Finding Keepers

[Bassic Training]

I have three questions that are all somewhat related.

 

1. I have seen on several threads here where someone says to find out what weight its been taking to win on a certain lake and then fish accordingly. What do you do different if it takes 10 lbs to win vs. 20 lbs?

 

2. If you're fishing in a tournament or prefishing and you are finding and catching fish, but they are all small, do you try to find a different area to fish? or Do you stay in the same area and change baits or presentations?

 

3.I fish a local lake quite a bit and my partner and I consistenly catch 30 - 40 fish, but only only weigh in 1 keeper. What can we do different?

 

Thanks

[CDMeyer]

The other question I would like to know the answer to as well, but the third question..... I would suggest using a bigger presentation, or change up the color

[Bassic Training]

Thanks for responding. That sounds like good advice.

 

Here's another senerio:

 

Lets say that you've found a spot where your catching alot of fish along a bank or along the weedline on the shallow part of a point, but again they are all short. Does it sound logical to try the deeper water close by? If the fish you are catching seem to be higher in the water column, would there possibly be bigger fish deeper in the water column, in which case you might try a heavier weight to get deeper?

 

Or maybe this would be a better question: Do bass school together with other bass that are pretty much the same size as they are? I just dont know if the area I am fishing only holds small fish or maybe the small fish are shallow and the bigger fish are deeper. Maybe my thought process is completely off.

[Bassic Training]

Im surprised that i havent gotten any more responses. I guess no one want to give their secrets. 

[slimshad]

I have found that when I am catching alot of short fish, that I am floating above the big ones.  I had a loop in my reel and started to dig it out, my bait fell below the boat.  I caught a 4 pounder.  We started to back off the bank and now we have won several tournaments.  Hope no one in my club is reading this. lol  I was always leary about fishing 20+ foot deep.  Not now.  We will try the bank first then move out.  Good luck!

[Lund Explorer]

I have three questions that are all somewhat related.

 

1. I have seen on several threads here where someone says to find out what weight its been taking to win on a certain lake and then fish accordingly. What do you do different if it takes 10 lbs to win vs. 20 lbs?

 

This is what I call fishing against history and it has two parts.  The first thing history tells you is what the anglers you are fishing against are capable of.  The second should tell you what the lake is capable of.

 

If you are fishing the XYZ Club and the winners always seem to come in with 10lbs, then you should know what the level of competition is.  If you study all of the tournaments from other clubs and it shows that it takes 20lbs to win, you should know that 20lbs is possible, and the level of expertise in XYZ Club isn't up to the lake's potential.

 

2. If you're fishing in a tournament or prefishing and you are finding and catching fish, but they are all small, do you try to find a different area to fish? or Do you stay in the same area and change baits or presentations?

 

Location, location, location.  Before a tournament you need to find fish that are big enough to answer the first question.  If all you are catching is fish smaller than what it takes to win, you can change baits, or better yet move in search the fish you need.

 

3.I fish a local lake quite a bit and my partner and I consistenly catch 30 - 40 fish, but only only weigh in 1 keeper. What can we do different?

 

If that is the case, there is one simple answer as to what to do different: EVERYTHING!

 

Thanks

[VAHunter]

It appears to me that all your questions relate to winning weight vs. what you and your partner catch (small fish).  I agree with Lund Explorer, you need to change locations, or at the very least, what lures you use.  If you're fishing slow with plastics, maybe go with moving baits (topwater/crankbait/spinnerbait, etc.).  However, I'd bet your competition is fishing different areas of the lake and they may have a better understanding of seasonal fish movement.  Again, it would appear you aren't in the right location.  Likely the fish you are after are under or behind your boat.  Pay attention to how others fish and what they bring to the scale.  In your case, if  you see a team that stays off shore and consistently brings in good weight for your area, turn around and start fishing deeper.

