I'm no fishing veteran, what do you think this was? So I'm driving the boat back 2 days in a row at dusk after catching a few smallies when all around me, literally everywhere far and near I am seeing swirls probably 1 swirl/second. Some look to be small fish but others make small jump and must be sizable. BUT NO MATTER WHAT I TRY THEY WONT BITE LOL. I tried squarebill, topwater, senko, tube, swimbait, jig. I am guessing they are going for some bug and maybe fly fishing would work, but this is a guess, I also dont know if they are predominantly bait fish. Any guesses on what they are/what to try to catch? I am in New England/big lake if that helps. Thanks

They’re e probably just sunfish sipping insects off of the surface. They tend to make small swirls and ripples. When they get fired up, you can see a lot of them eating at once

Any carp in the lake?

So many things that can make swirls on the surface of a lake. Fact of the matter is, even if they were bass, if you tried everything and they didn't bite, no reason to waste anymore time trying to get them to bite.

 

The more than likely truth is, they were carp, gar, panfish, shad, or some other species of fish that was causing the swirls and that's why they wouldn't bite. 

See that with schools of gizzard Shad. Have seen them swim up and pass around the boat when stationary. Seems like you could net them. But I’ve never tried. 

 

Seen so many different kinds of smaller fish feeding, swirling, flipping, jumping on the surface on calm mornings and evenings.  Shad, shiners, small bass feeding, bluegills, trout, crappy etc. Usually feeding on small bait fish or bugs or just having fun. It's not those fish so much that interest me... it what's under them.  I don't put on a smaller bait and try to catch them, I use a mimic bait and try to catch what might be under them licking their lips.

 

Speaking of surface activity... We have all seen those water striders and those little scudder bugs that are all over the water scooting and swimming every which way by the hundreds. NEVER in all my years have I EVER seen a fish hit one of those bugs. I have seen thousands of them jammed together thick as a carpet an not once did any get taken, even on evenings where there is heavy feeding taking place.

This happened recently with me. They were shiners.

Agreed with everyone above, could be a large variety of things and most likely something of the panfish variety.  However, if you want to catch them, try something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HFD5F4T/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_8?smid=A3VZYA2IHMEO65&psc=1

 

 

1 hour ago, Bubba 460 said:

Seen so many different kinds of smaller fish feeding swirling, flipping, jumping on the surface on calm mornings and evenings.  Shad, shiners, small bass feeding, bluegills, trout, crappy etc. Usually feeding on small bait fish or bugs or just having fun. It's not those fish so much that interest me... it what's under them.  I don't put on a smaller bait and try to catch them, I use a mimic bait and try to catch what might be under them licking their lips.

 

Exactly this. Seeing swirls and little splashes on the surface tells me that panfish or shad (or something that eats similarly small crunchy critters) are feeding on bugs and whatnot.

 

And that's still awesome, because SWMBO and I have a great time catching panfish, and we always take ultralight stuff with us just in case we get a chance.

 

But I'm not gonna throw a spook or whatever into that hoping to get bit on topwater.

 

I have been bit, and well, throwing a fluke or wacky rig into the swirls and boils and letting it sink down into the bass that sit there under it like the lazy pigs they are, waiting for a stunned fish to float down to them.

When in doubt throw a lipless crank in there & you will probably snag one for ID. 

Mooneye 

Probably panfish eating evening bugs. The bigger splashes were probably bigger fish eating the same bugs. And a few of the bigger splashes could have been bigger fish eating the occasional panfish that wasn't paying attention during dinner and became dinner.

OK, this might get a little technical, so bear with me ?. Here's my identification method:

 

1. Bloop (you'll see a tiny ring with progressively larger, medium spaced outer rings) - usually a member of the panfish family like bluegill and bream.

 

2. Micro bloop (you'll see a tiny ring and just a few tightly spaced outer rings) - baitfish like shiners or shad.

 

3. Large swirl, no splash - generally carp or catfish

 

4. Tail slapping splash and swirl - predator fish such as bass.

 

5. Small version Loch Ness monster body arching above the surface - carp

 

6. Tiny bubbles making it look like the water is boiling in that spot - small baitfish ball, and usually a sign that a predator fish is near

9 hours ago, Bubba 460 said:

Speaking of surface activity... We have all seen those water striders and those little scudder bugs that are all over the water scooting and swimming every which way by the hundreds. NEVER in all my years have I EVER seen a fish hit one of those bugs. I have seen thousands of them jammed together thick as a carpet an not once did any get taken, even on evenings where there is heavy feeding taking place.

This is because water striders produce a  foul (to the fish) scent/taste that deters predators

11 minutes ago, Buzzbaiter said:

This is because water striders produce a  foul (to the fish) scent/taste that deters predators

 

Hmmmm... I must have that same foul scent on my lures.