Lunkers and Dinks

[FivePoundBluegill]

I just wanted to ask you guys some advice on how to catch more lunkers and less dinks. I am pretty good at bass fishing and seem to catch a large number of largemouths every time I go out. The thing is I catch so many small fish and hardly ever get a fish over 5 pounds. In my lifetime I have only caught 4 largemouths over 7 pounds and I have never been able to get one over 9 pounds. It is a problem me and all my fishing friends seem to have. Today I went out fishing and it was an extriem example of this problem. I was out fishing for about 4 hours and got one good size fish of about 3 pounds(shown in picture), one fish that was probably about a pound and a half, and about 7-8 dinks that were about 8 inches long. I usually fish from the side of the lake since I do not own a boat. I also usually throw 6 inch plastic worms, bass assassins, and about 3-5 inch rapallas. I also throw things like rattle traps and other hard lures. Thing is when I try throwing larger lures and baits I do not seem to catch as many fish and the ones I do catch arnt monsters. One day I went out to my local lake and threw a large "Spittin Image" Lure for about 3 hours and only caught one fish of around 2.5 pounds. I also tried senkos which are meant to catch large fish. I put the senko on threw it for about 45 mins without catching anything. Also the problem is I just cant seem to get the big largemouths. I have caught many big freshwater fish of other species that are over 10 pounds such as catfish and carp. But no monster bass. Just wanted to ask some advice.

[David P]

Throw swimbaits.. You'll catch a LOT LESS bass, but the quality is hard to beat..

Mattlures Swimbaits is a good place to start from what I've heard.. I am a quantity of quality (as long as they're over 2lbs), so I'm not real experienced with swimbaits, but have only heard great things..

It's very expensive to fish swimbaits, but I guess if you're looking for your first double digit bass and that is worth the money, go for it!

[FivePoundBluegill]

Throw swimbaits.. You'll catch a LOT LESS bass, but the quality is hard to beat..

Mattlures Swimbaits is a good place to start from what I've heard.. I am a quantity of quality (as long as they're over 2lbs), so I'm not real experienced with swimbaits, but have only heard great things..

It's very expensive to fish swimbaits, but I guess if you're looking for your first double digit bass and that is worth the money, go for it!

Yeah man I have heard good things about swimbaits. Thing is they are very expensive. Every one I have seen is at least $10. That is realy expensive for just one lure. I would also be very angry If i lost it to a snag or a fish takeing it down into tough weeds or something. I work at Vons and dont earn much money so buying those lures would be a problem for me. I have heard very good things about the Castaic(cant spell) bluegill lure though. Also their 8 inch trout lure is suppoed to be great too but would not work for me since there are absolutely no trout in my local lakes and Id only be able to use it the couple times of year I go to a lake thats stocked with trout though.

[David P]

Get some of the Baby Bass from Mattlures.. Or some bluegill. The baby bass I believe are cheaper.

I'm not sure, but I would think Braid would be the best bet so that you don't lose them.. Braid is tough as hell.. I understand that you don't want to spend so much on lures, I don't either! But if you want big bass, you gotta spend the money.

It's definitely possible to catch 10lb bass on Senkos and such, but if you want to just target 10lbers and such, try the swimbaits.

[FivePoundBluegill]

Get some of the Baby Bass from Mattlures.. Or some bluegill. The baby bass I believe are cheaper.

I'm not sure, but I would think Braid would be the best bet so that you don't lose them.. Braid is tough as hell.. I understand that you don't want to spend so much on lures, I don't either! But if you want big bass, you gotta spend the money.

It's definitely possible to catch 10lb bass on Senkos and such, but if you want to just target 10lbers and such, try the swimbaits.

Im not actually looking to catch just 10 pound bass. That is like...impossible to do. I just want to bring up the size of my average fish. Yeah il check out these bass patterned lures though

[T-rig]

You can still fish with a trout swimbait even tough there are no trout present in the waters you fish.

