Reaction Bite

Reaction Bites are one of the several bass bite types where a bass that is not actively feeding and is triggered by instinct,  not hunger, to strike a lure. Some describe it as the lure surprises the bass and the bass simply reacts. Some consider the reaction bite necessary in heavily pressured water where the bass are accustomed to lures.

Why are Reaction Bites Important?

Reaction bites are important to:

  • Trigger Inactive Bass: One of the techniques to entice inactive bass, bass that are not actively feeding, to strike a lure.
Reaction Bite Options
  • Fishing Fast: Reaction bite results when the bass has to make a quick decision, some suggest, an instinctive decision, to bite a lure. As such, the lure is moving fast to minimize the time the bass has to think. Fast fishing includes:
    • Burn Retrieve: Some suggest burning a lure provides bass little time to make a strike decision thus triggering reaction bites. 
    • Pitch Casting: Pitching a lure, especially a heavy lure, some suggest the drop of the lure startles the bass and does not provide the bass much time to make a strike decision causing a reaction bite. Same holds true for punching a matted cover.
  • Hitting Cover: Some suggest that hitting cover, either the noise and/or the redirected lure (an erratic lure action), will cause bass to react and strike the lure.
  • Erratic Lure Action: Some suggest that erratic lure action, often caused by short bursts of speed generally in different directions, will solicit a reaction bite. This is possibly due to the lure mimicking a dying bait fish which would represent an easy meal.
Additional Considerations
  • Water Temperature: Some suggest reaction bites are more common in warm water when the bass metabolism is higher providing the energy to chase fast moving lures. Others suggest in cold water bass are typically not actively feeding and thus a close lure will trigger a reaction bite.
Reaction Bite - It's About the ALLURE™

Fishing Fast Lures
Especially with the burn retrieve.

Pitching Lure
Some suggest the lure on the fall triggers a reaction bite.

Punching Lures
Some suggest the lure on the fall triggers a reaction bite.

Jerk Retrieve Lures
Some suggest the erratic lure action will trigger a reaction bite.

Targeting Cover Lures
Some suggest the solid contact with cover, possibly with an immediate pause, will trigger bass to bite.

MLF Videos and Articles
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