Negative Fish Tactics

[zoops]

Was out yesterday and walleyes were doing the old staring contest. Put the camera down and they would come and look at the bait but rarely hit it. Tried different size lures, dead sticks, whole minnow, half minnow, didn't seem to make much difference. Other ideas?

 

[Captain Ahab]

Pound the bottom a little and maybe lay a minnow on the bottom. A panfish jig like a mud bug and the smallest minnow in the bucket. A light spoon that flutters like a tumbler if they will chase.

 

[KDM]

For negative fish I do one of three things. One: Go smaller and slower. Two: Go bigger and faster ie. jig aggressively to get reaction strikes. Three: Pack up and head to the Bar.

 

[shorthairsrus]

some fish dont like the camera

 

[Migrator Man]

I pull out small jigging raps when they are slow. Like ahab said put a minnow on the bottom and see what happens

 

[Obi-Wan]

Cameras on days like this will drive a guy nuts sometimes its better off not knowing.

 

[Lungdeflator]

small jigging raps or, if you can find them, the right colored mini airplane jig. I think Northland quit making the mini airplanes so might have to check ebay or something. I had the same problem on Sak 2 years ago and the only thing they would bite was back half of a minnow threaded onto a blue mini airplane jig.

 

[3Roosters]

zoops- welcome to fishing my friend! My dad told me a long time ago when I was a snot nosed little tyke, "it isn't about the catching son, its about the fishing!". Dads are never wrong

 

[LBrandt]

For negative fish I do one of three things. One: Go smaller and slower. Two: Go bigger and faster ie. jig aggressively to get reaction strikes. Three: Pack up and head to the Bar.

Don't go to the bar much do you?

 

[jer79]

dead full minnow hooked in the lips on a plain lookin small jig laying on the bottom with a dead stick has worked once for me, emphasis on the word 'once'. if that doesn't work,... we dance like there is no tomorrow, then, go home sayin', "well I guess we don't have to clean any fish" attached is photo of us dancing in fish house. best of luck.

 

[risingsun]

Had this same situation earlier this week. After changing numerous colors, sizes, shapes,types and also the minnow on the bottom trick. I did get them to go with a horizontal jig and minnow head. Once I got some takers, I went back to vertical, just to see if it was just a coincidence, and they did nothing but coming up to the bait and bumping it or the lure. Threw the vertical back down and wham. Crazy stuff.