how do i catch the big ones

[lupe21]

Hello everybody i have been bass fishing for 2 summers and i have recently started catching bass frequently by using soft plastics such as worms and ive caught a couple on crankbaits. The thing is the lake i fish contains clear water were you can see the fish and i always see packs of HUGE bass but everytime i throw what normally would catch me dinks they just ignore do you guys have any idea how i could get these giant bass to strike they are also spook easily

[Eddie Munster]

If you can see them, they can see you. Try backing off some, casting PAST them while out of their sight.

[Crestliner2008]

What kind of presentations have you tried? And are you mobile or fishing from shore? With clear water like that, you need to approach super cautiously. I'd prefer to drift into the area you've seen those big bass, and anchor within a long casting range away. Then have a cup of coffee and let the area "settle" down. Even the most cautious approach can put the fish off right away. Keep low....no standing! No clanging of anything in the boat. No noise - period.

When you start fishing, try casting a drop-shot rig. Light finesse style baits presented very quietly will force the larger bass to rush in, so as the smaller ones don't have a chance to get it.

[D4u2s0t]

if it was only that easy!! Like said, your best bet is to back off. Fish slowly. I fish a dam that has a road above it somtimes, and you can walk down the road and see the fish sitting there. do they always bite? no. I've found this is when patience comes in. When the fish are actively feeding, it's easy to catch them. when they're just sitting there, it's a little tougher. what seems to work is casting past them, and slowly getting the bait right in front of their face.

[Red Bear]

for bass in real clear water that wont bite artificials, i would recommend trying live bait. a small 3-4 inch bluegill(if legal in your state) hooked through the tail just before the fin, weightless, with a 4/0 wide gap hook will entice a big bass every time. they just cant seem to resist the bluegill jerking and struggling to free itself from the hook. anytime ive seen nice bass swimming around in clear water, casting past them with artificial and reeling back through the area of the fish, a majority of the time it seems they get spooked and swim off. the times i have hooked fish like that with artificial it was with a fast sporadic presentation which has run them off at times too.

[rodrick williams]

i agree if they see u then  they are very cautious. i would try a split shot rig with a 4" curly tail grub or a suspended rapala. the drop shot rig sounds good too.  

[fishfordollars]

It requires time on the water. Nothing will subsitute for that. Go make your mistakes, learn from them,  & read all you can.

Good luck

[lupe21]

thank you very much guys for the responses today i went fishing again and saw some big ones with no luck but did catch about 4 fish in a hour the biggest being about  a pound and a half and the other people fishing around me probaly thought i was crazy for throwing them back in the water ill be sure to try some of you guys tips