Small Bass & Big Bass?

[mikey5string]

For my last couple outings at my favorite local lake I have noticed all my go to spots for quality fish (3-5lbs) have been taken over by schools of small bass (from 10" - maybe 1.5lbs) When I get on them, I can catch one almost every cast. Either that or I get tons of short strikes that just foul my 10" worm. I threw a 6" swimbait and got a 14" bass.

When there are multiple same-size small bass in an area, will larger bass be present? I was thinking that large adults are solitary and therefore wouldnt be mixed in. I had to make myself move from

a spot that was producing fish because I want the big females and if they were mixed in, they probably didnt have a chance to bite my lure before the dinks came in and got it.

My one 3lb fish came off a swimbait thrown at a clump of grass on the bank. The area I fish is a mountain side with a bank with patches of hydrilla and fallen trees leading quickly to 30' of water (within 20 yds) I usually throw a c-rig along the bank where it gets deep, a frog at the isolated mats, a shakey head and a swimbait or crankbait.

My question: If you found yourself "on fish" but all were the same size (small) would you take that as a sign that big fish are nearby and adjust tactics or would you move on to find bigger fish?

[Bass Slayer 72]

I have put some in my fish basket, just to get them out of the way and released them later. I think that little fish attract big fish, so I'll fish anywhere I see bait fish or smaller bass, I just might fish on the outer rim or towards deeper water where I think larger bass might hold. I also have had good fishing when my boys are bobber fishing for blue gills and sunfish.

[fishking247]

it's very hard to just catch "big fish" just fish where you normally fish and fish it hard. you will get some quality fish in the mix. there are always going to be more small fish then big fish. big fish get big for a reason...they are smart

[MCS]

Good question, cannot wait to see some more of the answers.

In my experience, I have a very clear lake and see three things. Big fish schooling with big fish, small fish schooling with small fish, and then the lone fish - big or small it is holding to a culvert, clump of weeds etc.

Seems to me in this clear lake I see like size fish schooling and moving together. But that is really the only pond where I can stand a little above and look and watch a large area along the bank, if this is true else where I don't know.

[Nitrofreak]

If there are lots of little fish there will be a big fish or two around but others won't be far away, I will normally look under the groups of small fish to find them, at times its hard to see them if there are a ton of little ones.

I will move out away from the bank first before I move any other direction to see if they are a little deeper, then move up or down the shoreline.

[hooah212002]

Good question, cannot wait to see some more of the answers.

In my experience, I have a very clear lake and see three things. Big fish schooling with big fish, small fish schooling with small fish, and then the lone fish - big or small it is holding to a culvert, clump of weeds etc.

Seems to me in this clear lake I see like size fish schooling and moving together. But that is really the only pond where I can stand a little above and look and watch a large area along the bank, if this is true else where I don't know.

Someone posted a link to an article that said exactly this. The larger bass get, the smaller the school and the school is made of similar sized fish, to the point that the very largest tend to be loners.

[B@ssCrzy]

In the spring I have fished out small schools of small fish only to get hammered by the larger fish after they are gone. I think it is just one of those situations that can vary depending on the lake and spot being fished. If I had a honey hole that I had caught big bass at and I started catching small ones I would still make sure that I was working that area for bigger fish that were hanging back. Just my opinion...

[elhoward622]

If you are throwing swimbaits try an 8" or 9" bait. The little guys will hit 6" baits all day long.

[ww2farmer]

I find, at least around here, bass to loosely group up by size, but if your around fish, there always seems to be a couple big ones in the area too. The bigger ones, 4+ lbers in these parts, seem to be some what solitary fish. I am mostly talking LM, SM are different. When I am into a bunch of 2.5 lb, schoolie sized LM, I stay in the general area and fish either a little slower, a little deeper, sometimes a bigger bait, or in a little thicker cover and that often produces bigger ones. Rare is the day...........but it does happen, when the big ones are more aggressive. If I pull up to a spot and catch a 5 or a 6lber right away, it always seems like that is the only bite I get in that spot for a while, it's like everything else is laying low while big momma has the feed bag on.

[wademaster1]

use bigger baits; use bigger spinners and cranks and buzz them right by them; lots of times the big girls will give you a reaction strike that the smaller fish will not