One of the buzz phrases of the week is about the spotted bass “always looking up.” Translated, that describes how deepwater bass that are suspended or on the bottom look up toward the surface for passing blueback herring. That scenario draws the bass to the surface to feed.
Jacob Wheeler has a different theory.
“The spotted bass on Chatuge have been suspended out in the open water since May, just like they have on the Tennessee River where I live,” said Wheeler, who lives near Chattanooga, Tenn. “That makes them tougher to catch because they are conditioned to all these lures going above their heads.”
Wheeler talked about the importance of the reaction bite in triggering the fish to feed.
“You have to force them into making a decision about taking the lure or not,” he explained. “Utilizing fast moving reaction baits makes them look at a lure going past them, not above them.”
Crankbaits and swimbaits come to mind. Although not a strike-zone penetrating choice, a topwater walking bait is a reaction bite. It emulates a blueback herring and stands out with it’s splashing, noisy action that can grab the attention of a bass in deep water. Wheeler told me some of his bass came from up to 30 feet to charge at his topwater lures.