I fish with a peacock bass colored bait at times and I catch fish with it. No peacock bass here!

If a bass is hungry he will take your bait no matter what type of fish it resembles!

Catching 10lbs. bass is not impossible! If they are there, sooner or later you will catch one with the right size bait! I wish we had 10lbs. bass here!

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

Basically its like this.  If your pond has say 2 lunkers over 10lbs and 100 under 4lbs the odds of catching that big bass is very slim.  Sure bait type has some to do with it.  If your area is heavily fished with a certain type of bait try something new.  Bass arent stupid.  If you catch a lunker on a senko chances are it wont happen again(for awhile).  Try some odd bais, also fish where there are a smaller population of small bass.  If you catch nothing but dinks in a pond odds arent good to catch a lunker.

Basically i told you nothing you did not know, just maybe forgot.

[roadwarrior]

Part of it is lures, but most of it is location. To target bigger bass look for structure is deeper water immediately adjacent to even deeper water. You will catch fewer fish, but your average size will improve dramatically.

[-badhabit-]

Part of it is lures, but most of it is location. To target bigger bass look for structure is deeper water immediately adjacent to even deeper water. You will catch fewer fish, but your average size will improve dramatically.

^^I agree with RW^^

Big Bass don't get big by hanging around the places smaller bass do for long. They do frequent those places at times but their size gives them the choice of larger prey. They do feed on the smaller forage also so don't give up what you are catching bass on now. Just add a few more baits to your arsenal & expand your choices in habitats that you are searching for them in.

[Senko4life]

Basically its like this. If your pond has say 2 lunkers over 10lbs and 100 under 4lbs the odds of catching that big bass is very slim. Sure bait type has some to do with it. If your area is heavily fished with a certain type of bait try something new. Bass arent stupid. If you catch a lunker on a senko chances are it wont happen again(for awhile). Try some odd bais, also fish where there are a smaller population of small bass. If you catch nothing but dinks in a pond odds arent good to catch a lunker.

Basically i told you nothing you did not know, just maybe forgot.

-Agreed

[.dsaavedra.]

back to the swimbaits thing....they do not have to be expensive. you can get a 3 pack of storm wildeye live series swimbaits (they are very cool and realistic...very similar to the mattlures) for only about 4 dollars.

[FivePoundBluegill]

Part of it is lures, but most of it is location. To target bigger bass look for structure is deeper water immediately adjacent to even deeper water. You will catch fewer fish, but your average size will improve dramatically.

Actually man I have been doing that. When I fish my two local lakes I know where the structure such as deep drop offs are and fish them often. It seems I get bigger fish in those areas as well. Well most of my larger fish have come at big drop off spots. Although I did get my two biggest fish in shallow water. I like fishing structure. When I go to fish a new lake or pond or one I do not fish often I always have an eye out for structure.

[FivePoundBluegill]

Basically its like this. If your pond has say 2 lunkers over 10lbs and 100 under 4lbs the odds of catching that big bass is very slim. Sure bait type has some to do with it. If your area is heavily fished with a certain type of bait try something new. Bass arent stupid. If you catch a lunker on a senko chances are it wont happen again(for awhile). Try some odd bais, also fish where there are a smaller population of small bass. If you catch nothing but dinks in a pond odds arent good to catch a lunker.

Basically i told you nothing you did not know, just maybe forgot.

-Agreed

One of the lakes I fish has quite a few bass that are probably double didgits swimming. I have seen them just not caught them. That lake also has carp and catfish over 10 pounds which I have caught before. It is a very good fishing lake for how small it is. Yeah I tried useing senkos once for like 45 mins without a hit. Maybe I wasnt working them right......I was working them as I would a plastic worm. Is this how your supposed to work them?

