Had a great day today on Summersville Lake in WV caught 7 total. 6 were LMB and one small SMB. My biggest was a little over 3lbs and I caught several between 1.5lbs and 2lbs which are solid fish for this area. I do need some advice though from you guys. It was sunny, 60s, with light to moderate wind. Water temp was 60-62 degrees and clear. All of my fish came on steep banks around chunk rock and boulders. I was keeping my boat about 20 yards off the bank making long 45 degree angled casts and I was working two different baits. I was throwing a KVD 200 series jerkbait and a Spro Rock Crawler 55 crankbait both were in sexy shad color. My biggest fish came in about 10 ft of water near a boulder on the crank and every other fish was caught on the jerkbait working it very slow and not “jerking it” making the bait twitch and dart. I was letting it set and giving it a slight pull just enough to cause it to flutter. The bites came between the flutters as the bait stayed suspended. 

 

Here is the part that has me confused. I missed at least 5 more fish, including one giant that was at least 5lbs, 4 LM and 1 SM that came up to hit the bait and turned at the very last split second. I did nothing different than what I did to catch the other fish. 

 

This lake has gizzard shad, alewives, and threadfin shad, as well

as tons of crawfish and panfish as forage. 

 

I know sexy shad resembles threadfin shad more than gizzard shad. Do you think those fish were targeting gizzards as opposed to threadfins? 

 

Do you think the rattles in the lure turned them away at the last second? 

 

What should I do in order to capitalize on the situation??

 

   You told us what the fish that you missed were. That means you could see them. And THAT means they could see you.

   They spooked.

   Happens a lot in clear water.       jj

I tend to get a more follows in colder water than in the summer. The good news is that you're doing something right. Regardless of the water temp, the first thing I do is change things up. First on that list is the retrieve. In 60 degree water, I'd speed things up first. Shorter pauses, stronger twitches are examples. Not working, or not seeing any more followers? Slow down.

The second thing I do is change the size of my presentation. Smaller, larger, or even a different profile can be all it takes.

Lastly, I'll change colors of the exact baits I was getting follows on. You can change the order of how you'd do it, but if you're getting a lot of follows, or the ones you're catching are hooked on the rear treble, change is the answer.

Ask guys with Livescope about watching fish follow a jerkbait and not commit. Heck, just look at what Patrick Walters did on Fork last week.

I will emphasize super sharp hooks. Alot of times the bass will hit on the pause. Sometimes they slam it. Sometimes they just come and nip at it. With super sharp hooks, they will get hooked even if they just nip at it.

I check my hooks on each jerkbait before i tie it on. I will sharpen any hook that i dont think is going to stick well.

Were the fish you were catching getting the bait well or just the back hook? It's possible it was the right bait, but the wrong color. A simple color change can make a huge difference at times. In really clear water like that, you might have done well to go to a more translucent color.

2 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Were the fish you were catching getting the bait well or just the back hook? It's possible it was the right bait, but the wrong color. A simple color change can make a huge difference at times. In really clear water like that, you might have done well to go to a more translucent color.

Totally agree with Blue..