After school I got to fish a 1 acre pond near my house. I was there from 6-8 PM. The pond is about an acre, with a stream flowing in, and one flowing out (this spot was guided by a goose today). The pond is mostly rock, with some mud near the inflow. The rock is also covered by some decomposing biomass. The water is very clear (5'-10'), but the decomposing plants hinder it to about 3'. I always catch lots of dinks there. Today the water was very warm and some fish were on beds. Almost all were in the shallows, or near the slight drop off. I noticed actual beds, but only a few bass were stuck to the actual beds. I was able to catch most of those fish (10 or so) The other few were cruising the shallows. I was not able to catch any of those. The remaining bass were along the drop off, I realized this too late, but was able to land 10. In between fish 12 and 13 total, I probably got 100 bites. *** I guess. I was in a rush when I came to the pond, and was only able to take a jig rod, crank bait rod, and box of jigs. I started off with a .5oz rattle trap that was tied to my rod. I hooked one second cast but it came off. I then noticed the many fish on beds. I picked ups the jig rod and pitched a .25 oz white finesse jig. I think the hook and jig was too big, because i was spooking lots of fish. I then realized the fish must be too small to eat those baits. In response, I downsized to a .25 oz hair jig. I pitched it near the bedding bass. I caught a fish every 10 minutes or so. After I realized how slow the fishing was with that pattern, I tried a different retrieve. I would cast 15' out, just past the drop off, and hop the jig back. This got me loads of strikes. Caught easily 10 fish this way. It is a shame I realized it so late. I noticed that the fish that were in small groups would furiously attack my jig, but on the fourth cast or so, I was no longer getting bit by the same fish in the same way. It was bizarre. Not sure why, but it happened to 5 different groups of fish. If I caught one from that group, they would also stop biting. I plan to return tomorrow to finish off the rest of em. I also noticed that I was having a hard time hooking up. When I did, the fish were barely hooked. Remember, I am using a light wire hair jig, proportionate to their body size too. Also, there was that period where I couldn't hook a fish. When the fish were aggressive, id get four bites a cast, and then 0 bites a cast.

 

Questions:

 

1 - Why were the fish in different moods?

2 - Why did the aggressive fish stop biting?

3 - Were my lures too big at first?

4 - Where are the big fish?

5 - What other baits should I be using?

6 - Why were the fish in groups?

7 - Why was my hookup ratio so bad?

8 - Were the fish's jaws weak or something?

9 - Anything else?

 

Thanks!

1 hour ago, Quarry Man said:

Questions:

 

1 - Why were the fish in different moods?

2 - Why did the aggressive fish stop biting?

3 - Were my lures too big at first?

4 - Where are the big fish?

5 - What other baits should I be using?

6 - Why were the fish in groups?

7 - Why was my hookup ratio so bad?

8 - Were the fish's jaws weak or something?

9 - Anything else?

 

Thanks!

 

Welcome to the bizarre world of bed fishing!

 

You were probably catching male bass guarding nest. 

 

Not an aggressive bite but protection bite.

 

Baits to try; liz-zard of tube

 

Bag bass were beyond the drop

 

Any else? Wait for summer patterns!

23 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Welcome to the bizarre world of bed fishing!

 

You were probably catching male bass guarding nest. 

 

Not an aggressive bite but protection bite.

 

Baits to try; liz-zard of tube

 

Bag bass were beyond the drop

 

Any else? Wait for summer patterns!

 

Got back there today with my dad. he was slaying them in deep water with the ned rig i gave him. I was finishing off the others from yesterday with a hair jig again. Caught 25 there. I moved ponds and noticed 4-5 lbers on beds. caught 2 male dinks.

These are tough questions, in general -bc bass ponds are complex places despite all the "pea-brain" talk that goes on- and specifically bc I'm not there to actually see.

 

Questions:

1 - Why were the fish in different moods?

  Not all bass in a population are doing the exact same thing at the same time. "The spawn" is not a one shot event. Each bass goes through the same basic behaviors, but at different times, through the spawn period. And, apparently, individual bass don't spawn every year, it's physiologically too taxing. Some percentage -males esp- spawn every other year. Bass are also real biological critters, not machines. They are individuals and no two act exactly alike.

2 - Why did the aggressive fish stop biting?

