We’ve all seen one. You’re looking down into the water, and in plain sight there’s a big largemouth bass, just hovering there, not a care in the world. A few smaller bluegills are hanging out with him, apparently enjoying his company, and that bass isn’t reacting. You know he’s seen you; he’s looking right at you. It’s almost as if he’s challenging you to an old-fashioned game of stare-down to see who blinks first. He’s not going anywhere, and he isn’t going to get excited about anything. The bluegills know he’s not hungry, the bass knows he’s not hungry, and you know he’s not hungry.

And there he is. A bass that won’t be caught.

You’ve run into bass like this one before and gone away empty-handed, but today, you’re up for the challenge. So, what do you do? That’s the question. What can you do to get this big bass to take a bait?

To start, realize that bass aren’t always in the mood for a meal, no matter how tempting it may be. And they are subject to the environmental conditions around them, both within and above the water. Sometimes, a bass will virtually ignore both you and anything you toss at him, eventually getting bored and swimming away.

But with that in mind, you can still lean the odds in your favor by pulling a few tricks out of your tacklebox. Here’s a look at some things you can do.

The term “reaction bite” refers to getting the bass to strike out of instinct rather than just because he’s hungry. The fact that he’s not moving and is accompanied by a school of bluegills which, if he were a hungry bass, would have made a nice lunch, is a sure sign that hunger is not going to help you in your efforts to hook him. Getting the bass to react out of instinct can be the ticket, but it’s tough to know how to accomplish it.

Start slow, so you don’t spook your bass, by gently plopping a soft plastic worm about a foot in front of him. The bass may not react in the slightest, but be assured, he knows the worm is there. Let it rest for 30 seconds or so, and if the bass doesn’t drift forward to pick it up, jiggle it ever so slightly. Repeat this for a minute or so, and then crawl the bait slowly away. If that doesn’t work, try the next trick to get that bass to react.

Use a suspending jerk bait. Reel it in and stop it right where you had the worm. Tap the line or jiggle the rod tip to cause the bait to slightly shiver, but don’t overdo it. Try this a few times. Though bass don’t become angry, as we know it, they can be goaded into the desire to kill something simply because it’s annoying. The fact that it will quickly turn into a meal probably figures into this aggressive, reactive response.

Hopefully, this won’t-be-caught-bass hasn’t decided that you’re more of a nuisance than you’re trying to be and decides to leave. You might be starting to get a response, but it’s not letting on that you are.

The next trick to try is drop-shotting, which is just a tiny sinker snapped onto the line about 18 to 24 inches above a 2/0 offset worm hook. Slide on a do-nothing-style worm to create a form of Carolina rig that can be hopped along the bottom, dragged over rocks and weeds, and dropped into holes in submerged vegetation. Take your time and make it look as tempting as possible.

If that bass still refuses to be caught, try a floating worm on a small hook without any additional weight. Cast the worm just past the fish and drift it overhead. Dimple the water gently, letting it lay stationary for up to a minute at a time. A floating worm can be especially productive when the bass is under overhanging trees and brush where it might pick up a bug or two that’s fallen into the water.

By this time, if that bass hasn’t taken a swipe at your offering, you are up against a pro. Chances are you’ll hook him before now, but if not, tell him you’ll get him next time. He’ll be waiting for the rematch.

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