How To Focus On Large Bass Only

[hoosierbass07]

I'm in Indiana and I have been out on the water more in my kayak, fishing for bass in small to medium ponds. I catch lots of small bass but the large bass are few and far between.

What I want to do is stop catching those small ones and only go after the large bass. But I'm not sure how to go about that.

I usually use a Texas rig or split shot 5-7 inch worm.

Are there any lures that small bass don't go after but large ones do? Would jigs fall into this category? I don't carry jigs and have not used any this year. Large spinnerbaits, crankbaits?

Any recommendations on lures that lower the odds of small bass but increases the odds of larger bass being caught?

[David D.]

Big worms. Like, 10" Zoom Ol' Monsters.

Generally, bigger baits aren't as likely to catch smaller fish.

[Mr_Scrogg]

Jigs, Swimbaits. But dont discount smaller baits.

My boy (9yrs old) got his PB of 3lb-10oz on a 3/32 jighead.

[livetofish28]

1 word SWIMBAITS

 

     Tight lines 

 

        Andrew 

[HeavyFisher]

I used to catch tons and tons of smaller fish. When I switched to swimbaits I started a lot less fish but ALL of them were 4+lbs. 

[A-Jay]

What you're asking often ends up as a life long quest for many a bass angler.

The concept seems simple but so many of us have found out that there's quite a bit to it.

Finding information about catching big bass is easy, sifting through it all to find the "Right" info is not.

A very good place to start lies between the pages of the book below.

Though written a few years back, it's full of just what you're looking for and more.

By applying the information to your area, you will definitely be headed in the right direction.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

 

[hoosierbass07]

What you're asking often ends up as a life long quest for many a bass angler.

The concept seems simple but so many of us have found out that there's quite a bit to it.

Finding information about catching big bass is easy, sifting through it all to find the "Right" info is not.

A very good place to start lies between the pages of the book below.

 

In Pursuit of Giant Bass.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Yep, I have that book.  It's one of my favorites.  

 

 I've been taking two rods with me on my kayak.  Maybe I'll have one swimbait tied on and  maybe a jig with trailer on another.  

[timsford]

try mattlures gill swimbaits. My ten biggest bass(the biggest was 9 lbs) have all been caught on ultimate gills and hardgills) the u2 gill weighs an ounce and can be thrown on most medium heavy and heavy bass rods so u dont have to carry a dedicated swimbait rod in the yak. ive also caught some big ones in ponds at night on 10 inch worms and 3/4 ounce spinnerbaits but nothing like the ones ive caught on bluegill swimbaits

[einscodek]

Think about it this way.  Its not that big bass eat big baits only.. they will eat big and little..depending on the season, time of day, mood, personality.

When you toss a lil bait out there and the bass are hungry, the smaller bass are also going after it and they are generally more aggressive imo and will hammer it before the big gals get to them.

By presenting a big bait, you are culling out the potential smaller sized bass from taking on yer lure and hoping the bigger gals are hungry and willin.

I used to toss big bait and still do.. but I like to catch more than 1-2 fish an outing so I also go after the small and medium fish.

Its all about what yer after.  Many times in going after big fish, you have nothing to show for at the end of the day.

[gobig]

You need to find out where the largest fish around you live. I know this is repetitive but If your fishing ponds that don't hold big fish then you will never get one. Catching big fish is more about location, boat position, and presentation then it is about the bait in my opinion. My fish over 10 have come on various baits, crankbait, dropshot, spinnerbait, texas rig, swimbaits. With that said I feel my chances throwing a swimbait are the best. A-Jay suggested a great book. I would also recommend the BBZ book and google Bill Siemantle, Mike Long and Butch Brown. Watch anything available from these guys.

[WRB]

Not sure what larger size bass means to you?

Bill Murphy's book referenced is excellent at many levels, adult bass behavior being very important.

Trophy bass fishing is different than recreational bass fishing because it requires a lot of dedication to details and learning about the fish you are trying to catch.

Good luck.

Tom

[LMB KING]

Big swimbaits

Punching, flippin & pitchin

Big worms

 

My biggest bass was over 15 pounds and i got it with a big worm. And the big 25 pound bass in california was caught on a jig, you can see the video yourself on youtube. Swimbait will get you big bass as well, but some people think that only swimbaits are the only big bass lure but is untrue. So those jigs,big worms and swimbaits will get you bass. 

[bigbill]

The book on big bass is good I just purchased it. I'm thinking any more knowledge is good.

A 12" worm will also catch you a 13" fish.

Big bait big bass is true somewhat.

All I can add is when the bite is on and it slows down during the day upside your lure.

Example; I'm throwing a mepps #3 and catching bass after bass. Different smaller sizes. The bite stops. I switch to a #4 or #5

Mepps inline the same colors and I find the fish are bigger. To

Me the bigger fish come in closer when the smaller fish are biting scaring the smaller ones away. It seems they don't strike the smaller lure.

During the early evening the color your using changes from natural colors to brighter colors as it gets darker.

Example, I'm throwing a Joe's fly in blackgnat the bite is on.

As it gets darker the bite stops. I switch to a Joe's fly in firetiger apache and land a few more fish till it's dark.

Do this in reverse for the dark early am to dawn.

Go from brighter colors as the sky lights up then natural colors as the sun is up.

My PB of 10# was caught at 5am on chartreuse as the night turned to day. It was twilight.

When your in a situation when the bite stops try my suggestions.

To catch DD size bass first you need to be constant at catching any bass. The more you fish the more you will learn. Keep a log for every trip. Write it all down. Lure size, type, presentation, speed, colors. Record the moon phases.

