Old Fat Smart Lazy Bass

[Bassmaster2008]

Today I was at a small lake and was bassin. The day was mediocre for bassing and my boat battery died. So with no trolling motor it sucked ass. I decide to put down the anchor between these two docks that I am sure have bass in them. I just had a hunch that one of the docks looked bassy.

After about 45 minutes I have chucked about 8 different lures to each of these docks, at different points of the docks. My boat was about 20 feet from each dock. And I was pretty set that there were fish there.

A spinner bait
A crankbait
A sweet beaver
A jig
A worm
A senko (white/sparkle, 4 inch), senko (blue/black)
A swimming minnow bait
A single tail grub

Then while retying a new lure on I see 2 massive carp-looking fatter than hell bass just coming out from the dock to lounge around in the sun or something, they lazily moved to deep water I believe one could've gone for 7 or 8 pounds, the other 5 or 6. First the big one went for a closer look at this swimbait I was just dangling below the boat. I think the bigger one was getting a closer look because it had bad vision or something, it paused about 3 feet from the lure and then swam away. Curiosity? I knew they saw me but I tried to give my girlfreind and I a ray of hope as I whispered don't move. After inspecting the lure they lazily moved down into deeper water.

I really believe bass won't ever not bite. Skunked days on bassin means you did something wrong.

Anybody think they know what was goin on in the minds of these bass? Do you think they've simply just seen too much fishing in their years, and caught a giveaway of mine I overlooked (besides seeing me at the end)? Any suggestions or anything you guys would've done differently?

Thanks for the help.
Zach

[gcbcaddis1]

There is a reason they got that big. And you discoverd it. They are smart, reluctant to bite, and fussy. I have spent 45 minutes targeting big bass to bite. Sometimes they bite but most times they just turn up their nose and swim away. Better luck next time, and at least you know where they live and hang out now so go back and try agian. You will hook them eventually.

[Bigbass Dez]

I have been there Man , These Bass can drive the normal man insane ... I willing to bet that those bass were up on those docks feeding all day long , targeting Fry,Baitfish, etc . the good thing in this at least you now know were the bigboys like to come in to feed .. I would just make a mental note of the spot they were on and remember that for your next trip .. if you can hit the same spot during prime feeding times is your best bet at getting bit .. and believe it or not consider a smaller bait .. a simple 3inch white or silver and black Grub can be magical at times for those picky bass (or a smaller suspending Jerkbait) .... see when you saw that bass he was already full and tired and heading back out deep to rest in his comfort area .. sorry dude but it happens alot .. last time i was out on beaver i had four different bass all over 4lbs do they same thing , on one them my worm hit his nose and he just kept swimming .. no need in tring to catch them because unless you have live bait that mouth will not open lol ...it's hard not to try so i do understand .. keep that spot in mind and make that your first stop next time ,,,BBD:geek:

[Basshunter046]

I gotta say I've been there also, as most of all Bass fisherman have. I've cast may things by docks just to see 3 or 4 Lazy Bass come and follow things out from under the dock. These big bass have been caught before, been in livewells in tournments, hooked and lost, hooked and released, ect.ect. Once I know a Big Pig is under a dock, I'll run back the next morning and try something totally different, Like a Johnson Silver Minnow with a pork rine trailer, or 3 inch odd colored grub, something different that they havn't been use to seeing day after day. Also I have a pig and jig set up all the time ready, at times that set up can't be beat. Good Luck :thumright

[michaelunbewust]

man, that happens to me alot on potholes, but i have found out if i head back to that spot, come-in from a different angle, farther out, and thro a crawfish pattern lure or just nightcrawlers, which have to be lively ones, i tend to get them the 2nd or 3rd time. so, keep after them, you will eventually snag one of these bass-of-a-lifetime!

[Anonymous]

WOW! I am impressed with everyones replies. I agree with all of them.
BM2008 just keep at it. You were doing the right thing. Slow is the way to go. Big bass are lazy. Just think of a fat or obiese person.
Now that you know where they are located and travel back and forth to, commit to throwing something you know they eat. Craws (if the lake has craws) swimbaits, flukes, ect. Change up your time. I have discovered that really big fish actually change there feeding habits from the norm. They eat later that others. You would be suprised at how many big fish are caught after dark and in the midnight hours. You just ran into some smart fish and you will have to out wit them to even get them to commit to something. Now hooking one and getting her in the boat will be the next challenge.

