texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,579
TexDawg 119,518
Bigbob_FTW 94,889
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,260
Bob Davis 81,483
Mark Perry 72,289
Derek 🐝 68,312
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,843
Posts13,935,421
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Never seen anything like it! #13312651 10/15/19 07:56 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286
S
SlowDown Offline OP
Extreme Angler
OP Offline
Extreme Angler
S
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286
I’m fishing off boat docks over gin clear water. I can see bluegills swimming around, but they have become extremely hard to catch. I chummed yesterday with kneaded, firm mashed potatoes (something bluegills love) and had them in a feeding frenzy, but they would swim up close to my baited hook and back away. They even backed away from the hook baited with a piece of nightcrawler. I finally used a tiny bait keeper hook, similar to a fly-tying hook, in a size 10, and covered the entire hook with a tiny ball of mashed potatoes and caught a couple that way while chumming, but the potatoes fall off the hook in a few seconds, so it is not a good way to fish.

Watching them swim up, examine, and back away is enough to drive me nuts. I would never have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. Any comments and suggestions short of dynamite would be appreciated.

Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: SlowDown] #13312705 10/15/19 08:51 PM
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
R
Rionator Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
R
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 71
what size line are u using? the hard part of fishing in clear water is that the fish can also see u and your line

Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: SlowDown] #13312718 10/15/19 09:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 296
F
FishTheBite Offline
Angler
Offline
Angler
F
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 296
I would try a small Panther Martin inline spinner and/or a Beetle Spin on a long cast and retrieved quickly back through the areas holding fish. I don't know that this will solve the problem but trying for a reaction bite is worth a shot.

Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: Rionator] #13312739 10/15/19 09:18 PM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,521
banker-always fishing Online Content
Pumpkin Head
Online Content
Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,521
Originally Posted by Rionator
what size line are u using? the hard part of fishing in clear water is that the fish can also see u and your line





Plus #1. They also just don't want to bite! bang


[Linked Image][Linked Image]

IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap.

John 3:16

Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: SlowDown] #13312852 10/15/19 11:35 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 12,433
J
JIM SR. Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
J
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 12,433
Ive always found that if any part of the point is showing they will NOT bite,... hooked

Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: SlowDown] #13312954 10/16/19 12:39 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,811
doctorxring Online Content
Extreme Angler
Online Content
Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,811

Use fluorocarbon line (or leader). Use the small hook and the bit of worm ALONE, no sinker, etc. Let the bait float gently down to them. They can find this irresistible.


You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free
Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: SlowDown] #13313126 10/16/19 03:28 AM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286
S
SlowDown Offline OP
Extreme Angler
OP Offline
Extreme Angler
S
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286
Am using 4# Fluoro. Appreciate the comments. I know the tiny hook helped when it was covered with the mashed potatoes, and will continue using it and try to cover it completely with other baits that will stay on it. Also, I like the suggestion to not use any weight. Look forward to my next trip. Thanks again.

Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: SlowDown] #13313169 10/16/19 08:46 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 778
S
SenkoSam Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
S
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 778
1/32 oz hair jigs have worked pretty much anywhere and for more than one type fish:
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image][Linked Image]

Various small plastics grubs rigged on the same jig head sometimes do better than live bait:
[Linked Image][Linked Image]

Bass Assassin Grub or other spike tails:
[Linked Image]
Crappie or Trout Magnet Grubs also get bit when the bite is tough.
[Linked Image][Linked Image]

Ice fishing maggots such as mousies or mealworms hooked on a 1/64 oz jig head may get one to bite and then more to follow.
Sometimes they just won't bite.



Last edited by SenkoSam; 10/16/19 09:06 AM.
Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: doctorxring] #13313305 10/16/19 01:26 PM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,021
L
Laker One Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
L
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,021
Originally Posted by doctorxring

Use fluorocarbon line (or leader). Use the small hook and the bit of worm ALONE, no sinker, etc. Let the bait float gently down to them. They can find this irresistible.




