How to find/catch big bass

[RyanfishesCT]

Hey guys, I have a close friend who lives  on a small lake in Connecticut close to RI. I've fished this lake for the past two years and never pulled anything over 2 and a half pounds, we have a friend who caught a 3.2 pounder, the lure that works best is a senko! I've seen big fish maybe 5 pounds + during spawning season! But after spring they dissspear, where they go idk? They're are no creeks on the lake and it is spring fed, please help me pull a big one this year. Thanks I need some ideas of how to catch  them.

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

There is a ton of Great Information in the  BR Article Section

Here's one on Big Bass

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/big_bass_hunting.html

A-Jay

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

Or, you could go to Lake Baccarrac in Mexico.

Ask @A-Jay, @Dwight Hottle or @00 mod about
their big bass adventures  

[N Florida Mike]

Live shiners or bluegills !!!

[WRB]

Before you consider live bait check your states regulations.

If you are a serious about catching big bass you need to study their habits. 

A good book on this subject is In Pursuit of Giant Bass by Bill Murphy.

Tom

[ethan-333]

when you figure it out. give me the answer

[Mike L]

They're obviously still there just not in the mood when your friend gets there. 

There could be many reasons, you can read about them in many areas and I'm sure someone will be along shortly to give you a link or 2.

But one that you may not hear a lot about is that those fish may be on an internal time clock (just a theory that I believe in)

 I believe it happens a lot on a small lake/pond given it's confining area, size and limited food source. A Senko stick bait type bait could mimic it's predominant food. The small ones may not be as discriminate as the larger fish are (that's why they're bigger)

Try useing a bait that you think nobody throws, or at least what is not predominant in your pond, and go at different times if you can. You may surprise yourself...

Good Luck

Mike 

[RichF]

Find some structure in water over 10 ft deep and probe with a BIG jig. 

[Scarborough817]

start using bigger baits you aren't going to catch 5 pounders regularly with a senko

[Catt]

Bigger bass will occupy prime structure & prime cover.

They will be setup n structure & in cover that allows them to see in all directions (maybe not 360 but it'll be as close as they feel comfortable with) at once.

They will be located in close proximity to multiple feeding areas that have sufficient food to last the present season.

Big baits are not needed but it does take a rare breed of fisherman using simple techniques to perfection.

 

[Raul]

2 hours ago, Scarborough817 said:

start using bigger baits you aren't going to catch 5 pounders regularly with a senko

My second best LMB ( 13.5 ) was caught with a 4 inch senko:

but it´s the only big momma I´ve ever caught with a senko, and senkos are one of the last baits in my mind to use when trying to catch big fish, of course that as usual, it depends, where I´m at a 3.2 pounder is not exactly what we call a "big momma".

[WRB]

The reason I suggested Murphy's book is it has the information you need.

Every bass water regardless of it's type and size will have a smaller population of adult size bass than juvenile bass. You see these large size adult females during the spawn when they are less wary and focused on spawning. Right now before the spawn in your area these big bass are catchable because they are feeding and getting ready to spawn.

There isn't a magic lure or any other panacea to catching big bass consistantly, this requires more effort on your part to learn big bass behavior.

Tom

[Scarborough817]

1 hour ago, Raul said:

My second best LMB ( 13.5 ) was caught with a 4 inch senko:

but it´s the only big momma I´ve ever caught with a senko, and senkos are one of the last baits in my mind to use when trying to catch big fish, of course that as usual, it depends, where I´m at a 3.2 pounder is not exactly what we call a "big momma".

ya i'm not saying it's impossible but you basically have to put it right in front of them for them to eat it. they don't get that big by chasing worms and leaches

[Glenn]

There are MANY big bass articles here on BassResource.  Here's a few to get you started:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/catching_big_bass.html
http://www.bassresource.com/hank-parker-fishing/big-bass.html
http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/catch_big_bass.html
 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Scarborough817 said:

ya i'm not saying it's impossible but you basically have to put it right in front of them for them to eat it. they don't get that big by chasing worms and leaches

Ya gonna have to put it in front of them for them to eat it regardless of lure size.

The key is no negative clues.

[Raul]

1 hour ago, Scarborough817 said:

ya i'm not saying it's impossible but you basically have to put it right in front of them for them to eat it. they don't get that big by chasing worms and leaches

I never said you were wrong, cherry picking replies, where´s the :

 

1 hour ago, Scarborough817 said:

senkos are one of the last baits in my mind to use when trying to catch big fish,

part ?

My PB, ( slightly larger, 13.86 lbs ) was caught with a Rapala Shad Rap size 7, my first 10 lber was caught with a Rapala Original Floating minnow size 9 and none of those baits would be my bait of choice to hunt for the big ones, spinnerbaits would also not make the list of baits I would choose, my largest spinnerbait caught bass was 9 lbs.

[Scarborough817]

33 minutes ago, Raul said:

I never said you were wrong, cherry picking replies, where´s the :

 

part ?

My PB, ( slightly larger, 13.86 lbs ) was caught with a Rapala Shad Rap size 7, my first 10 lber was caught with a Rapala Original Floating minnow size 9 and none of those baits would be my bait of choice to hunt for the big ones, spinnerbaits would also not make the list of baits I would choose, my largest spinnerbait caught bass was 9 lbs.

I know you weren't saying that. i'm just saying if you want better quality you should fish a bait that is a little larger that's all  and congrats on those pigs 

[Catt]

54 minutes ago, Scarborough817 said:

I know you weren't saying that. i'm just saying if you want better quality you should fish a bait that is a little larger that's all  and congrats on those pigs 

Raul & I are saying catching big bass ain't about lure size!

