Giant Largemouth Bass

[Fogle12]

I wanted to know if anyone could help me out with some tips on targeting some giants. The lake i fish this year has already had a few bass over 10 pounds caught and in the last 5 years i know of a couple bass being caught over 13 and one over 14. I also caught my PB this year out of that lake i was a little upset the fish had already spawned but it was still 9 pounds 13 ounces which was awesome and i caught that on a KVD 2.5 in Gizzard Shad.This lake is a shallow lake and only a little bigger than 100 acres with only a couple deeper areas where most the bigger fish seem to hangout (deeper area is around 20 feet deep). Also the bottom of the lake isn't very rocky and to my knowledge not much underwater structure sort of a featureless lake. I have kind of figured out where about the fish hangout (i think) but i just wanted to know if anyone could give tips on lures to target just those big fish because i want to hit that DD bass.

[mojojojo]

big swimbaits, big jigs, big worms. The theme pretty much is just big baits for big bass. Id either be throwing a 12" curly tail worm around or any kind of swimbait that is a minimum of 6".

A 6" or 8" huddleston or savage 3d swimbait is what id use...or a glide bait in the same size.

id first just go get a bag of your favorite brand of worm in the largest size they have. I personally like the yamamoto 12" curly tail rigged weightless on a 5/0  off set round bend hook and reeled real slow. They arent any more durable than the senko so they are a one and done on a big bass but they just have a  great action rigged that way...it must be a round bend hook and not an ewg in order to get the perfect wobble on a slow retrieve

[A-Jay]

A-Jay

[davecon]

Go at night, use a black 12 inch worm or a black muskie jitterbug.

[Catt]

Sounds to me you've all ready got em figured out, ya just gotta spend more time fishing for them!

I do not by the big bait big bass theory!

You disproved that with a 9 lb 13 oz on a small crank bait!

My suggestion put in as many hours on the water you can get away with!

[d-camarena]

Zoom magnum lizard, zoom mag ol monster, magnum fluke, 8 inch stick baits, whopper plopper, 7 inch basstrix and 9 inch jelly worm is what i carry with me when im montster hunting

[primetime]

If you take me, all expenses paid...I will show you how to catch them.....I have secrets for Huge Bass nobody else has, TRUST ME....You will catch HUGE bass better than everyone, it will be great. I know how to Make fish Bigger again....Just heard a Trump Speech, Made the mistake of turning on the News and I can't help myself.....

In all reality, I would seach on this this site "Lunker Bass"...They give all the tips you need...Look for areas near deep water, type of baits and when and why...I would guess a Jig would do the job but it is a complicated question....Everyone does different things and you need to fish to your strengths in the right areas, at the right time...Sometimes you need to commit to a spot and just wait it out all day if truly Lunker Hunting.

Just gear up with the right tackle since landing one is just as hard as hooking one. Also Night Time, Super Early helps.

100 acres is small....Think of it like this..If you were a big bass you would have the option to pick the best ambush spots over all other Bass...Find the best structure on the lake, a place that makes it easy for a big bass to hide all day, and they don't like to move far to feed. featureless is good, so structure could be a break line, wind blown bank, find bait and you find fish....If all the bait in the lake is small, then a big bait may look out of place and in a 100 acre lake they were probably caught before, see tons of big baits all day long, so I would use colors and lures presented differently than everyone else, and fish them SLOW with a purpose on every cast. I would start where you caught the 9lber....

[Raul]

5 hours ago, Catt said:

I do not by the big bait big bass theory!

^^^^^ Neither do I, first 10+ lber ---> Rapala Original Floating minnow size 9 ( which is quite small ), PB ( 13.86 lbs ) -----> Rapala Shad Rap size 7 ( which is also a small bait ), second largest ( 13.5 ) ----> 4" Yum Dinger. Tons of 7,8 and 9 lbers caught with cranks, 6-8" worms & spinnerbaits, something "special" ? nah, everyday baits.

5 hours ago, Catt said:

My suggestion put in as many hours on the water you can get away with!

 ^^^^^ THAT !!!!, all the big fish I´ve caught were during the time I was able to go 3, 4 or 5 days of the week even for a few hours, nowadays ? man, you can´t expect me to go and catch big mommas when I can go once every 3 or 4 MONTHS. I know I´m good but not THAT good, now, me catching a goodun would have a lot of the "luck" factor in it. Things change, conditions change, even the lake has gone through changes.

[Catt]

40 minutes ago, Raul said:

^^^^^ Neither do I, first 10+ lber ---> Rapala Original Floating minnow size 9 ( which is quite small ), PB ( 13.86 lbs ) -----> Rapala Shad Rap size 7 ( which is also a small bait ), second largest ( 13.5 ) ----> 4" Yum Dinger. Tons of 7,8 and 9 lbers caught with cranks, 6-8" worms & spinnerbaits, something "special" ? nah, everyday baits.

