How To Catch The Big Ones?

[ADL]

I live in eastern Ky and there are some pretty good places to bass fish here. I'd really like to know what to use and where to go to catch the bigger ones. I'm needing to know if i should go to the shallow or swifter water or the deeper and calm water. I also need to know if i should use lures, spinners, etc. or if i should use live bait and if so what type. I would really appreciate it if you all can help me out.

[Sam]

ADL, there are two schools of thought on catching the "big ones" you are hunting.

First, use large baits.

Second, use small baits.

Big ladies have been caught both ways.

May I suggest reading about big catches and what baits were used.

In addition, the back pages of Bassmasters Magazine has photos of lunkers in The Luncker Club section. You can read about the bass caught, where and with what lures.

I have caught big ones on plastic worms, Rat-L-Traps, crankbaits, buzzbaits and Chatterbaits plus live Nightcrawlers.

I have seen big ones caught on drop shots with 6-inch worms; spinnerbaits; and RICOs.

Just take your time and read the articles above. Go to the web sites of the various pros and read what they have to offer.

And suscribe to Bassmaster Magazine via joining B.A.S.S. You will learn a lot via this publication.

Good luck and Tight Lines.

[Crestliner2008]

Smallies go deep after the spawn. This is a gradual transition as the water warms. They go there for the stable water conditions and the prey they feed on. Start by learning how to use your sonar and look for off-shore structures, that are occupied by baitfish. Don't look for bass....look for bait. The bass will not be far behind. Once you located such a structure, the big girls will be there and can be caught on a variety of baits. The drop shot is one of the best presentations you can use under these conditions. And you can catch just as many big bass fishing tiny finesse baits, as you can with larger offering, in my opinion.

[Fish Chris]

Just to add to Sam's reply (good reply BTW)

You have to find the big ones, before you can put them in the boat.

So, after choosing a lake which has proven itself by producing lots of big fish....

Always wear polarized glasses, and physically "look" for big fish cruising, hanging out, followers, etc.

Like I always say > Finding them is 3/4's of the battle. Just let me "find" 1 or 2 big ones, and I bet you I'll mess around until I end up holding that big girl for photos

Learn how to best fly line a live crawler. This could be the most productive technique you ever learn.... not just for big Smallies, but darn near every freshwater fish that swims ! And please understand that their is at least as much (maybe more) to know about fishing a crawler to its fullest effect, than their is about fishing an artificial. < Artificials are for beginners... okay, and some pro's too

LOL

Peace,

Fish

[ADL]

I really do appreciate it you guys im gonna upload some pics of the bass i have caught last year from the river i fish at all the time. i have came to realize that spinners and buzz bait seem to do decent for the place i fish regularly but im going to do my research and i'll let you all know what it took to catch the big ones.

[iceintheveins]

I am a big believer in big lure = BIG SMALLIE. Smallies are especially aggressive and will hit very surprisingly large baits.

[roadwarrior]

As Fish Chris said, "You gotta find 'em first". The biggest smallmouth in Kentucky Lake

are in Tennessee! The tailwaters of Pickwick Lake consistantly produce good numbers

and some monster smallmouth. The best time of year is mid-October through mid-March.

[osbornj2]

There has already been some great advice here! Just to throw in my $.02: without knowing any other conditions on your river, what I would probably try is actually finding some of that deeper, still water that has some good cover (i.e. boulder piles, chunk rock, laydown trees, etc.), and fish medium to large-sized swimbaits over, around, and through the cover! By medium to large size, I mean something like a 6" Hudd, a 5" Mattlures Babybass (in the smallmouth color), even a Lucky Craft pointer 100.

More than likely, there are "big" fish in your river....these baits will help you select for them

Tight Lines, and be sure to let us know how you do...

[Gavin]

Location is key...and sometimes the obvious spots arent the best ones because everybody fishes them. Time on the water is the only way to figure it out. As for baits...I fish relatively clear rivers....so I tend to go with bigger baits fished fast on top, or fished slow on the bottom. Toss into junk that most folks wont cast too.