How to catch bigger bass?

[HotDogAngler]

Hi all, pretty new member here.  Had a question for you all.

 

I started bass fishing this summer and just caught my 50th bass last week!  I initially started using hot dogs as bait, which would catch bass once every roughly 90 min, in the 2-5 pound range, but the number of turtles getting snagged was unbearable, so I switched to soft plastics, starting with Yum dingers/lizards, and occsionally crankbaits/spinnerbaits.  My issue is when I switch to soft plastics, I catch more fish per hour (1.5 per hour instead of .6 an hour), but they are generally small (1 pound or less).  I like that I catch more fish, but I would like to catch bigger ones as well with soft plastics.  Am I doing something wrong?

 

Some info.

 

1.  I flip/pitch 4-5 inch Yum dingers all over near what little cover there is (water plants).  I almost never throw the senko to open water...seems unproductive.

2.  The pond is in NYC, and it takes 20 min to walk around it, so not that big.  

3.  I have tried crankbaits and spinnerbaits, but I haven't gotten anything, besides a giant bluegill.  I have issues with getting them snagged, because there are many underwater branches etc.

4.  I notice bigger bass look at my senko and always avoid it, they don't even bite and spit it out.

5.  I don't think I'm fishing the senko wrong but am open to suggestions, I have caught 2-3 pounders up in Montauk's lakes/ponds.

6.  The water is VERY green.  I use Junebug, watermelon red flake, green pumpkin colors.  

 

Any feedback is appreciated!

[MassYak85]

5 hours ago, HotDogAngler said:

 Am I doing something wrong?

 

 

If you were catching 5lbers on a hotdog in a NYC pond I'd say you were doing SOMETHING right lol. 

[LionHeart]

The best way I know to catch bigger bass is to use bigger bait.  Try a double whopper instead of hot dogs.

 

Seriously though, try throwing some jigs or swim baits.

[Glaucus]

Was that 2-5 pounds on a scale or 2-5 pounds by inexperienced eyesight? Because 5 pound bass in NY is great. 5 pound bass in NY on hotdogs is harder to believe in that Bigfoot. 

[soflabasser]

Maybe a hotdog colored senko will work since you said you caught a 5 pound bass on a hotdog.

[Deleted account]

LOL. I hope those are Sabretts or Nathan's (Papaya King are ok too) preferably skinned ones. No Ball Parks or other bush league franks. I like mine with onions and mustard (its a NYC thing). Dirty water dogs! NYC in the house! NYC PB is 6, they're in there, but on does need to get creative. I might have to hit the Mattawoman with a half smoke...  

[CroakHunter]

Bump up to a 7" senko. Closer to thickness as a hot dog

[HotDogAngler]

9 hours ago, Glaucus said:

Was that 2-5 pounds on a scale or 2-5 pounds by inexperienced eyesight? Because 5 pound bass in NY is great. 5 pound bass in NY on hotdogs is harder to believe in that Bigfoot. 

5 pounds on the scale, which is on the lip gripper you see in the pic (that is the fish btw).

47 minutes ago, CroakHunter said:

Bump up to a 7" senko. Closer to thickness as a hot dog

That actually sounds like a good idea.  Will check it out. Thanks!

2 hours ago, reason said:

LOL. I hope those are Sabretts or Nathan's (Papaya King are ok too) preferably skinned ones. No Ball Parks or other bush league franks. I like mine with onions and mustard (its a NYC thing). Dirty water dogs! NYC in the house! NYC PB is 6, they're in there, but on does need to get creative. I might have to hit the Mattawoman with a half smoke...  

I just use a skinned chicken hot dog cause they are cheap and hold up better, $1.89 per 8 pack.  

[scaleface]

You caught bass motionless on chunks of hot dogs . Generally bass are not caught that way but weird things happen . I've caught them on shad sides while cat fishing . 

 

Now you can see these big bass  so they can see you . Try not to be seen . 

[HotDogAngler]

2 minutes ago, scaleface said:

So , are you just using a chunk of hot dog motionless ,like in cat-fising ?

I wacky rig a whole dog on a 4/0 hook and let it sink naturally, then retrieve after a bit.  

[scaleface]

Just now, HotDogAngler said:

I wacky rig a whole dog on a 4/0 hook and let it sink naturally, then retrieve after a bit.  

Ok . Thats a new one . LOL

[HotDogAngler]

3 minutes ago, scaleface said:

Ok . Thats a new one . LOL

 ikr, seems weird, but works for me, at least when the turtles don't freak out for it.

[Eric J]

Moved out of NYC (Manhattan) 28 years ago for the Hudson Valley. Never even knew there were fish in Central Park till this season... I gotta get there one of these days!

[HotDogAngler]

12 minutes ago, Eric J said:

Moved out of NYC (Manhattan) 28 years ago for the Hudson Valley. Never even knew there were fish in Central Park till this season... I gotta get there one of these days!

 many do not know, but it's convenient and fun!

[Eric J]

1 minute ago, HotDogAngler said:

 many do not know, but it's convenient and fun!

Now I have to figure out how to explain the rods and tackle in the car the next time we go to visit my daughter or see a show...

[HotDogAngler]

1 hour ago, Eric J said:

Now I have to figure out how to explain the rods and tackle in the car the next time we go to visit my daughter or see a show...

But fishing is the show!

[LCG]

Bigger soft plastics...brush hogs, beaver style baits, large 7-10" worms. The color selection is spot on in my opinion. Congrats you are off to an awesome start. 

[HotDogAngler]

3 hours ago, LCG said:

Bigger soft plastics...brush hogs, beaver style baits, large 7-10" worms. The color selection is spot on in my opinion. Congrats you are off to an awesome start. 

 thanks!  I think bigger worms is a good idea.  Time to justify spending more $ .

[LCG]

3 minutes ago, HotDogAngler said:

 thanks!  I think bigger worms is a good idea.  Time to justify spending more $ .

Sir, you have just met the bait monkey The addiction to buying tackle is a real thing. 

[r83srock]

I love me a Chicago dog, but I’m not giving one up to a bass. Try a sour gummy worm, those work pretty well! If not that I’d say a big worm or jig.

[HotDogAngler]

Update!  Just caught my new PB using a 5 inch Watermelon Seed Yum Dinger!  Casting out to deeper water definitely made the bite slower, but yielded bigger fish.

 

[blckshirt98]

For the love of god man, hide your surroundings when you post!  Once someone here finds out where you're catching 5 lb bass within walking distance of a metro in NY that place will be fished out by next summer!  Grats on the fish btw!

[HotDogAngler]

5 hours ago, blckshirt98 said:

For the love of god man, hide your surroundings when you post!  Once someone here finds out where you're catching 5 lb bass within walking distance of a metro in NY that place will be fished out by next summer!  Grats on the fish btw!

TBH I don't think it can be any more pressured than it is now, and there aren't more than 8-10 spots to fish on this pond, cause of the fences.   

 

And thanks