 ^^^^^ THAT !!!!, all the big fish I´ve caught were during the time I was able to go 3, 4 or 5 days of the week even for a few hours, nowadays ? man, you can´t expect me to go and catch big mommas when I can go once every 3 or 4 MONTHS. I know I´m good but not THAT good, now, me catching a goodun would have a lot of the "luck" factor in it. Things change, conditions change, even the lake has gone through changes.

Problem solved!

Edited June 8, 2016 by Catt

[Cgolf]

While big lures do catch big fish, here on some highly pressured Musky lakes, we have seen them switch to smacking smaller lures instead of the larger musky baits. It sounded like the bass club tourney guys were catching more than the musky guys. I saw this too with a big fish on a swim jig.

The moral to all that is if everyone is pounding big baits on the big fish holds, go in with a smaller bait, you may be surprised. It really is about location and using something different. I agree with Raul and Catt, my personal best Largie came on a 2" yellow grub out of a Florida pond, really wish I had a weight on that fish.

[lo n slo]

2 hours ago, primetime said:

If you take me, all expenses paid...I will show you how to catch them.

i'm in too

[Catt]

Alright y'all I aint saying big baits do not catch big bass cause they do!

But if ya going down to your local honey hole thinking ya gonna throw big baits & immediately start catching big bass ya might be disappointed!

To many on this site have caught big bass on small lures & small bass on big lures!

[mojojojo]

45 minutes ago, Catt said:

Alright y'all I aint saying big baits do not catch big bass cause they do!

But if ya going down to your local honey hole thinking ya gonna throw big baits & immediately start catching big bass ya might be disappointed!

To many on this site have caught big bass on small lures & small bass on big lures!

you're right, you can catch big bass on little baits but Id say 99% of the bass caught on little baits like a typical roboworm or a 1-1.5 squarbill..etc are not going to be giants. Almost always the smaller faster fish attack the smaller baits. The big bass usually don't even give them a second look, but thats obviously not always the case.

I used to only fish with small baits and never caught anything over 3 pounds at my local lake and I fished this way for years. The first day I tried large baits I finally caught a big bass and its still my personal best at 8Lb and it was on a 5" Savage 3D trout (not even all that big)

Since then Ive consistently caught bass at and over the 5lb mark on big baits only..large swim jigs, big worms, swimbaits..etc

I still finesse fish with roboworms and I still have not caught anything over 3Lb on them.

So in my experience, yes big baits absolutely do better for consistently catching bigger bass. I also catch more bigger bass at night then I do during the day

[Raul]

8 hours ago, Catt said:

Problem solved!

WHUT ?!? Dink magnets ?

[shimmy]

Lake Frederick?

[OCdockskipper]

9 hours ago, Catt said:

Problem solved!

I prefer to throw those sized crankbaits using "The Fishing Machine", spooled with 4 lb test.

[Catt]

6 hours ago, mojojojo said:

you're right, you can catch big bass on little baits but Id say 99% of the bass caught on little baits like a typical roboworm or a 1-1.5 squarbill..etc are not going to be giants. Almost always the smaller faster fish attack the smaller baits. The big bass usually don't even give them a second look, but thats obviously not always the case.

I used to only fish with small baits and never caught anything over 3 pounds at my local lake and I fished this way for years. The first day I tried large baits I finally caught a big bass and its still my personal best at 8Lb and it was on a 5" Savage 3D trout (not even all that big)

Since then Ive consistently caught bass at and over the 5lb mark on big baits only..large swim jigs, big worms, swimbaits..etc

I still finesse fish with roboworms and I still have not caught anything over 3Lb on them.

So in my experience, yes big baits absolutely do better for consistently catching bigger bass. I also catch more bigger bass at night then I do during the day

Of the 33 double digit bass I've caught 4 were caught on a V&M 9" Super Ringer worm all the others came on smaller lures.

I've a couple dozen 30-35 lb tournament sacks on 7 1/2" worms & 3/8 oz jigs.

Out of 565 13 lb+ bass entered into the Texas Sharelunker program none were caught on any thing bigger than a 10" worm.

Bass are opportunistic feeders, they will eat what's in front of them.

[WRB]

To catch giant bass consistantly you must target them when they are catchable where they are active feeding. To put odds in your favor use lures that represent the type of prey the bass are eating.

During pre spawn is the time when these big bass are very active and catchable. During the warm water periods the big bass has a lot of choices, prey is plentiful because lots of young of the year critters are plentiful. 

The lure you choose isn't nearly as important as the location, your timing and your ability to detect strikes and land giant bass.

My choice of lures for giant bass are jigs, big worms, swimbaits, crankbaits, wake baits, spinnerbaits, top water etc, etc....did I mention jigs the lure I catch over 90% of my giant bass on!

Tom

 

 

[Gundog]

Up here in PA timing is everything. Big bass are caught mostly in the spring. Mainly because of spawning but also because of trout stocking. Big bass love to snack on hatchery trout. Just recently the Fish & Boat biologists trapped a 21" 9 pound bass in a 47 acre lake. 

