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Old 05-13-14, 07:28 PM   #1
keithdog
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Default Where are the legal sized bass?

I've been able to get out three times so far this year in the boat, and a couple times from shore. I've probably landed around 50 bass. Sounds good right? Well, the odd thing is that I have not hooked into one single bass over 13 inches. I am really not sure what to think. I catch them shallow in wood and grass, and move into deeper weed beds thinking they might be out there waiting to move shallow. I work the deep edges of the weed beds, and move out into the main lake and find weed beds out there to try. I catch bass in all those areas. Just nothing over 13 inches. Any idea what's going on? So far they are hitting jerk baits, both suspending and floating, crank baits, chatter baits, but will not touch a jig or lipless crank which really surprises me. Even tried soft plastics with no luck. And my main stay, spinner baits haven't drawn any interest for me yet. Very odd year here so far.
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Old 05-13-14, 09:34 PM   #2
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All the big bass know the footsteps of Keithdog, for he is legend among bass, both large and small mouth. When Keithdog approaches big waters from shore, the vibrations of his foot falls alert the big bass of his approach and they retreat in fear. To deep water they go and hide in any available cover with jaws locked tight until he departs. You should probably wear a disguise and tippy toe towards the water, sneak up on them, even then your ju-ju may alert the finny buggers. Keep hammering them, the little bass are like all young'uns and just don't listen to the wise elders and will learn the legend of Keithdog the hard way, with sore jaw or pierced tongue and they will grow into big bass that will fear you also.
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Old 05-13-14, 09:38 PM   #3
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If only your praises were true, haha. I think I may be more legendary for nearly falling out of my boat! I normally take a few big boys between ice out and spawn, but I think they are flipping me the fin this year.
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Old 05-14-14, 05:46 AM   #4
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keith I have no idea because I've been out ALOT more with the EACT same results.

Even more, I haven't seen a single bedding bass this year and know of not a single other angler who has either.

Heck the bass should be done and the sunnies should be bedding.
NADA.
No sunnies around any docks or piers either.

We aren't that far from each other....maybe a Midwest deal.

Now with lows the rest of the week in the low 40s and highs mid 50s after 3inches of rain yesterday the bass should be even more confused.

Haven't found a single bay with a water temp. higher than 52 degrees....and that was before the rain.

To ADD TO THE CONFUSION.....the vast majority I'm catching are under 12inches.
I've had numerous 10 inchers hitting 5in baits.
A few on a large popper even.
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Old 05-14-14, 10:51 AM   #5
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Its a late prolonged spawn for much of the us,and some will pass or drop uselessly until next year if to many fronts.As for buck bass,they are the front line troops to keep out invaders while spawn is in effect,and also goes to show what to expect in the future since so many.A good years class effects the fishing greatly when they mature enough to be legal.
Spawn just started like 2 weeks ago here and much farther south,still ongoing although many have finished as fronts stretch it out.
Was in the eighties two days ago barely will break 60 for next couple of days.
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Old 05-14-14, 10:07 PM   #6
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Because I am so forgetful, I cannot tell you where I read this. But it was an article by a former bass tournament pro, who now fishes for fun and consults for pond and lake management.
Anyway, his key piece of advise for anyone fishing still water was, "If you're catching lots of little bass, move straight out from shore." He stated that, invariably, the larger bass will be several feet to several yards farther out.

I haven't had the opportunity to verify this bit of wisdom, but he was adamant that this was his key to success.
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Old 05-15-14, 08:35 AM   #7
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Hmmm the last time I had shortitis was smallies and on a bar 1.5 miles from shore,dont realy think their is a formula that fits.
On schoolers they are all about the same size in a group as same year class,catch 14 1/2in fish to 14 3/4 maybe one once in a while might stretch to 15.Thus one has a group of short fish all stacked up,but not a fault of locale or the fish later will make next years fishing better.
I have 2 holes here that always have short smallies on them havnt a clue why,just know ive never got them to go the extra inch and can always go there and catch them.Use it when company present and want them to catch a smallie,14 in one still fights good.
Smaller fish tend to school more than larger most lkely safety in numbers

Last edited by lilmule; 05-15-14 at 08:45 AM.
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Old 05-15-14, 07:31 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikechell View Post
Because I am so forgetful, I cannot tell you where I read this. But it was an article by a former bass tournament pro, who now fishes for fun and consults for pond and lake management.
Anyway, his key piece of advise for anyone fishing still water was, "If you're catching lots of little bass, move straight out from shore." He stated that, invariably, the larger bass will be several feet to several yards farther out.