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

Texas Rig(weightless) These 2 im going to tell you.

http://www.*.com/products1.php?id=60&subcat=10%20Pack&id2=61

(Pumpkin Pepper)

http://www.bayououtdoors.com/5ch.html

(watermelon candy)

Those are my favorite 2 lures, that I ALWAYS CATCH FISH ON NO MATTER WHAT! If that isnt working try a larger bait sometimes you need bigger bait for bigger fish. The one that follows is my favorite:

http://www.bayououtdoors.com/bg.html

(fire and ice)

(t-rig) Bullet sinker(against the bait).  Fish it by picking it up and droping it

as for the senkos try diffrent jerking styles. Maybe try wacky rigging?  You must have confidence.  Otherwise its not going change your catches.

[Guest ncbass24]

Fish deeper, slower, and use bigger baits.

[JayW]

I hardly ever use large baits. I use a 4" finesse worm more than anything and catch a lot of nice Bass on them. Back in April I caught 2 Bass over 10#'s (one was 12.11#'s actually) all on this set up with a 1/0 hook and 12# test. 2 of my friends have recently caught Bass over 10#'s using this same method after I trained them.   ;D

Just don't give up. You'll get a big fish sooner or later and try the other areas like some have mentioned. I fish deeper water and drop offs a lot.

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

I hardly ever use large baits. I use a 4" finesse worm more than anything and catch a lot of nice Bass on them. Back in April I caught 2 Bass over 10#'s (one was 12.11#'s actually) all on this set up with a 1/0 hook and 12# test. 2 of my friends have recently caught Bass over 10#'s using this same method after I trained them. ;D

Just don't give up. You'll get a big fish sooner or later and try the other areas like some have mentioned. I fish deeper water and drop offs a lot.

You have a small population of small bass then, cause they woud tear a 4" worm up. He is dealing with alot of small bass and few large.  he has to use a lure to attratc the big and not the little bass.  Or he has to find the loners.

[Nicky Greece]

back to the swimbaits thing....they do not have to be expensive. you can get a 3 pack of storm wildeye live series swimbaits (they are very cool and realistic...very similar to the mattlures) for only about 4 dollars.

 Was going to say the same thing.  Am a big fan of the wildeye swimbaits.  Catch decent size bass on even the small ones...

[FivePoundBluegill]

I hardly ever use large baits. I use a 4" finesse worm more than anything and catch a lot of nice Bass on them. Back in April I caught 2 Bass over 10#'s (one was 12.11#'s actually) all on this set up with a 1/0 hook and 12# test. 2 of my friends have recently caught Bass over 10#'s using this same method after I trained them. ;D

Just don't give up. You'll get a big fish sooner or later and try the other areas like some have mentioned. I fish deeper water and drop offs a lot.

JuniorFisherJJ2008 is right I think. I often throw 6 inch roboworms and power worms and they are pretty consistant. Practically only bait that seems to work in the dead of winter. However I catch lots of small fish of around 1 pound on them. The small fish just tear them up.

[FivePoundBluegill]

back to the swimbaits thing....they do not have to be expensive. you can get a 3 pack of storm wildeye live series swimbaits (they are very cool and realistic...very similar to the mattlures) for only about 4 dollars.

Was going to say the same thing. Am a big fan of the wildeye swimbaits. Catch decent size bass on even the small ones...

I think im going to check these things out if I can find them. Thanks guys

[FivePoundBluegill]

I just checked out the storm wild eye swimbaits.... They look very nice.

http://www.thornebros.com/muskie/baits/swimbaits/Swimbaits_storm.html

Hard to believe you can get three of them for about $5. Im going to pick a pack up next time I go to a shop that sells fishing tackle if I can find them. Thanks guys.

[RoLo]

In my opinion, the largest specimens of bass did not get that way by being smart. No bass ever had an original thought in its life.

I believe instead that our largest bass are simply fortunate in having inherited a gene imprinted with a lifestyle

that is less vulnerable than the average bass. The first thing that comes to most peoples' mind is some deep, dark abyss,

but I don't buy that for a second.

