10 pounders in Ohio?

[TnRiver46]

I would try a farm pond! 

[Johnpenguin]

12 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

   And not everything you see on this forum is true, either.    jj

Ya but I feel like most people on here are legit

[soflabasser]

1 minute ago, Johnpenguin said:

Thanks that actually helps

You are welcome. Do research and find where people have caught 8 pound or bigger largemouth bass in Ohio and write these places down in a notebook. Research what lures they use to catch these fish, when they caught these big bass, and other important information. Fishing for big bass is like hunting where you have to put in more work compared to catching small-regular sized bass which are much easier to catch. For example I usually have to fish for several days to just to catch 1 bass over 8 pounds and usually only 1 day to catch a bunch of small-medium sized bass.

[Johnpenguin]

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I would try a farm pond! 

I would but they’re private

1 minute ago, soflabasser said:

You are welcome. Do research and find where people have caught 8 pound or bigger largemouth bass in Ohio and write these places down in a notebook. Research what lures they use to catch these fish, when they caught these big bass, and other important information. Fishing for big bass is like hunting where you have to put in more work compared to catching small-regular sized bass which are much easier to catch. For example I usually have to fish for several days to just to catch 1 bass over 8 pounds and usually only 1 day to catch a bunch of small-medium sized bass.

Do you live in Florida?

[Born 2 fish]

Just now, Johnpenguin said:

I would but they’re private

You would be surprised how many people will let you fish. all you have to do is ask permission. Don’t make a mess and be polite and follow the land owners  rules.

[TnRiver46]

Just now, Johnpenguin said:

I would but they’re private

I’ve got permission to dabble a couple up there, which part of Ohio you talking? Where I’ve been there’s an entire town of about 100 people, most of them my future in laws and all their relatives. Seems like a good strategy there would be offering to help out with some farm chores in exchange for fishing privileges. The VFW would be a good place to network, because it’s the only place! 

[soflabasser]

10 minutes ago, Johnpenguin said:

Do you live in Florida?

I live in Florida but have caught bass in several states and have caught most of the black bass species that have been identified as of this moment. What helps me the most is to research the type of fish I want to catch, learn what techniques are best for the place I plan on fishing in, and put in the time needed. I usually catch the fish I am after in my fishing vacations and it is because I do lots of research before going fishing. Another thing you can do is find someone in your area who is good at catching big bass and you fish with them.

[Johnpenguin]

6 minutes ago, Born 2 fish said:

You would be surprised how many people will let you fish. all you have to do is ask permission. Don’t make a mess and be polite and follow the land owners  rules.

Great idea 

[jimmyjoe]

10 minutes ago, kayaking_kev said:

 Some people catch 5 pounders and take them home to their private ponds and feed the heck out of them for years.

   I've heard this said many times, and not just up North. First guy who told me that was in Texas about 1982-ish. All these years I've wondered one thing: what the heck do you feed a LMB?  I know what you feed catfish, but bass aren't scavengers. What do you feed bass?  Koi? Shiners? Do you go out and seine something, and how often?  Do you stock normal forage fish yearly?

   And how do you know that they're healthy?  

   Sorry. Don't mean to derail the thread. Just been wondering for many years.         jj

[Johnpenguin]

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve got permission to dabble a couple up there, which part of Ohio you talking? Where I’ve been there’s an entire town of about 100 people, most of them my future in laws and all their relatives. Seems like a good strategy there would be offering to help out with some farm chores in exchange for fishing privileges. The VFW would be a good place to network, because it’s the only place! 

I live near Kent because I go to Kent state. And what’s the VFW?

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, jimmyjoe said:

   I've heard this said many times, and not just up North. First guy who told me that was in Texas about 1982-ish. All these years I've wondered one thing: what the heck do you feed a LMB?  I know what you feed catfish, but bass aren't scavengers. What do you feed bass?  Koi? Shiners? Do you go out and seine something, and how often?  Do you stock normal forage fish yearly?

   And how do you know that they're healthy?  

   Sorry. Don't mean to derail the thread. Just been wondering for many years.         jj

Shiners, threadfin Shad, some places even use skipjack and tilapia 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

[Johnpenguin]

4 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

I live in Florida but have caught bass in several states and have caught most of the black bass species that have been identified as of this moment. What helps me the most to research the type of fish I want to catch, learn what techniques are best for the place I plan on fishing in, and put in the time needed. I usually catch the fish I am after in my fishing vacations and it is because I do lots of research before going fishing.

Speaking of vacations, I am heading down to the big O(Roland Martin Marina) to do some fishing. Do you have any advice for me? I’ll be down there from March 21-27

[jimmyjoe]

3 minutes ago, Johnpenguin said:

And what’s the VFW?

