clh121787 Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 It may never happen. But it's almost an obsession. Im losing interest in fishing waters with little to no trophy potential. Fishing all day for one big bite is the norm. It's almost not fun anymore. But I'm driven from something within to fish for large bass. But it is very satisfying to another site. That is where I get my payoff. Has anyone gone through this faze?
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted July 7, 2015 Global Moderator Posted July 7, 2015 No teeners here, not bass anyways. However, I feel like my days of wanting to go out and catch as many bass as possible regardless of size, are over. Now I pretty much ignore lakes with little to no big fish potential. 3
Super User WRB Posted July 7, 2015 Super User Posted July 7, 2015 To catch big bass you must fish for them at the right location. I know this sounds obvious, there is a lot to that statement. If a teener is the goal, it's possible where you live, several lakes in Texas have a population of bass that size and there is always Mexico. Very difficult to do during the summer period because the big girls are scattered, not consentrated at specific locations. Early pre spawn is your highest percentage time period to catch giant bass, focus your efforts then. Keep fishing fun, it shouldn't be stressful! Tom PS, teener was a Bill Murphy term for any bass 13 lbs or heavier. If you haven't read his book In Pursuit of Giant Bass, do it! If you have specific questions on what to use where....ask. 2
Super User Senko lover Posted July 7, 2015 Super User Posted July 7, 2015 I find that just going out and fishing will eventually produce big bass. I haven't taken the time or effort to exclusively target big bass.....to me it's not worth it when I could be catching both numbers and size. The best time to target big bass in my ponds is prespawn/bed fishing, so I guess then I am targeting big fish. But that's about it. 1
Super User RoLo Posted July 7, 2015 Super User Posted July 7, 2015 Assuming that you've already boated a trophy-class bass of 9 pounds or more, I believe a more realistic goal would be "12" pounds, which represents a record-class largemouth bass. The overwhelming majority of anglers reach the dark side of the sod, before they land their first 12-pound bass. As mentioned above, the "early pre-spawn" is by far the best period to hunt for a world-class bass. It's only lasts about 3 weeks, but preparation for that brief period should involve the other 49 weeks ;-) To answer your question: 'Yes' I am just like you. I've lost my interest in lakes and rivers that lack record-class potential. We have lakes nearby that offer density over quality, lakes where guides take guests who just want to catch bass. I haven't touched any of those lakes in years. I'm afraid it's not a phase though, but an incurable disease Roger 2
Dogmatic Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 No "teeners" here, but I definitely lost interest in fishing just for numbers, although I do it often, my goal usually is to target the biggest fish in whatever body of water I'm fishing, with the ultimate goal being a DD.
Super User Raul Posted July 7, 2015 Super User Posted July 7, 2015 To catch a teener all you gotta do is cross the border at McAllen to Reynosa and not far from Reynosa you´ll find Lake Marte R Gomez ( Sugar Lake ), my recommendation is you go during February and March, the spawn is in progress and not only you´ll bag a teen, actually you can bag several teeners. 5
clh121787 Posted July 7, 2015 Author Posted July 7, 2015 To catch a teener all you gotta do is cross the border at McAllen to Reynosa. I have several co workers from Mc allen "the valley" I've been told it is very dangerous to venture to Mexico. Most of these guys have been crossing the border visiting Mexico their whole life but they dont now claiming it's too risky. I hope you wouldn't knowingly jeapordize some ones safety.
Super User Raul Posted July 7, 2015 Super User Posted July 7, 2015 To catch a teener all you gotta do is cross the border at McAllen to Reynosa. I have several co workers from Mc allen "the valley" I've been told it is very dangerous to venture to Mexico. Most of these guys have been crossing the border visiting Mexico their whole life but they dont now claiming it's too risky. I hope you wouldn't knowingly jeapordize some ones safety. That´s exactly what I pretend, to jeopardize your safety.
d-camarena Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 Lol im was born and raised in mexico and i still frequently visit. Its really not as bad as people make it out to be. You do have to be cautious but some people exagerrate
clh121787 Posted July 8, 2015 Author Posted July 8, 2015 Think I'll try my luck here close to home. No doubt the fishi g is amazing in Mex. But with all the horror stories, murders, drug trafficking,cartel activity I don't think I could do it. Plus a few gringos driving around 60grand in truck and bass boat sticking out like sore thumbs. Could possibly bring un wanted attention. I'll pass for now
BASSPATROL247 Posted July 8, 2015 Posted July 8, 2015 I e fished el salto in summer wich wasnt the right time, nothing over 9 1/4lbs but we caught so many between that and seven i thought i was dreaming.... Catching numbers will never get old for me,never! I lo e fishing to much for any aspect of it to get old.. I do have 1 lake and one pond with bass over 8lbs and when i fish them bodies i do go after the big ones with certain big bass baits i like but if i end up catching numbers i am in no wAy disappointed, if i get skunked i am not disappointed...
Shanes7614 Posted July 8, 2015 Posted July 8, 2015 Think I'll try my luck here close to home. No doubt the fishi g is amazing in Mex. But with all the horror stories, murders, drug trafficking,cartel activity I don't think I could do it. Plus a few gringos driving around 60grand in truck and bass boat sticking out like sore thumbs. Could possibly bring un wanted attention. I'll pass for now Most places with trophy fish have fish camps and their own boats and guides. Not places I would wanna go out on my own anyway. I know an 80 year old man I dig with goes every year to el Salto every year with zero problems and has been going for 15 years.
