bigger bass

[billy_bass]

i was wondering if yall had any tips on how to catch bigger bass all i have been catching is small bass like about half a pound to 1 pound with a 2 or 3 pounder every once and a while . is there any type of structure to look for that hold bigger bass?the lake i fish is clear and all different depts and good grass and several boat docks.any reply will help

[Bassin_Dude]

this isnt always the case...but usually the bigger the bait, the bigger the bass 8) usually...you are probally in the post spawn pattern. so those big bass may not be feeding just yet...depending on how far into the post spawn pattern...the females lay back awhile...they will relate to deep cover/structure near spawning flatts. now if its fairly far into post spawn....the bigger females should be fairly easy to catch....fish deep with flukes. if they are still relating to cover/structure i would c-rig a lizard and fish near deep structure/cover 8) also....make long casts...the bigger bass might see you better and not bite.

[bass72542]

yea wat he said

[ryan7261]

10 Ways To Land Bigger Bass

Bank runners. Dinks. Squealers. No matter what you call them, they're undersized bass that always seem to latch onto your lure. Some lakes are thick with these immature fish, making daily catches of 10 or 25 tiny bass a common occurrence. Although they're fun to catch, "dinks" can demoralize the angler in search of a lunker. For in bass fishing, many believe it's quality, not quantity that counts. Most weekend anglers would rather catch one big bass than a bunch of small ones. What steps can you take to increase your odds of boating a trophy? Don't count on luck; it has little to do with catching lunkers. Instead, use a game plan, one that will significantly increase your chances. The following are tips and tactics from several big bass experts that can move you into a bigger class of fish.

1. Target Shallow Water: Florida's Doug Hannon spends his time researching and fishing for big bass. Over the years, he's caught 500 bass exceeding 10 pounds, most of which were from shallow water. The well known expert says when he first began hunting giant bass in Florida in the 1960s, he verified catches of bass 16 pounds and over by interviewing anglers. Ninety percent of these giant fish came from 3 feet of water or less. Hannon insists the bass, as a species, is a shallow water predator: "It's shape, coloration and physical features dictate that it will most efficient in shallow water. It's logical to assume the biggest fish will play closest to this 'rule,' because bass survive and grow large by following, not breaking , the rules." One major exception: Recently, giant bass have been caught at great depths in the water reservoirs of Southern California. "Here, the bass and their preferred forage - trout - have both been transplanted," Hannon adds. "But in most lakes nationwide, the biggest bass will be shallow."

2.Avoid Concentrations Of Small Bass: It can be fun catching a squealer on every cast, but it won't put you on the path of a lunker, says fishing pro Charlie Ingram. "Small bass are distracting," he say. When you're getting hit after hit, it's awfully hard to crank up and leave that area, but often that's exactly what you must do if you're after a big fish. Ingram, like Hannon, targets shallow water, but says not all shallow areas hold quality fish. This becomes "painfully evident" in a tournament when he catches 100 bass a day but has little weight to show for it. Ingram has discovered big bass prefer large, shallow flats with plenty of cover and an ample supply of baitfish. "Flats provide the basic needs of bass - food, cover and a place to spawn. For big bass, abundant forage is a major key. These fish won't move far for a meal. Look for schools of baitfish on the surface and use a spinnerbait.

3. Use Big Lures In Murky Water: Bass fishing legend Bill Dance proved that an amazing number of lunker bass can caught in water that looks muddy enough to plow. During a four hour period on a Tennessee river that was rolling brown with mud, Dance and his partner caught more than 100 pounds of largemouth and smallmouth bass. Most of them weighed 3 to 7 pounds each. The key was Dance's insistence on using big lures. "The finesse fishing craze has taken attention from big artificial lures," he says. "But where visibility is restricted, big lures are the ticket to success." Dance believes bass need all the help you can give them in finding your lure in murky water. "A small lure will hurt you here," he says. "The bass will never see it." Dance likes big, beefy artificials, especially spinnerbaits, fat crankbaits and oversized jig-n-pigs. He fishes thee tight to cover, mostly when current is present. He says his biggest surprise is how lunker smallmouth nail these big lures. He catches bronzebacks as heavy as 9 pounds in murky water while using the biggest lures in his tackle box. Even with moderate water visibility, Dance chooses bigger lures. "If you see 10 peanuts and one cashew laying on the tabletop, you'd reach for the biggest nut first," he reasons. It's the same with big bass. They're greedy. Why use a lure that's the same size as the bass's domain? Give it the chance at a real meal.