    Veterans of Foreign Wars.     

[soflabasser]

1 minute ago, Johnpenguin said:

Speaking of vacations, I am heading down to the big O(Roland Martin Marina) to do some fishing. Do you have any advice for me? I’ll be down there from March 21-27

Bring a couple hollow belly frogs, spinnerbaits, and some Texas rigged soft plastics.

[jbsoonerfan]

7 minutes ago, Johnpenguin said:

I live near Kent because I go to Kent state. And what’s the VFW?

Maybe ask Google a few things first.

[TnRiver46]

11 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

    Veterans of Foreign Wars.     

 

15 minutes ago, Johnpenguin said:

I live near Kent because I go to Kent state. And what’s the VFW?

What he said! I think Kent is a much bigger place than where I frequent in Ohio so you probably have plenty of options to run into landowners. The VFW is a hangout for vets and their guests, and also the only place to find people to talk to for a few miles in any direction where my fiancé is from. Her whole family was in the service so I’ve had the pleasure to listen to some stories in there (several of which involved big farm pond bass and pictures!) 

[Johnpenguin]

17 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

 

What he said! I think Kent is a much bigger place than where I frequent in Ohio so you probably have plenty of options to run into landowners. The VFW is a hangout for vets and their guests, and also the only place to find people to talk to for a few miles in any direction where my fiancé is from. Her whole family was in the service so I’ve had the pleasure to listen to some stories in there (several of which involved big farm pond bass and pictures!) 

I feel like it wouldn’t be acceptable for me to go to one of these hangouts

[NittyGrittyBoy]

8 minutes ago, Johnpenguin said:

I feel like it wouldn’t be acceptable for me to go to one of these hangouts

Why?

[DitchPanda]

Absolutely there are 10s there.Not sure about fishable numbers but some for sure.I'm with the guys suggesting getting permission to fish private ponds...that said tho I've caught several 7 to 8.5lb fish from small public waters here in Iowa...never a 10 but there are some around.Probably 8 of my biggest 10 bass in almost 20 years of fishing have been in the last 5 or 6 years...not from the same body of water and there has been no magic bait.One thing id say has been key for me is fish when other people wont...probably 4 or 5 of those 8 biggest have been in very early spring or very late fall when they "wont" bite...many days I get 1 bite but I'll tolerate crap weather and a long fishless period for a stud..just saying even if it's cold or overcast and windy or rainy or all of the above keep your head down and drag a jig or slow roll a spinnerbait and hold on cuz it can happen.

[Johnpenguin]

13 minutes ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Why?

Idk I don’t know anyone and I didn’t serve 

[Dwight Hottle]

Randy VanDam Kevin’s brother caught the Ohio state record smallmouth at 9.5 lbs. I saw a 9 lb plus caught a few years back near Conneaut Ohio Lake Erie waters. So it stands to reason there are a few 10 lb largemouth bass still swimming in Ohio waters. 

 

[Johnpenguin]

14 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

Absolutely there are 10s there.Not sure about fishable numbers but some for sure.I'm with the guys suggesting getting permission to fish private ponds...that said tho I've caught several 7 to 8.5lb fish from small public waters here in Iowa...never a 10 but there are some around.Probably 8 of my biggest 10 bass in almost 20 years of fishing have been in the last 5 or 6 years...not from the same body of water and there has been no magic bait.One thing id say has been key for me is fish when other people wont...probably 4 or 5 of those 8 biggest have been in very early spring or very late fall when they "wont" bite...many days I get 1 bite but I'll tolerate crap weather and a long fishless period for a stud..just saying even if it's cold or overcast and windy or rainy or all of the above keep your head down and drag a jig or slow roll a spinnerbait and hold on cuz it can happen.

I tried that this fall and caught a 5.42(my Ohio personal best)

[jimmyjoe]

5 minutes ago, Johnpenguin said:

Idk I don’t know anyone and I didn’t serve 

   How are you gonna get to know anyone unless you try? They don't bite, y'know.

   Well, most of them don't, anyway....    ?

   As for the fact that you didn't serve, that's OK. Some Americans did, and some Americans didn't. Thank the ones that did; they'll appreciate it. After all, they did it for you.       jj      

[DitchPanda]

Jimmyjoe is on the right track most people are good and much more friendly than you'd think so I'd just ask...worst case they will say no or if it's worse than that you wouldn't want to fish there property or have anything to do with them anyhow...Also a PB under the conditions im describing illustrates my point outsized fish seem to bite in non optimum conditions... a 5.42 is a very respectable fish and remember this isn't a race to 10...enjoy the big bass hunting process and keep doing the right things maybe you get there and maybe you don't but I bet you'll have a great time trying and learning...and if you do you can show us all without a doubt that 10s exist in Ohio!