How often do you catch a big bass?

[Milos]

I feel like I'm doing something wrong, or where I am around doesn't have big fish. I've been fishing for a total of 2 years, and I have only caught a total of 4 carp (weight around 4-5 pound), 2 bass that were around 1-2 pounds, a  huge snapping turtle once on accident, and almost caught a grass carp that's close to 3-4 ft. 

 

The rest I've caught very small fish like chub, bluegill, baby bass, perch, small catfish. Maybe when I get my Ultra light rod it will be more fun to catch these fish.

 

I've fished in a total of 5 locations, creeks and lakes. Maybe should I go out more and find new places to fish? Do people usually catch a good size fish every fishing trip? 

[Bluebasser86]

Really depends a lot on location for me. Some lakes in the area have big fish, some don't, and you can't catch them where they don't live. One of my favorite lakes, I'm disappointed if I don't catch something over 4 pounds every trip. Other lakes I fish, I've only caught a handful of fish over 4 pounds in all the years I've fished them. Baits will make a big difference too because some just tend to produce larger fish. If you fish a 5" finesse worm on a shakyhead all day every day, you'll catch a big one occasionally, but if you fish a 1/2 football jig with a 5" twin tail instead, chances are you'll see more big fish. 

[Raul]

My everyday lake has 10+ lbers, I know it because I have caught several throughout the 3+ decades I've fished it but between catching one and another it can take years, so to be honest, the regular, ordinary, everyday catch is about a pound in weight, which apparently is the most abundant weight since that's what you catch all day long.

 

[BigAngus752]

Do other people fish the same lakes?  What are they catching?  Tomorrow we are headed to a small lake that hosts a bass tournament EVERY Thursday.  And every Thursday the stringers are 14lb plus with someone catching at least one upwards of 5lbs.  So tomorrow if I am coming up completely empty then odds are I am doing something wrong.  But it's our first time there so I have to give myself some extra cushion for mistakes.  By our 5th or 6th time there we should be regularly catching good fish.  Are you working hard on the same lake repeatedly?  Are other people having success on the same lake?

 

I once had a good friend tell me, "Your first divorce might be someone else's fault.  By the second or third divorce it's time to look in the mirror".  That applies to a lot of things.  

 

 

[Dens228]

Also, what are you using for lures/bait.  Every summer I head up to northern Wisconsin with my family.  My two youngest sons catch tons of little 1/2 pound bass.  I catch several that are 3-5 pounds.  They ask why I catch the big ones and they catch small ones.   They are using small crappie lures, but it's because they like catching numbers.  I use bigger lures because I like catching bigger fish. 

[the reel ess]

There are times when I've caught big bass on consecutive trips, but rare. I started fishing a place with a good many big bass in it about 4 years ago. Since then I've probably caught 10 or 12 fish over 5 lbs., including by PB last fall. But this year I have not been so fortunate. I've lost several fish that I know would have exceeded 4 lbs. I lost one just Wed evening.Those are the breaks. But I also have dealt with the passing of my dad this year and haven't been fishing nearly as much or I've fished other places. But I've made a conscious effort to use big bass lures everywhere I fish. I have one place that i caught a previous PB at that I have not caught a fish bigger than 2 pounds in the 12 years since.

 

I guess the moral of the story is: Fish where there are big, unpressured bass. Big ones will be the first to shut down if there's a lot of fishing pressure. They'll just feed at night. Fish big bass lures. Try mornings and evenings unless you can actually stay and fish nights. Fish where the dinks are not. Big bass are loners, not usually schoolers. Try live bait if you have to. Eventually the big one will bite.

[Koz]

I agree - if you want to catch bigger fish try bigger bait. The first thing I'd try is a big ol' Senko type worm Texas rig and wacky rig. Both pumpkinseed or a dark black/blue with blue flakes work for me. Then I'd throw a jig with a craw trailer. Sure, there are other baits to throw, but these two are pretty universal to catch bigger bass.

 

What baits have you been using?

[NYWayfarer]

Big is relative. For me a 3 pound Bass is big, to others it is a dink

 

Big baits catch big fish but prepared to be skunked a lot. When my fishing partner and I are on the water I go for quantity over quality. Finesse fishing with smaller sized baits targets the most species of fish in my area. We will have days where I will catch 15-20 fish to his 0-3 as he is fishing with big 6" plus worms. Funny thing is most times my biggest fish of the day is only a few ounces short of his best catch.