It is about putting any lure I front of the bass with as few negative clues as possible.

Does this mean big baits doesn't catch bigger bass...no it does not!

But it also does not mean smaller baits will not catch big bass.

This 14.19# bass was caught on a Baby Brush Hog, not exactly a big bait.

[Scarborough817]

2 minutes ago, Catt said:

Raul & I are saying catching big bass ain't about lure size!

It is about putting any lure I front of the bass with as few negative clues as possible.

Does this mean big baits doesn't catch bigger bass...no it does not!

But it also does not mean smaller baits will not catch big bass.

This 14.19# bass was caught on a Baby Brush Hog, not exactly a big bait.

what exactly do you mean by negative clues? just so i don't give the wrong info to anyone else

[WRB]

Lure size has always been confusing with trends going from big to small, small to big and everything in between can work at any given time or place. Nearly every bass angler knows their largest bass caught, some are numbers anglers while a few of us are dedicated big bass anglers. The old saying a blind squirrel can find a acorn occasionally applies to most bass anglers who can't recognize a oak tree when they find it. Catching big bass it helps to know where they live, what they prefer to eat and when they are active hunting prey.

Select lures that these bass will eat where they are located, size depends on what these bass are targeting. If the big girls are hunting crawdads use a jig that represents a crawdad.

Determine the prey source and select your lures to mimic that prey and your odds will increase. Fish in locations where big bass live with the appropriate lure presented at the right depth, speed and time, your odds are getting better.

Study bass behavior and you should start catching those larger adults size bass more often.

Tom

PS, Texas state record bass was caught on a crappie jig.

[frogflogger]

TIME ON THE WATER - Make that time on the water paying attention to details -

[scaleface]

3 hours ago, frogflogger said:

TIME ON THE WATER - Make that time on the water paying attention to details -

This  and failure is a learning experience . Eventually selecting   lures for any scenario  becomes automatic . 

["hamma"]

big bass in new england are not few and far between as most anglers think. Mass record is like 15+ lbs. Big bass inhabit most waters up here and can be caught. The trick is fooling them, they are old and very wary.most pigs have been caught before. Once they suspect that you are present, your all done. The slightest noise, your shadow cast over them, an errent cast, a weed on your trolling motors prop, or more likely line caught behind the prop., even the ping from your lcr's transducer, dropping pliers on the floor of the boat , or a slammed hatch.... Anything you do to alert them you are there,... shuts them down and they drop to deeper water, or should I say to "safety".You need to go into stealth mode, on the right day, with the right lure, at the right location. and proper presentation, then and i say a big "MAYBE" you can intice one to strike a lure ,...

 heres what i would do,... catch some crayfish from that pond, mimic its color and size in a jig and pig, find the ponds deepest water and fish the closest structure with that jig and pig, but make sure you doose the hell outa it with real craw, sun to your back, lcr's off, and i cant stress ultimate quiet enough,...

 have a backup lure that mimics the ponds most previlent baitfish, albeit bluegill, herring, shiners or perch. Sometimes when a fish wastes energy going after food that they dont get they will be antsy and eager enough to hit the next thing that comes along,...looking to replenish the energy lost ,...So if you get a hit on the j&p and miss him, toss the follow up lure that same jig and pig will be to suspicious for a truely big bass

 these are some of the things i do and they have worked well for me, its taken me 40 years of bass angling to figure what i have out, and im still questioning myself. but,... if you doubt i my methods,.....my personal best was caught in ma, as well as at least a dozen or 2,... 8's thru 10's ,....yeah,.... all in massachusetts

[roadwarrior]

Massachusetts 15 lbs 8 oz     Walter Bolonis 1975

[A-Jay]

46 minutes ago, Keith "Hamma" Hatch said:

big bass in new england are not few and far between as most anglers think. Mass record is like 15+ lbs. Big bass inhabit most waters up here and can be caught. The trick is fooling them, they are old and very wary.most pigs have been caught before. Once they suspect that you are present, your all done. The slightest noise, your shadow cast over them, an errent cast, a weed on your trolling motors prop, or more likely line caught behind the prop., even the ping from your lcr's transducer, dropping pliers on the floor of the boat , or a slammed hatch.... Anything you do to alert them you are there,... shuts them down and they drop to deeper water, or should I say to "safety".You need to go into stealth mode, on the right day, with the right lure, at the right location. and proper presentation, then and i say a big "MAYBE" you can intice one to strike a lure ,...

 heres what i would do,... catch some crayfish from that pond, mimic its color and size in a jig and pig, find the ponds deepest water and fish the closest structure with that jig and pig, but make sure you doose the hell outa it with real craw, sun to your back, lcr's off, and i cant stress ultimate quiet enough,...

 have a backup lure that mimics the ponds most previlent baitfish, albeit bluegill, herring, shiners or perch. Sometimes when a fish wastes energy going after food that they dont get they will be antsy and eager enough to hit the next thing that comes along,...looking to replenish the energy lost ,...So if you get a hit on the j&p and miss him, toss the follow up lure that same jig and pig will be to suspicious for a truely big bass

 these are some of the things i do and they have worked well for me, its taken me 40 years of bass angling to figure what i have out, and im still questioning myself. but,... if you doubt i my methods,.....my personal best was caught in ma, as well as at least a dozen or 2,... 8's thru 10's ,....yeah,.... all in massachusetts

Solid Advice no matter where you fish ~

btw ~ Love to see some pics

A-Jay