How can you approach and effectively fish for bass during their feeding runs?

© Thierry Cendrier

You don't come across a hunt every time you go out. When you do, you need to know how to make the most of it, and to do that, it's best to take certain precautions and pay very close attention to the strategy you'll use to capitalize on the opportunity.

While a fishing run is a moment of euphoria for both the angler and the fish, it can come to an abrupt end, and it?s also possible at times to encounter a great many difficulties in catching a fish. That?s why it?s important to be cautious in your approach and vary your techniques.

Approach them from a distance

A boat approaching a hunt at high speed?even one that?s perfectly established?can disrupt it in a matter of seconds. To enjoy these special moments for as long as possible, you need to exercise discretion. It?s therefore best to ?approach? the hunt from a distance and circle around it widely to reposition yourself. Depending on the wind and current, position yourself upstream so you can drift silently toward the school and start fishing with lures that allow for very long casts.

Abordez les chasses de loin pour un maximum de discrétion
Approach game from a distance for maximum discretion

Fishing Quickly

When fishing, you'll find fish that are actively feeding; they're busy chasing fleeing prey and won't hesitate to strike at a lure moving at high speed. So fish quickly to stay in sync with the action and maximize your catch.

In this situation, jigs, spoons, soft plastics, and surface lures can all work. However, if there are too many birds, fishing with surface lures can quickly lead to a few mishaps...

On the fly and in-line

With this in mind, fishing in the transition zone between two water layers using fast retrieval techniques is most effective. You can then simply fish in a straight line or on the fly. Trolling with short, brisk retrieves is also very productive.

Les pêches rapides, aux poissons nageurs ou aux leurres souples sont très efficaces sur les chasses
Fast-paced fishing with spoons or soft lures is very effective when hunting

Lure Color and Size

Sometimes the action is so intense that every lure in your box will work, no matter the size or color. You may notice, however, that a particular model will attract bigger fish or more of them, but you?ll still be able to catch fish no matter which lure you cast.

However, this isn't always the case, and predators can become fixated on a specific prey and won't attack any lure that doesn't match it. So you?ll need to observe carefully to figure out what they?re feeding on at the moment and choose the right size and color from your tackle box. This can sometimes be a real headache, and there?s nothing more frustrating than watching all those fish fill their bellies without being able to lure a single one.

Si  les prédateurs sont fixés sur un type de proies, il faudra parfois chercher le bon leurre
If predators are focused on a specific type of prey, you may sometimes need to find the right lure

The Right Depth

Les plus gros sujets sont parfois un peu en marge de la chasse
The biggest game is sometimes a little off the beaten path

Finally, since fishing takes place in open water, if the water is deep, you may sometimes need to find the right depth to maximize your catch. As a general rule, you should target the water column extending from the surface down to the depth where the sea bass are located. This is because their hunting behavior is directed upward. However, it is also entirely possible that they remain at a specific depth or that their hunting occurs at different depths depending on the size or species present. Thus, two anglers working their lures at different depths may not catch the same species or the same size of fish. A slower, more gliding approach, fished on the fringes of the main activity, may result in fewer bites but larger fish...

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