I haven't had the opportunity to verify this bit of wisdom, but he was adamant that this was his key to success.
That's exactly what I did, and still caught bunches of small bass. I even tried working the different levels from surface to bottom bumping and crawling jigs. I'm thinkling maybe this brood of bass was from a very strong spawn year, and they are simply hitting anything that moves before the bigger bass.
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Old 05-15-14, 08:25 PM   #9
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KD hang in there i know the feeling
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Old 05-17-14, 07:58 PM   #10
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You're right. It's been a funky year so far. Haven't seen a spawner or fry but they are definitely acting like they're post spawn down here.
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Old 05-20-14, 11:12 PM   #11
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All I've been catching this year are dinks.

FINALLY Sunday.
Four more dinks and....









Man what a mess.
Pull out camera to see it blinking 'LOW BATTERY'.
Didn't even think I had a scale along.
I was alone and deep in the thickets shore busting.
As you see, this bass didn't want to stay on land.
Between trying to setup camera, the bass rolling around shore on a hill and me just being me....things got a little dirty.
The scale is approx. 10inches so I'm guessing....22inches, maybe more.
Tail clean so must be a female but didn't check for eggs or measure because this time of year my goal is to get them back fast with the least stress possible.
You can see from scale pic. I was also on a steep hill.


Thanks goes out to Bo and NuTech.
Caught on 1/4oz Pro Series with a Rage Chunk trailer.
Pitched between a gap in the trees approx. 4 feet wide with laydowns on both sides.
Can't even begin to tell you how many limbs the NuJig rolled over and through without a snag that day.
Did loose a jig in a tree about 10' up.
Hard sets in thick cover tend to send a jig flying.....especially setting on a rock.
Felt different so I set....simple as that.

I've been throwing pretty much everything....from lippless, squarebills,hard and soft jerkbaits, worms...Texas and whacky even spook puppies and different size poppers.

No ryhme or reason or pattern....PERIOD!
Still haven't seen a bed but mostly shore busting because the weather just hasn't been Kayak friendly.
Between cold and wind, crazy.
different day....different front blows through.

Two days ago, low 41.
Today high of 82.

No clue if I missed spawn or not?
Don't know if they are pre-spawn, post-spawn or spawning or maybe ALL THE ABOVE AT ONCE.

Anyway I thought I'd share my first legal bass of 2014.
Or should I say, "ONLY LEGAL BASS" of 2014.
Two weeks since opener.
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Old 05-21-14, 06:55 AM   #12
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Nice bass Joe! I guess they are out there. Just have to wait for them to do something. I'm planning on heading out Sunday morning to give it another go.
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Old 05-21-14, 07:32 AM   #13
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Oddly because of cold fronts a few bass down here still spawning less each day but had one sat chock full of eggs.Possibly that far north havnt spawned yet.
I was still burning heat a week ago.And lake dropped ten deg spreading out spawn.
Nice dark bass,shows its been shallow for a bit.
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Old 05-22-14, 12:33 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lilmule View Post
Nice dark bass,shows its been shallow for a bit.
That's the opposite that I've heard. Dark bass are from deep, dimly lit water, or from darkly stained water. Light bass are from shallow or clear water.
Have I been wrong all this time?
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Old 05-22-14, 10:08 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joedog View Post
All I've been catching this year are dinks.

FINALLY Sunday.
Four more dinks and....









Man what a mess.
Pull out camera to see it blinking 'LOW BATTERY'.
Didn't even think I had a scale along.
I was alone and deep in the thickets shore busting.
As you see, this bass didn't want to stay on land.
Between trying to setup camera, the bass rolling around shore on a hill and me just being me....things got a little dirty.
The scale is approx. 10inches so I'm guessing....22inches, maybe more.
Tail clean so must be a female but didn't check for eggs or measure because this time of year my goal is to get them back fast with the least stress possible.
You can see from scale pic. I was also on a steep hill.


Thanks goes out to Bo and NuTech.
Caught on 1/4oz Pro Series with a Rage Chunk trailer.
Pitched between a gap in the trees approx. 4 feet wide with laydowns on both sides.
Can't even begin to tell you how many limbs the NuJig rolled over and through without a snag that day.
Did loose a jig in a tree about 10' up.
Hard sets in thick cover tend to send a jig flying.....especially setting on a rock.
Felt different so I set....simple as that.

I've been throwing pretty much everything....from lippless, squarebills,hard and soft jerkbaits, worms...Texas and whacky even spook puppies and different size poppers.

