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Big shy Largemouth Bass

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The Global FlyFisher forum has existed for almost as long as the site, and the oldest posts are more than 20 years old. Forums aren't what they used to be. Social media has taken over a lot of their roles, and the GFF form is very quiet ... to put it mildly.
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Martin

I am again looking for advise about shy Largemouth Bass. One of the small three acre ponds that I fish has huge Bluegills and a good number of bass. Some of the bass are in the trophy range. Lately, as the water warms, I have been catching some massive gills. On at least five occasions this past week, while bringing in a big Bluegill, a huge bass has made gigantic swirls swiping at the gill. They hit and almost grab the big gill but not quite. I have tried hollow fleyes of the appropriate color, clousers, bucktails, feather wings, shad immitations. Sinking. Floating. Slow. Fast. Dahlberg Divers. Pig boats. Please send help!

Esox, I know exactly how you feel , those big bass just staring at you can drive any one insane, but they are catchable...... I have beed down the road of matching the natural baitfish without luck........but then I tried something different...a #10 red tailed black woolybugger - and the big bass just slowly swam forward, and inhaled the bugger......
might be worth a trie.....just make sure the fish don't see you.

Tight lines !

Thanks for the advise. I had a few of those exact flies with me but just didn't think about them. I was trying to match with Bluegills. I should have known that the big bass were just reacting to the struggleing fish. We have a big high pressure on us today and tomorrow with the full moon tonight. Then a big disturbance tomorrow night into Wednesday. Should be perfect at sunset tomorrow. I'll let you know.

Esox, I know exactly how you feel , those big bass just staring at you can drive any one insane, but they are catchable...... I have beed down the road of matching the natural baitfish without luck........but then I tried something different...a #10 red tailed black woolybugger - and the big bass just slowly swam forward, and inhaled the bugger......
might be worth a trie.....just make sure the fish don't see you.

Tight lines !

Thanks for the advise. I had a few of those exact flies with me but just didn't think about them. I was trying to match with Bluegills. I should have known that the big bass were just reacting to the struggleing fish. We have a big high pressure on us today and tomorrow with the full moon tonight. Then a big disturbance tomorrow night into Wednesday. Should be perfect at sunset tomorrow. I'll let you know.

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