Big Bass Baits

[BrackishBassin]

I found out this past weekend that a local pond I fish has some very large bass in it, or has in the recent past. Multiple 7s, an 8, and a 9.5lb bass have been caught (also where my new PB was caught this February). The pond is relatively large and ranges from 12-15ft at its deepest to 1-2ft near the shore. The entire bottom is covered in grass. It’s not too bad right now, but the warmer it gets the thicker the grass is going to get. In some places it grows to within a foot of the surface. 

 

What big bass baits would you guys throw in that pond? I’ve decided to dedicate the entire summer to fishing that body of water in hopes of getting one of the big girls. 

[CroakHunter]

7" senko. 

[WRB]

Pre spawn through post spawn; jigs, big worms and Matt's slow sink Hard Gil.

Summer nights; wake baits like rat or slammer and swimbait like Matts Hard Gil.

Tom

[BassObsessed]

I don't fall into  the hype of needing a giant bait for DD bass. I caught a 10.5 on a 4'' swimbait and saw some 12's caught on 4'' senkos.

[JustJames]

11 minutes ago, BassObsessed said:

I don't fall into  the hype of needing a giant bait for DD bass. I caught a 10.5 on a 4'' swimbait and saw some 12's caught on 4'' senkos.

Yes all lures can catch all size bass. I believe you, your 4" swimbait caught that 10.5. I don't wanna say that you are lucky to have your 4" at the right time and right place.

All I say smaller lure would be harder to catch bigger bass, why? Because smaller bass which is faster and more active would get to your lure first. There are reasons why those who target bigger bass use bigger lure, and there are those who lucky enough to catch bigger bass with regular size lures.

[BrackishBassin]

1 hour ago, BassObsessed said:

I don't fall into  the hype of needing a giant bait for DD bass. I caught a 10.5 on a 4'' swimbait and saw some 12's caught on 4'' senkos.

I would normally agree with you, but this pondisnt actively managed. There are probably hundreds of little guys and gals swimming around. The big baits are more to eliminate having to wade through them to get to the big girls. 

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Pre spawn through post spawn; jigs, big worms and Matt's slow sink Hard Gil.

Summer nights; wake baits like rat or slammer and swimbait like Matts Hard Gil.

Tom

I’ll check out the Hard Gill. Thanks! I think jigs would be tough to fish due to the amount of grass on the bottom. Even Texas rigged worms drag up chunks of grass in this pond. 

[Angry John]

8" trash fish swaiver 200 trash fish gills.  Tons of good baits that don't break the bank.  The 7.8 Keitech is another good choice.

[All about da bass]

Rattle trap of course. Swim bait, and my favorite, 12inch ribbon tail.

[Deleted account]

10 hours ago, BrackishBassin said:

I found out this past weekend that a local pond I fish has some very large bass in it, or has in the recent past. Multiple 7s, an 8, and a 9.5lb bass have been caught (also where my new PB was caught this February). The pond is relatively large and ranges from 12-15ft at its deepest to 1-2ft near the shore. The entire bottom is covered in grass. It’s not too bad right now, but the warmer it gets the thicker the grass is going to get. In some places it grows to within a foot of the surface. 

 

What big bass baits would you guys throw in that pond? I’ve decided to dedicate the entire summer to fishing that body of water in hopes of getting one of the big girls. 

First, there are no big bass in SoMD, but if there were, jig, spinnerbait, large creature, frog and buzzbait would be my pick. I think the "big bait big fish" is overdone though.

[Catt]

Big lures catch big bass and little bass!

 

Little lures catch little bass and big bass!

 

If your body of water has a large population of smaller bass ya gonna have to cull through em!

 

Y'all really think a small bass will out compete a hungry hawg?

[JustJames]

24 minutes ago, Catt said:

Big lures catch big bass and little bass!

 

Little lures catch little bass and big bass!

 

If your body of water has a large population of smaller bass ya gonna have to cull through em!

 

Y'all really think a small bass will out compete a hungry hawg?

I would say yes. Those dinks are the worst, they would attack anything that move. 

[Catt]

13 minutes ago, JustJames said:

I would say yes. Those dinks are the worst, they would attack anything that move. 

 

And a big female will eat that dink ?

[N Florida Mike]

I caught an 8 1/2 last year on a 4 inch senko. Only bite I have gotten in 2 hours of fishing in that pond.

I also caught a 8 1/2 to 9 pound fish on a 12 inch Mann's jelly worm with about 1 1/2 inch cut off it.

I have probably caught more fish over 4 pounds with a zoom super fluke than any other bait.

But if I wanted to catch a big fish real badly and real quickly, I would use a live shiners or live bluegill ( check local laws first )?

[JustJames]

40 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

And a big female will eat that dink ?

I'll let you know, next time I catch a dink, I'll let it run around with hook in its mouth. Lol

oops we are not supposed to talk illegal stuff here.

