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

[FlyLie]

The last couple of times I have been out, I seem to have experienced more than the normal instances of fish following the lure to the boat, only to turn away at the last monent with out striking .

For example, this week while fishing the Cumberland River, I had some nice, slot fish trout follow both my Shad Rap, as well a spoon to the boat with out striking . However, I was catching some. Water was relatively clear.

Then last week while fishing in the back of a creek on Lake Cumberland, I had several KY Spots follow my Shad Rap back to the boat without a strike . On some occasions, there were as many as 3 good size fish following at a time. However, again I was catching some KY's on the Shad Rap? Water was relatively clear.

Does this happen very often to you guys? What, if anything can you do with lure presentation to get them to strike? Or, does this mean you should change lures, or both ?

[Rudypoo4444]

You should try some scent next time it happens. See if it makes a difference.

[numbuts]

feel your pain on this subject pretty sure tim horton did a story on the subject for bassin magazine a few years ago. the fact that they are following and you caught a few means you are on the right track bait wise first thing to try would be a retrieve speed change ether stopping or adding speed to simulate fear/fligth behavior second would be to change size bigger or smaller lastly change color

[twise7]

I always heard change color first...would be hard to do though if you're seeing fish following your bait. In that situaion I would change retrieve speed/cadence/stop the bait completely...something along those lines first, then change colors if I still didn't get bit more often.

[ElectricSLT]

I have had that happen - seems like it's worse in clearer water. First I usually try to vary the retrieve from whatever the fish followed - speed up - slow down or kill it - use an erratic retrieve - sometimes that works - sometimes not so much.

Then I'll try changing colors or size. It's frustrating when none of that works . . .

[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 .