? For the experts

**wilbur** · 06-08-2013, 04:14 PM

I found a bunch of beds today with a bunch of Gills and Crackers on them. The water was real clear you could see them swimming around the beds, but they wouldnt hit anything. I even tried a roadrunner, they would chase it but not bite. It looked like 1 fish swimming circles in every bed and chasing the others off. So why arent they biting? Too interested in sex? I did get 20 nice ones but it took some coaxing. I would like to hear some input from the pros.

**Fisherman_Wantabe** · 06-08-2013, 06:37 PM

I have one place with clear water, it's a small lake. But I fish it from the bank, have to use a 16' pole and hide behind a tree to catch them, no weight just 2lb line with a hook and cricket kicking on top of the water. Smart fish.

**wilbur** · 06-09-2013, 08:30 AM

They werent spooky, at times we had the boat right next to them just watching, I cant figure out why they wouldnt bite.

**S10CHEVY** · 06-09-2013, 04:50 PM

Those are males at the bed, and until the eggs hatch, they will protect their nests at all cost, and as you see they won't eat until the eggs hatch. Have done the same thing you did, and they would only grab the live minnow by the tail and move it out of the way, but would not inhale it.

**wilbur** · 06-09-2013, 04:57 PM

Thanks for the reply S10. so when the eggs hatch it will be on like Donkey Kong? will that be next weekend?

**NIMROD** · 06-09-2013, 06:46 PM

Try backing up and using light line. Nothing beats a nightcrawler hooked in the middle on a #6 hook with no weight or float. If it is over 6' deep you can use a BB sized split shot up 1' or so above the hook. Toss it in the bed and let it do it's magic. Sometime that worm wiggling for a minute or two will be more than they can stand. They usually pick it up if nothing else to get it out of the bed.

**Ladykiller** · 06-10-2013, 03:26 PM

I got a guaranteed solution for you. Like a previous poster mentioned, they are protecting the beds right now. Bust out the flyrod, a 9' 4X tapered leader, and a Betts Bream Getter fly in black. You'll tear em up.