Lost Bass

[gramps50]

Was fishing this afternoon at Simpson lake and while I was watching a Blue Heron and reeling in a 1/8 oz silver Rooster Tail when I nice size bass it the lure, I didn't get the hook set, she came out of the water and spit my Rooster Tail, bummer. :-(

I kept fishing the area hoping to get her to strike again but nothing, threw out the RT some more, tried a Torpedo, & a square bill crank bait. Fan casted the area and nothing, not another strike at all.

So was I wasting my time trying to get her to strike again or basically was she done and left the area or just laid low?

[Jerry Rapp]

laid low is my guess. You can often catch a fish that just flat out misses a bait if you follow up with a slow sinking plastic bait. Usually if a fish gets hooked and gets off, it is history. But it will still be around in 2 or 3 days. Give her some rest and then try again. Good Luck!

[Tim Smith]

Was fishing this afternoon at Simpson lake and while I was watching a Blue Heron and reeling in a 1/8 oz silver Rooster Tail when I nice size bass it the lure, I didn't get the hook set, she came out of the water and spit my Rooster Tail, bummer. :-(

I kept fishing the area hoping to get her to strike again but nothing, threw out the RT some more, tried a Torpedo, & a square bill crank bait. Fan casted the area and nothing, not another strike at all.

So was I wasting my time trying to get her to strike again or basically was she done and left the area or just laid low?

The only fish I have consistently seen come back to a bait after they have felt the hooks are spotted bass...and I've only seen that on a few rivers.

Jerry's right. Let her cool off and try again in a few days.

[Mitch f]

Except during the spawn

[ciRe]

Except during the spawn

Yep. Most bass won't hit for a couple days after you have them hooked. If they miss it or you miss time the setting of the hook and they didn't feel it you still have a chance but not as high of a chance. Read an article in bass masters that after a large mouth was caught most of the fish wouldn't hit another bait for 36 hours.

[Mitch f]

Yep. Most bass won't hit for a couple days after you have them hooked. If they miss it or you miss time the setting of the hook and they didn't feel it you still have a chance but not as high of a chance. Read an article in bass masters that after a large mouth was caught most of the fish wouldn't hit another bait for 36 hours.

Actually what I meant was that a bass will hit a lure and get caught and turn around 2 minutes later and get caught again while protected its bed.

[Tim Smith]

Actually what I meant was that a bass will hit a lure and get caught and turn around 2 minutes later and get caught again while protected its bed.

....and leave the nest unguarded while they're recovering from being caught, sometimes never returning and often resulting in the loss of a large percentage of the eggs or fry on the nest.

Which is why it's best not to fish for bass on the beds if you want more bass in your system.

[Mitch f]

....and leave the nest unguarded while they're recovering from being caught, sometimes never returning and often resulting in the loss of a large percentage of the eggs or fry on the nest.

Which is why it's best not to fish for bass on the beds if you want more bass in your system.

Just making a point, I don't do that. I admit I did it once in Canada in 1997

[Tim Smith]

I used to do it before I knew better too, Mitch.

Glad we agree about that and sorry to pile on. Just wanted to be sure those points were out there if fishing the beds was going to stay on the table.