Giant Bass

[the reel ess]

On 8/11/2018 at 7:08 AM, Gundog said:

Notice in the diagram below that the brain is much smaller than the stomach. There is a reason for that. That bass learn not to hit certain lures or relocate to areas to avoid being caught hasn't been proven. Bass migrate. The fact that they may not return to the exact spot just tells me that the bass found a comfortable water temp, a place they feel safe from predators and has some food there or nearby. They don't build homes and come back to those homes every evening after a hard day at work. The entire lake is their home. Just my opinion with a few facts thrown in for good measure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOL. I've never seen the anus referred to as a vent. Learn something every day.

[the reel ess]

On 8/10/2018 at 8:02 PM, CroakHunter said:

I've caught some of my biggest bass on techniques that I know nobody else is throwing on the body of water I caught them in (magnum rage bug, big straight tail, 7" senko, weighted senko). But o the flip side, the other big ones I've caught on that lake have been on baits that everybody throws there (jig, craw, spinnerbait, big ribbon tail). The only reason I know nobody else is throwing the first few baits I mentioned is because it is a private 65 acre lake owned by my fishing partner and we know everyone that fishes there, what they like to use, and where they like to fish and anytime they see any of those baits I have tied on they just laugh and ask if I really think they are gonna work. I just grin and say nope just trying them out. 

I have a place like this too, but maybe 25 acres. I've caught probably 6 or 7 bass over 6 lbs. there. My last two PB's came from there, the latest being 6.92. I have lost one larger. There aren't a lot of people fishing there. I'm usually alone. I doubt they see many baits at all and the ones they do, not often enough for it to trigger a negative response. My best fish there have all been on different things. Jig, spinnerbait, lipless crank and Trick Worm are the ones I can remember. There have been a lot in the 5 lb. range caught on topwaters - Pop R, Chug Bug, Spook. One big gal on a wacky rig. Some of these are "big fish baits", some are "little fish baits" and some are just baits. I keep going because there's always a chance at a PB there. I used to have to go with a buddy, but the landowner with the gate gave me a key recently.

[J Francho]

53 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

LOL. I've never seen the anus referred to as a vent. Learn something every day.

Pretty common term when dealing with non mammals.

[the reel ess]

57 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Pretty common term when dealing with non mammals.

I'll never hear the phrase "Can I vent?" the same again.

[J Francho]

We actually call sexing fish as "venting"

 

[Catt]

If any part of bass fishing has cult followings it big bass & especially how to catch em.

 

There's groups who are swimbait guys, groups who are big plastic worm guys, groups who are Muskie size Jitterbug guys or whatever guys. There's enough empirical evidence to show it aint about lure selection.

 

We have to understand the Bill Murphys & Doug Hannons aint fishing some local lake in rural America. Big bass anglers are targeting lake with healthy populations of double digit bass.

 

If your body of water only produces a "10" occasionally ya probably aint gonna see any of these guys.

 

[J Francho]

5 minutes ago, Catt said:

If your body of water only produces a "10" occasionally ya probably aint gonna see any of these guys.

What about the guys up north, banging out 8s and 9s, in places no one thought they were?

[Gundog]

3 hours ago, the reel ess said:

LOL. I've never seen the anus referred to as a vent. Learn something every day.

My dad use to "vent" almost constantly.....and blame it on the dog. 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

What about the guys up north, banging out 8s and 9s, in places no one thought they were?

 

Are they catching 1 or 2 every few years?

 

Not every body of water is created equal ?

[J Francho]

That's true.  No, guys like Wayne, and up on the SU feed.  I think they're exploiting something no one thought of, or bothered doing thinking there weren't any of these fish in these waters.  It's hard to tell, because many are pretty tight lipped about where they're fishing.

[Catt]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

That's true.  No, guys like Wayne, and up on the SU feed.  I think they're exploiting something no one thought of, or bothered doing thinking there weren't any of these fish in these waters.  It's hard to tell, because many are pretty tight lipped about where they're fishing.

 

The next part to catching big bass is the angler!

 

Face it these guys think about big bass differently than the average angler. 

 

It's a mindset or frame of mind or whatever ya wanna call it.

 

They understand what structure is, how to truly identify it, interpret it, and then fish it effectively.

 

They understand what the predominate prey species in their lake are how those species relates to structure with each season...morning, noon, and night.

 

They understand that next after location is timing; just because you don't get bite does not mean the bass aren't there or you tied on the wrong lure.

[Mobasser]

2 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

The next part to catching big bass is the angler!

 

Face it these guys think about big bass differently than the average angler. 

 

It's a mindset or frame of mind or whatever ya wanna call it.

 

They understand what structure is, how to truly identify it, interpret it, and then fish it effectively.

 

They understand what the predominate prey species in their lake are how those species relates to structure with each season...morning, noon, and night.

 

They understand that next after location is timing; just because you don't get bite does not mean the bass aren't there or you tied on the wrong lure.

I agree! What many don't realize is that these guys have spent years studying big bass, and trying to figure this out. They have many fishless days along the way. They refine every part of their fishing, all geared toward catching huge bass. They put in countless hours learning all this. And like you said Catt, they look at the sport very different than the occasional fisherman. It's a whole different mind set.Once you've put in the time to locate the key areas- do you have the patience to fish these areas? Can you feel a jig strike- which will probably feel like nothing, in 30+ ft deep water? These things are a whole other set of skills, which take more time to develop. Guys who think this is easy, or just pure luck are only fooling themselves.

 

 

 

[J Francho]

Very good points.  I should probably fish this lake more often.  It's a bit far is my issue, but there are giants in there:

 

[Mobasser]

Very nice J Francho!

[kenmitch]

12 hours ago, Catt said:

 

The next part to catching big bass is the angler!

 

Face it these guys think about big bass differently than the average angler. 

 

It's a mindset or frame of mind or whatever ya wanna call it.

 

They understand what structure is, how to truly identify it, interpret it, and then fish it effectively.

 

They understand what the predominate prey species in their lake are how those species relates to structure with each season...morning, noon, and night.

 

They understand that next after location is timing; just because you don't get bite does not mean the bass aren't there or you tied on the wrong lure.

Jedi bass master! Use the lure! Be one with the fish!

 

I'm just hoping dumb luck at some point will reward me with the fish of a lifetime. Maybe dumb luck isn't the correct term as I'd most likely be following some kind of game plan at the time.