Suggestions for nite bite bigger bass

[Zel]

Okay, I'll be fishing a night bite with the Mudster this weekend. I figure we'll catch around 20 or so LMB, but most will be in the 10-14 range, AS ALWAYS. I would really like to go after some of the bigger ones (the lake does give up 5+ pounders), but catching them and locating them has always been a hit or miss there. The one side of the long narrow lake has a huge amount of boulders in it (many the size of a Buick). It also as a good population of weeds, both packed and sparse, and also a lily pad area. A creek channel runs the center of the lake and there is a lot of man made structure in the lake, of which I have a man-made structure map. There are a few dropoff areas where it goes down into some deeper water, but it's the same action there as everywhere else. I fish the key areas listed above, which in my opinion should hold the bigger bass, but again it is always a hit or miss, even when I fish larger baits like 7 10 worms. I'll be primarily fishing topwater baits, a black colorado blade spinnerbait, 7 black worms and large jig & pig w/rattle.

Here are some of the maps (sorry for the quality but these maps have not been available for over 20 years and they are copies of copies of copies). Any suggestions, or alternate methods, or different things to do to get some of the bigger ones. Thanks.

[.dsaavedra.]

i would say fish big stuff.

big spinnerbaits, big 10" worms, big buzzbaits.

[Daniel My Brother]

Zel,

Your post got me thinking about the better bass that I've caught at night, and what they have in common.

1. Most have been topwater. Maybe that's just because I throw more topwater at night. Jitterbugs in open water, Buzzbaits over grass, Frogs in the slop.

2. Most have been on or near shallow flats that have quick access to deeper water.

3. Most have been tight to wood. Although grass is a close second.

From looking at your map, and checking out google earth, I'd probably start at the bend in the lake just up from boat ramp B.

I feel a little odd offering you guys advice on where and how to fish the Chunk. Probably not too many guys in Pennsylvania know the lake better than you and Dom. Good luck and tell Muddy to come back and visit.

Dan

[Zel]

Thanks DMB. I got a free monster sized jointed Jitterbug thrown into an ebay deal recently, when I got a couple of discontinued Jittersticks, I think I'll give it a try. And I might also try a big buzzbait out like dsaavedra noted. And that bend at Launch B, especially the man made structure from "point to point" is one of my favorites. And the point has a pretty good sized flat leading into deeper water. Although we may know the lake pretty good, I think sometimes you can get stuck in a rut on your home lake. I have never been able to get a consistent big bite there. Numbers has never been a problem. Occasionally you get into a bigger bite, and if you keep hitting areas similar to the same conditions, it might stay pretty consistent, but finding the first ones has always been difficult. I was looking to get some other ideas about things to try, that I may be overlooking. Like the saying goes sometimes all it needs is to have a fresh pair of eyes on it. Fishing for fun is the time I like to try new things out. Any input is welcome. Thanks.

[roadwarrior]

I'm not sure this will fit your situation, but here's my two cents:

I don't fish much at night, but when I do it's the gin clear waters of Bull Shoals. This lake is deep and all about structure, not cover. I fish steeply sloped, rocky points surrounded by very deep water. My biggest smallmouth caught on artificial lures was fooled by a Pointer 128. I fish the LC (baby bass) and a Rapala Husky Jerk HJ10 (silver blue/ orange) only.

8-)

[Zel]

LOL... Last night I pulled a LC Pointer 128 off one of the rods I'm gonna use, and put it away (although my favorites the Aurora Black). After RW's story I guess it's going back in my night box along with the identical Husky Jerk he mentioned. I've never thrown jerkbaits at night... I'll have to give it a try. Might be interesting. Question, if you throw jerkbaits at night, should they have rattles in them?

[roadwarrior]

Maybe I'm having brain fart, but it seems like they all rattle!

The main reason I like the 128 is because the smallmouth

(and walley) are very aggressive at night and the bigger

lure "makes a statement". I usually start out before dusk with

the Rapala and then switch to the Pointer and fish it exclusively.

BTW,

I like Aurora Black, too. Another color with "flash"

is the American Shad. Unfortunately, white bass,

gar and skipjack like that flash, too much. I caught

my PB freshwater fish on a Pointer 128 in American

Shad, but that gar was too big to get into the boat!

8-)