HUGE bass problem HELP!!!!!!

[smd70]

Avid, I think you are the one way off base here. He said he thought about bow fishing, "BUT I THINK IT IS ILLEGAL!" he goes on to say. What he's asking for is advice and if anyone wants to join him in trying to CATCH (with a POLE) these big fish. So settle down and take some time plz before you decide to get pissy with someone.

P.S. Also being new to the boards DOESNT MEAN SOMEONE IS STUPID, IRRESPONSIBLE or IGNORANT when it comes to fishing regulations. PLZ stop profiling. Thanks

[kayl.]

Avid, I think you are the one way off base here. He said he thought about bow fishing, "BUT I THINK IT IS ILLEGAL!" he goes on to say. What he's asking for is advice and if anyone wants to join him in trying to CATCH (with a POLE) these big fish. So settle down and take some time plz before you decide to get pissy with someone.

P.S. Also being new to the boards DOESNT MEAN SOMEONE IS STUPID, IRRESPONSIBLE or IGNORANT when it comes to fishing regulations. PLZ stop profiling. Thanks

Way to overreact.  The statement says,"I even thought about bow fishing for them, but I think it is illegal...anyone want to join me and try it?"  (Note that this isn't a direct quotation)  

Read that and tell me you don't get the idea that he's going to try and bow fish them...  

Avid's just looking out for those amazing fish that bass86 is lucky to have a chance to catch!

[bassindude]

Bass_86 when you say you walked up river did you mean that you waded or stayed on the bank?  I heard about a study they did on trout wherein they took the paw of a bear and simply put it in the water upriver in one of two forks and looked at the reaction of the fish that were at the junction.  With the paw in the water the fish immediatly switched to the other fork the second the paw was removed the fish resumed swimming down that fork.  Moral of the story: If your in the water they probably smell you or at least sense you.  Don't underestimate the senses of a Bass.  Especailly a BIG one.

[Glenn]

smd70 - chill.   Avid's just giving some friendly advice and trying to help out.  I don't see any judgement in his comments whatsoever.

It seems there's a little confusion over what bass86 meant, so here's a thought... let's ask him to clarify, shall we?

bass86 - it's in your court.

[Guest River_stumps]

Bass86! You have a perfect opportunity to catch a hawg of a life time, you have seen him and you are begening to understand his habits. My advice to you is just be patient and keep throwing baits that you think he might like. Keep some good line and tackle and be ready for him when he decides to  give you a fight. You have a chance to get you a large trothy bass that you can release. A good fight is what it is all about. Nothing more. You walk away with a trophy, he swims away to be caught again. Good luck in catching this extra large hawg. I hope you get him soon. When you do, I know we all will know about it. So good luck.

[Madhouse27]

Man, I wan't to go try for one of these wily brutes. I'm thinking light line with an 1/8 oz jig in a natural color. Bass86 hurry up and catch one so we can see a pic. Keep in mind if they turn out to not be bass we are changing your name to Carp86 lol.

[bass86]

ok when i said that i was thinking about bow fishing for them i didnt meanit as i was actually going to go out and do it i meant that as a joke cause nothing else was catching these magnificant creatures.i think that we all got confused on this and thanks smd for backing me up. if i couldnt catch a bass fairly on line, i would say the bass won the battle, i would never bow fish for a bass or try to trap them. i walked in the water the first time but now i got permission from the land owner to drive my car to the exact spot. yesterday there were dozens between 3-12 lb average that i saw. they dont seem interested. i catch the little ones like nothing but the big ones are smart.

[bass86]

also the bass are in the shallows but when i cast in the water they swim to the depths. they are not on the top of the water but not near the bottom. so i tried to cast way over them and bring in the bait but they still wont hit.its like the bait isnt even there.these are the conditions. between 78-88 degree outside the water, sunny with some clouds, clear water, with trunks and lots of weeds. i am not kidding when i said i have tried everything.

[cletus___]

bass86,

I'll be in Sanger visiting my parents during the Thanksgiving weekend. I wouldn't mind trying to get one of these LUNKERS!!!  

Let me know

- Cletus

[kayl.]

How quickly are you retrieving?  If you're going quick, slow down- if you're going slow, go slower...I've caught a couple of my biggest bass on retrieves that I let my bait set for a while (while talking to someone or doing something in the boat, etc).  

Just a thought!

Good luck!