I know exactly how you felt at that point. I have been trailed by many DD bass. One that I know was over 15lbs. down in Cali. I remember one in particular that came out of the depths and trailed my Hudd for about ten feet then came up right along side of it and just swam with it, examining it. I didn't know what to do and I was running out of retrieval so I just keep with it hoping she would commit. Once I got the lure close I stopped it and let it sit and she just turned and headed back the same way she came keeping a constant easy going speed the whole time. I was shaking in my boots. I keep tossing that Hudd in the same spot for days and I never saw her again.
I actually think this dude caught her (Pic below). Two weeks later. Turned out to be a lake record at 12lbs. 4oz. He said he caught her on Power Bait. But I know he caught a trout and the bass inhaled the trout. He did not release the fish.
Well that's one story for ya. Sorry it's a novel but you brought back some good memories. I have to go fish now.


fishnislife

[tnj8222]

yup you know that fish ate his trout man!!!! to bad you didnt have another good 30 feet to real in man, you probably would have caught that sucker and im sure it would still be swimming. from all the videos i have saw they swim next to trout (swimbaits) until they are convinced they should eat it. then they make a quick turn and slam it... i bet that one had your knees shaking man!!!

a buddy of mine kept a good 6 pounder out of one of the local lakes (he has been ragged on enough by me and a bunch of others so gets the point now lol) anyways he kept it and it had powerbait in his belly. that pretty much is a dead give away to throw swimbaits......

[bpm2000]

yup you know that fish ate his trout man!!!! to bad you didnt have another good 30 feet to real in man, you probably would have caught that sucker and im sure it would still be swimming. from all the videos i have saw they swim next to trout (swimbaits) until they are convinced they should eat it. then they make a quick turn and slam it... i bet that one had your knees shaking man!!!

Ive been seeing this with a lot of smallies too - they just follow my slow-rolled bait for a while, and im sitting there reeling slow and crapping my pants. There is usually a point where they "decide" to hit it or swim off depending on how close to shore it gets. Most of the time with the big girls its "swim off"[-o<

[Bassmaster2008]

What do you guys think about getting a reaction bite out of a buzzbait or walking the dog on a zara spook? That seems like the only option for the time of day I was there atleast. :/ I have a feeling they were deep in the center of the shallow dock. Not on the edge so the sudden landing wouldn't suprise them that much. As it is a few feet away instead of right on top.

Ya........extremely frustrating. As i saw the fish I was really excited to know I chose the right spot, but at the same time i got mad because I threw the tackle box at them, it made me want to quit fishing.....but that'll never last.

[Bigbass Dez]

What do you guys think about getting a reaction bite out of a buzzbait or walking the dog on a zara spook? That seems like the only option for the time of day I was there atleast. :/ I have a feeling they were deep in the center of the shallow dock. Not on the edge so the sudden landing wouldn't suprise them that much. As it is a few feet away instead of right on top.

Ya........extremely frustrating. As i saw the fish I was really excited to know I chose the right spot, but at the same time i got mad because I threw the tackle box at them, it made me want to quit fishing.....but that'll never last.

Remember this, if a bass is within 10 feet of you and your first attempt went unanswered (He Now Knows your present) so from that point it becomes twice as hard to catch .. not only is he full but he now knows your tring catch him .. these bass often dont get stuck unless you got live bait .. dont get bummed because you really dont have many options other than doing sometime against regs .. that same bass will come back up to feed before winter and thats when you will have your shot .. :bounce:

[kzoo]

What do you guys think about getting a reaction bite out of a buzzbait or walking the dog on a zara spook? That seems like the only option for the time of day I was there atleast. :/ I have a feeling they were deep in the center of the shallow dock. Not on the edge so the sudden landing wouldn't suprise them that much. As it is a few feet away instead of right on top.

Ya........extremely frustrating. As i saw the fish I was really excited to know I chose the right spot, but at the same time i got mad because I threw the tackle box at them, it made me want to quit fishing.....but that'll never last.

Remember this, if a bass is within 10 feet of you and your first attempt went unanswered (He Now Knows your present) so from that point it becomes twice as hard to catch .. not only is he full but he now knows your tring catch him .. these bass often dont get stuck unless you got live bait .. dont get bummed because you really dont have many options other than doing sometime against regs .. that same bass will come back up to feed before winter and thats when you will have your shot .. :bounce:

I agree with Dez, big bass are so aware of their surrondings. The summer is a tough time to cacth these guys, you really have to be stealthy and there has to be right conditions to put their guard down. Your percentage will go up during the fall and spring, when they need to feed.