ncstatefisher Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 What's up y'all, haven't been on in a while. Got a promotion at work and moved towards the NC Coast. The place I'm living has a 50 acre sandpit "lake" that is absolutely full of fish. I've lived here about a month and can go out with a ned rig and stick a fish pretty much whenever I want. Average 1.5-2lb footballs with a few 3-4lb class mixed in and I've caught one right at 5. A couple weeks back my girl hooked in to a fish that legitimately could have been low DD class on a chatterbait and she threw the bait on a "jump" (If you can call it that, the fat thing barely could get it's pectoral things out of the water, I was gutted when I saw the bait fly away from the fish) Needless to say this instantly had me digging through the big baits so I can get to work sticking a hammer. The problem is, I'm traditionally used to swimbait fishing fairly stained/dingy water and this is extremely clear. There's a distinct weedline maybe 8-10' from the bank where you lose visability but it's close enough for me to see a follower taunting me. I've thrown a hudd 68 a good bit with little to no noticable interest, switched over to a gantarel and have had at least one follower a night for the past 4-5 days. Have done everything I know to do, switched up retrieves - turned it on a dime right at the weedline trying to get a reaction, etc. And have literally watched fish swim right up to it and bump it on the nose and swim away. So something is just not quite right with my color or presentation. I switched over to a giron to see if it was a size issue and last night about stroked out when I had a 7.5-8lb class fish follow aggressively three casts in a row shortly before dark but no sign of commitment. These fish are extremely well fed and as far as I can tell baitfish wise there are bream, crappie, and big schools of 3-4" shiners. There's a loooot of snot grass forming on the bottom so I'm pretty well stuck to topwater/suspending baits. Any and all advice on how you would approach this situation is appreciated. The challenge has been fun but I'm ready to figure out the missing link on these followers... Half tempted to make the depps plunge as I haven't found many snags yet. Conditions: Clear visibility, snot grass Baitfish: Bream, Crappie, Shiners Fish Health: Extremely Fat Baits thrown: Hudd 68, MS Slammer, Gantarel, Giron PHYSH83 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilcatfish Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 This doesn't follow the whole "swimbaits or nothing" mantra but keep a rod with you that's rigged up with a fluke or senko. If you see a fish hesitate to bite your swimbait, tossing something completely different to them is often the trigger. This also works the other way around. Not getting commitment on a spinner? Show em a triple trout. I'm no expert though, just a technique I've found to work ncstatefisher and gcopple 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncstatefisher Posted May 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Yeah I've used that method in the past especially with topwater throwing a wacky senko or fluke right behind it, works great but man I want one of these hogs on a big bait now that I know they're in there!! Been only taking the one rod but if I see too many more big fish taunting me I might cave lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobssam Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 Maybe burn your gantarrel? That would maybe help with fish coming up and nosing it, make them react quick without really seeing the bait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDBEAD Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 I'd burn a hardgill on the weed edges. Fleeing bait and aggressive fish sounds like a good plan. Xtiaan, waynem and Mason 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHYSH83 Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 2 weeks ago I had one on the battles shad bite it twice but spit it out in a split second and then wouldn't commit anymore and just followed the bait along the shoreline, I tried a Vatalion, Shellback customs, and a top water and nothing. I gave the battles shad one more try but instead of a straight retrieve I popped it a few times as it passed him, on the 2nd pass he chomped it. Good luck out there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishDr Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 It sounds like you've fished the lake at dusk - have you tried it late at night? Or maybe on a day where there's enough wind to put a chop on the water? The fish will still be able to find the lures, but might not get a chance to give it the 3rd degree inspection. Primus and yev14 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yev14 Posted May 19, 2017 Report Share Posted May 19, 2017 It sounds like you've fished the lake at dusk - have you tried it late at night? Or maybe on a day where there's enough wind to put a chop on the water? The fish will still be able to find the lures, but might not get a chance to give it the 3rd degree inspection. What Fish Dr. said... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncstatefisher Posted May 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2017 It's pretty choppy on a regular basis haven't night fished yet but plan to soon! Heading to the blue water tomorrow to fill the freezer but will be back after these aggravating feesh in the lake Monday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncstatefisher Posted May 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 6 followers last night, most 4-6lb class. Got a little frustrated and started throwing the duel hardcore glide with a really erratic aggressive return and sent a 2.5lber flying through the air when he bit right at the bank, so one swimbait fish down just not the one I wanted haha! mcaetano2905 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MA Frog Man Posted May 22, 2017 Report Share Posted May 22, 2017 I think erratic and faster is definitely the way to go. Turn it into a reaction bite instead of a sight bite. Even better if there's some chop on the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jace D Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 Try using a ROF 0 8" hudd with a small nail weight to get it just under the surface. You will catch something good. The hard baits get a lot of followers but if you find fish that are touching it, they're probably too smart to get with a hard bait. The Hudd will fool them when nothing else will. I'd try it. It's worked well for me when I need something near the surface in really clear water and with big smart fish. Lewisr23 and Primus 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhoozie1 Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 ^^^ agree with Jace. I use my ROF 5 Hudd right under the surface when the water gets warm. If I see a follower when it gets close to the bank I let it rest on the bottom and that can get them to crush it sometimes. Jace D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynem Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 Try using a ROF 0 8" hudd with a small nail weight to get it just under the surface. You will catch something good. The hard baits get a lot of followers but if you find fish that are touching it, they're probably too smart to get with a hard bait. The Hudd will fool them when nothing else will. I'd try it. It's worked well for me when I need something near the surface in really clear water and with big smart fish. I'd pay attention to this. Jace has a history of putting lots of big fish on the deck. Jace D and WCswimbaiting 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcaetano2905 Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 I would try a glide bait like the S-Waver and fish it aggressively with quick 1/2 reel handle turns. Also, try the opposite: deadstick the Gantarel for up to 1 minute or more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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