I had the biggest rush this AM at Irvine Lake. I had two bass, one about 5# and another 7# (estimated) bite the Optimum swimbait but miss the hook---arrrgh! They were eating the hooked trout guys were bring to shore. They would even come in to inspect the trout in fish baskets and on stringers. One guy had a bass eat his trout and another swallow a trout halfway before spitting it out. What can one do to get them to eat it better? What do you do when they bite short--do you stop and let it sink? Or what? I did that and the bass did inspect it but turned away. the water is fairly clear, 3-4 foot visibility and the shore is flat about 1-2 feet deep that goes out about 10 feet before it drops off steeply. the bass are hanging just into the deeper water and coming up once they see a trout being reeled in. I didn't have my Castaic which is rigged with a rear treble for short biters--I would have hooked them for sure if I had it tied on. Next time I guess. Any tips about short biters? Thanks.

That's pretty awesome you saw them eating the trouts! I have never actually witnessed that kind of stuff. As far as short biters, that's a tough one. Did it seem like they only wanted to hit the sinking swimbaits like the optimum, or do you think you could have got them on shallow running floating plugs? I always figure if I can get them to hit a shallow running floating plug with two 2/0 gamakasku trebles on it like the MS Slammer, AC Minnow, Castaic Hardbait trout etc, the odds of hooking up are a lot better. Putting a trailer on a big swimbait like an optimum or basstrix can work but it makes them a lot more prone to snagging, and it's been my experience that they are able to throw a trailer hook a lot easier than the main hook. It's happened to me on the stocker trout a lot anyway. All I can say is, I feel your pain, and just do your best to find a bait that increases the odds of hooking up. When you get them let us know :-)

I'm going back with the shallow runners w/ multiple trebles--AC plug, castaic, etc. as the bass came up to the shallows when I got bit. I did not get bit or followed deeper. I'm sure the rear treble would have hooked them.

Went back with the castaic that has a trap treble wired to the main hook. the bass came after the lure many times. it struck it when i fished it as a topwater just twitching it as well as a fast retrieve. the only prob was that it missed both hooks everytime! Arggghhhh! after a while, it had seen the lure too much and would come up to it, nose it and then turn away or just stare at it. It was really cute watching the bass swim up to the fish baskets with trout and just sit there staring at the contents--like, "ooh, those fish tacos look really good, wish I could have one." a fellow was able to net one of the bass the other day as it was fixated on the basket. he weighed and released it--went 8.5#!!! if they'd only bite my lure properly!

Great post! LOL
I wanna fish taco too!! ha ha ha

Chris

1st you really need to get a M.S Slammer or AC Plug and put Gami's on it like swimbait said.Also are you able to see if the fish are actually opening there mouth for the bait or are they slapping it with there head?Either way the treble hook wood baits is the way to go.