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Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
#12310747
06/25/17 07:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 307
wtf242
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 307 |
Yesterday I found an area where there were probably 20-30 black bass all jumping and going crazy along the surface just non-stop for a good 15-20 minutes. I couldn't figure out how to catch any of them. I tried a spook, jerk bait, wopper plopper, square bill, weightless fluke and nothing seemed to work.
There was a 10mph wind and it was overcast. The power plant was producing and this was at the mouth of the outflow so there was a current.
any suggestions on how to handle a situation like this? It looked to me like they were feeding on minnows or very tiny shad so everything I tried was silver, white, or shad colored.
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12310750
06/25/17 07:39 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,516
lipjerk
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,516 |
Sometimes the abundance of bait fish can diminish your chances greatly, there is no right or wrong answer here. All things you tried will work at one time or another, sometimes they just won't bite.
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12310765
06/25/17 07:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 144
Ranger481
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 144 |
I've had that same situation. What I have been able to catch them on is a 2.5 inch shad imitation swim bait by Storm lures.
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12310787
06/25/17 08:17 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,562
Thad Rains
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,562 |
I like a 1/4 oz. Ratltrap style bait in those situations, burned almost at the top of the water column. So, the fish do not get a good look at it. A 1/4 oz. Yellow Magic is also a great thing to throw in this situation. I might have tried a Fluke Jr in that instance, too, but sounds like you were on the right track. Hope this helps. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.
Thad Rains
Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.
Thad Rains
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12310797
06/25/17 08:34 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,614
James Biggs
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,614 |
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12310805
06/25/17 08:48 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,363
Bobby Milam
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,363 |
Casting spoon. Just throw and reel. If they are hesitant then reel, stop and let it fall. You can cast them a mile so you don't get close enough to spook them
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12310950
06/26/17 12:07 AM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 4,533
bigbass94
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 4,533 |
Throwing a small swimbait on a darter style jighead works well in those situations.
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles." - Doug Larson
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12311418
06/26/17 06:27 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 722
Jim Gilbert
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 722 |
Can't count the times I've had the exact same problem with all the baits you used as well. My first choice is a small 2" spoon fished like mentioned above. Or a tail spinner that threads the line through the baits body. Wing Ding and Wahoo makes some. You'll loose less fish on the tailspinner when the line is thread through the body. A Little George will defiantly work as well.
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12311424
06/26/17 07:02 AM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 433
JWfish
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 433 |
KastMaster Spoon with feather treble catches more schooling or top water fish for me than any of the above. I always have 1 tied on a rod. They come in several sizes but all have a durable polished silver finish that never chips or tarnishes. Each end has a beveled angle that creates a wobble that fish can't resist . You can reel it fast across top or let it drop down to jig up and down. I have had nearby boats holler across the water when I have been slaying them to ask me what I am using. A lot of people have never heard of them. Look for them at Academy or Bass Pro. Invest in your favorite size and you will have them for years.
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12311772
06/26/17 03:37 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 234
dynatrakben194
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 234 |
don't forget to drop down below those frenzy fish. you often find bibber fish below. count down or deep divers can work here
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12311776
06/26/17 03:38 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 234
dynatrakben194
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 234 |
don't forget to drop down below those frenzy fish. you often find bigger fish below. count down or deep divers can work here
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12311833
06/26/17 04:07 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 382
LukeMcFarlane
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 382 |
Some version of a clear Zara puppy. Fished it for 20 years vs other baits on schooling fish it wins every time not even a close second to it. Has to be the puppy size though.
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12312103
06/26/17 06:46 PM
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,069
TroyKing
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,069 |
1/4oz texas riged Baby brush hog works great on schoolies...fish it when they up up and when they are down.
The driving force and secret desire of every bass fisherman, is to one day be a crappie fisherman............Could it be that the good Lord just smilies and looks the other way when a fisherman tells a lie?
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12312310
06/26/17 09:11 PM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 118
mrdvant
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 118 |
Yup...throw something that looks like what they're eating and just keep burning it through. Cast, cast, cast. The more you get it out there the better. Try twitches and falls to make it stand out a bit.
You sure they were bass though? Did you actually see them? I've been tricked by carp doing the same thing.
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Re: Best way to fish schooling/jumping bass?
[Re: wtf242]
#12312316
06/26/17 09:13 PM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,278
tsspencer2887
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,278 |
Shallow rolling a small white spinnerbait or a chrome rat l trap.
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