Slow year for big fish?

[fishfordollars]

I've caught my share of 6s and 7s, but no really large fish (8+) this year. The lakes i fish are well known for producing very large fish it has just not happened for me this year. Anyone else notice the lack of the really larger fish?

If I get to Toledo Saturday night I'm going to try and fix this though.

[brushhoggin]

dude, 6 and 7 pound fish are large :-?

i need to fish in texas!

[eric21]

dude, 6 and 7 pound fish are large :-?

i need to fish in texas!

No kidding! In NJ when I catch the occational 4lb'er its party time lol

[gobig]

I have had a similar year. My overall quality has gone up but no real big fish so far. The weather out here has been so crazy this year its been tough to find patterns that stick. Many of the big tournaments have had lower weights than normal.

[Raul]

Well, I can say slow in a figurative way, I can 't expect miracles out of a year when I haven 't preciselly gone fishing on a regular basis for one reason or another ( actually it 's been two reasons, work and rainy weather ), for two months I didn 't even touch a fishing rod, fortunately this past weekend I did, who knows when it will be the next time.

[farmpond1]

If not catching anything over 6 or 7 pounds means it's been a slow year, than that means it's been a slow lifetime.   

[Red]

I caught one around 9lbs this spring, and maybe 2 more over 5lbs this summer.  I have caught more dinks this summer than ever before.  I have had a tough summer finding keeper sized fish.  I would be really happy just to catch a few 3-5lbers.

[BrianSnat]

dude, 6 and 7 pound fish are large :-?

i need to fish in texas!

No kidding! In NJ when I catch the occational 4lb'er its party time lol

I'm from Jersey too. Pulled in a 4 1/2 pounder last week and it was camera time.

[DaveT63]

If not catching anything over 6 or 7 pounds means it's been a slow year, than that means it's been a slow lifetime.

Considering I've never caught a 6 lb bass, I agree wholeheartedly!

[bilgerat]

My best fish (4 - 5 lb range) with the exception of 1 all came back in the spring before this heat set in. Overall my numbers have been down this season compared to previous years.

I'm optimistic about the next few months, though. I fish until the bitter end until the water gets hard.

[Catt]

Same here but the year aint over 

[farmpond1]

Actually, although until this week it's been insufferably hot, this has been my very best year in terms of size.  I've caught 2 bass in the 6 lb range and several 4 lbers.  For me (and Illinois), that's astounding!

[OHIO]

If not catching anything over 6 or 7 pounds means it's been a slow year, than that means it's been a slow lifetime.

X2

[ProCraft Joe]

I usually get a 10+ from Guntersville every year but so far 5-6lb has been the norm with 1 8.5lber this spring. We had a brutally cold winter (for the south anyway) I been blaming it on.

[Randall]

Not here! After a couple slow years the big fish are back. There has been a five fish linit weighing almost 40 lbs, lots of 8-10 pound fish being caught and a 13lb fish just a few days back.

Maybe your lakes are just having an off year. Many of our lakes had drought and forage issues but have recovered. When lakes have issues like this it always seems to show first in the larger fish with larger fish not being caught or by them having poor body condition.

[bigtimfish]

Jack, my aunt Nancy has caught 3 this year 9lbs +. Fishing Rayburn. Her biggest was a 10.6. She caught that one 3 hrs after the McDonalds BB tourney ended on the final day. Coleman Bay is where she pulled it out of. Of course they live 5 mins from the Walter Humphry pavilion so she basically lives on the water and knows some really good spots. I on the other hand have not caught one much over 4lbs this year. It's been horrible. Maybe it's time for a trip to O.H. Ivie

[bilgerat]

Not here! After a couple slow years the big fish are back. There has been a five fish linit weighing almost 40 lbs, lots of 8-10 pound fish being caught and a 13lb fish just a few days back.

Maybe your lakes are just having an off year. Many of our lakes had drought and forage issues but have recovered. When lakes have issues like this it always seems to show first in the larger fish with larger fish not being caught or by them having poor body condition.

Hopefully that's what happened here. One of our "trophy" lakes is actually a spring fed former sand pit that produces 7 to 10 lb bass. At it's deepest it's 45'. I'm hoping they're hunkered down just waiting it out. I doubt any harm has been done, other then to my fishing, as there is plenty of forage available.

Come on fall.....

[fishfordollars]

Jack, my aunt Nancy has caught 3 this year 9lbs +. Fishing Rayburn. Her biggest was a 10.6. She caught that one 3 hrs after the McDonalds BB tourney ended on the final day. Coleman Bay is where she pulled it out of. Of course they live 5 mins from the Walter Humphry pavilion so she basically lives on the water and knows some really good spots. I on the other hand have not caught one much over 4lbs this year. It's been horrible. Maybe it's time for a trip to O.H. Ivie

Ask her if I can go with her. LOL.

[Fat-G]

I've only caught two big fish this year, but I think five 4 pounders. Slow is right.

However I couldn't possibly care less about the lack of big fish. I have new equipment, which I love. Found the "magic" lure. Work with a dude that has SIX world records for catfish, and also knows more about bass fishing and fishing in general than I could ever aspire to know. I have learned a ton from him. Basically, it's been a dam good year for me.

[Big Bass Chaser]

My lakes have produced good sized LM (4-7lbs) and great sized SM (3-7lbs) this year, which I think may have been caused by all the rain?  I have a feeling that come fall I'll have my chance at a few giants.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I haven't caught anything huge this year.  I'd say I'm doing about average compared to years past.  For some reason, I've always caught all of my larger fish at the end of the year down here.  The water finally cools down, and night fishing gets grossly fun.

[evrgladesbasser]

If not catching anything over 6 or 7 pounds means it's been a slow year, than that means it's been a slow lifetime.

I'm with you on that one.....

[wisconsin heat]

i am having a pretty horrible year, the fish to your left is the biggest one i caught all year, and im pretty sure its under 3 pounds!!

[Bankbeater]

5 and 6 pounds? Around here a 3 pounder is newsworthy.

[BassmanDan]

It's good to know I'm not the only one having a tough year. Last year was one of my best for big fish, and this year the 5-6 pounders are all I can manage. Maybe it's one of natures cycles (sounds better than saying I can't catch em)