going on, my perception is that the area goes cold for a period of time. When I get large flocks of canadian geese in the area, I usually just pick another place to fish so I don't know the effect the geese have on the bass. What prompted my query is that right now we have the wnter coot migration going on and it's not unusual to pull up to one of my favorite coves and have up to a couple hundred (or more) coots completely covering the cove. They are skittish birds and will start to leave the area when I come up on the bank. I've gone ahead and fished behind them but I'm not getting much bass action. However, there's not enough of a bite going on at this time of year to know whether it's slow because of the coots...or it's just slow. Was hoping that I'd get a number of observations from other anglers that would perhaps say - if the coots are there, skip that cove since the bass will be hunkered down for a while..............or no effect - keep fishing... Quote
Super User Hi Salenity Posted December 18, 2011 Super User Posted December 18, 2011 At my local BPS the fish in the indoor pond will bite at the ducks & chase them around, for what thats worth. Quote
Diggy Posted December 19, 2011 Posted December 19, 2011 They annoy me at times...not the ugly usual Florida ducks, but he pretty ones...they chase baits, make noise and follow me to the spots I relocate to. They all came down for the winter and took up residence in my normal local spots. I like them but not when Im fishing Quote
2limit Posted December 21, 2011 Posted December 21, 2011 Regarding the comment about the Coot by Goose 52, as y'all know, Coot are grass feeders. If you can find the floating grass mats that have been generated from the Coot cutting the underwater weeds and grasses, and throw a jig or worm to the edge of them, there will sometimes be a bass lurking there. The floating mats make good cover for bass. The areas where the Coot are working seem to be too busy for the bass. Quote
Super User Goose52 Posted December 21, 2011 Author Super User Posted December 21, 2011 Thanks for the comment and welcome to BR! Yeah - at times there's a lot of grass in the water, I guess some could have been cut loose by coots, but in the case of my lakes, most of it is cut by 40 pound grass carp. It never collects into mats though - just a buch of crud in the water that fouls the hooks of my trusty lipless cranks... Quote
Super User Raider Nation Fisher Posted December 22, 2011 Super User Posted December 22, 2011 Thanks for the comment and welcome to BR! Yeah - at times there's a lot of grass in the water, I guess some could have been cut loose by coots, but in the case of my lakes, most of it is cut by 40 pound grass carp. It never collects into mats though - just a buch of crud in the water that fouls the hooks of my trusty lipless cranks... Carp you say? Bow, Arrow, and Reel. I shot a 30 lb carp in the lake at my cousins apartment the other day. Made a pretty penny off Mr Carp as well. Quote
Super User Goose52 Posted December 22, 2011 Author Super User Posted December 22, 2011 Carp you say? Bow, Arrow, and Reel. I shot a 30 lb carp in the lake at my cousins apartment the other day. Made a pretty penny off Mr Carp as well. Unfortunately, the grass carp have been placed in the lakes specifically for aquatic weed control (a controversial measure). We aren't supposed to target them. I occasionally snag them with lipless cranks and it's a great rush to hook up with a 40 pound class fish. Usually, the hook-up is only a few seconds. In some cases, the hooks hold and then I have to play the fish to get my lure back. I've landed three but then they go back in the water.... Quote
Senkoman12 Posted December 28, 2011 Posted December 28, 2011 There are advantages to bass fishing during goose season. I can load decoys into the boat with my rods just as easy lol. my buddy keeps his shotgun in the rod compartments when goose is open Quote
Super User Sam Posted December 29, 2011 Super User Posted December 29, 2011 So far we have not had a definative answer to the query about ducks and geese chasing the bass away. I think I will be more watchful this coming season and also ask some local pros for their input. Tight Lines and Happy New Year to Everyone!!! Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted December 29, 2011 Super User Posted December 29, 2011 So far we have not had a definative answer to the query about ducks and geese chasing the bass away. I think I will be more watchful this coming season and also ask some local pros for their input. Tight Lines and Happy New Year to Everyone!!! Sam and Goose, I can not speak for geese but I can attest to duck. I have been on lake Anna when duck season is in full swing, and I can say for a fact that fishing with the hunters and ducks near have not changed the bite for me, there have been times even in the summertime when waterfoul have been swimming close to the boat (with-in 20 yards) and caught fish, I am not sure that it changes anything at all other than disturbing the bait fish which might have to make you move a little. In the spring when most fisherman follow the gulls in search of the schools of bait fish there are so many birds on and above the water looking for an easy meal that if you can avoid having your bait snatched out of the air or being crapped on the chances of having a good day of fishing are really quite astronomical, but it does cost you a lot of elbow grease at the end of the day due to the simple fact that you will have to clean your boat. For me fishing around the birds is a good thing, if the gulls, cranes, ducks, eagles are close so are the bait fish,and if the bait fish are there so are the bass, its during those times I spend a lot of time fishing under the boat instead of in front of it, if you think about it your boat is a floating cover the bait fish will use for shelter from above preditors. This has been my experience in the past and if anyone else has done this or tried this they may suggest the same thing I am about to...If you fish around a lot of gulls what ever you do, do not look up...especially with an open mouth...lol. Quote
Super User Goose52 Posted December 29, 2011 Author Super User Posted December 29, 2011 Nitrofreak - good observations - thanks for taking the time to type them out. This has been my experience in the past and if anyone else has done this or tried this they may suggest the same thing I am about to...If you fish around a lot of gulls what ever you do, do not look up...especially with an open mouth...lol. I wear a wide-brim hat and try not to look up when I'm in the boat... Quote
Fat-G Posted December 30, 2011 Posted December 30, 2011 I don't have an answer to your question, but here is something to keep in mind: When we wade rivers around here, the stuff we kick up usually attracts minnows, which obviously attract other fish as well. I have caught a lot of fish, bass, catfish, and bream, not three feet away from me because they are keyed in on the baitfish that we attract. Maybe ducks and geese have the same kind of effect. Who knows. Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted December 30, 2011 Super User Posted December 30, 2011 When we wade rivers around here, the stuff we kick up usually attracts minnows I think the minnows are attracted to you, they are looking to you to provide something be it cover or something else, I honestly don't think it has anything to do with what you have kicked up. I can launch my "port ah jon" boat with out kicking up anything and within seconds have minnows swimming all around it in the river's over here. There have been a couple of times that like you stated the fish will be close, on two seperate trips I have had fish thump the bottom of my boat from rushing up and grabbing the bait fish. Nice post ! it shows you have good observation when your fishing. Quote
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