Stuck On 3 Lb'ers

[Lipsinker]

I'm a relatively new Bass fisherman, and this summer have been really getting a lot of casts in, getting out a few times every week, even if it's just to a small close by pond.  While I'm having good success and improving my all around skills, as well as learning new tackle, I seem to be plateauing out at 2 and 3 pound bass.  I've graduated from worms and brush hogs, and have had success jigging and cranking; haven't yet figured out spinner baits.  I can't seem to make the jump to landing some 5 lb.+ lunkers.  Any suggestions?

[MIbassin]

Hollow body swimbait 5 inch that matches the forage

[Dcheek]

If there are bigger fish in the pond, which is not as common as you would think in ponds. I use 3/4 or 3/8 jig black & blue or brown with rage craw trailer. Jigs are big fish bait......IMO the best!

[Megastink]

That's a great problem to have...

[AK-Jax86]

Yeah only catching 3lbers is rough

[bluezed]

I'm stuck on sub 1lbers.  

[Bassfishing375]

The easiest way to catch a big bass is to use big baits. Yeah I know sounds like a no brainer but, many of the biggest bass caught in the world where caught on huge swimbaits.

 

Jigs are also great big bass baits use a rage craw and match your trailer with the jig color.

[livetofish28]

That's a great problem to have...

 

 

Hollow body swimbait 5 inch that matches the forage

 

X2 on both of the posts be happy with catching good bass like that, a lot of us have a problem not catching good three pounders on a regular basis. also a swimbait in an odd color that bass have never seen before can trick the big ones to bite, bubblegum catches good bass for me good luck.

 

Tight lines

 

Andrew

[anonbassman]

Yeah no kidding, Where in St. Louis are you regularly catching 2-3lbers? Public Ponds?

[Mccallister25]

Like everyone is saying.. Swimbaits, and jigs.

 

I personally dont have experience with swimbaits.. Now jigs on the other hand, catch monsters.

[BillinDurham]

Some waters just don't have many bigger ones.  Try different waters.

[tatertester]

Slow way down, and cast into the thickest bush ,tree,weeds, lily pads, etc, that there is in the area your fishing.........We worry too much about getting hung up , and often bypass where the big bass is lying in wait.....Speed fishing is fine sometimes, but fishing isn't always that easy.

[Lipsinker]

Yeah no kidding, Where in St. Louis are you regularly catching 2-3lbers? Public Ponds?

Got quite a few at LOZ, several at Creve Coeur, Bush, Forest park, all the usual local spots.  Today at Queeny park had good day (first time there).  Obviously not all Bass I get reach 3 lbs, but that has been my ceiling thus far. 

[Lipsinker]

Thanks for advice.  I'm throwing a lot of swim jigs as of late, with success, and I really like how they cover a lot of water quickly.  I'll check out swim baits, I shyed away from them in the past cause I assumed they were gimickey.

[loodkop]

Try a big spook or other large topwater. I break out a super spook or big buzzbait when I need a kicker. Something about a big loud topwater annoys the .... out of big mean bass.

[roadwarrior]

Some waters just don't have many bigger ones.  Try different waters.

 

I like to fish several ponds around here.

[martintheduck]

12" worms. all day.

[FrogFreak]

Let's not forget the ole frog. I've caught lots of fish over 3lb way up north on a hollow body frog. I do agree with the other posts, big baits, jigs, long worms, weird colors but for my money, the hollow body frog is a go to for larger bass. Try the Koppers Live Target frog in the 65 size. They cast well, are virtually snagless, and the hook up % is better than the other popular brands I've tried (spro, kvd, booyah, scumfrog). If you don't like the price tag on the Koppers, go with a good ole Scumfrog Trophy series. They work as well. I personally would stay away from Booyah Pad Crasher, they are cheap but I've had troubles with the weight breaking off and then they just fill up with water. 

 

Just remember if you do try a frog, use 50-65 lb braid and a MH or H rod. If you try and use mono, you'll have a tougher time with hook sets. Also, when the bass hits the frog, count to 3 then set the hook. Some people say to wait until you feel the fish but I've had times where the bass was coming at me and I couldn't feel him. Some say to count to 2 or take a deep breath. I say count to 3 because I'm pretty sure you'll be pumped up and you'll count way faster than you normally would. If while counting the frog pops back up  to the surface. Wait a bit and twitch again. That bass may very well be staring at the frog he just tried to eat. One more thing.....the longer you can keep that frog still between twitches, the more you'll tick off the bass!

[WRB]

No easy panacea or lure will help you catch 5+ lb bass consistantly.

If you want to catch big bass you must fish for them....where they are located.

Suggest that you read In Pursuit of Giant Bass by Bill Murphy to start with.

Tom

[PotomacBassin]

Life is rough catching 3's. 

[wngan9447]

Caught my PB 4.5#er on a 5" wacky style worm.....

[deadadrift89]

jig or t-rigged crawfish around ledge/breakline,point

[stkbassn]

I love a white war eagle , double willow leaf , spinnerbait 3/8oz...that should land you some hawgs for sure. I've caught loads of 5# plus on War Eagles in lakes and ponds...

 

Don't overthink it, just chuck and wind it if you want...it'll work.

 

You can twitch it and let if fall too...or burn it across the top and make a wake with the blades...I've had some awesome strikes doing this ....

 

I must warn you though, this method won't eliminate 3 pounders! LOL

[Raul]

In my necks of the woods a 3 pounder is ..... well, not quite interesting to catch for some of us in a place where a 10+ pounder is not uncommon. I did say 3 lber for some of us, however 3 pounds is most probably the largest fish most anglers will catch in any given day, what most catch, most of the time is around a pound and there´s a bunch of those. Bigger baits will catch bigger fish ? not quite true, fishing with bigger baits is not a solution, it´s only a part of the solution, yeah, 1-3 pounders hit and get caught by swimbaits, actually most of the fish I catch with swimbaits are ....... guess what ? 1-3 pounders. If what you want is to catch bigger fish don´t go around fishing with bigger baits in the same places you catch 3 pounders cuz that´s what you´ll catch, 1-3 pounders, bigger fish don´t hang around where smaller fish hang around unless bigger fish are preying on smaller fish, big momma basses don´t give a darn if smaller fish are bass, bass eat bass. Bigger fish have slightly different habits than smaller fish.

 

So, if you want to catch bigger fish, start by changing the places you fish rather than changing the baits you fish, that helps but it´s not the solution. ( BTW, my first 10+ lber was caught with a Rapala Original floating minnow size 9 which is not exactly the largest bait I own and my PB, 13.86 lbs was caught with a Rapala Shad Rap size 7 , once again, not a large bait )

[roadwarrior]

I have a similar problemi, my fish seem  to be stunted  at 6 lbs or so.

The ponds produces few 10+, but most of the bigger fish are 6-8 lbs.

 

Yesterday and today we did a little better.