This! woot

Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: SlowDown] #13313561 10/16/19 04:48 PM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,086
G
gar1970 Online Content
TFF Celebrity
Online Content
TFF Celebrity
G
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,086
All of the above is good info! I fish clear water also and you have to be stealthy. Get into sneak mode dont let them see you and try to be as quiet as possible. When on the dock walk as lightly as you can they can feel the vibration from your footsteps. If they are heavily fished they get smart and like Chuck said above sometimes they just dont want to bite.


https://www.Jiglyf.com

TEXAS ELITE ANGLER
Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: SlowDown] #13313617 10/16/19 05:25 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 12,089
U
Urban Fisher Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
U
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 12,089
I remember one time we were staying at a camping park and there were tons of sunfish around the dock. Reason being is people fed them. We threw some bread ourselves and I told my boy we would get our rods later and catch some for fun. Later we went back with bread and rods in hand. I figured this would be some of the easiest fishing I have ever done. We went simple, small hook, tiny split shot weight and bread. I rigged him up and get mine in the water. To our surprise we could see the fish swim up to our bait, look at it and swim off. I was dumbfounded. After a while of this my boy made the observation..."Dad they seem to eat it when it is first thrown in and floating on the surface. Once it starts sinking they ignore it". I thought wait he is right!! So I took off the split shot weight and put a bigger chunk of bread on the hook so it wouldn't sink very quickly (and to fully hide the hook). Sure enough we started catching them one after another. Those things are smarter then you may think. I'm sure I am not they only one that fished for them like we initially did. I guess they learned that if it sank quickly (or saw the weight), they knew there was a hook with it.


Jane says I've never been in love - no
She don't know what it is
She only knows if someone wants her
Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: banker-always fishing] #13313875 10/16/19 10:40 PM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,521
banker-always fishing Online Content
Pumpkin Head
Online Content
Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,521
Originally Posted by banker-always fishing
Originally Posted by Rionator
what size line are u using? the hard part of fishing in clear water is that the fish can also see u and your line





Plus #1. They also just don't want to bite! bang





Good example of fish not wanting to bite just happened to me yesterday while fishing a creek. I had just arrived at my spot and right off the bat I saw several very nice Rios suspended in about one foot of water. They were not spooking at all. I baited my hook with a piece of nice fat night crawler thinking this is going to be a cake walk. Boy was I WRONG! bang Right when the worm hit the water and started to sink towards the bottom the Rios started swimming towards it. I left the worm there thinking I would feel a quick bite. WRONG, No bite. I worked the worm and then retrieved the worm and made another cast. Nothing. I saw other very nice fish including some BIG Redear and again could not get any bites. I tried throwing weightless with no results. Usually during the fall feeding month those fish would have hit. I fished that spot for two hours and had only caught one Rio in the 9" range. The week before this Myself and Rick aka Catyakker fished that same spot and caught about 20 trophy Rios all in the 9 to 10 inch range. Like I say sometimes they bite and other times they just simply don't! nuts


[Linked Image][Linked Image]

IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap.

John 3:16

Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: SlowDown] #13314046 10/17/19 01:33 AM
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,777
O
Osbornfishing Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
O
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,777
Plus 1. Sometimes the fish win.

Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: Osbornfishing] #13314139 10/17/19 02:39 AM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588
J
jagg Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
J
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588
Originally Posted by Osbornfishing
Plus 1. Sometimes the fish win.

Yup


Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless His Holy Name!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBzsXYK-44H5uEUe3WXjmLg
Re: Never seen anything like it! [Re: banker-always fishing] #13314142 10/17/19 02:41 AM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588
J
jagg Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
J
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588
Originally Posted by banker-always fishing
Originally Posted by banker-always fishing
Originally Posted by Rionator
what size line are u using? the hard part of fishing in clear water is that the fish can also see u and your line





Plus #1. They also just don't want to bite! bang





Good example of fish not wanting to bite just happened to me yesterday while fishing a creek. I had just arrived at my spot and right off the bat I saw several very nice Rios suspended in about one foot of water. They were not spooking at all. I baited my hook with a piece of nice fat night crawler thinking this is going to be a cake walk. Boy was I WRONG! bang Right when the worm hit the water and started to sink towards the bottom the Rios started swimming towards it. I left the worm there thinking I would feel a quick bite. WRONG, No bite. I worked the worm and then retrieved the worm and made another cast. Nothing. I saw other very nice fish including some BIG Redear and again could not get any bites. I tried throwing weightless with no results. Usually during the fall feeding month those fish would have hit. I fished that spot for two hours and had only caught one Rio in the 9" range. The week before this Myself and Rick aka Catyakker fished that same spot and caught about 20 trophy Rios all in the 9 to 10 inch range. Like I say sometimes they bite and other times they just simply don't! nuts

The almost exact same thing happened to me yesterday also, Chuck! Like a week before my friend and I were catching them hand over fist. Yesterday I may have caught 5 in three hours! Fishing has a way of humbling us every once in a while. Keeps things interesting I suppose.


Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless His Holy Name!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBzsXYK-44H5uEUe3WXjmLg
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3