[Doelman]

Where are you and what are you fishing with?  Need more info.

 

If I go out for more than a few hours I usually get at least one at or over 2 lbs, one over 4lbs every 4 or 5 trips, I'll catch half a dozen around 5-6 every year, and I've only caught one that was 7 lbs.

[clh121787]

Pretty often. I feel any good angler that fishes where I fish would too. 

[Airman4754]

It depends on the location, the pressure, the time of year, and ultimately my mood. Sometimes I just want to catch a ton of fish and sometimes I want to catch good fish. 

[WRB]

11 hours ago, Milos said:

I feel like I'm doing something wrong, or where I am around doesn't have big fish. I've been fishing for a total of 2 years, and I have only caught a total of 4 carp (weight around 4-5 pound), 2 bass that were around 1-2 pounds, a  huge snapping turtle once on accident, and almost caught a grass carp that's close to 3-4 ft. 

 

The rest I've caught very small fish like chub, bluegill, baby bass, perch, small catfish. Maybe when I get my Ultra light rod it will be more fun to catch these fish.

 

I've fished in a total of 5 locations, creeks and lakes. Maybe should I go out more and find new places to fish? Do people usually catch a good size fish every fishing trip? 

2 years of bass fishing and caught 2 average size bass isn't bad if you only went fishing a few times. Your problem isn't catching big bass it's catching any size bass. Everyone crawls before they walk and walks before they can run....learn to walk first.

Where are you located, general region would help and what type of tackle do you bass fish with??

Tom

[Milos]

I'm fishing in Illinois, the things I use is a crank bait, and a rooster tail. Only 1 lake I fish will have a couple fisherman, and the majority of the time either one catches a good size bass or nothing at all. There is walleye located around the middle of the lake, and I think I remember there is this guy that casts his rod way out there with a minnow and catches it.

[Turtle135]

question: How often do you catch a big bass?

answer: Not nearly often enough!

 

I fish frequently (at least 2-3 times per week in season) and I seem to get one to two "big" bass per month. Big in my area (Maryland) would be a largemouth bass 20" and larger.

[WRB]

1 hour ago, Milos said:

I'm fishing in Illinois, the things I use is a crank bait, and a rooster tail. Only 1 lake I fish will have a couple fisherman, and the majority of the time either one catches a good size bass or nothing at all. There is walleye located around the middle of the lake, and I think I remember there is this guy that casts his rod way out there with a minnow and catches it.

OK, getting somewhere now. What rod are you using; type spinning or casting, brand and model number if possible and what reel and line?

Rooster tail is a inline spinner, what weight? Crankbait brand or model?

The reason for all the questions is I am trying to determine how to get you started using the basic rod, reel and line you now have.

Members tend to answer the title question without reading what your question is about " I need help catching bass".

Tom

 

[Milos]

The rod I use is a Plusinno spinning rod, here is where I got it from https://www.amazon.com/PLUSINNO-Spinning-Telescopic-Saltwater-Freshwater/dp/B00YOW1TKK/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1501268851&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=plusino+telescopic+fishing+rod Reel came with it.

 

I'm using 6 pound test for line, the rooster tail and crank bait I got from walmart and both are branded strike king. 

[scaleface]

It depends on the body of water . A small lake I fish a lot , I use to average a 5 lb  bass about every trip . Thats was just a  couple of years back . These days a five lb bass is rare .

[WRB]

5 hours ago, Milos said:

The rod I use is a Plusinno spinning rod, here is where I got it from https://www.amazon.com/PLUSINNO-Spinning-Telescopic-Saltwater-Freshwater/dp/B00YOW1TKK/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1501268851&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=plusino+telescopic+fishing+rod Reel came with it.

 

I'm using 6 pound test for line, the rooster tail and crank bait I got from walmart and both are branded strike king. 

Now I know you have a light spinning outfit and use 6 lb monofilament line. Telescoping rods seem like a good idea but they don't do anything well except easy to store.

it is what it is as the saying goes.

Bass like to be around objects or under them, they are not out in open water very often.

Places they prefer are docks, weed beds, trees in the water, rocks or boulders etc. We call things that make up the lake bottom from the edge where the water starts to the deepest areas structure. Things that grow in the water or float on top we call cover.

