Private Lake Big Bass Help

[xEricDx]

I'll be fishing in my favorie spot in early June, and I only get to fish this place once a year. The lake is located south of Augusta, Ga to give you an idea of the weather and water temp. The water is usually pretty murky, it has a very dark green to black tint. The lake is covered with large lilly pads, lots of structure, and flooded timber. I do not have electronics available to me at this location. Typically I throw a frog, soft plastics and spinnerbaits in dark colors on this lake. Every year I go I catch a ton of bass, but they are usually between 2 and 3 lbs. I know there are some monster bass in the lake, I just can't seem to get them on the hook. Any tips or techniques for these conditions that would help me hook a big bass would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[hatrix]

I would say try a jig. Pitch/flip/cast to where ever you think are the hot spots the big girls might be at. Work it like you would a jig while its in the strike zone/hot spot area then I like to swim it back the rest of the way with a slow medium retrieve while giving it a little hop the whole way back.

[xEricDx]

I would say try a jig. Pitch/flip/cast to where ever you think are the hot spots the big girls might be at. Work it like you would a jig while its in the strike zone/hot spot area then I like to swim it back the rest of the way with a slow medium retrieve while giving it a little hop the whole way back.

That's definitely something I plan on trying this year. I was thinking maybe punching through the lilly pads with a black 3/4 oz to 1 oz jig and bouncing it along the bottom might produce some larger fish. Thanks for the tip.

[Bass_Akwards]

That's definitely something I plan on trying this year. I was thinking maybe punching through the lilly pads with a black 3/4 oz to 1 oz jig and bouncing it along the bottom might produce some larger fish. Thanks for the tip.

Baits don't catch big bass, being on big bass catches big bass. The bait is secondary. Trust me, if you're on big bass, you can throw several baits and catch them most of the time. Locate them first by understanding where the big girls hang out during this particular time of year, THEN worry about bait choice. Traditional big bass baits are spinnerbaits, swimbaits, 10 inch worms, bigger jig and pigs and live bait. That's not to say you can't catch a 9 pound bass on a 5'' worm or crankbait either but when you locate giant bass, I'd first go with some of the above baits and see what works.

[Fat-G]

Baits don't catch big bass, being on big bass catches big bass. The bait is secondary. Trust me, if you're on big bass, you can throw several baits and catch them most of the time. Locate them first by understanding where the big girls hang out during this particular time of year, THEN worry about bait choice. Traditional big bass baits are spinnerbaits, swimbaits, 10 inch worms, bigger jig and pigs and live bait. That's not to say you can't catch a 9 pound bass on a 5'' worm or crankbait either but when you locate giant bass, I'd first go with some of the above baits and see what works.

First three lines in this quote are SO true. I applaud you Akwards.

[WRB]

If you are catching young adult bass in the 2 to 3 lb range you need to change location as mentioned above.

I would add a top water swimbait like a Lunker Punker or Punker Jr., in baby bass or golden shiner color; Google Lunker Punker for a source. Matt lures Ultimate Gil fished around any deep structure or open water would also be a good choice for early summer period.

Get a map of this lake that has bottom depth details and locate deep structure elements like humps, rock piles, ledges or channel breaks outside of the lily pad flats.

Fish a double buzzer around the pad lanes and around any weed or pad mats that are isolated in deeper water, Punker along the break or weed mat edges and over the top of any open water strucure areas. Fish a 12" or 13" Upton's Customs worms in June Bug in all the above areas. Fish the Ultimate Gil around any deeper structure or areas it doesn't hang up in.

You will increase your odds if you fish at night.

Tom

[Catt]

Send a PM to our member Randall, he guides in Georgia & kick big bass

[Randall]

Send a PM to our member Randall, he guides in Georgia & kick big bass

I don't know that I could help any other than whats been said already. Location is the biggest key and without electronics thats tough to find bigger fish. Just based on what you said I would probably fish the outside edges of the pads with worms, jigs and swimbaits if I were in the same situation.

[Flangler]

10" worms! Try the Lake Fork worms. They give off alot of vibration, had alot of luck with them. Other than that, what they said!

[Big Mamas]

Flip and pitch a jig around nice areas that look like they'll hold big bass.. Sooner or later one will suck that sucker up and then just swing for the fences and bring her in... Jigs are also proven to be a big fish bait, they'll catch the smalls ones and the big ones, but I say you'll catch a lot more big ones with a jig than smaller soft plastics..

[Sam]

10" worms! Try the Lake Fork worms. They give off alot of vibration, had alot of luck with them. Other than that, what they said!

X2.

[xEricDx]

Thanks for the help! I'll be sure to post the pics next month if I break 10lbs.