 

As for the winning weight from prior tourneys, it also tells you what you need to be competitive.  If lake "X" normally takes 15 lbs. to win week in and week out and all you are catching is 2 lb. fish, keep moving until you start locating 3 lb. fish.  It's always fun to catch numbers of fish, but that rarely wins many tournaments.  Some fishermen prefer to get a limit in their well before dedicating the day to culling, but I want to fish for the right size the entire day.  I let the limit take care of itself. 

 

If I get to an area, even it's known for good fish, and all I'm catching are small ones, I normally leave.  My timing could be off.  Maybe the big fish will turn on later.  I'll come back and check it at different times.  If it's a new area to me and all I catch are small fish, I likely won't return in a tournament.  I'll continue looking for the right fish.  I don't need big numbers of small fish on tourney day, I just need the five "right" fish.

 

Without further details, it really appears that you and your partner need to start exploring more.  If you are happy catching numbers of fish, that's fine.  But, if you would like to hook into some larger specimens start the gas engine, go explore and get out of  your comfort zone.

[papajoe222]

When talk centers around how much weight it may take to win it's usually more about conditions than size or numbers. A post frontal tourney normally takes less weight than one during a prefrontal or stable conditions.

Comparing catching small fish while pre fishing and during a tourney is apples and tomatoes.  Pre fishing, give up the small ones and go find better fish.  Day of tourney, catch a limit of keepers and then move on in search of kickers.

As far as you and your buddy catching 20-30 smaller fish from that lake, I'm assuming you're not in a tourney. You need to ask yourself one question; What is more important to you catching, or catching quality/bigger fish?  If it's the latter, I'd suggest finding a different lake to fish.

BTW, schooling bass do tend to group by size, but don't confuse schooling bass with a number of fish you've caught in a short period of time fishing down a weedline or shore.

[Catt]

The lakes I fish take 20+ pounds just to be in the money & 25+ pounds to win.

A 14" lenght limit is minimum or about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds. If you fish with the thought of boatingb5 legal (14") bass you will be donating your entry fee.

Down here you go big or go home

[ww2farmer]

The lakes I fish take 20+ pounds just to be in the money & 25+ pounds to win.

A 14" lenght limit is minimum or about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds. If you fish with the thought of boatingb5 legal (14") bass you will be donating your entry fee.

Down here you go big or go home

Same here, except it's 16-18lbs to cash, and 19-22 to win. A limit of 12" fish does no good, even on tough days, you still need 15lbs. From the start of the tournament to the end, I fish for the fish to win.

[catchin'em]

I have three questions that are all somewhat related.

 

1. I have seen on several threads here where someone says to find out what weight its been taking to win on a certain lake and then fish accordingly. What do you do different if it takes 10 lbs to win vs. 20 lbs?

 

2. If you're fishing in a tournament or prefishing and you are finding and catching fish, but they are all small, do you try to find a different area to fish? or Do you stay in the same area and change baits or presentations?

 

3.I fish a local lake quite a bit and my partner and I consistenly catch 30 - 40 fish, but only only weigh in 1 keeper. What can we do different?

 

Thanks

You dont do anything different, step up to every tournament like your fishing against a field of ringers and you will always benefit.

now to the real question "I fish a local lake quite a bit and my partner and I consistenly catch 30 - 40 fish, but only only weigh in 1 keeper. What can we do different?"

The lake i started tourney fishing is a desert with a terrible ecosystem, there are good fish in it but they are greatly outnumbered by small sopts. heres what changed the game for me, spots are naturally mean hungry fish and they capitalize on their opportunities much more than largemouth which means reaction baits are phenominal. now lets say im fishing the chatterbait to start on shallow riprap and im mainly catching twins i can rule out ahst spot and know the fish are active(if their choking it) if they are short striking im throwing a spinnerbait instead but i change the type of shallow fishing i do. ill move from the riprap to inside marina rock or points. if you start getting crushed on that bite then grind it out if not then move onto finesse worms or small jigs on deep rock or bluff walls. basically you need to change until you find them and what they want and when you do youll know it, dinks turn into twos and threes and when you make another little change youll hopefully get into some kickers. but you wont win them all sometimes the kitchen sink and the tub isnt enough to get bit. hope that helps, go out and catch em