Where are the bigger bass?

[Alan Reed]

After this past weekend I started to wonder what I am missing? The past two weekends I have been catching fish so i know I am on them but there hasn't been a single one over 12 inches. Water temp is still in the mid 40's so I have been using jerk baits, Rat-L-Traps and Jigs on steep banks, and lay downs.

 

With the jig I am getting many more bites that hook sets because they only get the trailer in their mouth. Those that are big enough engulf it deep.

 

I know there are larger fish there because I have caught them before. The trend is the same across three different bodies of water.

 

Help me the part of the puzzle I am missing.

 

[wdp]

I'm seeing the same. I have a small pond I bank fish. Last year in late Feb - early March I caught quite a few good 4-6 pounders in only 2 FOW along some rip rap banks. This year I've only gotten a few dinks with only 1 around 4 lbs. The big ones just don't seem to be there. 

 

It does seem the water level is a bit lower this yr. And seems like every time I can go, a cold front just moved thru which is probably knocking the big girls back deeper. I figure these 2 things combined are hurting my success. The problem is I keep chunking baits back out into deeper water & can't get em to bite out there either. 

[kiteman]

if you've ever ventured into a bass pro shop or cabelas where they have the big fish in the large tanks, you'll see the big bass usually just sitting there in one spot.  i think the same happens in a pond or lake when the big bass are lazy, especially in cold water, and you basically have to drop a lure they like on top of their nose.  otherwise the smaller, more aggressive fish will typically win out on a lure that's not in an immediate big bass' vicinity.

[scaleface]

 I just keep plugging away at numbers and luck into big ones . The more I catch the luckier I get .

[hoosierbass07]

20 minutes ago, scaleface said:

 I just keep plugging away at numbers and luck into big ones . The more I catch the luckier I get .

 

 

  Yep, pretty much explains how I fish from my kayak/canoe/bank.  

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, Alan Reed said:

After this past weekend I started to wonder what I am missing? The past two weekends I have been catching fish so i know I am on them but there hasn't been a single one over 12 inches. Water temp is still in the mid 40's so I have been using jerk baits, Rat-L-Traps and Jigs on steep banks, and lay downs.

 

With the jig I am getting many more bites that hook sets because they only get the trailer in their mouth. Those that are big enough engulf it deep.

 

I know there are larger fish there because I have caught them before. The trend is the same across three different bodies of water.

 

Help me the part of the puzzle I am missing.

 

 

 

  Sounds like you are on them – the 12 inch ones.  If this is all you’re getting regardless of what you throw, and you are not pleased with that,  perhaps try fishing places you don’t normally fish.   Sometimes it’s hard to pull yourself away from ‘biting bass’, but if you’re not getting what you want, you’re probably going have to change something.   This time of year I may not relocate to avoid small bass but other times of the year I will. 

  Either way, the bait’s you’re using seem OK – they are getting bites – so present the same baits somewhere else.  You can catch Nothing (or dinks) anywhere, might as well give it a shot. 

 

  If steep banks are what you’ve been trying mostly, try this; wait until at least mid-day and fish through whatever would be the warmest part of the day.   Present what you’re confident in to sun baked, and windblown (not hurricane) flats immediately adjacent to deeper water.  Don't be afraid to fish thin water, especially if the water has recently (or that day) warmed up a few degrees).   Sometimes the north end of the lake fits the bill here (with a south breeze).     Finally a tube is a decent bait, easy to fish, decent hook up to strike ratio, and very reasonably priced.

A-Jay

 

[Alan Reed]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 

 

  Sounds like you are on them – the 12 inch ones.  If this is all you’re getting regardless of what you throw, and you are not pleased with that,  perhaps try fishing places you don’t normally fish.   Sometimes it’s hard to pull yourself away from ‘biting bass’, but if you’re not getting what you want, you’re probably going have to change something.   This time of year I may not relocate to avoid small bass but other times of the year I will. 

  Either way, the bait’s you’re using seem OK – they are getting bites – so present the same baits somewhere else.  You can catch Nothing (or dinks) anywhere, might as well give it a shot. 