  Best guess here -and this is pretty normal- is that they learned that your jig was not food. Also, just the act of fishing to them switched their circuitry from willing to chase food to self preservation (i.e. they became alarmed. You flipped the switch, dude. ) Each bass does not have to bite either; They can learn by watching others.

3 - Were my lures too big at first?

  Maybe. In clear water a big bright (white) lure could be intimidating, or too unnatural, more easily putting them off.

4 - Where are the big fish?

  Catt said it. Females are usually separate just ahead of spawn time. They will be deeper, but not far. When spawn is imminent, or during, females will hold closer to surface (at spawn depth) but over deeper water than the males at bed depth. That said, while females can get bigger than males, in waters with poor growth rates males and females may be pretty similar in size. 

5 - What other baits should I be using?

  Clear water, spooky fish. I go subtle: 6" straight tail worms (drop-shot can be great), tubes, jigs, ... Switching baits, and resting fish, can bring them back into biting mode.

6 - Why were the fish in groups?

  Bass are social, esp coming out of winter. Sounds like your spawn is just beginning.

7 - Why was my hookup ratio so bad?

  Dunno. Possibly the fish were tentative: Bedding males as Catt said, and/or aggressive but spooky fish. Mechanics of what you were doing? And... is that hook dangerously sharp? If you could see the strikes, or they were happening on a short line, you may have been popping the lure out while they were still handling (hadn't crunched and begun to swallow yet).

8 - Were the fish's jaws weak or something?

  No.

9 - Anything else?

 Lots! It'a a big world out there full of ... quarks and uncertainty stuff.  Fishing is a matter of chipping away at probabilities and hoping the stars/gods are shining on you. Days goes by mighty quick don't they?

 

 

12 hours ago, Paul Roberts said:

These are tough questions, in general -bc bass ponds are complex places despite all the "pea-brain" talk that goes on- and specifically bc I'm not there to actually see.

 

Questions:

1 - Why were the fish in different moods?

  Not all bass in a population are doing the exact same thing at the same time. "The spawn" is not a one shot event. Each bass goes through the same basic behaviors, but at different times, through the spawn period. And, apparently, individual bass don't spawn every year, it's physiologically too taxing. Some percentage -males esp- spawn every other year. Bass are also real biological critters, not machines. They are individuals and no two act exactly alike.

2 - Why did the aggressive fish stop biting?

  Best guess here -and this is pretty normal- is that they learned that your jig was not food. Also, just the act of fishing to them switched their circuitry from willing to chase food to self preservation (i.e. they became alarmed. You flipped the switch, dude. ) Each bass does not have to bite either; They can learn by watching others.

3 - Were my lures too big at first?

  Maybe. In clear water a big bright (white) lure could be intimidating, or too unnatural, more easily putting them off.

4 - Where are the big fish?

  Catt said it. Females are usually separate just ahead of spawn time. They will be deeper, but not far. When spawn is imminent, or during, females will hold closer to surface (at spawn depth) but over deeper water than the males at bed depth. That said, while females can get bigger than males, in waters with poor growth rates males and females may be pretty similar in size. 

5 - What other baits should I be using?

  Clear water, spooky fish. I go subtle: 6" straight tail worms (drop-shot can be great), tubes, jigs, ... Switching baits, and resting fish, can bring them back into biting mode.

6 - Why were the fish in groups?

  Bass are social, esp coming out of winter. Sounds like your spawn is just beginning.

7 - Why was my hookup ratio so bad?

  Dunno. Possibly the fish were tentative: Bedding males as Catt said, and/or aggressive but spooky fish. Mechanics of what you were doing? And... is that hook dangerously sharp? If you could see the strikes, or they were happening on a short line, you may have been popping the lure out while they were still handling (hadn't crunched and begun to swallow yet).

8 - Were the fish's jaws weak or something?

  No.

9 - Anything else?

 Lots! It'a a big world out there full of ... quarks and uncertainty stuff.  Fishing is a matter of chipping away at probabilities and hoping the stars/gods are shining on you. Days goes by mighty quick don't they?

 

 

 

Got back out to the same spot for the third day. My dad and have have caught a combined 21+25+10 bass in three days. I even got 8 on the fly rod today!

 WTG!