the "easy 10 pounder" - a how to guide

[paul.]

well it's that time.  spring is finally here.  time to start my yearly quest for a double digit bass.  but i am not after just any old 10 pounder, i am after "the easy 10 pounder", that mysterious subspecies that so many people talk about.  fortunately, i have spent enough time chasing this monster that i think i can offer some insights that might help others in their quest.  the following are some hints on bait selection, locations, times, and landing tips.

1.  bait selection - "the easy ten pounder" is a ravenous beast that will readily munch any lure or live bait known to man.  so stupid and gullible is this fat dimwit that there is only one lure they will not bite - the one you are using.

2.  best times - unlike the regular "hard to catch" variety of finicky lunkers, the "easy 10 pounder" shows a definite preference for biting on  2 specific days - yesterday and tomorrow.  be on the water one of these 2 days and you will load the boat - guaranteed.

3.  locations - the "easy 10 pounder" can and does reside in a variety of locales.  most well known of these are cali, texas, florida, mexico, and of course the thousands of "private" lakes and ponds that dot the landscape.  the problem is that once you put your boat in one of these legendary honey holes, it quickly becomes apparent these lunkers have used their magical ability to defy the laws of time and space, crossing state lines to another body of water where they instantly become twice as easy to catch.

4.  landing tips - the "easy 10 pounder's" kind and benevolent nature is just one of the many factors that make it so easy.  so generous is this gentle giant that it actually makes things ridiculously simple for anglers to release them once they are hooked.  they oblige "catch and release"  bassers with broken lines, straightened hooks, and hopeless tangles in nearby cover, neatly eliminating "catch" from the catch and release equation.  all this plus their ability to throw baits or pull loose rewards anglers with a "quick release" eliminating all the dirty work of actually handling them.  of course this "quick release" instantly adds at least 2 pounds to their already substantial weight.  

5.  photography tips - it seems that even though the "easy 10 pounder" loves to be caught, it hates to be photographed.  perhaps this is why they so often come unbuttoned just inches from the net.  they must instinctively know that fishermen would realize just how easy they were to catch if there was enough photographic evidence.

6.  magic words - there are some words and phrases that are so commonly used in the pursuit of the "easy ten pounder" that they must hold some kind of magical powers which possibly induce these whoppers to bite.  commonly overheard are: "if only i had....", "woulda", "coulda", and "shoulda".  if course there are other magic words associated with the "easy 10 pounder"  that cannot be mentioned here due to forum rules.  usually these are used after the "quick release" detailed above.

i sincerely hope that this is helpful to all those who like me, quest after "the easy 10 pounder".  perhaps there will be others on this wonderful forum who will share some insights.  i certainly hope so.  good fishin' to all of y'all!

     

[Daniel My Brother]

Ha! I enjoyed that very much! In fact, I plan to catch an easy 10 pounder tomorrow...or maybe yesterday.

:

[fourbizz]

I love it!

Of course you forgot the timeless tactic for those "easy 10's"

7. Fish in California where stocked bass are force fed trout. This of course makes them a guaranteed catch but they should not be allowable on record lists.

[Big Tom]

Shoot, I do my fishing in Kentucky and due to my inability to catch any large bass, I have decided that there must not be any 10 pounders in this state because I know I am not doing anything wrong!

I do find myself wondering just how many ten pound plus fish there are in my home waters.

[Bass_Akwards]

Shoot, I do my fishing in Kentucky and due to my inability to catch any large bass, I have decided that there must not be any 10 pounders in this state because I know I am not doing anything wrong!

I do find myself wondering just how many ten pound plus fish there are in my home waters.

Big Tom you should head to wood creek lake. Thats where your state record was caught in 1984. 13.10 is the record, so I'm guessing there's not a ton of 10+ in your state. Welcome to the club.

Our Colorado state record is 11.5 pounds, I assume that's about the same size as the swimbaits "Fish Chris" uses to catch his monsters.

T

[Vyron]

thanks for the great info , I m leaving yesterday 2 target my 10 pounder

:D :D

[Big Tom]

Shoot, I do my fishing in Kentucky and due to my inability to catch any large bass, I have decided that there must not be any 10 pounders in this state because I know I am not doing anything wrong!

I do find myself wondering just how many ten pound plus fish there are in my home waters.

Big Tom you should head to wood creek lake.  Thats where your state record was caught in 1984.  13.10 is the record, so I'm guessing there's not a ton of 10+ in your state.  Welcome to the club.  

Our Colorado state record is 11.5 pounds, I assume that's about the same size as the swimbaits "Fish Chris" uses to catch his monsters.

T

I have been meaning to get to Wood Creek.  A few years ago, the Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife built a lake just for Trophy Bass fishing but it isn't old enough to have many huge ones in it.  I am aiming for a five pounder this spring.  If it happens it will be the biggest fish I have caught so far in my entire one year bass fishing experience. By best thus far was a 2.5 pounder I caught a couple of weeks ago.  Pretty sad I know but the big ones are coming.  Sorry to hijack they thread.  Great read hawg caller.  Pretty quality stuff there.

[George Welcome]

Outstanding - extremely insightful. As so adroitly put: you shoulda been here tomorrow!

As to fish moving to another lake: I do believe we don't have the memories that we think we have, and some days we just put in on the wrong lake and don't realize it. However, who can remember?

[roadwarrior]

hawg caller,

Excellent thread! As George pointed out, "You shoulda been here tomorrow."

8-)

[TheBeast]

Hey Big Tom I spend alot of time in KY with my in-laws living in Jackson not far from Morehead. We need to try and get together sometime and hit the water. My previous PB came from Panbowl Lake in Jackson a nice 5.5. That is till Randall and Lake Varner and the 8 lb beauty in my avitar.