[ClackerBuzz]

don't just think lures, think best possible conditions too:  cold water on a warming trend, prespawn, prefrontal, high winds and night time.  throw large topwater wake baits like rats but don't get discouraged b/c you are going for quality not quantity.  buzzbaits and frogs are big bass lures as well.  4-6" paddle tail swimbaits attract large and small bass alike.  big girls are fat largely to being lazy so i prefer large slower lures that you can pauses--the buzzbait and paddle tail being the exception when they are aggressive.

[BrackishBassin]

3 hours ago, reason said:

First, there are no big bass in SoMD, but if there were, jig, spinnerbait, large creature, frog and buzzbait would be my pick. I think the "big bait big fish" is overdone though.

A 9lb bass is plenty big to me!

[scaleface]

The two lures that have constantly caught better than average size bass for me have been a jig n pig and Bomber Long A  Minnow  .  For grass ,  hands down , a weightless Yum Swurm .

[papajoe222]

Not knowing what kind of 'grass' you're dealing with, I'd recommend a 1/2oz. RedEyeShad worked over the top of the vegetation occasionally catching it on the grass and ripping it free. As it grows closer to the surface, choose a bait that will stay above it, or punch through it. A big, weightless worm like a C-Mac will stay on top of it using mono or braid and a compact beaver style bait or big tube is good for punching.  Once the spawn is over, Spooks and frogs are good for drawing them up out of the grass.  Regardless, choose a strong, quality line and keep their head up and moving toward you once hooked.

[nascar2428]

If you are fishing from shore, then I'm going to use a 6 or 7 inch weightless senko, plastic swimbait rigged weedless. willow leaf spinnerbait, buzzbait and a whopper plopper. All of those will be effective in and above the grass, fishing from the shore.

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, BrackishBassin said:

A 9lb bass is plenty big to me!

A 9 lb bass!? Next you'll be telling me there is a half man half goat roaming the MD woods, or something about a phanthom blue dog.....shhhh....

Last time a SoMd guy started talking about big bass on the InterWeb®, It became almost impossible to park with all the wanna be pros with DE plates on the trailers. I got a great story, but it's gotta be over a beer, repeat after me, "there are no big bass in SoMd"

4 hours ago, Catt said:

 

And a big female will eat that dink ?

I caught a bass that was just under 7 with one about 1 1/2 in its throat a while back. So it was really almost 9...

[sully420]

Im a big bait guy big jigs big trailers big worms and creature baits and i love the kvd 8.0 square bill. It works for me and i would rather fish all day and catch one 5+lb bass than 50 rats.

[WRB]

Jigs; 3"-5" long, not a big lure but a big bass lure, use before the grass is too dense and there is always hard bottom/structure areas. 

Matts Hard Gil is 5" long.

A 12" bass can and will strike a 12" worm.

Rats have 4"-5" body with a worm tail, 3-4 lb bass can easily fit into thier mouth.

Nothing suggested was a big lure for adult size bass.

I will add 3:16 8" Mission Fish for a weedless swimbait, slender  swimbait any adult size bass can easily eat.

Tom

 

 

[Choporoz]

Lots of stuff you can throw, of course.

My only 'suggestion' is to keep in mind that even after the grass comes way up, you do NOT want to forget/avoid/ignore all but the top 8 inches of water.  Sure, frogs and buzzbaits and weightless plastics and toads and spooks, etc are going to draw strikes.  But there's going to be some shy big girls that you will have to go to them.  Find ways to get lures to the bottom even when it seems more trouble than its worth. 

[Catt]

I would select a Texas Rig so I can adjust the weight as the seasons & the grass changes.

 

I would flip-n-pitch the entire shoreline until I developed a pattern.

 

Given significant cover you'll be amazed how close to the bank bass will hide.

[BrackishBassin]

23 minutes ago, Catt said:

I would select a Texas Rig so I can adjust the weight as the seasons & the grass changes.

 

I would flip-n-pitch the entire shoreline until I developed a pattern.

 

Given significant cover you'll be amazed how close to the bank bass will hide.

It's a weird little pond in the sense that there is zero cover. No lily pads, no overhanging trees, no shoreline grass, nothing. It goes straight from 'lawn' to shoreline.

4 hours ago, reason said:

A 9 lb bass!? Next you'll be telling me there is a half man half goat roaming the MD woods, or something about a phanthom blue dog.....shhhh....

Last time a SoMd guy started talking about big bass on the InterWeb®, It became almost impossible to park with all the wanna be pros with DE plates on the trailers. I got a great story, but it's gotta be over a beer, repeat after me, "there are no big bass in SoMd"

I caught a bass that was just under 7 with one about 1 1/2 in its throat a while back. So it was really almost 9...

You know, come to think of it, it may have just been that blue dog that told me about the big bass down here. And everybody knows you can't trust a blue dog...