One of the most frustrating things for an angler has got to be seeing a fish, but not being able to get them to bite.
Recently at my lake, I came upon this situation… oh… about every 15-25 feet along the shoreline. Bass were up shallow on what appeared to be beds, and they were thinking about spawning… but they had yet to do the deed.
They were clearly visible, but they simply ignored every bait that was put in front of them.
Question is – does this have to do with the spawn?
Maybe.
Does it have to do with the fact that they could actually see people on shore?
Maybe.
The fact that they could feel the vibration from footsteps coming towards them in shallow water?
Maybe.
The fact that the baits were entering the water with an unnatural SPLOOSH unlike any local forage?
Maybe.
I was always under the impression that spawning bass were very aggressive, but this was clearly not the case, and I would venture a guess that everything we just mentioned played a role in the lack of strikes.
So, instead of getting hung up on the fish that I could SEE, I decided to start to cover water and look for active bass that were back off shore a bit – the ones that I couldn’t see.
Thankfully, it worked, and the added benefit was those fish could be left alone on their beds to do their thing. (I have nothing against “bed fishermen”, and will do it from time to time for a bit, but I struggle with whether or not this is actually ethical or good for a fishery.)
So if you find yourself in a similar situation, don’t get hung up and spend all day on uninterested fish – go find active ones! We’re always trying to get a little bit better – and today, this was what I learned.
Let me know if you have any suggestions for improving, or a pond or creek to fish, or just want to say hey in the comments or on social media. I’m always trying to improve and appreciate your input. Thanks much!
Let’s get better.
Time of Year: 3rd Week of May
Temperature: 62 degrees / afternoon / 10 mph winds
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