Catching a HUGE Bass

[keithdog]

Thought this would be interresting to read the comments. Here is how it works. Post just one tip per comment at a time. What is your advice for catching a big old pig bass? NOW, this is about your thoughts and opinions, not facts. Therefore, NO ARGUING ABOUT WHAT'S TRUE OR NOT!!! What one bass angler believes, may be different from what another bass angler believes. Often based on their own experiences and the waters they fish in. This is just about what YOU feel works best. I'll get it started.

Most of the year, the biggest bass will be in the 8-12 foot depth range where there is cover available.

[nobass]

most off the year big bass will be deep on main channel ledges

[WTL]

Fish where the big fish are.

That goes for a.) selecting the body of water and b.) selecting what specific part of that body of water you target.

[IowaBasser]

expect the unexpected...
3 of my largest bass came unexpectedly:

1: reeling in a t-rigged rubber worm for another cast almost at the boat
2: trying to feel the bottom just to get an idea of depth with a black spinner bait in 20' of water from a canoe
3: an errand cast that went over a boat-lift support

[Marty]

Originally Posted by WTL

Fish where the big fish are.

That goes for a.) selecting the body of water and b.) selecting what specific part of that body of water you target.

Exactly. I believe that virtually every type of lure can catch big bass, so you need to be fishing in the vicinity of big bass.

[lilmule]

Worthless without pics
First one finds a shallow spot that is next to deep water like from 1 ft to 2 ft drop

Then one takes a very large bait small ones cant inhale
like this cotton cordell big o

Or an extra large bassirisky soft crawler that took these two back to back casts 13 1/2 pds

Anyone can talk big fish,only those that do have pics

[Rebbasser]

Always make that "one last cast"; you will be surprised at the number of big fish that come on that particular cast.

[keithdog]

According to research that was done a couple years ago based on catch records, more trophy size bass are caught between 11:00AM and 4:00PM. Not what conventional thought would have you to believe.

[bcklash]

Don't go fishing with Bama!!!!!!!!!

[AUFred]

Look for transitions in environment.

[Bassboss]

Find a depth change on/near a weedline. Throw something like a log along the break with a little current and you got something good going!

Jig n pig.

[bamabassman]

dang....ron sone posted what i was gonna say. but he left out this.....TAKE LISA!!!



hahahahaha!!!

[carolina-rig-01]

I am a firm believer in covering as much water as possible most of the time. There are times to slow down and pick places apart, but most of the time I want to hit as many places as possibly because there are far more ideal spots on a lake than there are giant fish. So the more of the places that you hit, the greater the chances are that you will cross paths with a big fish.

[bamabassman]

serioulsy...wanting to catch a REAL wall hanger is one reason i am going to TRY to change my habits in the coming year. i am thinking that fishing deeper is going to be the key to catching a bigger fish. venturing out to areas like deeper points and where inlet waters come into the main body of water. using my old but new to me sonar will help me i think. i am for sure going to learn to use it. hopefully after getting back into the work force, i will be able to upgrade my electronics and that will help me as well.

i also like what kory and others have said. i am taking all this in gang. so post up as much info as oyu can.

[bassinbob]

Fish were a big fish was taken. Usually another big fish or the same one will take up that position or spot.

[Tavery5]

Fish in Florida or Texas

[Rebbasser]

Originally Posted by bcklash

Don't go fishing with Bama!!!!!!!!!

Actually I would LIKE to fish with Bama. Lots of laughs, I'm sure.

Shoot, I'd fish with any of you guys given the chance.

[kennethdaysale]

Originally Posted by bassinbob

Fish were a big fish was taken. Usually another big fish or the same one will take up that position or spot.

I haven't read a bad post in this thread, but this one deserves careful consideration. Most of us probably fish a handful of lakes/ponds regularly-we'll call it our "home water". Really BIG fish don't just swim about willy nilly like the rest. There are certain definable characteristics that will attract and hold big bass in a relatively small area consistantly. So consistantly in fact to be cliche....so cliche that I probably don't need to list them but here goes.

Deep sanctuary AND shallow feeding grounds within a couple of tail shakes. Both these areas need to have some cover and the more the better. Just a steep drop next to a flat won't cut it if there's the same contours nearby with wood/weeds to choose.

Sufficient oxygen to sustain life. (lot's of perfect" looking" spots actually suck)

Privacy----(probably not gonna find a double digit sow picking the middle of a busy boat lane as home) unless that's as "private" as it gets.

You can either spend lots of time and effort looking for those magic spots or spend lots of time and effort fishing lots of water, in the end you will find the "spot". Then if you approach it each and every time as quiet as a mouse(push pole) with a solid and well thought out plan, completely focused and confident, with all your gear in perfect order, all your hooks razor sharp, all your electronics turned off (including your trolling motor-stereo-and cell phone), quietly deploy an anchor or two or the Talon ! your odds of actually catching a HUGE bass increase.

Finally my humble opinion on what to present them (since a big live golden shiner doesn't get much love around here, we'll limit our choices to artificials). The truth is on any given day and for any given Huge bass anything in you tacklebox MIGHT work. It's also true that anything in your tacklebox might..........spook the crap out of her despite your best intentions and presentation except..........................soft plastics.