Following Lure to the Boat....No Strike!

[mhall]

Gary like Electric said vary your retrieve. Sometimes in real clear water going faster will get them to react and get hooked up. Also go down in line size, less diameter, when I did this many years ago on the Big C it put way more fish over the gunwale for me than almost anything.

One other thing that can be lethal on them ole Spots. Keep a fluke tied on a second rod and keep it handy, while reeling in with your primary rod and you see followers, stop the bait and place it between your legs and pick up that fluke quickly and throw right behind the bait you just stopped. Try to enter the water as subtle as possible and be steathly, sometimes they will just crush it, other times Nada, but it works enough to try trust me.

[walkeraviator]

Yeah... different retrieve is what i have always read in this situation. Baiscally the fish sees it but something just doesnt seem "right" to him so he doesnt wann atake a chance. Sometimes simply stopping the bait and givin it a little pop like a jerk bait is enough... I will switch to suspending cranks every time i see followers not hitting... that way the stop and go retrieve seems more natural..

[Bass_King2007]

With all of these methods working.. the best thing that i have noticed that has worked when i have alot of chasers is if the fish are coming straight up or just chasing it right at the boat, back off from the bank just a little bit.. you could have your boat sitting right on top of the fish or just slightly in to shallow..

[Bobby Headrick]

Sometimes they just like to swim up and see who is throwing the bait and if they have seen him before, also they might be just wondering what kinda boat you have, somtimes they just like to swim for exercise you know.

[publican57]

Sometimes they just like to swim up and see who is throwing the bait and if they have seen him before, also they might be just wondering what kinda boat you have, somtimes they just like to swim for exercise you know.

Yeah, they like to mess with our head sometimes.

[Mean Morone]

Yes I would vary the retrieve first. If that doesn't work, try using the same lure only in a bigger or smaller size. Fish can get used to bait of a certain size and changing the size of the lure to match the hatch might be what it takes. I did just that last fall on Lake Cumberland when I had big stripers follow my Gizz 4 to the boat and turn away. I changed to a Gizz 3 and started wearing them out.

[FlyLie]

Thanks guys for all the information and suggestions, as well as the humor. I'll try to keep them in mind next time fish are following .

Also, did some internet searching on the subject and found several articles which recommended doing a "Figure 8" with the rod tip in the water before bringing the lure out. Seems this is the recommended practice for Muskie fishing. The Guide at Cave Run (Mullins?) reported that ~ 30% of the Muskie they catch are caught at the boat while performing the Figure 8. So, got to add that one my list of tactics.

Thanks again guys .

[HURRICANEBOB]

I think he should wear a shad colored jacket, and decorate his hat brim with nightcrawlers.

[FlyLie]

I think he should wear a shad colored jacket, and decorate his hat brim with nightcrawlers.

You know, there just might be something there. Hey, I could just wade and carry a dip net!!! Or, how about we put a "cast net" in the hat, along with a boom-a-rang (SP?). Then when they swim up, toss the hat, out goes the net and Bam, the Boom thing brings the fish home!!!

No....no...been reading Bob's threads to long........................

[elnutsmalljaws]

Keep retrieve and bait the same but change the color SLIGHTLY first. If that does not help then put back on the first color and start varying the presentation, faster - slower - erratic. If that does not work then make a drastic change within the same bait "family" for example if you are throwing a crankbait and make the first couple of suggestions to nothing then maybe a different brand crankbait that has a different wobble or different rattle, maybe you keep the shad patter but go to a fluke or something like that. One think is there are many different types and brands of baits that imitate a shad or worm or crayfish.