Your Favorite Bite...thump, Tick, Pressure Or ?

[S&M]

I'm sure most have a favorite way of catching bass that includes the "bite", or does it ?

The traditional bite seems to be a couple of thumps on the bait, or perhaps a small 'tick" on the line. Another bite is a "pressure" bite that yeilds no bite persay, only a stretching of your line until it becomes so taunt that you think your stuck on the bottom.

Now comes my favorite bite, the bite that has no thump, no tick, no pressure. It's the bite that happens when your lure is falling and the fish inhales it leaving your line totally weighless and limp. It's as though someone had cut your lure off.

I must be paying a lot more attention to my lure as it enters the water because this year I have caught way more fish on the fall then then traditional thump, tick and pressure bites. Even when I'm hopping a jig on the bottom I'm getting those weighless bites. I don't know why it gets me so excited to catch bass like that, but it does.

For what it's worth, 100% of those bass caught that have inhaled it, have been quality 4 and 5 pound bass. I haven't caught a short bass yet with that "bite"

So whats your favorite "bite"

[Whack'emGood]

This is a tough one. I, too, enjoy when your line just goes "weightless". It is great when this happens and then you can see your line "swimming" off to one side. For me it is either this "weightless" feel when a big-un enhales your jig or soft plastic, or the one you get when it is just one big super thump and you know hes there for sure. You know the one I mean-- the one where your line jumps a foot and the vibration rattles up through your rod and arm and into your spine (so to speak). When you feel this one there is no need to doubt the source-- just reel down and rip him. These two kinds of bites are why I so much enjoy fishing jigs or texas rigged plastics, as opposed to cranking a crankbait or winding a spinnerbait, grub, or even drop shotting. I have heard guys say they would rather catch 1 spinnerbait or crankbait fish than catch 5 jig fish... not me, its just the opposite for me because of the feel of the bite and the skill it takes to detect the bite and set the hook. What a great topic. Aint fishin' great!!!???

[denjac]

I like the tick bite when the wind is blowing your line in a bow. Feel that slight tick and set the hook ! Whos your Daddy now MR bass.

[Don House]

S&M, you have described what I call the collapsing line bite, you will find it even more with the drop shot, and yes it is usually a big fish! I have found that these fish are in a group most of the time and when you drop that bait down they are trying to keep it away from everyone else in the group, so they bite it and swim straight up. It has to be my favorite bite of all, because it is the hardest to feel or see!

Good Fishing

Capt. Don

[Bill Babler]

Had that same collapse bite today. One of the boys lifted on a fish in the 25 ft. range and his rod bent double. All of a sudden, nothing and I saw his line go completely slack. Out that fish jumped landed on the bow of the boat, dislodged the dropshot hook and bounced right off the other side of the boat to freedom. Without ever having any prussure other than the hook set. Big fat 16 inch K.

We laughed till we coughed, never a dull moment.

[rps]

All of you are correct, of course, but I just have to say this:

Wait for it.

Topwater bites are the best. It doesn't matter if its the silent disappear, the trashcan lid suction move, or the jump clear out of the water to inhale on the way down. It's all good.

[single spin]

Man I'm just flat addicted to that little tap tap!!!

[techo]

topwater! other wise......I like the thud with the whine of the complaining drag.

[MOBass]

I like any bite I get! When I am fishing a grub, shakey head, or split shot I like a pressure bite. Just the growing weight and mushy feeling. Fishing jigs, tx rigs, stickos, flukes I like the line to go slack or move off or just a tick. I don't like the hard thumps for the most part because they seem to be smaller fish.

[FishinCricket]

All of you are correct, of course, but I just have to say this:

Wait for it.

Topwater bites are the best. It doesn't matter if its the silent disappear, the trashcan lid suction move, or the jump clear out of the water to inhale on the way down. It's all good.

I agree 100%... Any bite is an entertainment, some more tahn others.. but the best is when you are skittering a lure across the top of the water and you see the rush of water behind the plug and for a split second the entire world falls away.. It's just you and your lure and a mass in the water... Or when you don't expect it at all and a 10 pounder hits the top right next to the boat like a bucket.. Water splashes all over your face and when the dust settles you have something huge tugging your line right under the boat and into the prop... I don't even care that I lost a 5 dollar topwater popper.. It was worth it for that one upclose look at jaws, with a mouth the size of a 10 gallon hat!

That's my favorite bite...