The largest of bass get to choose the best sweet spots without contest. Almost invariably they will choose a site that has

immediate access to deep water (though they may never enter the deep water) as well as immediate access to "shallow water".

From all appearances, most of their life is spent in the shallow-water where food is most plentiful, where life is the easiest,

where they also spawn and where they may grow faster and larger. In my view, a bass that isolates itself in deep open water

is far more vulnerable to anglers with electronics, than a bass deeply ensconsed in a tangled jungle on a 5-foot flat.

I've spent (wasted) much time fishing deep water with disappointing results. I later learned that what I had read

about deepwater bass applied to bass in "reservoirs" without natural cover :'(

It would be interesting if we could elicit our own Doug Hannon to expand on this subject.

Doug has spent a lot of his time investigating outstanding catches of largemouth bass weighing in the teens,

not to mention those he himself has boated. His conclusions however are no different from anything else

I have ever read, which all suggest that the Biggest bass live in and love the shallows.

Roger

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

In my opinion, the largest specimens of bass did not get that way by being smart. No bass ever had an original thought in its life.

I believe instead that our largest bass are simply fortunate in having inherited a gene that's imprinted with a lifestyle

that's less vulnerable that the average bass. The first thing that comes to most peoples' mind is some deep, dark abyss,

but I don't buy that for a second.

The largest of bass get to choose the best sweet spots without contest. Almost invariably they will choose a site that has

immediate access to deep water (though they may never enter the deep water) as well as immediate access to "shallow water".

From all appearances, most of their life is spent in shallow-water where food is most plentiful, where life is the easiest,

and where they may grow faster and larger. In my opinion, a bass that isolates itself in deep open water is far more vulnerable

to anglers with electronics, than a bass deeply ensconsed in a tangled jungle on a 5-foot flat.

I've spent (wasted) much time fishing deep, because I had been ill-advised by something I read that I later learned

referred only to bass in "reservoirs" :'(

It would be interesting if we could elicit our own Doug Hannon to expand on what I've just stated.

Doug has spent a lot of his time investigating outstanding catches of largemouth bass, weighing in the teens,

not to mention those he himself has boated. His conclusions however are no different from anything

I have ever read, which all suggest that Big Bass live in and love the shallows.

Roger

A bass learns.  THERES NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.  They dont get that way for nothing.  Im sure they are fortunate.  They have proably been caught several times and then released.  I know if I was caught and drug out on a senko i wouldnt hit a senko again for awhile.  Say you eat at a restraunt adn you get sick from a certain food there.  I WOULD BET YOU WOULD NOT EAT THAT SAME FOOD FOR AWHILE, until your forgot about it.

[JayW]

I hardly ever use large baits. I use a 4" finesse worm more than anything and catch a lot of nice Bass on them. Back in April I caught 2 Bass over 10#'s (one was 12.11#'s actually) all on this set up with a 1/0 hook and 12# test. 2 of my friends have recently caught Bass over 10#'s using this same method after I trained them.   ;D

Just don't give up. You'll get a big fish sooner or later and try the other areas like some have mentioned. I fish deeper water and drop offs a lot.

You have a small population of small bass then, cause they woud tear a 4" worm up. He is dealing with alot of small bass and few large.  he has to use a lure to attratc the big and not the little bass.  Or he has to find the loners.

Well, I wouldn't say that. I'm in Central Florida. I fish a lot of different lakes and pits. I catch small Bass and large Bass. I'm just saying that you don't have to use a large bait to get the big fish. I've gone the big worm route before and all it seems to do for me is keep me from catching as many Bass. I'd rather catch 50 Bass of all sizes than just one or two nice Bass. Usually when I fish deeper water and deeper drop offs (which in Fl may only be 6-8 ft) I find better fish on those spots anyway. I always look for vegetation as well in the "deeper spots".

[Catt]

To assume a bass learns would mean they are capable of deductive reasoning which is total