Proud captain of the dinks, join me followers

[JCrzy4Bass]

Hey guys, I just wanted to put this out there for all guys in my situation.  I have been bass fishing for over a year now (though fishing longer).  In this time I've learned and feel comfortable with a variety of baits making myself as versatile as I feel I am capable of up to this point.  I catch bass on multiple baits on most days out and I am fine and happy with my results.  However in a year's worth of fishing I have only pulled in a handful of bass at or above three pounds.  My personal best is 3lbs 8ozs out of Lake Anna, Va.  I am mighty proud of this fish.

However, sometimes I get down on myself for not producing larger because people around me who have been fishing less time or just starting have caught 5 and 6 lbers out of the same places I fish and work on every time out.  It's great to see others have success but it sucks not being able to produce fish like that as well.

I know I have myself to blame since I was probably not throwing in the right places or the right baits (or large enough baits) for the situation to get a big fish.  But you would still expect to stumble upon a 4 or 5 pounder somewhere as much as I get out.

I have taken it upon myself to aim for bigger fish after catching my limits now.  My friend who has been fishing a long time (member of this site I met not too long ago) taught me how to pitch and present my larger plastics and jigs better this week.  I am working on this as well as walking the dog (he showed me this as well) and swimbaits (Lake Fork Magic Shads, Flukes, etc) to try and coax bigger fish.

I would just like to know how many other guys find themselves in my boat?  If you have fished for over a year and are still chasing your 4 pounder let me hear from you.  I am happy catching the 150 plus fish (dinks, fish between 1-2.5 lbs) I have caught over this time but now that I am fairly consistent I want to work on fishing stronger, being sure I get that limit and then sticking it to the pig!  I'm ready and I'm pumped and dang on it, I am TELLING myself I am going to make this happen soon.

This is now a confidence building thread.  So you guys that are struggling to rip big berthas lips chime in and give yourself a confidence building push to achieve more and chase what you've been after.  I feel semi better already now that I got this out and admitted my guilt to being the "captain of the dinks"!!!

[Raul]

Two years ago I visited one of the lakes I fish every single weekend, that would make for 104 days of fishing it, scored big many times with 5 & 6 pounders, an eighter and very close 10 pounder ( it was short of 10 pounds by 0.12 lbs ). The past year for one reason or another I wasn 't able to fish it the way I did so I fished it only for 30 days, only scored big once with an almost 8 pounder and several fish in the 4-5 lb mark. This year I 've fished even less, only been there a couple of times and all I caught were dinks ( 10-12 inchers by the truckloads  to  some 1 1/2 pounders ).

The more time you spend on the water the greater the chances you hook something nice.

[roadwarrior]

Well, I don't know about that...

To consistantly catch bigger fish you have to fish for them all of the time.

Generally that means:

1. Fish lakes, ponds and rivers that hold big fish.

2. Focus on structure in deeper water where "everybody" doesn't fish.

3. Use bigger baits/ lures.

4. Fish "traditional" baits slower and maybe introduce swimbaits to your game.

5. You can catch big bass on any lure, but jigs, soft plastics and swimbaits rule.

8-)

[fishinfiend]

Don't stress about not catching a hog. Your chances are very good that if you keep doing what you are doing and you try to learn a little more each trip the big one will come if you fish waters that hold big fish. From what I have read in your post and have seen from the pictures of fish you have posted you seem to be very excited about fishing and thirst for knowledge on the subject, which are essential to being a successful fisherman. Just continue to be patient and enjoy EVERY single bass you catch.

I turn 29 next month and I have been fresh and saltwater fishing since I was in diapers. Until this year the biggest bass I have ever caught was between 3-4 lbs. This year I have been very lucky. I have caught my PB of 7+ ,  more than a dozen  fish between 4-6, and lots of fish around 3lbs. I know a lot of people that only want to catch big fish or could not care less if they catch a fish < 3lbs. I am the type of angler that loves every bass I catch no matter how small. I always have a great time fishing.

Keep up the good work and be patient!!

[JCrzy4Bass]

Thanks for the replies guys they all make good sense.

Fishin' man that post was really cool to read dude.  Thanks for the support and confidence buddy!  Glad to hear you're having a great year and hopefully I'll be in that boat soon.

