Lots of bass looking at your hook, but no one's biting.

[JoeNage]

I've learned a lot from you all browing this forum. But now I got a question I just got to ask the experts.

My pal and I are beginning fisherman, and we took a trip to the Umpqua near Elkton recently. We paddled up stream until we came to a spot where we could see 10 -15 bass milling around just outside a ledge. These fish were in about 3 feet of water. So we figured we'd start hauling them in. And there were some big ones too!

We were using leggy bass flies, plastic worms and a jigging spoon. The fish would gather in a circle all facing in toward the lure. One would swim in and bounce it with his nose, then back off. "Nope, can't eat that."

We tried for about an hour, seeing some big ole fish right there in the water, but couldn't hook a single one!

What is going on here?

Fishing story since it's my first post. Like I say, my pal and I are beginners. We were fly fishing for trout and I was showing my friend a new technique I learned. You cast upstream and let a nymph float down and swing up at the end. Trout will sometimes take the nymph as it rises up in the current.

We were trying this all evening with no luck. My friend's technique was pretty sloppy: splashing the water with his flyline, hanging in the current for too long.

He said, "Show me how to do that again." I stepped into the same riffle where he'd been fishing for an hour and said: "Look. You cast upstream, let it float down, as it reaches the end, the nymph swings up. Then the trout takes the nymph [AND A TROUT TOOK THE NYMPH!]. Then you play the fish for a while like this….then you grab the hook and release the fish. See. That's how you do it."

He didn't talk to me on the drive back home.

[T Dot]

if you can see them - they can see you.

mark the spot next time, and make a long long cast.

[boblag]

They probably got spooked. My experience with sight fishing is that you can get a couple in that kind of situation if you're stealthy, but after that it becomes much more difficult. Usually, they strike at the beginning and then won't strike after that. I suggest trying a Tiny Brush Hog in green pumpkin or a 4-1/2 inch Robworm in oxblood. I would throw it in, let it sink, and do nothing for a good 30 seconds. Then I would give it the slightest twitch, wait awhile, and give it another. And stay low or hidden.

[lor]

Don't know if bait is legal on the umpqua, but I haven't seen many fish that can resist a live wiggling worm.
:D

I like to use a hook with no weight cast from a light spinning setup or a flyrod.
The worm is more than enough weight to cast.

[Jerry w]

Been to the area and also Tumwater falls on John Day. I don't fly fish,
I use small jigs with 4lb test line, jigs should be craydad color, move
jig very slowly, I found my best fish in 18 to 3 ft of water, stay up on the
bank where you aren't visible. When I jig slowly I just barely
bring it up and down. Works for me.

Jerry W.

[Chad S.]

I would of backed out of the area for 1/2 hour, and then came back and been more stealthy.

[BassinFever]

I would of backed out of the area for 1/2 hour, and then came back and been more stealthy.

There ya go!

[ExBassGuide]

Try fishing at first light or low light times dress in camo Hide behind a bush:D:wink:
Roger

[arkansasbasser]

Try fishing at first light or low light times dress in camo Hide behind a bush:D:wink:
Roger
Hide in a bush!! Put mud all over your face. Hold your rod in your teeth as you sneak up on them. Wiggle your fingers in the water like PPO to lure them in. Speak in sign language if you must speak.
If none of this works and the fish have made you, show yourself, making all kinds of noise and waving your rod around like a baton. Do all this in full view of the bass while walking away downstream from them until you are out of sight. Whistle the theme from the Bill Dance show as you go. The fish will think that you are gone and return to business as usual. Be sure and stay down wind as you circle back on them.
Just kidding. Good advise EBG.

[asain life]

I agree back out,.. try throwing whacky worm 8 pd main line to size 10 barrel swivel 2 to 3 ft leader size 2/0 hook. Hook a zoom trick worm in the middile. and wait. watch your line it will tick when fish eat it. also use flurocarbin line it will help you have better line control. Use watermelon, and watermelon red.Also try zoom super fluke with wide gap gama 3/0 hook texas riged style. and twitch it sloooow.