[roadwarrior]

As a follow-up to kayl's post:

Try a Gitzit (tube) on light fluorocarbon or fluoro leader. Cast as far as you can past where you see the fish or where you think they are. Slowly retrieve the lure back to the target, a few inches at a time. Don't hop it or jerk it, just move it on the bottom and pause occasionally. When you reach your target area, stop and let the lure sit: DO NOTHING. I would leave it there for ten minutes or more. If you scared the fish away, that would be ten minutes after they return.

After ten minutes or so, move it an inch or two and repeat until you are out of the area or bored out of your mind. If you really want to catch one of those monsters, it's going to take some patience.

BTW, I still like KU_Bassmaster's suggestion: Make 'em mad. Even when bass won't bite, they will still defend their territory. If you haven't tried burning a Rat-L-Trap through them, that's another idea you might try.

[smd70]

Bass, let me know when you wanna go. Ill go any given weekend. That was smart to find out who owned it and got permission. Gimme some details exactly if you can about when you wanna do this. I'll bring my digital and take some shots and post them so everyone can see what we are looking at.

[bassindude]

Here's a wacky idea, try throuing a wacky worm out into the deep area where they are swimming to when you throw at them in the shallows.  let that sit a few minutes in case you spooked them.  then take a second rig of any kind and throw at them in the shallows.  If they spook and move deep pick up the wacky rig ever so slowly and make it slow dance.  If they are used to only seeing the lures in the shallows you might catch them off guard.

[senko_77]

heres somethin i have learned when sight fishing or when i see a monster.  my heart flutters, and even though i think im making my best presentation, im not.  im so anxious i do not fish it like i ussualy would.  heres what i would do.  i would tie on my favorite baits.  ones i know will catch fish.  i would walk down to the pond, sit down in a fold out chair, i would not even dare to glance for the fish, i would cast out in unliikely places, and relax and have fun.  go there with no intention of catchin fish, but the intention of doin what you love.  ive noticed that when i see the big bass, i never catch them,  but my monsters all have came when i set down my rod for a second to laugh with my freinds.  pretend you dont even know that bass are there.  and when you do catch them

go IKE!!!!!!!!!

[bass86]

this river must be full of these big fish cause i walked up river the other way and seen about a dozen between the 2 lb range up to about 10 lbs. one about 3 lbs bit it and when i set the hook all of the huge ones were following it around. when i went down to the water i spooked all the bigger fish. they came back out but then wouldnt bite like normal cause they saw me. i think keeping a low profile is the key to these fish.

[Phishn_Phool]

Seems like pretty clear water...LIVE BAIT at NIGHT,,,try it

CPR ;D

[bass86]

hey smd, i caught like a 3 lbr out of there yesterday and when i was reeling him in dozens of huge bass were swiming right by his side swiming very fast.ill post the pick today. i caught him on a jig w/ pork trailer, off the bottom.lets shoot for the weekend of the12th.

[smd70]

Ok, that sounds great. Get with me later for contact info so we can set up a meeting place. Don't catch them all, save some for me  ;D

[cletus___]

Hey.... I want to go!!!

- cletus

[kayl.]

You have tons of ideas here, but here's another one-

If you have a gander mountain by you, go there and pick up a pack or two of "Worm Rivals".  They are small (2-3" pre-rigged worms).  Try Black or purple.  You have to tie on a swivel and then clip the worm to it- use a small black swivel (not one of the 10-for-a-dollar swivels).  Pinch a small splitshot or 2 about 18" up the line.  Literally drag it along the bottom slowly...12"-24" @ a time.

Give it a try if all else fails!

[bass86]

hey, i went back again yesterday and the same original situation. NOTHING. i seen them but not the original huge ones just some around 8 lbs.the only difference that i noticed was thatthe day i caught the fish the sun was beaming on the entire part of water and i realized all the other times i went, including yesterday, the sun was mostly covered by trees making the water have shade on it. could that make a difference?

[Guest DavidGreen]

The shade probably caused a temp change and they moved off some, I'll bet they are still there just deeper......

[bassindude]

I would say that the bright sun would make it difficult for them to see you.

[bass86]

thats what im thinkin. its been pretty cold and cloudy here and there is absolutly no fishi being caught so next sunny day, im there. thanks alot for all your guys help.one more question, out of all the 8+ pounders there, how come i caught the only 3 pounder when they were all interested? i guess thats just my luck. do any of you guys pig hunt in ca?

[bass86]

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