[soflabasser]

8 hours ago, Catt said:

But if ya going down to your local honey hole thinking ya gonna throw big baits & immediately start catching big bass ya might be disappointed!

To many on this site have caught big bass on small lures & small bass on big lures!

Yep!!!You gotta be extremely patient to fish with big lures , especially swimbaits.I have caught plenty of +8 pound bass on small lures,at least small compared to the swimbaits I like to use. I have spoken to several crappie fishermen that have caught bass over +10 pounds from land on crappie jigs.Even the current Texas state record was caught on a crappie jig and this fish was +18 pounds.

39 minutes ago, Gundog said:

Just recently the Fish & Boat biologists trapped a 21" 9 pound bass in a 47 acre lake. 

Wow that is one thick 21" bass to weigh 9 pounds. The average 9 pounder down here is 24-26" long.

11 hours ago, cgolf said:

It really is about location and using something different. I agree with Raul and Catt, my personal best Largie came on a 2" yellow grub out of a Florida pond, really wish I had a weight on that fish.

Bass are much more intelligent than most people give them credit for,especially Florida strain largemouth bass.Its a good tactic to use lures that most people don't use,especially in highly pressured waters.

[ibobpeb]

I would throw big swimbaits. 

[Dogmatic]

8 hours ago, Gundog said:

Up here in PA timing is everything. Big bass are caught mostly in the spring. Mainly because of spawning but also because of trout stocking. Big bass love to snack on hatchery trout. Just recently the Fish & Boat biologists trapped a 21" 9 pound bass in a 47 acre lake. 

Unfortunately, here in PA that egg laden trout eater is rare, and she is highly likely to be "harvested" thanks to our antiquated "big bass" regulations. As is trout stocking in warm waterways where those big bass live.

[fissure_man]

12 hours ago, Catt said:

Of the 33 double digit bass I've caught 4 were caught on a V&M 9" Super Ringer worm all the others came on smaller lures.

I've a couple dozen 30-35 lb tournament sacks on 7 1/2" worms & 3/8 oz jigs.

Out of 565 13 lb+ bass entered into the Texas Sharelunker program none were caught on any thing bigger than a 10" worm.

Bass are opportunistic feeders, they will eat what's in front of them.

The sharelunker stat is impressive, but surely the reason is that in terms of angler-hours, almost nobody is throwing "big" baits.  I wonder what percentage of Texas anglers even own a rod that can comfortably chuck a 3+ oz swimbait?  If people exclusively fished crappie jigs, then loads of big bass would be caught on crappie jigs... it doesn't mean a crappie jig is the best choice.

I'm surprised there aren't more swimbait anglers on here defending their case.  I'm not one, but if I spent $60+ on a lure and $300+ on a new setup to toss it, I wouldn't want to be told it has no benefit other than to filter out a few dinks

[Catt]

Just now, fissure_man said:

The sharelunker stat is impressive, but surely the reason is that in terms of angler-hours, almost nobody is throwing "big" baits.  I wonder what percentage of Texas anglers even own a rod that can comfortably chuck a 3+ oz swimbait?  If people exclusively fished crappie jigs, then loads of big bass would be caught on crappie jigs... it doesn't mean a crappie jig is the best choice.

I'm surprised there aren't more swimbait anglers on here defending their case.  I'm not one, but if I spent $60+ on a lure and $300+ on a new setup to toss it, I wouldn't want to be told it has no benefit other than to filter out a few dinks

Do not fooled into believing Texas anglers don't throw swim baits!

What I said was none has produced a Sharelunker bass of 13+ lbs!

The Texas state record was caught on a 3" shinner not a crappie jig.

The point is not which bait produces the biggest bass but where you put that bait.

The OP knows where the bass are he just needs to be on the water when big momma wants to bite.

[Raul]

11 hours ago, WRB said:

To catch giant bass consistantly you must target them when they are catchable where they are active feeding. To put odds in your favor use lures that represent the type of prey the bass are eating.

During pre spawn is the time when these big bass are very active and catchable. During the warm water periods the big bass has a lot of choices, prey is plentiful because lots of young of the year critters are plentiful. 

The lure you choose isn't nearly as important as the location, your timing and your ability to detect strikes and land giant bass.

My choice of lures for giant bass are jigs, big worms, swimbaits, crankbaits, wake baits, spinnerbaits, top water etc, etc....did I mention jigs the lure I catch over 90% of my giant bass on!

Tom

 

 

^^^^^ THIS !!!!

You gotta be there at the right time in the right place is more important that with the theoretical "right" lure.

Here´s a very rare pic of a spot that has produced many big fish for me in my everyday lake, I say rare because the lake is seldomly this low, this spot is pretty much always under 15+ ft of water, the important thing is not the rocks , but where the rocks are located is the most important aspect, they are on a mound and the creek channel ( not visible in the pic ) runs right below them, those brushes and trees are just the cherry on top of the pie.