4. Fish High-Light Periods In Clear Water: Hannon catches many of his biggest bass from Florida's super clear lakes and rivers. Surprisingly, most of these are taken not at dawn or dusk, but "smack in the middle of the day." "Bass are primarily sight feeders," he says. "In clear water, this sense is utilized to the utmost. Visibility is highest in the middle of the day, and big bass feed at this time to take advantage of their full capabilities as predators." Hannon disagrees with the myth that the sun's rays cause discomfort to bass. Although many bass professionals believe this, it's simply not the case, he says. "The bass is a member of the sunfish family. It's also a predator, however, and all predators seek to conceal their presence from their prey. So when a bass hides in weeds or brush, it does so to escape detection, not to escape the sun's rays." Lure choice becomes critical when fishing clear water during high-light periods. Hannon relies on only the most realistic artificials, especially silvery minnow lures. As an alternative, live bait can be fished with great success. "Shiner fishermen often catch their biggest bass in the middle of the day, because that's when the fish can easily see that the offering is real food, not an imitation," Hannon says.

[ryan7261]

5. Target Offshore Weedbeds: In many natural lakes and some reservoirs, the biggest bass may never move to the shoreline. Offshore clumps of hydrilla, milfoil or native aquatic grasses can provide an abundant food supply as well as a safe haven from angling pressure. "The natural tendency is to cast to the shoreline," Ingram says, "but in a pressures lake, this will quickly deplete the better bass in the area. Few anglers ever fish offshore." "Offshore" may not necessarily mean "deep water," Ingram notes. The best offshore situation for big bass might be a submerged hill that rises within 4 feet of the surface. On a hump like this, solar penetration is adequate to induce thick weed growth. Big bass gravitate to such areas during the spawning season, where they deposit their eggs in holes between the weed clumps. Sometimes, the biggest bass in the lake return to these spots year after year. For this reason, Ingram urges anglers to treat these offshore gold mines with respect. "If you pull all the fish off a spot like this, they won't be back next year." Ingram will fish a variety of lures around shallow offshore weedbeds including spinnerbaits, jigs, plastic worms and crayfish imitators such as spider jigs. He'll also try a topwater plug like the Rebel Pop-R.

6. Learn To Pitch: Tennessee outdoor writer and river fishing expert Joe Montelenoe catches lunker bass from water you could spit across. His secret is pitching, a presentation also favored by many tournament pros. Monteleone says pitching allows you to place a lure, usually a jig or plastic worm, into the fish's lair with the utmost stealth. This alone can move you into "a better class of fish." Monteleone believes over time big bass learn to avoid lures that create a lot of commotion. "Most lures, whether it's a rattling crankbait or a plastic worm, will make noise when it smacks the water if it's cast with an overhand or sidearm presentation," he says. "Big bass look for mistakes. They're super-cautious about what they eat. If even a realistic looking lure makes too much noise entering the water, it will spook them." Squealers, on the other hand, are attracted to noise, he adds. They'll literally strike anything that moves, which is why you can catch a 6 inch bass on a topwater lure "as big as a cigar." If they're fortunate enough to live through the experience, they won't be so quick next time about striking anything but the most realistic presentation. Monteleone taught himself to pitch in his backyard. He doesn't advise to learn during a tournament or when one is excited about being on the water. "I learned sheerly by trial and error," he says. To practice in the back yard, you'll need a rubber practice plug, a small bowl and a baitcaster rod and reel (pitching is possible with spinning or spincasting, but preferred with baitcasting because of the reel's revolving spool). Reduce the spool tension to a minimum setting and press the spool release button or thumb bar. Then, let out a length of line that matches the rod length. With the rod in your casting hand and practice plug in the other, release the rubber weight while swinging the rod tip toward the target. Keep the thumb in constant contact with the spool to prevent backlash. Lifting the rod tip toward the end of the motion adds distance to the pitch. Try pitching the weight into the bowl. If the plug lands into the bowl but bounces out, the pitch may be too flat or too high. Remember, this style of presentation is effective because it quietly places the lure where timid bass may be hiding, so work for a smooth, even motion to get the most for your effort. Monteleone demonstrates the technique at outdoor shows throughout the South. In many situations, he says, it's the single most important factor for increasing your chances at a trophy.

