| When Bass Don't React Like They Should. | | | | set the hook. As we all know, suspended bass |
| Everyone has their favorite fishing lure for certain | | | | are more picky and strike lighter. |
| conditons. You just know the lure will work when | | | | You are fishing deep water and you know bass |
| you find the same conditions in the water where | | | | are there. You try everything you have and don't |
| it caught bass before. But, what if it don't? What | | | | catch a fish. What do you do? |
| if you use that lure and cast it over and over | | | | The fish are likely more finicky, try downsizing. If |
| again and you don't catch fish? | | | | you're using a spinnerbait then use a smaller more |
| Did you know bass can't read? Yep, it true, | | | | realistic spinnerbait. Try one with smaller blades. |
| regardless of what you read in all the books and | | | | Throw it out, let it sink then pop it off the |
| magazines, that doesn't mean it is going to work | | | | bottom or try a high speed retrieve. If that |
| today in the same conditions. Bass never read | | | | doesn't work try a higher speed retrieve. |
| that book and they are creatures of habit and | | | | Bass are in shallow or clear water, you see them |
| instinct. | | | | but can't catch them with your usual worm or |
| Let's say it's an early summer morning and you | | | | lure that you used to catch them when they |
| see ripples from baitfish on the surface. You | | | | were in pre-spawn, even though you're casting |
| throw that buzzbait and never even get a hit. So, | | | | the lure in front of them. |
| you slow it down and see bass following it but still | | | | Again, try one of your old time favorites like a |
| no hit. Then you slow it down some more and | | | | Rapala, Devil Horse or any bait that retrieves at a |
| get a few short strikes. What do you do? | | | | level plane. Try using a lighter outfit, maybe even |
| Well, if it was me, I would slow it down even | | | | a spinning outfit with flourocarbon line for farther |
| more and add a trailer hook or two or even | | | | casting distance. Now throw the bait out, let the |
| switch to another topwater lure that I could fish | | | | rings go away and barely twitch the lure, it will |
| even slower. The hula popper comes to mind as | | | | move in one direction. Then twitch it again,it will |
| does a jitterbug, a frog or Rapala. | | | | move in the opposite direction. Now here is the |
| You see bass again busting shad on the surface | | | | good part and most important part. Let the rings |
| but by the time you get to where they are all | | | | disappear from the last light twitch and barely |
| action has cease. You throw crankbaits, | | | | move the lure so you can hardly see it |
| spinnerbaits and even buzzbaits to no avail. What | | | | moving.........this is when I get most of my strikes. |
| do you do? | | | | Let me say this, if you're not catching bass with |
| More than likely the bass are suspended now in a | | | | your regular conventional methods, you don't |
| little deeper water. Use a lure that resembles a | | | | need to do any of the above. You have one |
| shad and use heavier line to have more drag on | | | | other option, you could always teach the bass to |
| the lure as it goes down. Let the lure sink and | | | | read so they know how they are supposed to |
| watch it for any movement at all. Just a twitch or | | | | act in certain conditions. |
| any movement in the line at all could be a strike, | | | | Good fishing to you! |