Big Baits

[Glenn]

Large lures can be the trick, whether searching for big bass, matching the hatch or treating yourself to the fast fishing of fall’s feeding frenzy. Here's how!

 

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/big-baits.html

[Mainebass1984]

I need to buy more big baits. I don't have nearly enough.

[Neil McCauley]

Some of my best catches have been on lures like the Strike King 10XD and a 7.5" Kinchou Pike/Musky plug.

Retail stores and tackle manufacturers fill the shelves with mostly small lures because they cost less to make, package, transport for their price and take up less space. A dozen 3/8oz shad raps for $6.99 each is more profitable than a single 3 oz musky plug for $15.

[bigbill]

You are so correct. I purchased a large 6" glass perch CRANKBAIT on a closeout from one of the online bass shops.

It has caught quite a few bass for me. Go big or go home

(not really but the go big is true) right now there feeding prepping for the long winter. They want a bigger dinner with less effort. Lure speed is the key not too fast, go slow.

I have like 20 muskie/pike lures custom painted in bass colors.

In my soft tackle bag for pike I have all kinds of large minnow baits,bigger rapala, jointed big rapala, other brands in larger minnow baits. I'm gonna try them.

I have larger pike inline spinners and monster spinnerbaits.

It's time to put everything in the pool.

Don't forget the pictures and tape measure in the picture.

DONT FORGET TO SET THE HOOK HARD.

I upgraded to rods that are stronger in the upper section. I can bury the hook on the hookset now it's more solid..

Sorry I get exceited when we talk bigger bass, fall fishing.

Stay fishing till the ice is on.

[Paul Roberts]

I don't think you can go too big with largemouths (within reason).

[Senko lover]

I don't think you can go too big with largemouths (within reason).

 

^Self contradiction

[bassguytom]

The biggest bait I throw is a 10 inch worm and I'm apprehensive when doing that. I've got abigbaitaphobia I guess. I still catch some big fish for my area 6.2 smallmouth and a 7.3 largermouth are the 2 biggest so far this year. I guess you just have to commit and don't look back.

[KyAngler_1120]

Good write up. I am a true believer in the big baits on Cedar Creek Lake here in Central KY. It was built as the state's only designated trophy lake with a 20inch min/one per day limit. The lake is just a little over 10 years old now and it is reaching a big peak. My go to lure is a Mann's Jelly worm 12inch on a Yum Pumpkin ED 6/0 jig head. I basically fish it as souped up version of a shakey head. The Berkley 12inch power worm, Net Bait C-Mac in 12 and 15 inches are my other go to worms. These worms, especially the Mann's Jelly worm rakes in 3-5 pounders like they are going out of style. When fishing right next to my buddy who is using a smaller presentation his bait just doesn't catch the attention of those bigger bass. He just doesn't have a confidence in big baits and it makes a difference.  

[hatrix]

Interesting read. There is some info that is not optimal I guess I would say. Some of it is personal preference also I suppose. Regardless big baits work all year and in every body of water.

[scaleface]

I use to throw big baits , thinking i would catch bigger bass but I didnt .Maybe if I fished is southern waters . 

 

I use medium size lures mainly , thats what I am set up for , thats what I cast best   . I catch more fish with them and the way I see it the more fish I catch the greater the chances of catching a lunker or two . 

[desmobob]

The biggest bait I throw is a 10 inch worm and I'm apprehensive when doing that. I've got abigbaitaphobia I guess. 

 

Don't be afraid to throw B-I-G baits!  Last summer, there was a huge pike (I mean trophy size) that kept showing up in one of my favorite morning spots, and she was eating a lot of my lures.  On a whim, I decided to bring along a saltwater spinning outfit and a giant saltwater jointed jerk bait so I could try to "un-pike" the area before bass fishing and hopefully raise my PB for northern pike at the same time.