Lures that work well for bass need to be able to be retreived in cover or around structure without snagging. The 2 lures you are using are ok for open water areas with very little cover. The closer you retrieve your lure to both structure and cover the more likely you are going to catch bass.

You rod isn't very good for fishing bass lures, the reel is ok. Until you can change the rod to  a medium fast action 1 piece bass spinning rod, your rod should be able to work for a few other lures. You may need to change the line to a premium 8 lb test mono like Berkley Trilene XL, 6 lb is ok you will lose more lures.

Soft plastics can be fished using what you now have. I would start with 6.5" Zoom Trick worms and 5" GYCB Senko in green pumpkin color. You will need size 2/0 and 3/0 off set worm hooks,  Mustad Ultra point are inexpensive hooks and good quality. The 2/0 for worms, 3/0 for  Senko. The worms I suggest using a split shot rig, the Senko unweighted. The split shot is round type without ears (ears snag weeds) in size #4 or 1/8 oz. 

Tie on your hook using a good knot like a Uni or Trilene knot. The split shot is clamped on the line about 14" above the hook. The worm and Senko are hooked weedless..see Texas rig worm, vedio on this site.

Since you are new and shore fishing try to find an area with a point of land going out underwater or start at the dam. I want you to make a fan casting pattern, that means cast paralell to the shore about 3' to 5' out from the bank about 25 yards in front of you. Let the  worm or Senko hit bottom, then lift the rod tip up about 2' and let the worm or Senko fall down to the bottom. Repeat this retrieve moving the work or Senko about 2' each time. 

Repeat the cast out about 10' from the bank and retrieve. Continue casting until you make a full fan pattern all the around to your back side. Walk down the bank about 30 to 40 yards and repeat the fan casting pattern. This is slow but very effective method to cover water. Bites feel like something is pecking, tapping or tugging lightly in your worm or Senko or you see the line moving. Set the hook by reeling fast and sweeping your rod back hard.

Good luck and catch lots of bass.

Tom

 

[soflabasser]

I catch several big bass every single month that I fish for bass.It helps that I live in South Florida where the fishing overall is spectacular and the fact that I often fish +8 hours at a time, rain or shine.

[CybrSlydr]

I've never caught a big bass.

[Jeff H]

I don't catch many fish so no big bass either.

[BuzzHudson19c]

Depends on the moods I'm in. Sometimes I want to catch big fish only. I will up the bait size and head to  lakes where I know the monsters live. This increases the likelyhood that I will get skunked however. Other times I just want to catch fish consistently. There are those lakes that have a ton of bass but nothing over 3lb, sometimes they are fun.

 

 

[LxVE Bassin]

3 pounds is a big fish where I am at. People catch them way bigger than that sometimes but it's not a constant thing around here. I'm in Indiana so fish don't grow as rapidly as they do in warmer places. If it makes you feel better a lot of people tell lies and guesstimate what a fish weighs.

[CroakHunter]

4 minutes ago, LxVE Bassin said:

3 pounds is a big fish where I am at. People catch them way bigger than that sometimes but it's not a constant thing around here. I'm in Indiana so fish don't grow as rapidly as they do in warmer places. If it makes you feel better a lot of people tell lies and guesstimate what a fish weighs.

Indiana here as well, 3lbs is a nice fish where I'm at as well. I would consider 4lb a big bass and anything over 6.5 a trophy for where I'm at. I've caught 3 over 6 the last few years. 1 Over 7. Keep plugging along and researching here at br and the bigger fish will come. 

[IndianaFinesse]

22 minutes ago, CroakHunter said:

Indiana here as well, 3lbs is a nice fish where I'm at as well. I would consider 4lb a big bass and anything over 6.5 a trophy for where I'm at. I've caught 3 over 6 the last few years. 1 Over 7. Keep plugging along and researching here at br and the bigger fish will come. 

Yep, we don't exactly live in the best state for bass fishing.  My bar for big bass is also at four pounds (around here), and a 6.5 is definitely well into the trophy category.  I fish more than anyone else I know, and I've only caught a few bass over six pounds.  

 

Going up to Michigan every year reminds me of just how bad the bass fishing is in Indiana, a fifteen to twenty pound bag is easier than a 7 pound bag around here, at least on the terrible lakes my club fishes lol.  And even with only about 25 hours on the water last time I was up there, I still caught one bass that weighed a hair over six even.