7. Target The Northwest Shore In Spring: Hannon catches many of his biggest bass in the spring, but he admits it can be a tenuous time for fish. "It seems every time you go to the lake in the spring, there's a front passing through," he says. "Cold north winds can chill the water and make a good presentation tough, shutting down the bite." He says the northwest section of the lake is the place to be in the spring. "The cold north winds blow over the top of this area and hit with greatest severity on the opposite shore. That helps keep water warmer in this key part of the lake, often five degrees warmer than elsewhere. In the spring, five degrees can spell the difference between inactive and active fish." The angle of the sun provides more sunlight and less shade on the northern shore, Hannon notes. This, combined with warmer water, leads to richer (and earlier) plant growth than in other sections of the lake. And the more plant growth you have, the more oxygen. The northwest section then becomes a haven for all sorts of life forms, including bass. "It's the first place I'll test in early spring." he says.

[ryan7261]

8. Read The Bait: Silver Spring, Md., bass guide and 1991 Big Bass World Championship state qualifier Jay Holt finds one group of bass may contain both squealers and lunkers. The key to catching the big ones, he says, is reading the schools of baitfish. "Smaller bass will usually be holding tighter to the bait, hanging on the school like a puppy chasing a ball around the room. The bigger bass won't expend nearly as much energy in their feeding. They'll be on the move 90 percent less than smaller fish." Fishing tidal waters and rivers extensively, Holt invariably comes across bigger bass holding tightly to cover, or in a current eddy. He says the tactic he uses to connect to bigger fish is to watch the direction baitfish are moving, then cast downstream from the spot with the most feeding activity. In current, injured baitfish lose their equilibrium and will drift around current breaks and into eddies, where big bass are hiding. It's as though the big fish anticipate this movement of injured bait into their lairs, and "just sit and wait for it to happen." A presentation that appeals to waiting bass in tidal water is a lure with a slow, tantalizing descent, Holy says. "I'll use a jig-n-pig, a 5 inch grub or a soft plastic jerk bait with some weight on it. I want to achieve the slowest fall possible without losing control of the lure in current."

9. Fish By The Moon: Hannon says a major step for him as a big bass angler was to realize the importance of the moon on fishing success. He correlated state and world record bass catches, and catches of giant bass entered in magazine competitions, against a lunar calendar. the results were astounding, most of the giant bass have been caught within three or four days of a dark or full moon. And the few not caught then seem to cluster halfway between the two moons. This knowledge had its impact. "I spend most of my fishing time around the new and full moons," he says. But he cautions: "You can't always get away to fish during these prime periods, so consult a solunar table to determine the best fishing period on the day you'll be on the water. Then, plan your day so you're on the place with the most lunker potential at the right time."

10. Encourage Good Conservation Practices: The water that gives up only squealers may hold few lunkers. The problem is often poor conservation practices. All the best big bass anglers I know faithfully release their catch, yes, even the lunkers. They know the lake's big fish represent its future. Don't practice bed fishing, for it invariably leads to a severe shortage of big fish. Handle all caught bass with extreme care. Also, when you share the boat with a buddy, help him understand the importance of such practices. You can make a difference between catching only squealers, and the bass of a lifetime.

