That's how I started fishing wacky. Years ago, I saw a decent bass in shallow water. I threw everything I had at it. It was either following it or completely indifferent. I tried a wacky rig as a goof, just because it was the only thing I didn't try. That bass hit it before it even hit the floor.
The exact problem i was having the other day. They followed several different lures and only bit at them a few times but not biting good enough for me to hook them. It was frustrating but better than sitting on my couch. Lol
I absolutely agree with you here Randy!! I found this last weekend when fishing in a very clear dam close to my home. A few bass "hit" the fat albert bit just would not bite it. I changed lures, speed, etc. but they would not bite. I will try this piece of advice for sure. Excellent video as always. I can honestly encourage people to subscribe to this channel as well as intuitive angling. You made me a far better angler for sure!!
I remember fishing as a 5 year old kid, and seeing bass follow my lure and not bite. They were enormous! All of 12-14 inches, but to my 5 year old eyes, they were sharks. If you notice them following with enough distance, you can pop your lure hard, and sometimes it'll entice them into biting. It works for bass and pike. My theory is that they think a potential meal *might* escape, and that triggers a strike. The other trick I use, is the last 10-15 feet of retrieve, I'll speed it up even if I don't see a follower. Sometimes they'll smack it at the last second. It doesn't work all the time. Maybe 40 or 50% at best, but it might get you a bite or 2 that you wouldn't have gotten otherwise.
Couple weeks ago I had a bass following my speedworm multiple times. Threw a frog in there and he hit it twice without taking it. Tossed a wacky rigged senko in there and bam! Caught him! I personally think he was bed guarding or fry guarding and just making sure my bait got out of the area. The senko was either too much to resist or he inhaled it to get rid of it and I set the hook before he spit it. Good topic, Randy!
I’ve noticed this a lot recently. They’re by the bank but won’t touch anything. Not sure if something to do with the spawn but I assume so. I think we’re about to spawn here in the Midwest. It hasn’t been consistent weather wise so not sure if they have actually started or not.
This is my problem for 3 years! I've never caught any because all the trevally and barracuda, Big and small. Doesn't bite my lure? They just follow it?
I've seen Snook do this quite a bit. From following my Gulp shrimp jig with a slight nip, eyeing up my MirrOdine twitchbait, to chasing a plain white crank bait yet not biting it at all. It gets you on edge though.
the percentage of bass not catchable is greater than we believe ,under these conditions bass my have 2 or more hook marks in there mouth makes them cautious an we are educating the aggressive biters
If bass feed at night why not fish for them at night? I've never done much nught time bass fishin' but I've caught tons if fish at night in the saltwater. But I've also seen saltwater fish follow baits, even live bait, and not bite. Randy I bet you'd really like snook fishin'. It can be a lot like bass fishin' but they get bigger and fight harder and taste way better. You can catch them with bass in some places in south FL. Tarpon too.
Great video once again, thank you! That is some great and needed understanding advice you gave.
That's how I started fishing wacky. Years ago, I saw a decent bass in shallow water. I threw everything I had at it. It was either following it or completely indifferent. I tried a wacky rig as a goof, just because it was the only thing I didn't try. That bass hit it before it even hit the floor.
Love me a wacky worm. I even carry shroom weights so I can peg the same worm and fish it like a ned. I use dudley wacky and zman shroomz weight.
The exact problem i was having the other day. They followed several different lures and only bit at them a few times but not biting good enough for me to hook them. It was frustrating but better than sitting on my couch. Lol
I absolutely agree with you here Randy!! I found this last weekend when fishing in a very clear dam close to my home. A few bass "hit" the fat albert bit just would not bite it. I changed lures, speed, etc. but they would not bite. I will try this piece of advice for sure. Excellent video as always. I can honestly encourage people to subscribe to this channel as well as intuitive angling. You made me a far better angler for sure!!
I remember fishing as a 5 year old kid, and seeing bass follow my lure and not bite. They were enormous! All of 12-14 inches, but to my 5 year old eyes, they were sharks.
If you notice them following with enough distance, you can pop your lure hard, and sometimes it'll entice them into biting. It works for bass and pike.
My theory is that they think a potential meal *might* escape, and that triggers a strike.
The other trick I use, is the last 10-15 feet of retrieve, I'll speed it up even if I don't see a follower. Sometimes they'll smack it at the last second.
It doesn't work all the time. Maybe 40 or 50% at best, but it might get you a bite or 2 that you wouldn't have gotten otherwise.
Thank you Randy!
Couple weeks ago I had a bass following my speedworm multiple times. Threw a frog in there and he hit it twice without taking it. Tossed a wacky rigged senko in there and bam! Caught him! I personally think he was bed guarding or fry guarding and just making sure my bait got out of the area. The senko was either too much to resist or he inhaled it to get rid of it and I set the hook before he spit it. Good topic, Randy!
Very informative
Happened 3 times today using a biwa rig for smallies off a rocky drop off gorging on minnows. They’d follow it right up to me and then swim off
I’ve noticed this a lot recently. They’re by the bank but won’t touch anything. Not sure if something to do with the spawn but I assume so. I think we’re about to spawn here in the Midwest. It hasn’t been consistent weather wise so not sure if they have actually started or not.
This is my problem for 3 years! I've never caught any because all the trevally and barracuda, Big and small. Doesn't bite my lure? They just follow it?
I've seen Snook do this quite a bit. From following my Gulp shrimp jig with a slight nip, eyeing up my MirrOdine twitchbait, to chasing a plain white crank bait yet not biting it at all. It gets you on edge though.
Yep. I've had them follow live bait like that too. And not just snook and bass. Lots of fish will follow without biting.
the percentage of bass not catchable is greater than we believe ,under these conditions bass my have 2 or more hook marks in there mouth makes them cautious an we are educating the aggressive biters
If bass feed at night why not fish for them at night? I've never done much nught time bass fishin' but I've caught tons if fish at night in the saltwater. But I've also seen saltwater fish follow baits, even live bait, and not bite.
Randy I bet you'd really like snook fishin'. It can be a lot like bass fishin' but they get bigger and fight harder and taste way better. You can catch them with bass in some places in south FL. Tarpon too.