What Else Can I Say

[Mobasser]

I had initially set out in the spring of this year, to catch a LM bass of 8lbs or better this season. I made two previous post about this topic.                                                  I took a break for two weeks in late summer, and threw all sorts of stuff. Over the season, I caught a good number of bass, but, the big fish eluded me.                               I spent many trips fishing very slowly over prime spots.And I caught fish, just not the new PB.                               Friday, we're getting a bitter cold front coming in. Morning temps in the teens, and daytime highs in the 30s. This will certainly shut things down, at least for a while. I may get a couple more trips in, but the going will be tough.                                                 What else can I say? I tried very hard, and it just didn't happen.                                   I'm not the least bit upset or bummed out. I'll look at it as a learning experience. I received many encouraging words from several members, and I appreciate all of this.                     This is fishing. Not catching the huge fish is what keeps you coming back, in hopes of catching her. I'll spend the winter months reading and trying to learn things as I always do. And, as they say, there's always next season.                       To conclude here I'll say this: Anyone who would ever tell you that targeting and catching big bass is easy, is not being honest. It's hard. The biggest bass are a tough, worthy opponent.                Thanks again to everyone who gave me tips, and encouragement. I appreciate it.          

[gim]

1 minute ago, Mobasser said:

And I caught fish, just not the new PB. 

This is me too.  It's difficult to break PBs.  And obviously it becomes tougher each time you do it because the mark just keeps getting higher lol

[roadwarrior]

I caught my PB smallmouth in 2005 or 17 years ago. Been working on a new one every

day I fish and I am not giving up!

[WRB]

Chasing ghosts trying to catch big bass that don’t exist where fish is futile imo.

If Your lake is producing the size bass you are after then it’s being at the right location at the right time using the right lure for the conditions.

Big mistake is trying to force feed big bass lures they simply avoid where you fish.

Don’t give up, if the bass is there you will find a way to catch her.

Tom

[AlabamaSpothunter]

You'll get her next year!

 

You can always come South.....Nov to March is when we have our best chances to catch PBs

[GRiver]

I wouldn’t feel bad Mobasser, every time I pull away from the dock, I say. ”Ok,  let’s go catch the next big one” . Well it doesn’t always happen, actually it only happens once in a while, maybe less than that. 

[Aaron_H]

Missouri state record LMB is 13lb 14oz from what I could find, an 8lb LMB is a little under 60% of the size of the state record. Proportionally, that would be like catching a 10lber here in FL. That's a rare fish, I wouldn't beat yourself up for not hitting that goal, but it is one to keep striving for IMO. Keep it up, hopefully next year.

[KSanford33]

@Mobasser Just out of curiosity, did you read the article someone posted on here about the guy in Georgia who's caught over a thousand double digit bass? I have no doubt you're an excellent angler, but it may give you some ideas you haven't considered yet. 

[GreenPig]

Rarity is the issue. Then being there in the spot when she feels like eating. 

[Mobasser]

1 minute ago, KSanford33 said:

@Mobasser Just out of curiosity, did you read the article someone posted on here about the guy in Georgia who's caught over a thousand double digit bass? I have no doubt you're an excellent angler, but it may give you some ideas you haven't considered yet. 

Yes of course. Love his story. Guys like him are supernatural. 

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, Mobasser said:

I had initially set out in the spring of this year, to catch a LM bass of 8lbs or better this season. I made two previous post about this topic.                                                  I took a break for two weeks in late summer, and threw all sorts of stuff. Over the season, I caught a good number of bass, but, the big fish eluded me.                               I spent many trips fishing very slowly over prime spots.And I caught fish, just not the new PB.                               Friday, we're getting a bitter cold front coming in. Morning temps in the teens, and daytime highs in the 30s. This will certainly shut things down, at least for a while. I may get a couple more trips in, but the going will be tough.                                                 What else can I say? I tried very hard, and it just didn't happen.                                   I'm not the least bit upset or bummed out. I'll look at it as a learning experience. I received many encouraging words from several members, and I appreciate all of this.                     This is fishing. Not catching the huge fish is what keeps you coming back, in hopes of catching her. I'll spend the winter months reading and trying to learn things as I always do. And, as they say, there's always next season.                       To conclude here I'll say this: Anyone who would ever tell you that targeting and catching big bass is easy, is not being honest. It's hard. The biggest bass are a tough, worthy opponent.                Thanks again to everyone who gave me tips, and encouragement. I appreciate it.          

 

I set a similar goal this year, albeit smaller size.  I got within an ounce, but was still an ounce short.  I'll set the same goal for next year and keep plugging away.  I certainly enjoyed the trying.

[A-Jay]

@Mobasser

Thank you for the follow up on this one. 

A little bummed for you that there was no new PB

but super happy you made the commitment to take the journey.  

"Anyone who would ever tell you that targeting and catching big bass is easy, is not being honest.

It's hard." I totally agree with this one.  It is pretty much my motto & mindset as I prepare and head out onto just about every lake I fish.  But I had to 'learn' how to temper my expectations with realistic results.