BTW Bigtom is what everyone around here calls me.

[Fish Chris]

I just have one to add..... "the easy 10 pounder" is most often caught by the guy that doesn't carry a scale ! Oh yea'.... that's 10 pounds for sure  :-)  LOL

Peace,

Fish

[flechero]

Great thread!

[senile1]

Excellent post, Hawg Caller!  But I have a problem with your hints to catch these kindly behemoths.  I can't seem to get past number 1.   :

[paul.]

But I have a problem with your hints to catch these kindly behemoths.  I can't seem to get past number 1.   Roll Eyes

try using the "magic words"

7. Fish in California where stocked bass are force fed trout. This of course makes them a guaranteed catch but they should not be allowable on record lists. Cheesy

"the easy 10 pounder" is most often caught by the guy that doesn't carry a scale ! Oh yea'.... that's 10 pounds for sure  Smiley  LOL

I do believe we don't have the memories that we think we have, and some days we just put in on the wrong lake and don't realize it. However, who can remember?

excellent points jay, chris, and george.  these shall be #7, #8, and #9 on our list.

10.  genetics -  in understanding "the easy 10 pounder" we must also address the issue of genetics.  unfortunately, there is much controversy over this one.  some "experts" claim that the easy 10 possesses northern strain genetics which make them especially dense, aggressive, and vulnerable.  studies have shown that these northern strain 10's have roughly the i.q. of a small pebble which lends some validity to this claim.  still other "experts" argue that the easy 10 has "florida strain" genetics which produces a large body size in a very young fish.  recent evidence suggests that with an adequate food supply "florida strain" fish can reach weights of over 11 pounds in approximately 9 months.  this would be the human equivalent of 2 year old's intelligence with the physical size and appetite of a 39 year old.  there have been recent efforts to combine the stupidity of the northern strain with the light-speed growth rate of the florida strain.  the resulting "f1 hybrid" fish have the desirable characteristics of both, making them quite large and foolish.

as bizz alluded to earlier, by far the "easiest 10 pounders" come from  california.  there has really been no logical explanation for this - until now.  ground-breaking research has shed some light on this mystical cali subspecies -  scientific name "californus stupidious" - and the biological flaw which renders them helpless to fishermen's pursuits.  it seems that trout meat contains an enzyme which restricts blood flow to the bass brain, reducing an already poor intelligence by another 73%.  simultaneously, the bass' engorged stomach compresses a nerve which forces their cavernous mouths into the "wide open" posture, making it impossible to avoid engulfing any and all lures which pass by.  

maybe someone else has some more ideas about these easy 10's.

[senile1]

But I have a problem with your hints to catch these kindly behemoths.  I can't seem to get past number 1.   Roll Eyes

try using the "magic words"

Ah, yes, the magic words.  I forgot about them.  I've actually cultivated an amazing talent in the use of the unmentionable, magic words.  What good is a talent if you don't use it?  

[Alpster]

That's freakin amazing!! These sound just exactly like the easy 7 pounders in my NE Lake. Who'd a thunk it?

Ronnie

[roadwarrior]

"I'm not sure what she went, but the picture weighed 3 lbs!"

:

[Bassnbrett101]

Hawgcaller if you wrote a book about the subject I'd be the first to pick it up. Great thread

[Quinn]

MAAAAN !!, I coulda called in sick yesterday, I shoulda, If I had read this sooner I woulda... dang.....

[Bass XL]

2. best times - unlike the regular "hard to catch" variety of finicky lunkers, the "easy 10 pounder" shows a definite preference for biting on 2 specific days - yesterday and tomorrow. be on the water one of these 2 days and you will load the boat - guaranteed.

     

So true. ;D

[FD.]

no really, it was thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssss big!

[The Bass Guy]

oh boy...  if I would have known everything was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo  easy I would have quit my job bought a bass boat AGAIN and gone tourney fishing after my divorce...  

Dag nabit

[Bassnajr]

That looks like a plastic "easy 10 pounder" you are holding!!!

There is no easy to catch bass......  1 pounder to 15 pounder. There is an amount of skill, luck, knowledge, and devine intervention involved  often in different amounts depending on the circumstances. IMO

Good luck with your search!!

bassnajr

[Long Mike]

Hawg Caller, I'm a firm believer in your first rule.  That's why I never get to fish.  I just sit in my boat and change lures all day, thinking "Naw, he won't bite that one; Naw, he won't bite that one either; Naw, he won't ..."   ;D ;D ;D

[paul.]

MAAAAN !!, I coulda called in sick yesterday, I shoulda, If I had read this sooner I woulda... dang.....

oh boy...  if I would have known everything was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo  easy I would have quit my job bought a bass boat AGAIN and gone tourney fishing after my divorce...  

Dag nabit

fellas, please note the LIBERAL use of the "magic words" in these 2 posts.  i'm tellin' ya, both these guys are on the right track.  i think dag nabit counts too.

"I'm not sure what she went, but the picture weighed 3 lbs!"

rw,  i appreciate your humility my friend.  i've never held a picture that weighed less than 4.5 lbs.  my pb picture weighed 9 lbs. 3oz.  not very long, but outrageous girth.    perhaps others will share theirs too.

That's freakin amazing!! These sound just exactly like the easy 7 pounders in my NE Lake. Who'd a thunk it?

ronnie, many people do not realize it, but the "easy 7 pounders" to which you are referring are actually the fry of "the easy 10's".  usually these easy 7's are only about a week and a half old and there is usually a 12 pound male close by guarding them.  if these easy 7's manage to survive, they will become easy 10's in about 3 months - so please release all the ones you catch.