 

On the first cast, I caught a largemouth that was smaller than the lure.  Second cast brought in one about two pounds that was a bit longer than the lure.  Those darn bass aren't afraid to eat big!

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Bankbeater]

This time of year I tend to use 3/4 rat-l-traps and 1/2 jigs with big trailers. The bass bite them better at certain times.

[BassObsessed]

The big baits for big bass theory isn't true all the time. A few days ago I caught 2 bass over 8 and one over 6 on a 4'' wacky worm within a few hours on the same lake. I'll still throw 8'' swimbaits on occasion though.

[davecon]

Interesting topic. I'm in central Florida and fish for bass mostly during the spawn, otherwise I'm snook fishing. My most dependable lure for bass is a 12 inch worm. I use this lure 90 % of the time with excellent results. It also catches the little bucks as well.

Long story short, was fishing my favorite lake a few years ago and a cold front came through. Mid morning with no bites I just for the heck of it started throwing a four inch worm. Within 20 minutes I caught a 4.5, 5, and 5.5. Not what I was targeting as for this lake those are not by any stretch of the imagination BIG, but they saved the day. Those little worms worked great as "back-ups" all winter/spring. The 12 inchers were and are the standard fare.

Weird part is that those 4 inchers have never been anywhere near as good since.

Guess thats what makes it so much fun. Just about the time you think you've got it figured out it all changes.

[bigbill]

Be flexible when the bite is off. I throw all size baits they will tell you when it's right. Ok the smaller bait is working. When the bite slows down upside your bait.

[gobig]

The only part of the article that I found off base is when to throw big baits. Big baits work year round. He is doing it wrong.

[WRB]

The majority of bass anglers may try a big bait occasionally, they are not a normal lure of choice.

Big baits require dedication and discipline to cast all day or night and work year around, the pre spawn being prime time.

Tom

[Scarborough817]

ok i know this is kind of off topic but do i really need a heavy power rod to throw big baits like the jackall gantarel? i have 2 med/hvy rods and i know they aren't rated for a lure that heavy but how much will it really affect it?

[WRB]

ok i know this is kind of off topic but do i really need a heavy power rod to throw big baits like the jackall gantarel? i have 2 med/hvy rods and i know they aren't rated for a lure that heavy but how much will it really affect it?

The Gantarel is 6" jointed lure weighing 2 1/2 oz, your MH rods are OK if they are swimbait rods! You can carefully lob cast a heavy lure with nearly any rod, that isn't effectively fish the lure. You really should have a rod rated for lures 1/2-2 oz minimum, 1-5 oz ideally.

Tom

[Scarborough817]

The Gantarel is 6" jointed lure weighing 2 1/2 oz, your MH rods are OK if they are swimbait rods! You can carefully lob cast a heavy lure with nearly any rod, that isn't effectively fish the lure. You really should have a rod rated for lures 1/2-3 oz minimum.

Tom

ok thanks Tom, i guess i'll have to save up for a new setup then 

[hatrix]

You can throw a Gantarel on a stiff MH or H and be ok but it's not ideal. I don't own one but it being a glide it should cause very minimal drag. Drag is the real issue that limits a rod performance with big baits. Most rods should be able to cast baits over their recommend rating pretty alright as long as you keep it in reason.

[bigbill]

I picked up two affordable hurricane inshore rods for tossing bigger heavier baits. These were about $9 each at fishnsave. One has braid and one copolymer line. The bigger reels can be found on sale too.

[hatrix]

I didn't even know you could buy a rod for only $9

[basshole8190]

I don't think you can go too big with largemouths (within reason).

 i have caught fish on swimbaits up to 11"  and some of those fish have been only 16" long themselves! I think bass will hit baits up to 16" if presented properly.

[hatrix]

Not every place is big bait friendly. There are places I catch basically the same size and quantity of fish with the same regularity. But for whatever reason one place fish of all sizes will hit big baits but the other places even the bigger fish seem hesitant to hit big lures. The only way to know that though is put in the time throwing them.