Missed a Heifer

[MO_CPA]

Missed a big one guys. Surely would have been my personal best. What could I have done differently?

So I was down at Table Rock Lake throwing a spinnerbait on Saturday. Had worked this secondary cove all the way to the back. In the middle I was no deeper than six foot. I spotted, sitting in about 2 feet of water, a monster bass. It was sitting on the very top of the water. My heart sped up and I was excited to get a chance. I threw my spinnerbait about two feet in front of it and worked it at a moderate pace. The fish went up to it and then promptly zoomed off. Never to be seen again. Went back Sunday and no dice.

What do you think?

[keithdog]

If you saw her, she saw you. No doubt there was much you could have done. Perhaps a more subtle approach, such as a soft plastic unweighted. But seriously, having found myself in that same situation more times that I can remember, rarely can I get the bass to take my offering. Usually, as soon as I make my cast, the bass will quickly swim away. I would recommend if you run into that situation again, leave the area and return about 30 minutes to an hour later and try to ease near the area where the bass was, but stay a good long cast off. Then try making long cast to where the bass was, work the area over from a distance trying to stay out of view of the bass. If you get no response, ease closer and keep your eyes open.

[kennethdaysale]

Those big surface cruisers are an enigma. Rarely catchable.
With the exception of spawners I would rather fish for the ones I can't see.

[MO_CPA]

Thanks guys. I feel a little bit better about it.

This catfisherman is having a fun time getting used to these bass. Hopefully in time I will be better at it.

[aikenyounggun]

Originally Posted by kennethdaysale

Those big surface cruisers are an enigma. Rarely catchable.
With the exception of spawners I would rather fish for the ones I can't see.

Exactly, they are dang near impossible to catch after they see you. They are kinda of like the ninjas of the fishing world, you don't see em until it is too late and by then you are screwed.

[lilmule]

Yeah with an active bait,Curiosity is about all you get.
But with an inactive a senko tossed in or do nothing type of bait-hang on
Wrong thing to throw,but merely my opinion

[IowaBasser]

In my experience the fish you see are near impossible to catch. The only ones I can remember catching are spawners - and a curly tail worm worked for those when nothing else would. A soft plastic, either a senko or curlytail worm, would have been my choice though I probably wouldn't have faired any better.

[MO_CPA]

Thanks for all of the great advice. My plan for next time is to retreat and then try to come back after a bit with a subtle, soft plastic presentation. Maybe I will have better luck then.

[DaveW731]

Originally Posted by MO_CPA

Thanks for all of the great advice. My plan for next time is to retreat and then try to come back after a bit with a subtle, soft plastic presentation. Maybe I will have better luck then.

Sounds like a great approach. Another thought that came to mind is to plan for a shallow water option in advance, by having a soft plastic rigged on as light of a spinning pole as you can get away with, approach a potential target from upwind to maximize casting distance and toss a few times, assuming there could be a fish there before you get close enough to see her.

[Bucketmouth1010]

I run into this a lot on lake Hartwell because it's soooooo clear. I just cast about 10 feet out in front of it trying not to spook it! It's about a 95% to 5% battle