Ok so, I catch myself always wondering. Are there tons of bass I am passing with my lure that just look at it as it goes by? Do bass have personalitys like humans where it makes some not as aggressive or hungry? Anyone else ever wonder that?

Always wonder how many almost hit my lure then just like "nah, I'm good". And let it pass on by.

Lol me too... I seriously think that when I miss one or catch one. There are sometimes 10 more there just hanging out playing cards being stingy.

there's probably lots more bass that chase your bait than bite it, once had a nice 3-4lber follow my chatterbait all the way back to the boat and makes you wonder how long he had been chasing it.

me and a friend one time used his underwater camera on a crappie spot and was just amazed at what we saw. Then we barley caught any. Looked like 100's of crappie swimming around. Then I'm like does color really matter? Seems like it does and sometimes seems like it doesn't. That's why it's fishing I guess.

Thousands.. I have a green light at the end of my dock. Most nights there are 10 -20 sand bass with a mix of blacks swimming in the light at a time so theres hundreds all around. Cast a small sq bill and can catch one almost every cast. but lots will look before one hits it. You catch a sand bass a 50 had a chance at it.

Tons. For every fish you get a bite from, I GUARANTEE multiple fish look at the bait in a typical situation. Go look for some actual underwater footage on youtube of fish following and short striking a lure. It can be really unbelievable. Even more unbelievable is watching vids of bass taking a whole crank in their mouth and spitting the damn thing back out without a hook ever touching them. Check it out.

If you develop the mentality that a fish is ALWAYS looking at your lure, waiting to strike, it gets much much easier to fish slow too.

That's great advice! A lot of times I struggle with maintaining a positive mental attitude, and I firmly believe that's the biggest hurdle in bass fishing.

You would be amazed at how many fish just watch your lure. Just have to find the active ones

I have fished the COMAL River many times and water clarity is VERY clear. It's nothing to see MANY, MANY, MANY large bass swimming around. Getting them to bite is another thing. I've passed my lure countless times in front of fish to study their behavior, and have luckily seen BOTH sides of that activity. Lake Austin can be the same way. How many times have you chunked a lure at an obvious fish, and it simply ignores it like you're throwing an old cell phone at them. "Reaction strikes" can happen, but when fish are actively feeding, that's when the fun begins! Of course I like CATCHING, but I love the challenge of FISHING!!!

I always assume there are large numbers of fish down there laughing at me.

I know for sure I'm passing bass when fishing down a bank. I just don't want to know how many lol

Honest to god man, it made me twice the fisherman. I used to have no patience. Then I started fishing a lot of clear water and actually seeing TONS of fish come by for a look and take off, on various lures. It changed my world.

Now I assume there is ALWAYS a 10lber staring right at my bait, waiting for me to make the right move. Apparently I still haven't made the right move since my biggest fish is in the 9s, but I'm getting close. I had never caught a bass over 6lbs before I changed the way I fish. Now I've caught 2 over 9 and I dunno how many 8s.