No ryhme or reason or pattern....PERIOD!
Still haven't seen a bed but mostly shore busting because the weather just hasn't been Kayak friendly.
Between cold and wind, crazy.
different day....different front blows through.

Two days ago, low 41.
Today high of 82.

No clue if I missed spawn or not?
Don't know if they are pre-spawn, post-spawn or spawning or maybe ALL THE ABOVE AT ONCE.

Anyway I thought I'd share my first legal bass of 2014.
Or should I say, "ONLY LEGAL BASS" of 2014.
Two weeks since opener.
GREAT fish, Joe! Bass opener here is this Saturday and we're headed to our "resort" tomorrow. Plan to be out after them by 5:00 a.m. Saturday.
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Old 05-22-14, 11:00 PM   #16
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Most of the bass on Anna in VA have spawned but there are a few stragglers. The spawn is on on the Potomac. Buddy found three males on beds yesterday.

On Anna the main lake points were holding the better bass. Don't know if that helps you.
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Old 05-28-14, 07:15 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joedog View Post
All I've been catching this year are dinks.

FINALLY Sunday.
Four more dinks and....









Man what a mess.
Pull out camera to see it blinking 'LOW BATTERY'.
Didn't even think I had a scale along.
I was alone and deep in the thickets shore busting.
As you see, this bass didn't want to stay on land.
Between trying to setup camera, the bass rolling around shore on a hill and me just being me....things got a little dirty.
The scale is approx. 10inches so I'm guessing....22inches, maybe more.
Tail clean so must be a female but didn't check for eggs or measure because this time of year my goal is to get them back fast with the least stress possible.
You can see from scale pic. I was also on a steep hill.


Thanks goes out to Bo and NuTech.
Caught on 1/4oz Pro Series with a Rage Chunk trailer.
Pitched between a gap in the trees approx. 4 feet wide with laydowns on both sides.
Can't even begin to tell you how many limbs the NuJig rolled over and through without a snag that day.
Did loose a jig in a tree about 10' up.
Hard sets in thick cover tend to send a jig flying.....especially setting on a rock.
Felt different so I set....simple as that.

I've been throwing pretty much everything....from lippless, squarebills,hard and soft jerkbaits, worms...Texas and whacky even spook puppies and different size poppers.

No ryhme or reason or pattern....PERIOD!
Still haven't seen a bed but mostly shore busting because the weather just hasn't been Kayak friendly.
Between cold and wind, crazy.
different day....different front blows through.

Two days ago, low 41.
Today high of 82.

No clue if I missed spawn or not?
Don't know if they are pre-spawn, post-spawn or spawning or maybe ALL THE ABOVE AT ONCE.

Anyway I thought I'd share my first legal bass of 2014.
Or should I say, "ONLY LEGAL BASS" of 2014.
Two weeks since opener.
boy, that is a dandy joe. i really think that everything is a month behind just about everywhere. there have been very few big bass show up here either. i have not caught one bass that has had a mark on it. there are many that profess that all the bass have spawned, but i do not think so. if i were catching skinny beat up bass yes, but that is just not the case. just stay after them, and i think the bigger ones will finally show up.

bo
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Old 05-29-14, 10:02 AM   #18
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Keth, it is obviously climate change which is stunting the growth of game fishes....
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Old 05-31-14, 09:32 AM   #19
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It obviously is Bryce, mainly caused by bass fisherman with all those big out boards. Plus the big trucks with terrible mileage hauling those boats back and forth.
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Old 05-31-14, 09:21 PM   #20
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It obviously is Bryce, mainly caused by bass fisherman with all those big out boards. Plus the big trucks with terrible mileage hauling those boats back and forth.
Hell, Keith...I haven't been hauling my boat back and forth much at all!
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Old 06-02-14, 06:55 AM   #21
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Hell, Keith...I haven't been hauling my boat back and forth much at all!
No wonder the ozone levels in your area are so low right now. I hope you are able to get back out and start upping those levels soon!
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Old 07-28-14, 08:57 AM   #22
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I used to fish weekly with a friend. We both used plastic worms. We would catch about the same number of bass but his were always larger than mine. I suspected it was that he used a longer worm plus his technique. I would let my worm fall after the cast, rest on the bottom 20 seconds, then start a slow/jerky retrieve. He would make a cast, let his worm hit the bottom, then holding the line between his thumb and index finger he would just slowly raise his worm up about 3" and let it fall back. He did this repeatedly until he would say, "One picked it up". Then he would set the hook on a nice one. Most of my hits were on the retrieve, the small quick bass
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