How Do I Catch The Big Boys?

[MIbassin]

Hey guys,

 

 

so, I've already been out fishing a couple of times, had some luck but with fish no bigger than 15 inches. 

 

So my question is: For spring and summer fishing in lakes/ponds with visibility of 2-3 feet and maximum winds of 20 mph, what are some of the best lures for catching big bass ( and by big around here I'm talking 4+ pounds)

 

I've heard hollow body swimbaits are good, but only if you have clear water??

 

Thanks for any advice, i appreciate it!

[vikingbear8]

Yeah swimbaits are the ticket, i am not a fan of hollow belly though, i stick to hard or full plastic. Also they definitely work in murky water as well as clear

[WRB]

First understand that the larger bass are not boys, they are girls.

The next factor to consider is the larger size bass are adults, not juveniles and have lived over 4 seasons.

These larger bass can go anywhere they are comfortable and eat nearly anything they choose.

The one thing these big girls do is spawn ounce a year, which means pre spawn and spawn cycle is the time these larger bass are vulnerable to being caught then at any other seasonal period.

The next 2 months in your region will be your best opportunity to catch larger bass.

You can rely on finding the magic panacea lure or learn where the larger size bass are located.

Study the lakes you fish, find out where they spawn and locate the deeper staging areas where these bass hold during the pre spawn period. These bass will be in deeper water than the younger and smaller bass.

Swimbaits are a choice, jigs works good, big soft plastic worms are good, a smaller size A rig can be very good and don't overlook a wake bait. All those lures will catch big bass fished correctly in the right places.

Tom

[Hogsticker]

If your lake is is stocked with or has trout in it try throwing a 6-8 inch trout pattern swim bait. Think like a fish. Find some areas where you would set up shop. Where the food would come to you, and you wouldn't have to expend a lot of energy to eat a decent size meal/snack. Toss the swim bait in those areas. No strikes, follow up with a big 8-10 inch worm dragged slowly along the bottom. 

[Bluebasser86]

If I was fishing those conditions and looking for a bigger bite I'd pick up a 1/2oz jig and keep fishing it until I got the bite I was looking for. 

[Sam]

What Tom said X2.

 

Big baits = big fish.

 

Big baits = lots of down time with bites so you may get bored.

 

Big fish = will strike small and large baits but if you throw only large baits you will eventually catch a big one.

[Crestliner2008]

I agree with what has been said. Big baits will get you into the larger bass in your lake. Focus on two presentations. Fish the bottom slow with a jig & craw or a 7" Senko texas rigged (no weight). Next would be a swimming presentation with large hard bodied swimbaits, such as the BBZ-1 in 8" (preferably, if you have the equipment to toss it with) or the 6" BBZ-1 Jr., which can be cast on just about any heavy BC rig (like a flipping stick).

 

Fishing known structures which hold the main forage base in your lake. I'd start off with the swimming presentation; and follow up with the jig. Good Luck!

[Raul]

Nobody cares about catching the big BOYS, it´s the big GIRLS you want to catch.

[Alex_bassman]

First I would throw a large swimbait. If I am getting no takers on that I would switch to a 10-12 inch worm, Carolina rigged.

 

Or a good sized hollow body frog over lilys. That usually does the trick

Edited May 3, 2013 by Alex_bassman

[wademaster1]

Most importantly, keep plugging away.....a big fish will eat a medium-large sized bait....keep at it with persistence and you'll get your trophy....

[Fish Chris]

My most important tip....

 

Find the big ones first !

 

The best way is to put on your polarized glasses, get out and throw a swimbait, or {especially in murky water} a big, obnoxious topwater, like a 10" MS Slammer, and watch that lure closely, as it comes into view, always looking for huge followers. I don't care if a big fish actually eats it or not. First, I just want to know where that big fish hangs out ! And nothing seems to pull them out from cover, to investigate, better than a big, loud topwater ...or a big, slow moving swim bait.

 

Once I know where the big fish on a lake live, I'll go back to those same spots, again, and again, and eventually, I'll hit one of those spots, at the same time big Momma' decides to feed... and Bam ! I'm holding a trophy bass

 

Peace,

Fish

 

PS, I "sight fish" at pretty much any time of the year, not just during the spawn.

[retiredbosn]

In one year my personal best largemouth went from 4 to 5 to 7 and finally 8.14. I fished every day that summer, I lost count of the numbers between the 4-5lb range. My pb smallmouth went from 3 to 4.02 the same year. The difference was time spent fishing, I logged more hours on the water that year than I typically do in five. To catch the big ones you have to be fishing. IMO nothing puts the odds in your favor than time on the water.

[fishking247]

lots of TIME on the water is the most efficient way to catch large fish. as far as tactics go i have caught large bass on both big and small baits. two of my biggest fish including my personal best have all come on finesse techniques. 4" creature bait texas rigged with a 1/8oz bullet above it on 8lb test. i have found on heavily pressure waters if i down scale my presentation i will catch more fish and bigger fish. this isn't to say large baits wont work but its somthing to think about. Google craig defronzo. he is solely a finesse fisherman and has some great articles. i believe he even writes for this site too

[WRB]

The one tip Chris handed out is priceless; look for big bass checking out your lure. Most anglers watch their lures and never see bass in the water following it. Knowing exactly where the big bass is located is the key to success. Whenever you re fighting a bass keep an eye out for big bass checking out the hooked bass, they are curious and you can see then if you are looking for them.

Tom

[Bzfishmaster]

My story of the biggest bass i've seen was from the time i was bread fishing at a local lake. I was catch huge Mayan Chillids. Next thing i knew a monster 12 + pound bass just jumps and tried to eat the chillid. I quickly as i could caught the chillid, instantly tried to catch a blue gill and set it out for live bait. I instantly got a bite, set the hook and behold the monster jumping out of the water spitting the bait once again. Most likely due to my mistake hookset on the live bait i noticed afterwards. : /

 

Usually i can catch 4 - 9 lb bass on live bluegill, but nothing like what i've seen a few days ago. 

[dcorp]

Lots of good info here. I just caught a big bass last Sunday on a larger 10" swimbait. My buddy saw the fish follow his lure to the boat earlier in the day. He made 2 more casts at it then we decided to back off and come back to the spot later. We new where the fish was but the fish also knew we were there. So about 1 1/2 hours later we hit up the spot again. I made a long cast to the spot I thought we saw the fish and half way through my retrieve she slammed my swimbait. 1 minute later I have a 27" bass in my boat.

[ChasingBass]

I would throw an 6-8in. Senko.