Bird: Stealth a Key in Sight-Fishing

By Alan Clemons

PAA Communications

Cody Bird enjoys the luxury of being able to fish in his home state of Texas just about year-round, but when spring rolls in he gets a little more excited.

That’s when big bass start feeding and spawning, and that means it’s time for sight-fishing.

“I love it,” he said. “I’m not the greatest in the world at it, but it’s fun. It’s just you and the fish, and you’re trying to figure them out. Each one is different.”

Anglers in southern Florida already are starting to report on some sight-fishing opportunities at Okeechobee and other lakes. Big catches of pre-spawners at Falcon Lake are popping up and east Texas anglers already are looking for them. Sight-fishing opportunities will continue through spring on into summer as the nation warms up, from the big reservoirs in the Southeast to the clear glacial lakes of the Northeast and out west.

Bird offers a few suggestions that have worked for him over the years.

Anchor up

Bird recommends using a boat-securing system, such as the Power Pole, to get locked into a spot so you’re not moving around.

Drifting around, casting shadows, using your trolling motor and making unnecessary noise or movement can hurt.

“Stay off the fish as far as you can after locating her,” Bird said. “If you can’t see them, they’ll bite about 10 times as fast. I’ve caught them up close before just looking right at them. But I think it’s better to stay back or hidden.”

If you are tournament fishing, read the rules to check on any that prohibit your partner, co-angler or observer from securing the boat while you fish. Some organizations, including the PAA, do not allow observers to do so. Be sure to double-check.

Small bait

Sight-fishing is about disturbances, not feeding, and Bird opts for something more subtle the fish can see.

His main sight-fishing bait is a green pumpkin Kicker Craw Jr. from Kicker Fish Bait Company. It’s 3 3/4 inches long with a tube body, tentacles and two claws. The latter can be left on the body or removed.

“I think going little bitty is important to get bites sometimes,” Bird said. “If you see a bass, she’s chasing away whatever’s coming in and a lot of the time it’s smaller bream or fish. That’s not to say bigger baits won’t work but I just prefer to start with the smaller Kicker Craw Jr.”

If Bird really wants to get down and dirty, he’ll hide a straight-shank hook in a white or pearl tube and use a split shot. With either setup, he opts for 30-pound braided line on a spinning rod for more control and casting accuracy. If the fish is bigger, he may upgrade to 65-pound test braid.

“I don’t believe it matters sometimes with the bigger fish,” he said. “Big to them is relative, you know. I just prefer it in some situations with bigger fish that may bite easier. If it looks like she’s going to be aggressive and bite quickly, I’ll upgrade the line.”

Get sneaky

Making a long cast and sneaking the bait into the bed works in concert with Bird’s  suggestion to stay back and anchor up.

He’ll pitch or cast the bait as far past the bed, quietly of course, and slowly work it back.

“I want to sneak it in there to be as much of a surprise as possible,” he said. “If you throw it in the bed to start with and the fish is right there watching everything but is skittish, then you have to figure out the sweet spot. She could swim away, ignore you or just watch. I think by throwing past and sneaking it in, it surprises the fish more and she may bite better.”

Reading the fish

Bird will troll down a bank or in a cove looking shallow and deep for his target fish once water temperatures hit the low 60s.

Shallow may be a couple of feet deep, while “deep” could be 10 or 15 feet or more, depending on the lake. Bass don’t spawn in just one depth range. Limiting yourself to looking shallow could mean you’re cruising over some fish out deeper.

If the spawning area in which you’re looking has some deeper water, such as ledges or a channel, take a look out in those areas. If it’s very clear water, look deep. Don’t limit yourself to one zone.

Also, each bass may react differently. One fish may swim away as soon as you troll by and not immediately return. Ones locked down may not bite at all. Others may act like they’re going to eat your trolling motor and will swarm at anything coming near them.

“If you go by and she doesn’t gas off then you probably can catch her pretty easy,” he said. “Put that bait right on the edge of the bed and snap it in there, and it’s like a surprise. She may whack it.

“If she swims 15-20 feet and comes back, it may take a little while. She may swim away, come back, swim away, come closer and keep doing that. She’s interested but not fully committed and so it may take some time. That’s when you have to be patient.”

It takes time to learn their indications, but that’s part of the fun.

Clearing some lanes

After locating fish, Bird may use loppers or cutters to trim any trees, snags or obstructions for visibility and easier casting.

“If I do this, I usually wait until about an hour before practice ends so there’s less chance of someone else seeing it,” he said. “There have a been a few times where I’ve done a lot of trimming and it’s paid off. Getting a few limbs out of the way can help if you’re trying to slip a bait to a tight spot.”

If you do this, check your local, state and federal regulations to make sure it is legal to trim or alter any plants. Some tournament rules also may prohibit this, so check those, too.

Tags: Bass, bass fishing, Cody Bird, Kicker Fish Bait Co., sight-fishing