Catching Bigger Bass

[GorillaWarfare]

In my last two tourneys my partner and I have managed to catch a limit but we can't seem to get the big bite. Both times we finished in the middle (10 of 20) with stringers of 5.7 and 5.6. We seem to catch a limit but can't find that kicker. Here in AR (water temp 50 to 60) we've been fishin jerkbaits and some cranks. I don't know if were throwin the wrong baits or if we just need to plug on and they'll come...If anyone has some advice it would be greatly appericated. Thanks

NICK

[Rodman_Rob]

bigger bass, bigger baits, fewer fish.

[ROBZILLA]

Rod man is right bigger baits will get bigger fish in the boat. Big fish are abit lazy and wont bother them selfs on a small bait it takes too much energy! they will tend to wait for something big enough to pay off for the energy they use to go after what they eat. remember this next time you go out, but word to the wize don't be crazy and through the biggest lure you got on! be censible when picking you bait,because their are fewer big bass to catch bigger baits take a little longer to produce fish. my tip is to use a big spinner bait to catch the bigger fish with.

Robby.

[flbassman]

Try either a buzzbait or a zoom ole monster worm.

[BassAddict]

Once you get your limit go to a bigger bait like said above. Big worm or a jig. Bigger isn't always better though. My brother has caught 2 bass over 8lbs. on crappie jigs while fishing for crappie. I've caught some nice bass that way too. You never know what that big ol bass will hit! Good luck in your next tourney!

Eric

[flbassman]

^^^^^^^^^ True. Occasionly, when centimeter or so long baitfish are schooling, big bass swim right through the middle and inhale 20 or so at a time. I hooked the biggest bass of my life, probably about a 14 pounder on a tiny swimbait meant for crappie. Sadly, I was using my little cousins snoopy pole, which had about 50 yards of 4 # and a crappy drag, in a south florida lake after the hurricanes(lots of dead branches) and I lost her after a 10 minute fight.

[lovinfishin9]

flbassman, that musta been one hell of a fight, too bad you missed it, that wouldve been something.

[Curado]

Right now I've been catching some bigger fish on a 3/8 oz. jig, senko, and a double willow bladed spinnerbait in either white or chart./white with a curltail on the back.


Good luck.

[bass kicker]

try using musky jerks bait i have seen big bass hit those suckers

[lizardsrule]

If you fish enough you'll catch some big fish LOL. I haven't got the perfect answer for you, but I have a couple of suggestions. #1 in tourney fishing is get a limit first and foremost. Then go after bigger fish. What type of water/cover/structure you have would dictate what I do. Big Bass are usually in the thickest stuff if you have good cover, if not, then look for drop offs, or secondary points. I would first off, be a little sneaky and find out where the others are catching the big fish, they obviously have the know, just gootta get it too. Big baits can work, but again smaller baits can also. No perfect answer here for you, other than keep fishing for a limit, and then fish places you have never fished before. Even though you can catch bass, you may be in a rut fishing the same way, in the same kinda areas. Change up, try different baits/presentations/areas.

Lizards

[GorillaWarfare]

Alright. Thanks for the tips ya'll. I'll see if I can't find a few hogs.

NICK

[addair]

jig n' pigs, 12" mann's jelly worms(black), 10" culprit's(june bug)

all of the above fished very slow. I have my best luck using a split shot on the worms when there is lot's of cover. I also have my best luck with hogs on overcast day's. I think the fish move more on the outer edges of the cover when it's overcast. i think this is also why the splitshot works with the worms. the worm kinda slides over the top of the cover. I find this works best if you can find submerged brush. Hope that will help you hook up with some hogs!!

[basskicker]

If the water is getting close to 60 degrees, I would be up shallow fishing for the big females on bed.

[keithdog]

I would think that pitching a 3/8 - 1/2 oz jig with a 3 - 4 inch craw trailer into heavier cover would work for ya. It is a big meal offering which is what a big bass wants. Also, the bigger bass tend to occupy the prefered cover while the smaller bass tend to stay on the outter edges. I have used the jignpig combo in heavy cover such as brush and lilly pads, and I can't remember ever catching a dink with it.

[Fish2win]

Big fish rarely school with smaller fish. The only exception may be during part of the spawn. I cant ever remember catching a 5 fish 15 lb sack when I was catching small keepers. Often all that is needed is to go to the nearest deeper water structure other times an entirely different location is needed.Smaller fish are usually more aggressive than bigger fish so that accounts for some of the problem. If you are catching 5 fish limits that weigh that small you may be fishing to shallow or to far back in a pocket. Try the points just off the channel that would eventually lead to a creek that has good spawning habitat. Fish 5 to 15 feet deep.Catch that limit and then change locations and or tactics to cull to bigger fish.I used to fish in Ark this time of the year when I lived in Memphis. We would find huge schools fo 12 inch bass but rarely would we catch anything bigger at that location, We were fishing Indian Bay mostly and sometimes the smaller Game and Fish lakes below Marion. Good luck Fish2win

[Bob Smith]

Well, I am going to have to weigh in on the discussion with another recommendation for Jig N Pig (or craw or Paca Chunk., etc etc). If the lakes have abundant boat docks, heavy cover and is generally shallow, I would definitely be pitching and flipping the heavy stuff and working it with a heavy jig. In the heavy stuff I would go for the reaction bite by dropping the heavy jig with a fast fall rate. Make accurate pitches drop it down, lift it and drop it a couple of times then pull it out for another pitch. If the whole dock or brushpile has potential, then drag is out slowly and feel for anything remotely mushy or subtle.
Same bait in the football head and heavy enough to cast will work miracles on deeper structure such as that structure Alton Jones was fishing this weekend. Chunk it out, let her drop to the bottom and crawl that sucka back as slowly as you can (then slow down some more!).
When you catch fish on these baits they are almost always a little larger than the crankbait fish!

[toneyoutdoors.com]

You cant go wrong with the jig to get you big fish. I have been usin the shakey head to get my limit and then switchin to the jig to get my kicker.

[Texas_Justice85]

Originally Posted by Rodman_Rob

bigger bass, bigger baits, fewer fish.

Tru Dat!!!