How Long Should I Wait To Try And Catch That Monster That Got Away

[Bass Commander]

So fishing my local honey hole a monster largemouth about 8 lbs which is pretty good for bank beating in my area slammed my spinnerbaits. She hit this thing like a freight train fought her for a few minutes till she jumped shook her head real hard and threw out my spinner bait. My question is how long should I stay away before trying to hook up again. I tried a few hours later but nothing doing. I'm guessing a should wait till next week to give her time to settle down again. I should have stuck my rod tip down in water to try and stop her from jumping but you gotta learn from your mistakes. Thanks guys.

[flyingmonkie]

Definately doesn't take a week!  A few hours was more than enough.  In fact, depending on the scenario (like if it was a big female on a nest), it could only take a matter of minutes. 

 

Unless you were fishing a piece of specific structure that the fish was keyed in on, chances are you were just in the right place at the right time.  That being said, it's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time again.

 

That's fishing, man.  Take pride in the fact that you fooled a wild creature into eating something as goofy looking as a spinnerbait!  That's success in my book.

[Bass Commander]

Thanks for the reply down here in south fla they are starting to spawn waters in high 70's. If she was on a nest it was deeper there was a tiny ledge next to bank then a drop off to about ten feet of water. I'm guessing she was cruising ledge looking for a meal and I just happened to be there. Managed to land 12 bass today from this small pond just off the exit ramp of the highway. Thanks for your input.

[flyingmonkie]

Nice!  I'm jealous.  Last time I flew into Florida, I stared out the window of the plane in awe, thinking "bet there's bass there", and "yup, definately bass there"... "gotta be some in there".  So much water - EVERYWHERE!  And it's all connected, so you know it all has fish in it!

[Bluebasser86]

I've caught the same fish on the same bait on the same day before. I'd go back tomorrow. 

[SirSnookalot]

You could fish that spot everyday for the rest of your life and never hook it again, or you may catch it 15 minutes later.

[Bass Commander]

Thanks for the help guys I may try to go today when she jumped I saw her open mouth. It looked big enough to swallow a softball. If she won't hit that same spinner bait again what bait would you guys throw to catch a big un' like that? The water is gin clear about ten feet deep, some weeds on bottom but mainly bulrushes and cattails around edges.

[BassinLou]

Bass Commander, did you catch her at the small lake off the highway, or in a canal? If its a canal, if she was indeed spawning she may still be there in that area. Work the ledges and use a different bait. If she was cruising the the ledges, she is probably gone. Canals down here are like I-95, bass can come go when they want. 

[Deleted account]

Thanks for the help guys I may try to go today when she jumped I saw her open mouth. It looked big enough to swallow a softball. If she won't hit that same spinner bait again what bait would you guys throw to catch a big un' like that? The water is gin clear about ten feet deep, some weeds on bottom but mainly bulrushes and cattails around edges.

I'd wait a day or two, and give it a swim jig or chatter. I find fish avoid hard lures longer than soft ones, once hooked. I have caught the same fish on consecutive casts, but I wouldn't count on it. Males just prior to the spawn seem the most reckless most times. My favorite is when I catch a good one, with a good lure on its lip, like Xmas!

[Bass Commander]

Never had that happen reason but I'll be on the lookout. Gotta love a Christmas present. Lou she was at a small pond off highway no canals linked to it she's still there. Like the blues brothers said I'm on a mission from god. Lol I gotta catch her

[WRB]

Water in the high 70's!! The spawn is more than likely a month over. Big females don't stay around a bed after they lay eggs. This bass may have been raiding bream nests ( bluegill ) in lieu of spawning.

Try a wake bait or T-rig a lizard....at night.

Tom

[Brian Needham]

I had a fish break me off one day, jump off the next, caught her on the 3rd day.

 

same tree, and when I did catch her, she still had my old hook and rage tail in her mouth with about 20 foot of line hanging off of it.

[BassinLou]

Never had that happen reason but I'll be on the lookout. Gotta love a Christmas present. Lou she was at a small pond off highway no canals linked to it she's still there. Like the blues brothers said I'm on a mission from god. Lol I gotta catch her

 

Oh yeah... she is still there. Those ponds off the highway hold some sweet bass. The one in my Avatar was caught from one of the ponds off the Turnpike. Unfortunately, right after that pic FHP ran me off saying I couldn't fish there. 

[wnybassman]

28 hours 37 minutes and 19 seconds.     Give or take   

[Bass Commander]

Went back today caught 9 more between me and the little lady. She was all excited because she never hooked one on a senko until today. All in about an hours time. Caught one that I recognized from yesterday due to a small hole in cheek from my spinner bait but no sign of moby dick lol. Work won't allow me to fish daytime during week so I'll give it a rest until next weekend then it's on again.