 

  If steep banks are what you’ve been trying mostly, try this; wait until at least mid-day and fish through whatever would be the warmest part of the day.   Present what you’re confident in to sun baked, and windblown (not hurricane) flats immediately adjacent to deeper water.  Don't be afraid to fish thin water, especially if the water has recently (or that day) warmed up a few degrees).   Sometimes the north end of the lake fits the bill here (with a south breeze).     Finally a tube is a decent bait, easy to fish, decent hook up to strike ratio, and very reasonably priced.

A-Jay

 

Thanks for the input. 

[IndianaFinesse]

I agree with ajay on trying a different area, my suggestion is that you move a bit deeper.  It doesn't always have to be way offshore either, just pulling off the shoreline to the first dropline is often all it takes.  Right now they are off of main lake points (last week before the cold front the were just inside coves) and at the openings of coves in the 10-20 foot depth range schooled up alongside the crappie.  Next week once the water warms up a little I expect the bass to start moving shallower, probably just inside the coves but off of the banks a little. Look for coves near the wintering areas, with a defined channel running through them.

 

Jigs are good this time of year, but until the water temperature hits 50 again winter baits seem to work well also.  Lately I've been catching them on a shaky head and a four inch finesse worm, ned rig, jerkbaits, and some on the dropshot fished vertically in deep water.  Just remember, the bass are still moving slowly and the biggest bass even more so.

[WRB]

You are fishing where juvenile bass are located, they are very aggressive and easy to catch. Wrong location for the cold water period or too fast retreive speed for the larger size bass to react to. I would look for banks and points that have sun on them most of the day light period with rocks in lieu of wood or shade. Slow way down and dead stick the jigs and shake them before moving the jig more than a foot forward. Long pause you jerk baits, it should come to a complete stop between jerks in cold water. Rip the trap off the bottom and let it fall back down and rest between lifts. Structure spoons and ice jigs are ideal for verticle jigging in deeper water....use your sonar to find the bait and bass.

Tom

[gim]

Maybe the bigger bass just aren't hungry.  Considering how cold the water is, it takes a lot of expended energy for a larger fish to feed this time of year.  They're probably just really lethargic right now.  If you were living in 40 degree water, how much energy would you waste conducting your daily activities?

[RoLo]

From all appearances, you're fishing a depth zone that's highly supportive of immature bass.

To be sure, the majority of any waterbody caters to juvenile bass, because they make up

the greatest biomass. The tenet that adult bass reside deeper than juvenile bass has been done-to-death,

but there are seasons & conditions when the adults tend to reside shallower than the juveniles.

 

Roger

 

 

 

[lonnie g]

 looks like you have already gotten lots of good feed back. sometimes smaller baits are better , such as a 4" finess worm. work it really slow even pausing. sunny days try the flats close to a deeper ledges. keep swinging ,you'll connect.

[Alan Reed]

These are great responses and I appreciate you taking the time.  Next time I go out, I will try something a little different.

[AdamV _bassin]

Usually the bigger bass will become really slow and sluggish in the cold  they could be in the same spot just slow down the retrieve and switch to a larger jig (1oz) with out the trailer hook  or somthing similar (if you want the big ones use big baits the little ones will leave it alone) maybe even a big glidebait fished extra slow for the 5+s ,but drop shot espicaly of points and ledges is usually the best, for what ever reason I get the biggest ones on drop shot in the 40 degree temp range, if you still can't get bit go deeper.

[TravisVirginiaAngler]

Throwing baits that smaller fish wont eat help. IE: a jig with a craw trailer, a larger 4" + swimbait, or a texas rigged creature bait are some I throw that at least dinks will pass on. They still will catch 2+ pounders but at least you're eliminating what you dont wana catch! Good luck.

[sully420]

I would get away from the 12" bass maby use a bladed jig power fish shallow points and isolated cover then work back over the water and fish a big jig slow might not get many bites but you should find the right ones