What to do when you see a 4lb bass sitting in the water below you?

[mauro]

My buddy Dunham Fisher and I returned to a very popular pond in the middle of Brockton Massachusetts to fish together for possibly the last time in the state of Massachusetts.

We found a shallow area 1-2 foot dropping to maybe 6 feet, loaded with coontail looking weeds which I guess was milfoil, sandy soil and random rocks every where.

I was pitching a black/blue jig to start and on my second cast to thick patch of milfoil, out pops a 1lb largemouth.   A good start to the day, we continue around the pond, until Mr Dunham points out a 4lb Largemouth, sunning herself about 2 feet from shore, on the edge of the weeds,  about 4 foot below the embankment we were standing on.

I dropped my jig, 6 inches from the fishes nose, no reaction.  I drop my jig on the fish, no reaction.  I casted 10 feet away, retrieved over the fish's nose, no reaction.  I grabbed my pole loaded with a bluegill vibrashock, and passed it right in front of her, no reaction. 
I ran the vibrshock into her side, with no reaction.  At this point, Mr Dunham Fisher drops a t-rigged 6" curly tail worm right in front of her, she looks at it, but still wont hit.

We finally watched her swim off into cover and deeper water.

The weather was sunny at the time, but 30 min later a cold rainstorm came through,  we fished through it and I hit a small bass and a 2lb pickerel on the new secret Karu spinner bait in pink/white ( i guess cotton candy?) 
   
Mr Dunham managed 4 bites on the day but didn't land a fish, including a very large pickerel that he got an eyeful of but lost at the bank.

I managed 2 more pickerel in the 1.5-2lb range before we realized we were cold and wet from the rain that had just come through. 

It was a good day overall, but man that one largemouth wasted over an hour of our time.   

Lyncke,  have a safe trip to NC and may you have many days of tight lines and fish in the future.  I'll see you down there sometime in February next year!

[coldfront]

sounds like you did everything you could do...good lesson in that 'seeing fish' does not equal 'catching fish'...

even for those folks with high-powered electronics...or eyesight...

[mojo]

I would have just stood there and cried like a baby.  I've had the same thing happen in the past and figure it would happen again.

[Gangly]

I would have gotten a net and scopped her up, and then took a few pictures   

[Swede]

Sounds like you tried a few things and were unsuccessful at getting her to bite.  In these instances I like finesse type baits - meaning the smallest of jigs, finesse worms, ring worms, etc.  Something in other words that would not intimidate.  Maybe throw that bait onto the bank and pull it into the water from there - creating no splash.

[OutdoorFrontiers]

I would have tossed a Secret Weapon Recoil Rig in front of her.  Many people will say that the Recoil Rig is nothing but a dropshot rig, but I consider it to be an improvement on the rig.

With the spectastic fiber, you can give the lure so much more action that most times, I can coax a bite while sight-fishing, even from neutral fish.

Steve

[mauro]

I would have tossed a Secret Weapon Recoil Rig in front of her.  Many people will say that the Recoil Rig is nothing but a dropshot rig, but I consider it to be an improvement on the rig.

With the spectastic fiber, you can give the lure so much more action that most times, I can coax a bite while sight-fishing, even from neutral fish.

Steve

I could have tried a drop shot.  I may do that next time.

[Joshawa]

This time of the year is perfect to throw a lizard on a shaky head. It may take some time and you have to be ready but when presented with this same situation I would have to reach for a smaller finesse lizard.

[Dunham Fisher]

This time of the year is perfect to throw a lizard on a shaky head. It may take some time and you have to be ready but when presented with this same situation I would have to reach for a smaller finesse lizard.

A lizard would have been a good idea.     I shouldda' thunk it.    

[JKarbo214]

Unfortunately, unless they are hungry, sometimes seeing them is all you can do.  Not often, but there are times when someone could put a big juicy cheeseburger in front of me and I wouldn't eat it because I'm simply not hungry (this wouldn't happen very often!)  Although, even though you didn't catch it, you know where it was located and sometimes locating them is the hardest part.  This recently happened to me as well and although I was frustrated at the time it helped to know where they were located for the next time.  Good Luck!

[Camden]

light the dynamite!!!

[goodrat79]

   drop the anchor on him       

[mauro]

   drop the anchor on him       

I hit her broadside with a vibrashock, didnt budge.

[greg hall]

move on to find some active fish,lots of this where im at this year 3 & 4 lbders in bushes just floating no interest.