How often?

[kingfish689]

As i was doing another L turn or a figure8 while fishing this weekend. I was wondering just how often do you guys get hit by a fish in the L or 8 that you did not know was there. just out of nowhere you get hit.or do you most often see the fish before the strike when its close to the boat.oh and before the season comes to an end and everyone disapears from here I would like to thank everyone for all the help I got here for my first year of fishing for skis.with the help i got here and from other kind fisherpeople I was able to put 3 nice fish in my boat this year a 40" a 38" and one very small one. But had many very nice fish at the boat. and countless hours of enjoyable fishing feeling confident that i am well informed and equipped for a safe catch and release for myself and the fish thanks again and see you on the water

[Nick Kuhn]

Depends on the body of water, the time of day, and the attitude of the fish. On clear water midday I see just about every fish. If the water is dark or it is low light then often the fish will strike before I see it. Most of my fish that strike boatside hit very early in the 8, usually coming up with a lot of speed. Those fish I don't see. The ones that go around a turn or two I almost always see.

Just keep yourself ready at all times, and try not to get too frustrated as those strikes are often difficult to turn into a hookup and boated fish. Any predator fish after all specializes in making ambush attacks.

[50inchpig]

i've had a handful of hot fish show up late in the L turn, last november we got some low, slow and late fish that lit up on the 8. guess you don't have to do a full loop every cast but i try to make sure there is nothing down there before i cast again.

[nater]

Most of the time I've seen the fish follow in fishing clearer lakes, but had one a month back where I was just practicing my 8 with a dawg and it flew in from under the boat and whiffed on the hanging outside turn. Never saw the fish follow in so it could have been really deep or just came from deeper water behind me.

I wonder how many fish follow but turn off before you see them. Had a big fish turn off about 15-20 feet from the boat on a slow rolled bucktail. Didn't even see her until she turned to go back to the weedline and it was a hog.

[JimBuck]

Metro area lakes I typically see the follow before the bite on the 8 due to water clarity. For me, these fish typically will bite early in the L or on the 8 if they are going to commit at all.

On shield lakes with stained/murky water I've had much more instances where they suddenly appear from under the boat or depending on how deep I'm 'figure-8'ing' not at all. When I do see the fish follow in murky water, it seems like I've been able to get them to stick around much longer boatside. Earlier this Summer I boated 3 on a nice calm day and all of them ate it boatside on no less than 5 figure 8's.....That gets the blood pumping.

[kingfish689]

Make that 4 I was able to get another small fish this last week. About 30" thanks again

[jkahler]

I've done 2 or 3 figure 8's while talking to my boat partner only to have a 37" show up and eat when I was taking the bait out of the water. Never saw that fish.

Usually the ones I catch that I never see coming hit in the first outside turn of the 8, or right at the l-turn. If you fish darker water like I do, definately make those 8's or ovals, or some kind of boatside manuever.

[Esox_Magnum]

My home waters clear most times you see them in plenty of time BUT the 47 I put in the net on 10/24 came in late afte 2 rounds and I was almost ready to pull the bait when I saw her but adjusted quick enough to keep her around and after several more rounds she ate, on another lake this spring I had one come out of the water after my bait that I never saw after 2 rounds, dropped the bait back in and she ate ( I have a witness) I have done this now 3 times and got all 3 fish. Depends on the bait if I even do an 8 or not, a Wades never, a dawg only if I don't see one everything else I 8.

[delmuts]

"( I have a witness)"

[Esox_Magnum]

Glad you had your butt seat in or I would have been in the lake to on that one...I remember someone thinking it was funny to

[delmuts]

IT WAS FUNNY!! I just didn't have time to laugh til after we had the fish in the net unhooked, measured and released!!!

To see someone launch up in the air ( a guy that can't swim by the way!!) backwards after picking a 10" WTD lure up out of the water with a 41" fish coming atleast two feet out of the water after it! Catch his balance in mid air, plant one foot on the side of the boat,lunge forward and get the lure back in the water only to have the fish jump all over it. Then trying to keep it on with only a little line out plus the leader! Then watch him have problems trying to light a smoke cause he is shaking so bad afterwards!

The best part was; that fish along with the 45" you caught earlier, put us in second place for the tournament, so i got paid!

[Esox_Magnum]

And it's moments like those that keep me going back every chance I get..