I am going to start fishing the bigger fish waters more often when I get the chance.  Alot of the places I fish though (lake wise) do have plenty of 4's and 5's in them as I've seen a lot of pictures and witnessed a lot of catches.  But I think now that I have confidence I'm gonna can the small fish waters.

[mrmacwvu1]

RW is right fish bigger baits and fish where they are not seeing a bait every ten minutes thrown at their face, ie the bank.

i like his suggestion of deep structure as well

however do not be afraid to use finess lures on these fish when the conditions warrant it as well

[thetr20one]

I am trying to stay out of that club guys but, ocassionaly I do get a temporary membership!!!!!!LOL

[tyrius.]

Prior to last year I had not fished in a LONG time, but last year I got back into it.  I fished the same way that I did when I was younger, which is to catch a lot of fish.  Catching a lot of fish means fishing smaller baits and not catching many big ones.  I don't even remember catching but one or two that would have been 3 lbs.  

This year I've switched it up and bought a couple of baitcast rigs and have been fishing mainly 3/8 oz jigs with bigger trailers.  In 3 hours of fishing in the last two Saturdays I've caught 2 that were 3 lbs or better.  

I saw on the lure section that you're pitching bitsy bugs.  If you want to catch the bigger fish I'd recommend changing that up to bigger jigs and full size trailers.  You may not catch as many but your average weight will increase.

[-HAWK-]

^^ I think thats something i need to work on as well. I tend to fish the smaller baits in order to catch larger numbers of fish. I just have a hard time facing the fact that in order to catch the big fish i need to run the risk of not catching anything at all.

[IdahoLunkerHunter]

This year I began in the winter fishing slow deep water. Finesse worms and jigs 40-50ft deep. I have gotten pretty good at learning how structure feels underwater when pertaining to finesse fishing and how to present baits to make them the most convincing of live bait.

This year almost all my fishing is done by finesse. I probably have 20 or so cranks but probably 100 bags of soft plastics. I have gotten off the path of throwing baits near the shore looking for bass. I also agree with RW in that you have to fish...fish...fish. The more you fish and get used to what conditions contain the pigs, the more you will catch. My pigs this year have been around underwater culverts, rock piles, submerged pilings, drop-offs and downed trees/stumps.

Also don't be afraid of throwing the bigger baits. Most of the time my plastics range from 6" senkos to 10" finesse worms. This spring I have already caught 4-5lb+ and 1-6lb+. Hope this might help and have fun!

[tyrius.]

^^ I think thats something i need to work on as well. I tend to fish the smaller baits in order to catch larger numbers of fish. I just have a hard time facing the fact that in order to catch the big fish i need to run the risk of not catching anything at all.

When I first got back into fishing the largest lure in my tacklebox was a 3/8 oz spinnerbait and I rarely used it because I thought it was too big.  I also didn't have a regular skirted jig in there.  Now I've got 2 3600 boxes full and I keep buying more!  

[mrmacwvu1]

Also start keeping a journal or log

write down the conditions, water temp time of day, day, water clarity, depth fishing, sky conditions, outside temp bait used, line used

every time you catch a big fish

this will teach you more then you know

[skillet]

!!DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP!! Have been fishing for bass a long, long, looonnng time :-[(if I told you how long it might defeat the purpose of this post ;D). Have caught a lot of 3-3 1/2s a number of 4s and several that would go 5. This year I caught a 6 and a fish that was 7lb 14oz the first time and 7lb 15oz the second time ! Still fishing for the Double D Club! Hopefully before I get johnboated off to the Ol' Fisherman's Home...

                                   As Ever,

                                    skillet

[Jake P]

If you're the captain then I'm the first mate because i cant seem to catch anything over 2lbs. That doesn't mean I'm not loving every minute of it but i too would like to catch the occasional hawg. 10 dinks or 1 hawg im still a happy fisherman  8-). I know what i need to do to catch bigger fish but i cant seem to be dedicated to doing what needs to be done when im comfortable with the way i usually fish. I'm a huge procrastinator so I'll get around to it eventually  ;D.

[rondef]

Jason,

This is the weekend you get a new PB.  We are going to catch some hawgs at Germantown Lake.   I have not had a banner year this year either, only a few over three pounds and then my PB.  All of these were caught using bigger baits and a lot of patience waiting for the strikes from just the bigger bass.

