They can see you far before you see them. It seems to vary from fish to fish for me. I've had 2 lb shellcrackers inhale a whole nightcrawler right under the boat in 3 ft of water and others would not bite regardless of my attempts. I've had success coming back to the bed an hour or so later after trying them the first time. Stay much further out and don't use a bobber. Just enough splitshot to get your bait there.