Question for you pro's...

[Ellesar]

I've been doing a good bit of fishing on the Tennessee river since its close to home and convient for those after work trips to get my fishing fix. I usually manage to land 10-15 bass, but most of them are under 2 lbs, many around 1lb. So I have these areas where I know I can catch fish of that size, but I'm looking for the larger ones. So is it better to continue to fish those areas because the presence of smaller fish will make it more likely that larger ones are somewhere close by? Or is the presence of that many smaller fish mean that the larger ones are someplace else and I need to go to different areas to find them?

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

You need to find some different areas to fish. Little fish don't hang with big fish, that could be very dangerous! Look for structure associated with current and I'm sure you will find some better quality fish. The Tennessee River is well known for big bass, both green fish and brown.

:

[fishfordollars]

How deep are you fishing. It may be as simple as adjusting your depth.

[Ellesar]

I'm finding the fish fairly shallow, on flats around structure in about 3-5 feet of water.  Once you get about 20 ft from the bank it drops off fairly quickly to 20-30 feet. I've tried fishing that drop and haven't had much luck. I've tried spinnerbaits, worms, crawdads, crankbaits. Do you think the bigger bass would suspend someplace on the drop off, or would they be more likely to find someplace shallower? I had thought they might be handing out on the drop off and moving up shallow early and late, but the fish I'm catching don't seem to suggest that. Granted, the average size gets a bit larger as it gets late, but I don't know if thats really telling me where the bigger fish are.

Thanks for the help!

[fishfordollars]

Run up river and start your search closer to the dam. Fish when they are pulling water and target any cuts and laydowns in the water.

[WRB]

The bass you are targeting and catching are young adults that prefer smaller bait fish as prey. Your success shows that have mastered finding those bass and catching them consistantly.

As bass grow larger and get to be adults, they add prey to their diet such as crawdads and larger bait fish. Bass are predators and like all predators there is a pecking order where the best locations are dominated by the fittest.

Study your river and look for areas that provide current breaks in locations where both concentrations of prey and structure elements are present. Wing dams, bars, submerged trees, stumps, pilings, rock piles, anything that provides slack or slower moving water where biatfish and crawdads can find shelter. The bigger bass will nearly always be close to their food source.

Deep diving crank baits and jigs should be a major part of your lure selection. Reaction lures like spinnerbaits and buzzers are OK during the very active periods, otherwise it's the bottom bumping presentations that will trigger strikes from the big bass.

WRB

[Ellesar]

Thanks for the great info. Let me ask you all this. Is there a depth that is too deep for something like crawdads? I know they are supposed to be one of a bass's favorite foods, but are they found at 20 feet? Do the bass care?

Thanks again to all of you!

[roadwarrior]

Nope, bass don't know how deep they are or what's on the menu.

If there are bass at any particular depth, soft plastics and jigs are

always an option.

8-)

[WRB]

I don't know what the depth limit is for crayfish (crawdads), it's over 100 feet in lake Tahoe for example. Depth isn't an issue in a river environment. Found this information on crayfish that should be of interest.

http://www.unionsportsmen.org/index.php/fishing/category/crayfish_school/

WRB

note; look at archives, Dec 22, 2007, crayfish school.

[peidy_p]

I fish southeast louisiana and 4 times last year twice with me in the boat we were catching dink after dink and my buddy pulled in 2 hawgs  one 7 1\2 and 9 lbs. the other 2 times i was at the weighin of our local tournement and watchn the sacks role in and this guy pulled out a 7 lber n weighed in under 14 lbs. So im convinced that big boys are with all the dinks also. I do believe that 2, 3, and4's do hang together atleast where i fish.

[gobig]

Peidy you missed some thing very important in WRB's post. (Bass are predators and like all predators there is a pecking order where the best locations are dominated by the fittest). This is not saying that you won't catch the occasional hawg among smaller fish. I believe one of the exceptions to this is durring the spawn.

[Sam Bass]

Possibly try fishing Larger Baits which can sometimes attract Larger fish.Work the same areas a little deeper for example if you are using T-riggged worms and catching dinks try a Bulky Profile Jig or a Creature style Bait in the same Location.When Fishing for Larger fish you may have to lower your average for better quality Fish.The Larger ones come Less frequently but are well worth the effort.

[George Welcome]

"(Bass are predators and like all predators there is a pecking order where the best locations are dominated by the fittest)"

So much is assumed in the above statement.

Yesterday's trip ended with the count at 107 caught, with 7 of them reaching over 7 pounds. Big ones, little ones, all in the same area. Hmmmmm?

[WRB]

When talking in general terms you can interpret whatever fits your needs. A good location; one that has baitfish or prey can and does attract several year classes of bass, however the bigger bass usually show up at the prime time period or activity level. That is why when fishing patterns for example, it's a good idea to revisit areas where you catch smaller bass, becuase the bigger may show up on a different time schedule. It had been my experience that bass activily feed in about 4 hour cycles during the day light period. If you are camped out on one area long enough, the big bass may show up and start  feeding at a good location that has everything needed for them.

That technique is what most bait fisherman use, anchor and wait.

WRB