Big Bass Slump

[Jake the Cake]

So 2015 wasn't a great year in the way of big bass for me.  I only managed to snag 2 or 3 that weighed in at about 2.5 lbs at most the entire year.  I caught a typical amount of bass for me but the one or two big prize fish just weren't there.  I guess the question is, what do you all do to ensure a comeback year?

[gardnerjigman]

I'm in the same boat buddy. I couldn't break 4lbs last year to save my life. The year before that the guys nicknamed me "kicker" as I usually had a big fish, if not the big fish. 

This year I started off with a 3lb 14oz largie so I'm hoping to carry off that momentum. 

I fish the same no matter what, sometimes it's all about hitting them on the nose. Good luck buddy.

 

GJM

[Jake the Cake]

Good way to kick off 2016!

[Paul Roberts]

Two likely reasons:

You aren't where the mature fish are -too shallow (or close to the bank), or too afraid of or ill-equipped for heavy cover.

-or-

and this is not unlikely, there are few large bass in your waters. I fish about a dozen small waters -ponds, pits, and reservoirs. Each is different in terms of what it has to offer in terms of size. In some the fish top out at 17", others at 18" and with varying numbers. Others it's 20+". I had one pond that topped out at 19.5" and with good numbers of those, just couldn't break that. There's only one I'm currently aware of that has catchable numbers up to 23". You may need to shop around.

[Turtle135]

I was in the same boat. I believe my problem was fishing in too many tournaments. Too many tournament days, too much pre-fishing for tournaments and spending too much time on bodies of water where the big ones do not swim. I started fishing at a pace more conducive to generating bites and using presentations that appeal to a wider size range of largemouth bass. The whole thing lead to a rather unfulfilled year.

This season, as soon as the ice melts away from the right bodies of water I plan to be out there all day crawling a big jig at a snail's pace. Operation "PB 2016" will soon commence! 

Good luck to you!

 

[Jake the Cake]

1 hour ago, Paul Roberts said:

Two likely reasons:

You aren't where the mature fish are -too shallow (or close to the bank), or too afraid of or ill-equipped for heavy cover.

-or-

and this is not unlikely, there are few large bass in your waters. I fish about a dozen small waters -ponds, pits, and reservoirs. Each is different in terms of what it has to offer in terms of size. In some the fish top out at 17", others at 18" and with varying numbers. Others it's 20+". I had one pond that topped out at 19.5" and with good numbers of those, just couldn't break that. There's only one I'm currently aware of that has catchable numbers up to 23". You may need to shop around.

I do fish shallow a lot, I'm definitely a cove fisherman.  Lots of docks and trees that have fallen into the water.  I don't have the best graph so it's hard to get a real quality idea of what deep water structure looks like.  Usually if I see something that catches my eye I'll hang a drop shot off the side of the boat with a finesse craw and a circle hook and really watch it for 15 minutes or so then go back to fishing the shores.  Might have to focus on covering deep structure more this year.

Water diversity isn't the problem because I have no problem traveling for lakes.

[Paul Roberts]

You don't need the best graph. Just something to give you depth readings is a start and that you know just well enough to read bottom hardness changes.

You'll need to spend some time fishing/getting to know those interesting away-from-shore spots -not always real deep, often relatively shallow spots away from shore and near deep water, preferably with a steep contour involved. You'll then be looking for breaks (cover, drops, substrate changes) to spend your time probing.

One other thought: If in your fishing you are generally fishing too fast (chuck-n-wind) or too high in the water column -asking the fish to come to you- you may only be interesting juvenile bass. Just a thought.

Are you comfortable fishing jigs?

[Jake the Cake]

I do fish jigs a bit but I'm not the best with them.  A majority of my bass come from swimbaits and poppers.  I think a lot of that comes from growing up with a dad who loved Crappie and catfish so the patience was never taught from a young age, I had to learn that growing up talking to other fisherman.  I fish a Texas rig more than jigs.  Yum Bad Mamma on a swing hook has been my latest preference.

[WRB]

A blind squirrel can find a acorn if it's looking around the oak tree.

Tom

[brgbassmaster]

Sounds like your fishing to shallow. Those bass get beat up yr in and yr out. U dont even need a finder to find big fish. I find areas like points jutting out from the shore with a deep crank u can find out where the sides slope or where the drops are. I have found ledges where i can tell it drops from around 4-10 ft or even more. Also most coves have a channel up the middle of em ir the mouths of channels have points and deep water. Once u fish around deep water alot with a heavy jig or deep crank like a 6xd u will start to be able to feel the drops and cover. One of my best areas this yr is a river channel that connects 2 lakes. I never knew how deep it was i could just tell thete was a serious depth change. I have caught 3 8lbrs out of this spot and idk how many over 5lbrs. Then a buddy of mine graphed it and it goes from 6-16ft. Nice wintering/prespawn area. Dont be afraid to move off shore.  One of the best decisions i made about 10 yrs ago and has yiedled many nice bags of fish. And it doesnt even have to be deep. Maybe just a grass flat that comes up from 20ft to 8ft or rock pile. Here are my best 3 this yr with no depth finder all over 8lbs.

 

[CJ]

10 hours ago, Jake the Cake said:

So 2015 wasn't a great year in the way of big bass for me.  I only managed to snag 2 or 3 that weighed in at about 2.5 lbs at most the entire year.  I caught a typical amount of bass for me but the one or two big prize fish just weren't there.  I guess the question is, what do you all do to ensure a comeback year?

I would do my homework. Slumps happen to everybody. Sometimes they can be hard to get by because fishing has a mental aspect. First off, forget last year. You need confidence and dwelling on a slump isn't going to get that back for you. I would try new water and new techniques. I see you like Table Rock but I'm thinking Lake of the Ozarks is a little better or KY Lake is only a few hours from the Lou. Pick out one or two bodies of water and research them. Then research the techniques and patterns you find work best, in general, and the seasonal patterns for that body of water. Then try and put it together. Never fish the past. If you keep doing what you do, you will keep getting the same results.

[fisherrw]

Hey man your doing better than me!! I've got a big fat 0 for bass caught in 2016!

[spease1]

I had a great year last year with big bass. I live in Minnesota where they are not as big. I caught 12 bass that were over 5 pounds, most of them on jigs close to cover and weed lines. I found a new jig last spring that works great. *** lures. Check them out and work on leaning to fish jigs, you will catch bigger fish.

[Jake the Cake]

So it sounds like stepping up my jig fishing and working deep water structure is a necessity for 2016.  Maybe venture out to some different waters as well.  d**n nice pictures you all have put up too.