LUV-2-CATCH'EM Posted September 27, 2017 Report Share Posted September 27, 2017 When a fish misses a Topwater such as a Slammer or a rat... ...any wakebait for that matter... How do you get them to strike again? I ask because I have had ZERO luck triggering a 2nd strike from the same fish on a cast! SCENARIO 1 Your just straight "wakeing" a Slammer/Rat on a constant retrieve and a fish strikes and misses. SCENARIO 2 Make a cast and as soon as the bait hits the water it gets Blown up on and the fish misses (This is where most of my misses happen) Do you... A.) Kill the bait and dead stick it? B.) Just continue reeling same speed with out any pauses at all C.) Pop/walk the bait back and forth in place D.) Quickly reel and make multiple cast back to the same spot E.) Throw an alternative bait such as a soft plastic D.) Move on and come back later F.) Snap your rod over your knee and sell all your SB gear...buy spinning gear Since "F" is not an option... I hope someone has some insight to help the struggle Thanks SU! massbass10 and Low&Slow 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigpoppabass Posted September 27, 2017 Report Share Posted September 27, 2017 (edited) The issue is always whether the fish felt the hooks. Tough to do sometimes....now there could also be a tail slap and u deadstick the bait then. I have had fish pop baits into the air....As far as slammers go, I think u only get one chance cuz chance of tasters is unlikely imo. I have married reels and rods for life once I have confidence in their hooking ability. P.S. Got a near 6lber this year with an su member at night on a 2.5 oz topwater. He was the boater and trolled back to area where I had the hit cuz what he heard and saw suggested fish never felt bait. It was windy out and bait did buzz my ear on the hooksett maybe that was the sign. I thought otherwise and would not have gone back if I were alone. Edited September 27, 2017 by bigpoppabass LUV-2-CATCH'EM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Namsu11 Posted September 27, 2017 Report Share Posted September 27, 2017 Luv-2-Catch'em, this makes me think back to conventional fishing with topwaters such as jitterbugs, buzzbaits, torpedos, etc. I know with those types of lures, whenever I get strikes but no hook-up, I have experienced the beset results when I employ a straight, steady retrieve back. So, I answer "B." Again, just my experience. I've always thought that if this were to happen with a real baitfish, mammal, lizard, etc., that the prey would naturally want to flee, therefore swimming off to safety. I try to keep this same mindset when throwing big wakebaits, even though I haven't experienced a blow-up yet on the big baits. Hopefully this is helpful. LUV-2-CATCH'EM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbass Posted September 27, 2017 Report Share Posted September 27, 2017 I would crank fast and then stop it, May pop it a couple of times. Triadbasser and LUV-2-CATCH'EM 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthefisherman Posted September 27, 2017 Report Share Posted September 27, 2017 Whatever you do don't panic. It's easy to get so pumped after a missed strike that you never expect another one and miss it. I know a lot of guys recommend to keep working the bait even after a missed take... perhaps with a little faster and more erratic retrieve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clh121787 Posted September 27, 2017 Report Share Posted September 27, 2017 Flip a Senko in there LUV-2-CATCH'EM, DREAMS ARE NOT REALITY and surfk9 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clh121787 Posted September 27, 2017 Report Share Posted September 27, 2017 Paddle tail Senko.. to abide by sbu rules surfk9, danthefisherman, LUV-2-CATCH'EM and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Ramen Posted September 27, 2017 Report Share Posted September 27, 2017 I dead stick it for at least a minute, sometimes with a few very small twitches. I figure they must stun their targets occasionally and this has worked for me fairly well. If they don't come back for it, I throw something else after a few minutes. LUV-2-CATCH'EM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceaser Posted September 28, 2017 Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 I keep the retrieve steady back to the boat if I can keep my nerve during the miss. I have a very low conversion rate casting back to wake fish that just boil under it or slap it. I haven't figured any thing out apart from one follow up bait and just straight steady retrieve LUV-2-CATCH'EM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
massbass10 Posted September 28, 2017 Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 Generally a deadstick with a few slight twitches works for me but sometimes the fish wan't it accelerated and erratic and sometimes a steady retrieve works. It all depends on the fish and the day LUV-2-CATCH'EM and waynem 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhoozie1 Posted September 28, 2017 Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 When this happens I pause the bait for a bit - maybe 15-20 seconds. If the fish doesn't hit it by then I give a couple hard twitches and pause again. If still no blow up, then I continue to wake it back the way I was when the fish initially hit. When I do get them to come back, they usually hit during the hard twitches after the pause. LUV-2-CATCH'EM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triadbasser Posted September 28, 2017 Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 pull it away from them for a second then stop it like it tried to get away but exhausted, then it will hit most likely or back off LUV-2-CATCH'EM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Csweitzer Posted September 28, 2017 Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 My theory is that those true giants (I'm talking about those 10-13 lbers) know that the bait is not real. They just want it out of their territory. Because of that, if you speed up, stop, or start twitching your bait that fish will think it's done its job. . . I try to stick with option B, maybe reeling a tiny bit slower. I will TRY not to set the hook on a true giant until I feel it, if its a smaller fish I'll rip/pause and try to work them. LUV-2-CATCH'EM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good Year 71 Posted September 28, 2017 Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 My theory is that those true giants know the bait is not real Agreed. Big fish are big because they're smart, they won't chase unless committed. Takes too much energy. Key is to note where it came from and quickly offer follow up of something different before their mood changes. Hunger or defense irrelevant. LUV-2-CATCH'EM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_jeffe_33 Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 I've had decent luck with both C and D this season. If it is a true miss by the fish usually go with C and if I put the screws to one and loose it halfway to the boat, Ive had luck burning it back in and casting back to the area where the fish came unbuttoned. LUV-2-CATCH'EM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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