Lure Size

[BuffaloBass716]

I was wondering about how the size of plastic baits determinds the size of the fish that will bite it.  Say like a 5in trick worm, what would be the smallest fish that would go after it? I know that bigger baits usually mean bigger fish but I know bass can eat things that you might not expect, and if I used a small bait, could you still catch a big bass too? Any info?

[cast_and_destroy]

A 5 inch bass will hit a 5 inch trick worm...they're aggressive.

I've heard many times of people catching big bass on small lures and small bass on big lures.

[cdaggett]

Post on Lure section and you will probably get more responses. A bass will eat pretty much anything if its a free meal that doesnt take a lot of energy to chase down.

[Jrob78]

There really isn't a whole lot of correlation between lure size and fish size, at least not in "normal" bass baits.  A big bait will catch a little fish and a small bait will catch a big fish.

[Felix77]

Some of my biggest bass this season have come on a 6 inch Robo worm drop shotting.

[Marty]

 

I've heard many times of people catching big bass on small lures and small bass on big lures.

 

Absolutely!!!

[MIbassin]

Today I was out fishing throwing a 12 inch power bait worm. Caught a 9 inch bass. Next cast with my drop shot rig and a 4 inch worm I caught a 4 pounder.... You never know!

[GoneFishi'n]

It really isnt how long the bait is. It really depends on how it displaces in the water. You can have a 6" worm and catch small ones all day. But go to a 6" Swimbait like a Spro BBz Jr. and catch some giants(this bait still catches small bass too). Take an 8" huddleston for example. It's shorter then you're average powerworms or texas rigged worms. But its how bulky it is and the way it moves in the water.

[GADawgs]

I had a 6 inch rock bass take a 6 inch lizard on a 3/0 hook. They have small mouths too. I have also caught my PB on a 5 inch Yamamoto cut tail worm with no weight on a 1/0 hook on my medium light setup. So I basically agree with what has already been said.

[BuffaloBass716]

Thanks for the clarification. I

[OkobojiEagle]

What is the size of the forage that the bass are currently eating? Is it crawling or swimming?... couple of questions to ponder when selecting the bait you will be fishing.

oe

[Sam]

A small bream will hit your plastic worms, no matter the size.

 

These small demons can drive you crazy as they peck at the bait.

 

I have noticed that any size bass will attack your bait, be it plastic or a had moving lure.

 

I have caught bream and bass that are nearly the same size as the bait.

 

With that said, it is a proven fact that a larger bait will attract larger fish.

 

So throw the largest bait you have and be patient. It can take a long time for a big bass to accept your bait as an easy meal and then attack it.  If you can't wait five or ten minutes with the bait just sitting on the bottom then fishing with the larger size baits is not for you.

[Sam]

And by the way, at a client's private pond in Maryland I was fishing a one-inch white grub on a 1/64 jig head and caught a four pound lady.

 

Go figure?

[bigbill]

Well all predators are similar my 6 week kittens are going after my full grown yellow

labs tail. I raised three once feral kittens who are now friendly to me which my kittens are playing with them too.

Seeing this makes me think are they playing with the bigger stuff or trying to actually eat it. I see the bass making practice runs at my lures but won't strike them. Are they playing like the kittens honing there skills too?

Now like I said before I was using a culprit 12" black shad worm and caught a 13" pickerel. He grabbed the head of the worm were the hook was so I landed him. These members of the Muskie and pike family are just as aggressive. I think there more aggressive than our bass. I think the pickerel are the inland sharks.

Everyone was worried about the snake heads I say stock the places with Muskies and northern pike.

Bait size

A local water shed had a fishing competition for the biggest bass. A new corvette was the prize. The guy had his lure hanging in the water at the boat launch. He had one of those bean cranks on it. A very large bass hit it and he won the vette. This tells me that any size lure can be fair game. The mood of the bass is do they want a snack or a meal? I do find my bomber square A in redapplecraw when reeled slow no bass can resist it. It will catch pretty decent sized bass my PB of 10lbs so far was caught on a rebel BIG CLAW CRAWFISH Crank. It's larger than the bomber crank.

Now I do find the bigger fish won't strike the smaller baits but when I upside using the same lure they do hit it. Using the larger baits can keep the smaller pesky fish away

sometimes.

I still carry smaller lures to midsize lures most of the time with a few proven larger sized perch colored lures thrown in.

[Brian Needham]

Everyone was worried about the snake heads I say stock the places with Muslims and northern pike.

 

 

lmao did autocorrect get you? or is that a type of fish we don't have in the South?

[bigbill]

lmao did autocorrect get you? or is that a type of fish we don't have in the South?

I am deeply, deeply sorry that my spell check automatically changes Muskie to that word. I truly am sorry and don't mean to offend anyone.

[WRB]

I was wondering about how the size of plastic baits determinds the size of the fish that will bite it. Say like a 5in trick worm, what would be the smallest fish that would go after it? I know that bigger baits usually mean bigger fish but I know bass can eat things that you might not expect, and if I used a small bait, could you still catch a big bass too? Any info?

Your are trying to catch larger size bass in general or from a specific lake? I ask this ? Because of your post regarding a preserve lake that you inquired about catching larger size bass. Does your lake have smallmouth or largemouth bass? I know from the other post the lake has pike.

With pike in the lake the bass must share the water and pick out locations they don't need to compete with the faster toothy pike. If the lake has largemouth they will tend to roam the weed beds and stay fairly tight the cover in this type of lake. If the bass are smallmouth, they they will be more active moving around to diffident types of structure like rocky or gravel areas where crawdads tend to hide.

The bigger fish will be deeper during the dy time; between 6' to 8' or deeper so those are the depth zone to target.

For smallmouth crawdad soft plastics work good: tubes, shaky head jig with craw trailer. Largemouth drop shot or finesse C-rigged soft plastic worms in bluegill and crawdad colors. Fire tiger colored crankbaits like a Bomber 6A should work good.

Location trumps lure size for big bass.

Tom