A Little Something Extra: Lure Profile And Big Bass - Why do some artificial baits do a better job of catching big bass when others fail? Doug Hannon believes a major reason lies in the lure's profile. "Bass learn to recognize a long, slender shape as generally being safe to eat." he says. "Baitfish with soft fins, such as shiners, shad and many creed minnows, have this slender profile. Other forage that meet this criteria are eels, small watersnakes and various salamanders, all of which are big bass favorites." Eating spiny rayed species such as bluegills can be dangerous to a bass, Hannon says. If the spiny fins get stuck in the throat, the prey may be difficult or impossible to swallow. Once this happens, a bass probably learns not to eat anything with that short, squatty profile, Hannon believes. For this reason, most of the giant bass (those more than 15 pounds) are taken on slender lures, when live bait was not involved. "Plastic worms and slender minnow imitators have caught some of the biggest bass in the record books," Hannon says. Admittedly, your chances of catching a 15 pounder may be slim, but you can increase the average size of the bass you catch by relying heavily on slender artificial baits, according to Hannon. Besides worms and minnow lures, he recommends soft plastic stickbaits such as the Slug Go, elongated topwater plugs like the Zara Spook and slander crankbaits like the Rebel Spoonbill.

[Bassin_Dude]

jeeez rob 8)

[redneck3004]

Also: Big fish represent the smallest population in any given lake, it´s a matter of proportion, big fish could only represent less than 1 % of all the fish in the lake, no wonder why you can´t always connect with one. Hunting for big fish means that you will be fishing for days and many times months before you connect with one.

[madmarty]

Dadgum Rob how long did that take?

Just because you are catching a lot of bass doesn't mean it's a pattern. Only thing I can think of that hasn't been covered.

[Bassin_Dude]

i think rob has a stash of these articles...... 8)

[printers]

THERE"S THIS LAKE CALLED OPTIMUS.LOCATED IN HAMMOND IN. HAS ANYONE EVER FISHED THE LAKE BEFORE. I WOULD APPREACIATE SOME REPORTS ON IT thanks printers

[Dyas]

I have caught my 10 and 8 pounder both in just about 3 foot of water. Crankbaits tend to catch a lot of big bass. This is some controversy but as many little fish that plastic worms catch they still catch the biggest in ponds rivers and streams if you have the right setup and technique............ Listen to what ryan7621 said........ Its what you need to hear............

[KH.]

i like to use a heddon,lucky thirteen,when i keep ctcthing them small ones

[H2O]

Try some kind "stick bait", such as Heddon the Spooks, "walking dog" in early morning or dusk. It usually brings you "over-average" bass. Lunker likes it. And also it is an exciting way to catch bigger bass.

http://hires.basspro.com/is/servlet/...=1.0,1.0,0.0,0

And then start to use any kind 7" Tiki sticks, such as Yum dinger during mid day. any kind WEIGHTLESS rigged will work well. slow and tender set hook, lets say "reel set": Simply start reeling as fast as you can, and once you feel the rod starting to bend, or load up, set the hook with a short, fast stroke.

Finally, Good luck! (most importnant part)

[senkosam]

Big bait/big fish; little bait little fish, has been disproven a million times by thousands of anglers. Being in the right place and the right time is like making an eagle in golf - pure luck with a little skill thrown in. Small bass will try to clobber a lure that's 1/3 to 1/2 it's size; large bass will take small to medium size lures dropped in front of it maw and may even prefer a small snack to are large, fat and juicy offering.

My biggest bass, 5-8lbs have been caught on teeny jigs and trailers, medium size spinnerbaits, medium size cranks, 5" worms and Pop-Rs. Many of my 12-16" bass have been taken on Zara Spooks, 10" worms and lizards, 5" soft jerkbaits, 5" grubs and 1/2 oz. j&p's. My largest chain pickerel (4.2 lbs) was caught on a trout-size, Phoebe spoon.

Right place/ right time. The more water you cover,with the right lures and presentations, the higher the odds of getting some bigger fish, regardless of species. Keep in mind that every water has a proportion of bass to forage and panfish and therefore of old fish to young fish. Your pond may have mostly stunted bass and few old timers. My local lake has seen a big decline in old timers due to natural and delayed mortality (tourn. fishing) and the average bass are 13"-18". Very few are caught in the 7-8 lb range and never in tournament. I can only hope.