When and get a blow up and miss, what ya do next? I'm gonna start being prepared and have a nail weighted senko on to see if I can get the same fish. I never get one to strike throwing the same thing right back at that spot. probly cuz I just aint that good.

I had "one of those days" Sunday. Had 10 or 11 blow ups and not 1 hook up. And they were knocking it out of the water! Can't remember last time I had that many hits without catching one. Usually I try to just not get too antsy and not pull the topwater away from them if they miss it. Just keep working it and lots of times they'll come back. Dropped a Senko on a few of them and caught a couple. Senko or a fluke most times for me.

Weightless worm.

I try to leave the bait alone hoping they make another crack at it. I think I've had better luck moving on and going back with the same bait a few minutes later than I do with follow up baits.

Throw net!! Lol
Nah a fluke!

Senko weightless Texas rigged.

Fluke or weightless stick bait or tube

I'm too impatient to set one rod down and grab another. I just chunk my topwater right back to where I got the bite.

I throw a wacky rig senko right after a blow up, sometimes they take it, sometimes they don't

Missing that many opportunities can mean so many different things could be going on. A Bass that really wants that bait will not miss it. This is taking place on purpose and can be many reasons for it. Most of the time at first light you do NOT have enough time to really figure it out unless you just happen to hit the problem on the head.
- The bait could be the wrong color.
- Your presentation could be too fast or too slow.
- The lack of heavy cover to provide excellent ambush spots.
- Lack of wind or too much wind. A little ripple on the surface is best.
- Slight change in weather condition.
- Rise in water level.
- Heavy boat traffic; like on a Saturday other than during a weekday.
- Bass have gorged themselves on bait; but can't resist the temptation of striking out of reaction.

Your best answer is to have your back ups VERY ready to follow up within a couple of seconds after the blow up. There are TWO rigs that will mimic the dying bait fish spiraling downward which the Bass is most likely to take under the surface.
The Pinch Weighted Fluke:[/b]
- This is a small split bullet weight of 1/32 oz.
- Pinch it on the line at the nose of the Fluke.
- It produces a wide spiral downward for slightly deeper water.
[b]The Belly Weighted hook in 1/16 oz..
- This is a screw lock wide gap type hook, normally used for small swim baits.
- It produces a tight spiral downward with a faster fall which I use in shallower water.

Being quick to get on this strike is the key. You cannot be fast enough to get one of these Fluke rigs on that fish. Many times it takes two with you and a partner standing on the front to make this technique work. Your partner is standing in wait beside you on the front deck to make that immediate cast to the blowup.
- Kill that Topwater bait dead in the water and do not move it.
- The quick draw on the blowup is essential to success.
- Change back and forth between the two rigs to determine which fall rate and spiral they like.
- Bass are not interested in the chase. They would rather take the injured bait.

I have seen the Topwater bite be excellent during the week; then be non-existent on Saturday during tournament time with heavy boat traffic. We caught excellent fish there many times in the past and it was our number one topwater area. I know they are there in and around the heave cover, grass pods and bushes. This morning presents perfect conditions, except for heavy boat traffic. They just will not break the surface of the water to take the Spook. We won the tournament two years in a row on the same area using this same technique.
- Look for very small indicators that will tell you Bass are present; but will not strike.
- You may see a minnow or two flicker the surface close to your topwater bait.
- As the spook approaches a bush you may see one of the limbs slightly quiver; indicating that the fish is holding tight to the bush.
- Your Topwater bait is producing excitement; but the Bass will not strike.
- This is a THIRD technique that takes two fishermen from the front of the boat.
- Throw the Spook just past the bush and work the sequence of twitches and turns until the spook is practically in the bush. Let it sit there.
- Your partner immediately pitches the Fluke to the bush.
- This Fluke is rigged with a 1/8 oz. split Bullet on the nose of the bait; so easy pitches can be made into the bush.
- The Spook has done it's job to excite the fish and the Fluke will catch the fish, holding tight to the cover.

Fluke Fished Fast

Usually a senko with a willow blade screwed in it.

+1

+1 senko weightless

I think Mr Harper nailed it when he said that getting a follow up bait onto the spot of the blowup quickly is the key. My experience says that most of the time you can catch that bass if you can present something before it moves off. I try to color match whatever the fish are feeding on, like shad, frogs, perch, etc.

Oh, and one more thing to add. If you're doing the partner thing, always throw the follow up bait at the blowup even if the blowup ends up with a hook up. I've seen a lot of doubles caught this way.