I just don't get it

There's a little pond -- I've written about it on FAOL several times -- that I fish regularly. I know it has been fished heavily last year by others, much to my dismay.

This spring, I see lots of motion, but very little catching. What I see is fish moving under the water, just below the surface. I can't actually see the fish, though, I see the "v" of their movement. Bunches of them.

They won't bite. I'ved tried poppers, gurgles, Jitterbees and other nymphs, boogers, scuds, you know it. They pass right next to it an ignore it. I still pick up the odd small bass or bream, but usually along the edges. These moving fish are mostly, but not always, in open water.

What the devil do I have here? Could it be carp? I never saw signs of carp before. This is a privately-owned pond but not managed and the owner allows anyone to fish it. It was good until this year becaues of it's relatively obscure location, though like I said, more people fished it last year than I ever saw.

R

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[url=http://www.native-waters.com:b7c80]http://www.native-waters.com[/url:b7c80]

[Jim Hatch]

Hey RS,

Hard to say but here is what I'd do.
Pick up a few worms. Tie a small hook to
your tippet, thread on a small piece of
worm and lay it in the area where the
activity is. No split shot or anything and
just let it slowly sink. My first thought
is it might be bait fish someone was using
for bass and then dumped them in the pond.
We have one we call a "roach" that will
reproduce like crazy and get fairly large.
Another idea would be using a cast net to
see what you might pick up. Good luck.
Warm regards, Jim

I like the cast net idea best. I doubt they'd bite worms if they're ignoring everything else, but it might be worth a shot. Very strange!

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[url=http://www.native-waters.com:e7398]http://www.native-waters.com[/url:e7398]

[dixieangler]

Like Jim said,

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>My first thought
is it might be bait fish someone was using
for bass and then dumped them in the pond.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Or they might be chasing local minnows. I think I would have to try to match a minnow to see what would happen under those conditions where I see the fish chasing. I see this sort of thing all the time on a canal I know. I would probably catch more fish if I did match the minnow with a BND (Black Nosed Dace), Squirrel Tail Streamer or other small (mini) streamer or bucktail. A pencil popper might also do the trick.

There are times I have seen fish with tunnel vision and they only key on an abundant natural food source like one kind of local nymph or minnow. Trick is to find that food source. Like Jim said, a net can be one way to find that source.

Best of luck.


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Robert B. McCorquodale
Sebring, FL

"Flip a fly"



[This message has been edited by dixieangler (edited 14 April 2005).]

[atomic_dog]

RS,

While the info posted by Jim and others is possible, I'd say the more likely scenario is that the fish are simply out there taunting you. At least that's what they do to me. They swim around in plain sight, back and forth. They make like they are interested in my fly, then they just move along. If you look closely at the water surface where they are swimming you might notice bubbles rising to the surface. I'm pretty sure that's from them laughing at me.

~Matt

I think Matt's got it.

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[url=http://www.native-waters.com:36b05]http://www.native-waters.com[/url:36b05]

[eponymous]

Indeed Matt has it.

[Robert McMahan]

R,
Could be that the fish are feeding on some type of insect emerger just below the surface. I've seen Bluegill do that. If I saw trout doing what you describe, and I have, I'd tie on a soft hackle and strip it fast just under the surface or "wake" it. Partridge and orange is my favorite. Maybe start with a size 16 or 14. I'd definitely try that before I gave up. Let us know the solution. I'm curious as a cat.

[rrhyne56]

and if all else fails and they keep on laughing, be ready with the M-80s

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RRhyne56
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:806f1]http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com[/url:806f1]
IM = robinrhyne@hotmail.com

Roger,
If you see this condition when its windy with gusts, its possible that there are no fish associated with the V's at all. It could be caused by the wind. Is it only on this pond that you see the V's?

Ol' Bill