Asking For A Response From Every Member

[roadwarrior]

What are your top three suggestions for catching bigger bass?

 

1. Fish the lakes or rivers in your area that are know for better fish.

 

2. Get off the bank and find structure and/ or cover. 

 

3. Slow down.

 

 

 

[Felix77]

1.  Slow down (agree 110%)

 

2.  Be different, somewhat.  Big bass are big for a reason they have seen a ton.  Make your presentation a little different from the rest.

 

3.  Perfect casts.  I believe big bass react to a great presentation.  Get it in an ideal spot the 1st time and your percentages go way up. 

[kadas]

1--slow down

 

 2-keep an open mind--do not rely on past history so completely that you are not open to present conditions

 

 3-always be alert as to how you are catching fish that day-depth-presentation and so forth in establishing a pattern for the day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Weld's Largemouth]

1. Use google earth to find spots such as small ponds or sumps.. These spots tend to be honey holes for largemouth.

 

2.Slow down a bit (for the winter)

 

3. Research the largemouth bass... here is great study http://www.umpquavalleybassmasters.com/bassbook.htm

[SPEEDBEAD.]

1. Fish what/how others are unwilling to fish

 

2. Fish where others are unwilling to fish

 

3. Fish when others are unable/unwilling to fish

[.ghoti.]

Fish deep offshore structure in the middle of the day, and slow down. Then slow down some more.

[RF813]

1. Patience

2. Be willing to try new Techniques

3. Do your homework ie: Where, How, When.

[A-Jay]

 With so many of the BR members being incredibly talented and experience sticks, (which I am not)

 I am looking forward to what is posted here. 

 

In the mean time, here's my entry.

 

1).  Learn the entire life cycle of your quarry and that of it's various food sources.

 

2). Fishing at the Time & Places where the largest Fish are. 

 

3). Be Ready ~ Ensure that every aspect of the tackle you chose is more than capable of hooking, fighting & landing your fish of a life time.

 

  3a).     Use a net.

 

A-Jay

[slonezp]

Fish big jigs

Fish HEAVY cover

Fish differences in current and structure 

 

 

42000 responses is going to take up more than a page or two

[ww2farmer]

Well, I can only give advice for our area lakes, as it works, but may not apply elsewhere:

 

#1..........do what I do for largemouth

 

#2..........do what wnybassman does for smallmouth

 

#3.........don't do anything J.Francho does.

 

That about covers it.....

[Preytorien]

1. Be able to get your lure where no one else can get it

 

2. Make sure your gear (all of it) is in good order and not damaged

 

3. Learn bass, learn all about them and how they work (or as close as we know)

[MIbassin]

1. Try and match the forage of the bigger bass as close as possible

2. Get off shore

3. Slow down/have patience

[daleste11]

1. Pay attention to the seasonal pattern....don't assume it automatically it what the calendar says

 

2. Get offshore during the middle of the day when pressure is low

 

3. Don't be afraid to throw a bigger lure...

[rowyourboat]

1. Slow Down

 

2. Fish the deepest, nastiest parts of cover - places most anglers fish the outside edges of, you go way back in the thick of it.

 

3. concentrate and believe every cast is the one you get the big one on

[Dwight Hottle]

1. Fish a big fish fishery

 

 

2. Fish a big fish fishery

 

 

3. Fish a big fish fishery

 

 

Explaination it's like real estate; Location, Location, Location

[BassCats]

Best techniques for big bass depend on the time of year and water I am fishing.

 

 

 

Slow Down is probably the best advice I can give.

 

 

 

Relax and enjoy your time on the water, the stress you give yourself transmits through the rod and line.

 

 

 

Try something smaller or larger.

              My largest bass came on a 4 inch zoom centipede 

              My second largest came on a 12 inch worm.

[MarkH024]

1. Fish with WRB or Big O for Largemouth

    1a. Move to Cali or Texas

 

2. Fish with Dwight for Smallmouth

    2a. Move to PA

 

3. Don't fish with me.

   3a. For the love of God, do not move to Illinois.

 

Location is key for monster bass.  Most importantly, HAVE FUN! 

[papajoe222]

1. Know your quary.  By that I mean recognize that big fish don't act like their little sisters and don't be fooled into thinking they can't be caught on small baits.

 

2. Search out the 'spot on a spot' that most anglers would overlook.  (eg.a small outcropping of rock on an extended ledge with many larger ones)

 

3. Be prepared to spend hours on and off the water without anything to show for it.

[Mr_Scrogg]

When I catch one Ill let ya know!!

My biggest came on a ARig in a semi private lake. 6lb 7oz

1. Go Big

2. Go where others can't

3. Go when the big girls are fattening up.

[MacP]

Top 3, huh?

 

I can't believe more people haven't said it before, but see my number 1.

 

1) Throw big baits!

 

2) Fish waters that routinely turn out large bass.

 

3) Be unique.  Whether it's location, lures or presentation.  Make your baits stand out.   

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

1 stealth

2 patience

3 variety

[shimmy]

Always enjoy these threads. I have nothing original but would state what i have found in this specific order:

 

1. Fish big fish waters

 

2. Put time on the waters

 

3. Learn to fish structure 

 

I would assume we all have a long way to go on the last one.

[geo g]

1.) I agree with all that said, slow Down!  Most fisherman fish way too fast especially in difficult conditions.  Slow down, Slow down and when you think its slow slow down some more. 

 

2.) Find places where big fish would hang during difficult times.  Look for drop off, close to large flats.  Look for two or more types of vegitation in one location.  This is always better then just one type of veggie.  Look for small isolated crop of vegitation in an open area, this is always better then a large mass of greens.  Look for birds in open water.  Diving birds are always a winner.  I areas with cypress, look for trees with nests.  The sloppy eaters will draw baitfish under the tree and therefore big bass follow.

 

3.) It all depends on your water and what there feeding on.  In South Florida I love senkos, flukes, and frogs in watermelon shades.  Watermelon red, wm glitter, and watermelon seed.  Use as little weight as the weather will allow.  I often throw weightless.  Black is another favorite color especially in low light conditions. 

 

Good luck out there.

[J Francho]

Well, I can only give advice for our area lakes, as it works, but may not apply elsewhere:

 

#1..........do what I do for largemouth

 

#2..........do what wnybassman does for smallmouth

 

#3.........don't do anything J.Francho does.

 

That about covers it.....

 

Jeez, correct on all three, lol.

 

my list:

 

1. location - fish where there are big fish

 

2. time - dedicate yourself to getting on the water

 

3. preparation - even if your lucky, it's easy for that luck to turn around, i.e. not having the gear to land and document your catch

[tholmes]

1. Be patient. Stay on an area that looks like good bass habitat. Don't just toss a few casts and give up. fish the area thoroughly, and with a variety of baits and presentations.

2. Become proficient in a wide variety of techniques. 

3. Try things that "shouldn't" work. Topwaters in the middle of the day, jerkbaits in the dead of summer, etc. Bass don't read the fishing magazines.

 

Most of all, HAVE FUN!

 

Tom