Catching Lethargic Fish

[pelleeklund]

The last two work days my co-worker and I have been taking our lunch fishing a creek by our work. The first day there, last friday, I plucked the bass in the picture attached out of the water using a simple artificial worm and a hook rigged to be weedless. Seeing as it was my first day there and the second cast I assumed this spot was jumping about this time in the afternoon. We went back today under somewhat similar conditions, only about 8-10 degrees warmer and our luck turned. We saw a ton of bass sitting in the water, just couldn't get a strike, or even a look from them. They were completely stationary, sitting against the floor at the bottom of the creek. My assumption was because the first time we fished the temperature was colder and more fall like, the fish were open to a wider variety of presentations seeing as they felt fall conditions and were preparing for the winter. Since the temp was more summer-like today and the water was warmer the fish were as slow in the lunch hour as they normally are in the hot months. Either way, whether that's right or Im off the mark Id like to figure out how to make these guys eat. Does any one have an idea that would be a sure fire way to get lazy afternoon bass to bite? It's pretty cool going back to work with that feeling of success.

 

[jpmroane]

Fall is generally the best time to fish here in new england and bass are no exception. They will shut down after a front moves through however and can be very difficult to coax. If you are going to try and use artificial I would try a light spinning setup with a small 4" finesse worm, or one of those rebel cricket lures. If small and subtle does not work your can just go for a reaction strike by pulling a buzzbait or rat-l-trap through them super fast, sometimes they just have to hit it.

If you go subtle use colors to match, if you go fast use bright stuff.

 

[kzimmerman]

The only sure fire way of catching fish in these conditions is the liberal application of high explosives. Doesn't work so well for catch and release though..........
I've noticed that when the fish shut down in the midday, and it's not stinkin hot out, they might just be full. It happens, and bass won't hit when they are full. Smaller worms, rigged whacky, are probably your best shot, just cast and twitch.

 

[pelleeklund]

This is going to sound stupid. How do I rig them wacky? I hear this all the time and Ive just been acting like I know for so long. I would love my worm to get so damn wacky fish just can't help but get down with it. By the way I gave a small suspending crankbait a try today with no real success, I did notice some fish surfacing after I started ripping it hard across the water, maybe they were thinking about giving it a go.

 

[pelleeklund]

I just looked up the wacky rig and people are talking a pretty big game about it. A lot of stuff about how it's the rig to go with when nothing else works so Im eager to give it a shot. Hook through the gut of the worm and just twitching. Smoke with one hand fish with the other, that's an optimal lunch break. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[cichlid fiend]

Some very good advice being thrown around so I might as well jump in!

This time of the year bass are eatting more then ever, specially states where the water freezes. So I believe we came aross times of the day where they are just full. I seen a bass yesterday laying in a little piece of grass just chilling. Right now the best bite for me has came before 3pm.

Far the wacky thing, ill admit it works. Im NOT a fan through cause I feel they will hit it hooked regular, ill will say its a different presentation but its not for me. I like wire baits!!!!

 

[pelleeklund]

I think you may be right Fiend, no more getting up early to get bass. Now I can roll out of bed normal time and catch fish that are on the same schedule. My buddy nailed a nice bass in the spot today using a three inch stick bait so a few of them are still milling around in the 12 o'clock hour. It always goes back to crankbaits with me. I tried wacky rigging for a while today, I just was using some crappy worms, Im going to try with normal ones again for a bit tommorow. There is some good bass in this spot, hopefully we can pull a few more.