In other words, when the conditions seem right and 'I think' I'm in the right place, at the right time and doing the right thing, and then I completely blank, I have to try not to let it ruin the trip. Because it happens a large percentage of the time.  Part of the game.  Easier said than done, especially in the beginning.  But the satisfaction that comes with putting it all together even just one time every season or two, is hard to put into words.

We both know it can happen at any time on any cast.

And I for one will not be surprised when it happens for you - very soon.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

[flyfisher]

Easiest way to catch a PB is to not weigh or measure your fish then you won't eve  know but you will always think there are bigger ones out there

[Bankbeater]

I wouldn't worry about it.  You may not have gotten a 8+ lb bass, but you definitely avoided the skunk.  Sometimes that is more important.

[T-Billy]

The cold water seasons are my best time for bigguns. My PB and #3 LM came a week apart in april 08. Caught my #2 LM last Dec. from 40 degree water. My PB SM was caught in Sept. at night, but most of my big brownies were caught March/April and Nov/Dec. Mid 50's on down is big fish season for me, and I really get focused on 'em when the surface temp starts with a 4.

[geo g]

Don't give up you just never know where or when it will happen.  I fished for twenty years without a double digit, and then one very sunny day, with no wind, and no fish from first light to noon.  By this time I had downsized to a spinning rod with 10 pound mono, and a weightless zoom fluke, just trying to catch a fish and remove the skunk.  I suddenly saw a commotion in some shallow weeds right next to the bank.  I threw the fluke into the mix and after a quick twitch, the bait started to swim out of the weeds into deeper water.  I set the hook and the fight was on.  11.4 pound largemouth, my P/B on a super tough day, after four hours of no fish.  Was I lucky, YES.  Was I in the right spot at just the right time, Yes.  Was I luckY she decided to swim out of the pad field, YES.  You just never know when, but time on the water and perseverance is key.  Be out there often, and keep watching what happening around you, and good things will happen.  A new P/B is in your future, it just takes time, and some luck!

[Catt]

Commitment: with out it you would never have started.

Consistency: with out it you will never finish.

 

Fish your strengths 

 

K.I.S.S. 

 

What Else Can I Say

That you will keep chunking-n-reeling!

[Deleted account]

On 11/9/2022 at 1:48 PM, Mobasser said:

To conclude here I'll say this: Anyone who would ever tell you that targeting and catching big bass is easy, is not being honest. It's hard. The biggest bass are a tough, worthy opponent.           

I'm gonna be a contrarian here, (imagine that ). Targeting large fish is easy, catching them is also easy, but not common, (most folks confuse the two). Catching a bass around 60% of the state record will be very doable in most states, barring some prolonged negative conditions. If one knows what they are doing, it should take maybe 3-4 years on average. I'm going from experience, on years where I really feel motivated, I expect to catch at least one 8 lb bass each year from the 4-6 states I fish on a semi regular basis, and I usually do, though it's been 3 years right now. My PB is bigger than the MD state record, and I don't expect to catch a larger one unless we move south to where bigger fish live. We might be down in South FL chasing exotics next week, so you never know...  

[Mobasser]

I think the reason I didn't catch my target fish was timing. Clear water lakes often are good at night, which I wasn't able to do this year. Next year will be different.

Having said that now, I also saw a 71/2 lb fish taken from this lake by an old man casting a spinnerbait from a lawn chair. So who knows? Wrong place- wrong time? Wrong bait? Wrong retrieve speed? Too many variables. I still think the bigger bass are hard to catch. If they were easy, we'd all be hauling them in every trip. But we don't.

[Mobasser]

I would never speak for another fisherman. His experience will be different than my own.                                     Lots of guys here on BR have caught trophy bass. A few are Catt, A-Jay, WRB, and a few more.  Hopefully they could comment again here, and say if catching all the big fish is easy? I think they'll probably disagree. 

[Catt]

15 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

Hopefully they could comment again here, and say if catching all the big fish is easy?

 

Catching em is easy, finding em is the problem.

 

We talk "location & timing", the timing portion isn't only about being there when big momma is but being there when she actively feeding. Get these two down & your odds of catching her greatly increase.

 

If she ain't actively feeding then you gotta induce a reaction stike. 

 

Oh by the way this holds true for smaller fish as well.

[bowhunter63]

I caught my PB largemouth Easter Sunday in 1989. It was on a yellow 3 hook pre rigged worm with red dots. My daughter picked it out. Me and her snuck out for a while. It weighed 7 13. I have been trying to beat that since then. So dont give up. Keep casting. So much fun and so many memories made and yet to be made. 

 

[Dwight Hottle]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Catching em is easy, finding em is the problem.

 

We talk "location & timing", the timing portion isn't only about being there when big momma is but being there when she actively feeding. Get these two down & your odds of catching her greatly increase.

 

If she ain't actively feeding then you gotta induce a reaction stike. 

 

Oh by the way this holds true for smaller fish as well.

 

I agree with @Catt catching them is as easy as some smaller fish but finding them is the tough part. Although hooking a big fish is easier than actually catching/landing them because most big bass will pull out all the stops before its over with.