Always leaves me wondering ...

[numbskull]

There is nothing that works consistently and you did everything right. Sniffs or follows happen all the time when fishing topwater during the day. Makes me wonder what is going on out there at night. If you can see the fish, they can see you. If they want the plug they'll take it early, if they can't make up their mind they usually won't as it gets closer and closer unless there is some obstruction (ie a submerged rock) that forces their decision. Sometimes a long pause to let them sink away then violent twitch will change their mind. More often you are just going to get a show that leaves you shaking. By boat I've had fish well over 40lbs follow my plug right to the transom. Often you think they are much smaller from the swirls they make behind the plug. Fishing plugs is a good way to get humbled.

[spinncognito]

I had a mammoth fish follow shadow a schoolie I was reeling in off of a bridge last summer. As the schoolie got withing 15 ft of me in crystal clear water- the big girl swiped and tried to eat it. I will never forget that moment and I tried slowly retrieving each schoolie after that but never saw a big fish again.

I have been fishing redfins as of late during the day and have been getting many "follows". Mostly schoolies but it seems like they are hitting the lure as it gets closer and into shallow water as opposed to giving up on it.