[JCrzy4Bass]

Thanks again guys, all these responses get my geared up.  I will always be happy catching bass no matter how small.  Just ask my buds on here and my dad how excited I get when I hook into a bass.  I may not be Ike but I get pumped.  I will never let size deter me from getting out there.  I love bass fishing and with my determination and willingness to learn I know it will eventually come.

Dad, I think this weekend is it.  I'm feeling good about tommorrow morning!  Pb time baby!

[Paul Naj]

Jason,

As I said to you the other day, you keep going in the direction you're going and it will happen soon. There's some great advice in this thread. Absorb what you can and apply it to your spots.

When you're done fishing for the weekend, report back here what you did. Honestly, I'm not concerned if you break 4 pounds this weekend, or 2 pounds for that matter, I'd like to hear what you did differently to get you to your goal. Did you try something new and then switch right back to a comfort bait or did you stick with it? Did you lose focus because you were out of your comfort zone? I ask this because when I first started fishing soft jerkbaits, I felt like i was totally out of my element. I just couldn't match the numbers my brother was putting up and it was frustrating but I stuck with it. Obviously they are not as foreign to me today and I've caught a lot of fish on them and some big ones too. It took a while to get to my level of confidence in that bait.

I'll be back out Monday or Tuesday and my personal goal is to set aside an hour or two to start fishing some deeper offshore structure. I really stink at that and simply want to get better at it. Without a depth map I have no clue where I'll start so I'll go back to the basics I learned over the years and maybe the depth finder will give up a clue or two. I don't expect to become good at it by the end of Tuesday, or June or this summer for that matter. I do expect to learn from every cast to the deeper stuff and lock it in upstairs when I start to figure it out.

P

[burleytog]

If you're the captain, then I'm the Supreme Potentate.

[5bass]

If you're the captain, then I'm the Supreme Potentate.

Thats correct. Jcrzy4bass has nothing on the Original Dinkmaster.

[TheBeast]

If you're the captain, then I'm the Supreme Potentate.

Thats correct. Jcrzy4bass has nothing on the Original Dinkmaster.

Ain't nobody know dinks like Burley knows dinks.

[JCrzy4Bass]

Hey Paul.  Check out my bitsy jig thread (tackle section).  I actually caught THREE on a jig this weekend.  I haven't caught but only one in the past year up until this weekend.  So that pitching you showed me has already payed off.  The fluke is a seperate issue but I think it's cause I have the wrong hooks and or wrong Zoom bait (as some pointed out in the super fluke thread I started in the tackle section).  I am working on that.

I did lose one on it but it was a reaction strike and it threw the hook on the first jump as I did a half hearted hook set because I wasn't sure on the bite.  It was rigged up on a split shot/sliding sinker rig (1/8oz tungsten weight).  But they ran funny like this.  I'm working on the fluke thing but I think it's just gonna take time and I'm gonna have to find the right situations to try it.

Check the threads and respond there if your up for it man.  I'll have reports on both lakes I hit this weekend on my blog site by the end of the evening (linked in my profile).

[guitarkid]

Sign me up captain, I should re-name myself DINK MASTER.

                          -searoach

[FD.]

JCrazy - It is all in the BAIT.  Plus a lot of patience.

My wife, both kids, and myself have all boated fish over 5 lbs this year.  BUT and this is a BIG  BUT.  We don't catch that many fish.  We only average 3-5 fish an outing unless we specifically go for a bunch of small fish.  We are throwing big baits.  10 inch worms, Gambler swimming jigs with big trailers, swim baits, monster sized frogs and such.  They produce big fish but not many bites. I have spent MANY days on the water without a bite at all. These baits take lots of patience to throw all day with only a handful of bites, but those few bites are usually worth the wait.  The trophy bass hunters throw even bigger baits and can go days without a bite.  

Another thing I have learned about big fish this year - big fish taking a jig or big c-rigged baits are very subtle.  It seems like the bigger the fish, the lighter the bite.   I have not felt the bite on most of my big fish, I have seen the line twitch or just get heavy.

Keep throwing big baits and you will catch big fish.

FD

[rondef]

Jay,

I feel like I have taken the title away from you because my last four outings have all been dink fests.

[AnglerNFuego]

Jay,

Just enjoy yourself buddy! Those bigger fish will come, just keep throwing the bigger baits.