BASSPATROL247 Posted July 8, 2015 Posted July 8, 2015 Yep, we fished out of one of the resorts boats(nothing special just a aluminum mod v).. had a guide the first day and we fished alone the second and third day..that was my second time and there is nothing to worry about whatsoever.. beleive me when i tell you the last thing the cartels want is for americans being killed,kidnapped or whatever..they dont want the attention of our goverment at all, were more of a threat than their own.. and yeah i know theirs been americans killed down near the border but rareley happens, your just as safe there as you are fishing at home odds wise... we were gonna try to go this spring but we had a huge job in oklahoma and wont have time this year so summer it is..
Super User Raul Posted July 8, 2015 Super User Posted July 8, 2015 Think I'll try my luck here close to home. No doubt the fishi g is amazing in Mex. But with all the horror stories, murders, drug trafficking,cartel activity I don't think I could do it. Plus a few gringos driving around 60grand in truck and bass boat sticking out like sore thumbs. Could possibly bring un wanted attention. I'll pass for now[/quote
Super User WRB Posted July 8, 2015 Super User Posted July 8, 2015 Lake Baccarac was a site sponsor and several members made the annual trip safely with good success. The Texas boarder lake Falcon and Amistad are good destinations, all the negative rumors do is keep fishing pressure down, that is good for trophy bass anglers. Tom 2
clh121787 Posted July 8, 2015 Author Posted July 8, 2015 Ya those are destinations I'd love to fish. So many lakes. I do most of my fishing at Fork (except on weekends) and there's many good sleeper lakes all within a short distance from home. It's hard thinking the grass is greener at another lake when your home lake is lake fork. And the more I learn about the lake the more confidence I have. I'd love to go camping and fish toledo bend for about a week. One day I'd love to take a turn key trip to Mexico and fish for several days but. That is a luxury I can't afford right now. I'd have to plan and save up for about a year or so. Everyone I've talked to that's gone to Mexico is now ruined. Reports of 100+ fish days and big. Insane
Super User Catt Posted July 9, 2015 Super User Posted July 9, 2015 Ya have the drive! Ya have the location! What's your personal best?
clh121787 Posted July 9, 2015 Author Posted July 9, 2015 Ya have the drive! Ya have the location! What's your personal best? ten pounds on the boga. I've caught 3 over ten. 2 of them came this year on the same day.
Super User Catt Posted July 9, 2015 Super User Posted July 9, 2015 Pre-spawn-spawn? While many anglers prefer this time frame because bass weigh the most, are aggressively feeding, and some what easy to locate. I find this time frame highly unpredictable and difficult due to drastic changes in both weather conditions andthe bass's mood. I prefer summer patters because the weather is stable, the bass are in predictable locations, they are stll aggressive feeders, and there is less pressure on the body of water. Now I know it doesn't amount to a hill of beans but a suumer bass will be a teener not a 10 pounder with 3 lbs of roe. 2
clh121787 Posted July 9, 2015 Author Posted July 9, 2015 Pre spawn. had alot of cold fronts and snow through February. Caught these fish in 46 degree water in the beginning of march. Very stained borderline muddy from all the rains and rising water levels. Caught maybe 8 fish all day biggest 5 weighed 42 Ibs. So a fish is definetly heaviest prespawn? Fish can't eat roughly the same weight as it would produce in roe for spawn?
clh121787 Posted July 9, 2015 Author Posted July 9, 2015 Because I have seen some fat fish post spawn summer and fall for sure
Shanes7614 Posted July 9, 2015 Posted July 9, 2015 I could be way wrong but I do not think a 10lb bass will be carrying 3lbs of roe as Catt stated. A bass that big may carry up to a lb or so. I think too many guys think because of how rounded a certain fish may look that it's roe has the same density as its regular flesh/meat and own internal organs. On the other hand, I do believe that in the fall when they again become that swollen, the bait they seem to force themselves to eat would weigh greater then it's actual roe therefor weighing actually more in the fall. 1
Super User Catt Posted July 9, 2015 Super User Posted July 9, 2015 My personal best of 12 lbs 8 ozs was caught in very similar conditions. How many 10 plus have you caught after the spawn? Of the 30 double digit bass I've caught 24 were after the spawn! If you truely have the desire for big bass it does not end with the spawn! 2
Super User Catt Posted July 9, 2015 Super User Posted July 9, 2015 I like to compare hunting trophy bass to hunting trophy deer! Trophy deer hunting does not begin with the rut, the hunter who is successful at taking trophy deer hunts them year round. He is not able to shoot deer year round but he tracks the year round. 1. Find their home; usually located on prime structure and in prime cover, both setup on structure and in cover that allows them to see all directions (may not be 360° but it'll be as close as they feel comfortable) at once. 2. Find their feeding areas; multiple areas that have sufficent food to last through the present season. 3. Find the "trails" to and from those areas; both travel structure in a way that allows them to see but remain unseen.
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