When the bass are larger there main diet is craws and sunnies.

Go with big worms, larger cranks, sunfish and perch lures.

[Fish_Whisperer]

What you're asking often ends up as a life long quest for many a bass angler.

The concept seems simple but so many of us have found out that there's quite a bit to it.

Finding information about catching big bass is easy, sifting through it all to find the "Right" info is not.

A very good place to start lies between the pages of the book below.

Though written a few years back, it's full of just what you're looking for and more.

By applying the information to your area, you will definitely be headed in the right direction.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

 

In Pursuit of Giant Bass.png

My copy is on it's way, should be here Tuesday, can't wait!

[Deleted account]

You need to find out where the largest fish around you live. I know this is repetitive but If your fishing ponds that don't hold big fish then you will never get one. Catching big fish is more about location, boat position, and presentation then it is about the bait in my opinion. My fish over 10 have come on various baits, crankbait, dropshot, spinnerbait, texas rig, swimbaits. With that said I feel my chances throwing a swimbait are the best. A-Jay suggested a great book. I would also recommend the BBZ book and google Bill Siemantle, Mike Long and Butch Brown. Watch anything available from these guys.

 

This ^. Catching larger fish is a matter of finding larger fish, which is more difficult not because they are smarter, or have seen lots of lures, or have grown weary. Its more difficult because there are fewer of them. Sure bass behave differently as they grow, but so do most species. All that info is out there. 

[hoosierbass07]

Not sure what larger size bass means to you?

 

 

 

  Here's a video I made a few days ago with two bass I caught.  I would like to stop catching bass that size and catch larger ones.  I will admit this - I only used a seven inch worm but I had another rod with me with an 11/0 hook and 10.5 inch Yum Mightee Worm but I did not use it since I started with the seven inch Berkley Powerbait worm and was getting lots of bites on that.  I think Bill Murphy said in his book when he starts out with a worm and catches a bass, he then moves up to a larger worm.  I guess my mistake was not moving to the ten inch worm I had ready to go.  

 

 

[RoLo]

The most effective way to bolster stringer weight is a change in 'location', not a change in lure.

 

Roger

[Catt]

The most effective way to bolster stringer weight is a change in 'location', not a change in lure.

Roger

Y'all can put all the focus on lures...Roger & I will be putting ours on location & catching!

[gallowaypt]

An 11/0 hook!! I would think a 5/0 or 6/0 would suffice.

[gobig]

This ^. Catching larger fish is a matter of finding larger fish, which is more difficult not because they are smarter, or have seen lots of lures, or have grown weary. Its more difficult because there are fewer of them. Sure bass behave differently as they grow, but so do most species. All that info is out there. 

 

 

There are more big fish than people think there are and they are more predictable than people think.

[papajoe222]

The biggest obsticle to overcome when targeting big fish is the desire to catch fish.  By that I mean that you can't go out to target big fish and expect to catch fish every outing.  It's very discouraging to put time on the water without anything to show for it and that's the downfall for many anglers.  They'd like to catch bigger fish, but they still want to catch some fish so they abandon their quest for bigger fish to fulfill their need to catch. 

I just spent six hours on the water in search of another 5lb+ bass which is the benchmark I use as a big fish in my area.  I had three bites and zero fish in the boat while others within eyesight were catching 2-3lb. fish with regularity.  I know I could have caught a good number of fish over the course of six hours, but I made up my mind to target big fish. 

When you can totaly focus on your goal, catching fish looses it's attraction.  The easiest way I've found to do that is to set aside outings to satisfy my desire to catch fish. The reminder that you have the skills to catch fish goes a long way toward obtaining the mind set necessary to be a true hawg hunter.

[Big Fish Rice]

First, if we're talking post spawn conditions, get away from the bank. Location, location, location.

I'm a much better angler at finding big fish than I am at finding numbers. Not sure if it's because I enjoy hunting larger fish for the most part, or if I just have the "eye" for finding and putting in time for bigger fish. Ultimately, regardless of how I do it, I usually end up finding quality over quantity and I wouldn't have it any other way. (Except for tournaments lol)

Larger baits work, yes. Swimbaits are big fish baits, yes. Jigs are big fish baits, yes. But there's a point where you really need to undestand the body of water to help you dial in bigger bites. For one lake in my area, it's all jigs. For another, swimbaits. For my favorite, it's flipping and pitching 5" creature baits. The difference between them all is the available cover and prey that the fish eat, but if I stray from these baits, I end up catching small fish.

Try some obvious places like wood, docks, cover, etc. Try some not so obvious places like underwater points, sublte depth changes. If you go more than an hour or two without hooking into a "big" fish, whatever that is in your mind, don't be afraid to change what you're doing. Experimentation is the key.

[Slade House]

I caught a 8.7 (as you see in my pic)  and a 7.6 in a 2 day period in January , and a half dozen 6lbers in the exact same spot.  Find a tree or stump that is on top of a hump or at the top of a drop off to find big bass.   

 

All of my the fish above were caught using missile baits .  Try baby d-bombs , green pumpkin or green pumpin red , texas rigged with a tungsten 1/4 oz green pumpkin weight with a red wide gap gamu hook.  or u can use a stand up shaky head.  after you cast out , let it sit still for a minute or 2 and then twitch it slightly .  

[Bankbeater]

One more vote for location.  Sometimes the DNR will report on the size of bass in certain lakes. 

[Deleted account]

There are more big fish than people think there are and they are more predictable than people think.

 

I don't disagree with that, but barring some unnatural condition(s) there will be lots more smaller fish.