spooky reds

[Domo]

After two weeks of being in ponds full of reds and not being able to get a bite. I have to ask, what are your go to baits when the reds are just acting real spooky? I have tried topwater, spoons, spiners, jigs, and even market bait and nothing. I plan on trying flies, flukes, and gulps carolina riged to see if a more natural presentation will equal more bait.

[ijuswannafish]

Marsh Works plastics. Works every time.

[GreenWave]

When they're spooky, it can be counterproductive to stalk them in order to put your baits right in front of their noses. You end up spooking the ones you didn't see, and pretty soon the whole pond is nervous. I pick out likely "highways" through the grass and work them thoroughly with a soft plastic jerk bait fished slow and erratically. Like WACT said, be patient.

If all else fails, try and torpedo them with a Nemire spoon or something really obnoxious like a chatterbait. When the bigger ones are in a bad mood, they'll kill it.

[MDR]

When they're spooky, it can be counterproductive to stalk them in order to put your baits right in front of their noses. You end up spooking the ones you didn't see, and pretty soon the whole pond is nervous. I pick out likely "highways" through the grass and work them thoroughly with a soft plastic jerk bait fished slow and erratically. Like WACT said, be patient.

If all else fails, try and torpedo them with a Nemire spoon or something really obnoxious like a chatterbait. When the bigger ones are in a bad mood, they'll kill it.

+1

[Choupique]

when they are spooky you have to go to the popping cork and let it sit or give a gentle pop.

[tefishmaster]

SLOW......... and keep throwing

[jonalford]

I have had problems like this before when the water is low and clear. It seems anything will spook the reds and sometimes when you spook one it sets off a chain reaction. It is frustrating because this is when you can usualy see the reds very clear. When this happens I try to find some of the deeper passes through the marsh instead of the ponds. I think they feel safer when their backs are not sitting out of the water.

[Limestone Cowboy]

Fish slower and find some way to get yourself as tall as possible. Height equals distance when it comes to sightcasting. I am currently using our regular Marsh Works spinnerbait with a pearl squilla shrimp imitation on the back. With so many white shrimp in the water, they are killing it right now.

[northshoretiger]

Clear water favors the fly fisherman. If all else fails, break out the bow. But seriously, some good advice coming at you from everyone. I like to tie on a plastic on a worm hook and fish it weightless. It is pretty weedless and you can fish it slow as you want. Also a high floating worm with a very small bullet rigged texas if good for spooky reds. Watch were they patrol and cast it in the path and wait for them to come along them give it a twitch. Think of it like cat fishing meeting with sight fishing. If all else fails, buzz baits or other irritating baits can trigger a strike. If not, at least you get to see a whole pond go bat $#^*.

[Musicdoc]

After two weeks of being in ponds full of reds and not being able to get a bite. I have to ask, what are your go to baits when the reds are just acting real spooky? I have tried topwater, spoons, spiners, jigs, and even market bait and nothing. I plan on trying flies, flukes, and gulps carolina riged to see if a more natural presentation will equal more bait.
I've noticed the same thing lately. I have had success busting them with a marshworks spinnerbait. When that didn't work (water was real shallow) I tossed a small rapala topwater minnow. They killed it. In fact, I caught three and the third one broke me off. All I had after that was an old Corky plastic topwater. I caught one on that and it demolished the bait. I literally couldn't use it again because it tore the plastic and bent the metal in the middle of the lure. I tend to thing that a flyrod would work. I too will try to fish slower. Try plastic on a hook without a jighead. Something light that won't stir up the water too bad.

[Domo]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions I will def. try to impliment some of them on my next trip (Sat.). Keep um coming if you have more. I know I'm not the only one benifiting from all of your input guys. Again thanks

[swamppro]

Clear water and reds sitting still is usually high barometric pressure. Like above I will try a buzz bait to piss them off. If they spook and burn out I try and finesse them. I will rig a weedless hook and soft plastic like a shrimp where you just twitch it infront of them.

[pistol]

First in clear water you need to use as light of a leader as possible, with a uni to uni knot. Then try something live, just a hook, if you dont have anything live try a jerkbait or doa and twitch and let fall. Also check your angle to the fish, I like 90 degrees. Also what type of bait lives in this pond, imitate that. Where do they go when the tide falls, thats where they are when they are feeding.

[dave1sg03]

Eric,
I tie some shrimp to my cast net and throw it on top of them. When I feel a little tug I just pull it in. Just kidin, maybe I'll get a yard pass this weekend and join you. I haven't been fising in a month, just watching the wind.

[Domo]

After thinking about it long and hard I remembered that I had this problem before. On that trip I spoke with a guy at the launch that had limited out using a small fly sized DOA and he told me that was his goto bait for spooky reds, so that may be something I try along with some of the other suggestions. If that don't work then it's time to bring the spear (just kidding).