20 replies to this topic

[basslover12345]

I have a tourmnament sunday, with the American bass anglers and I'm considering going for Larger than average bass, the average bass at this place is like 2.5-2.7 pounds which I caught in my last 6 tournaments here, never bringing in a full limit, Here is my "record here" for the last 6 tournaments:
1. 4/14/12- 2.78 (1 fish)
2. 10/23/10- 2.08 (1 fish)
3. 7/16/11- 4.39 ( 3 fish)
4. 6/11/11- 4.05 ( 2 fish)
5. 9/18/10- 0 (NO FISH)
6. 6/26/11- 0 (NO FISH)

Is this a good idea?

[flippin and pitchin]

Always try to put five keepers in the boat. Then go after a kicker or two if you think you have the spot and or technique to get them. With your record to date, a limit would be my goal. Most of all, have fun !!!!

[Nitrofreak]

How well do you know the structure of this lake?

When you say the average size fish is 2.5 to 2.7 lbs, is that just for you or does everybody catch the same size fish?

Is it a good idea to target larger fish? YES !!,

If you have not spent time on this lake getting to know the in's and out's of where these larger fish live and travel you are not going to be very successful on your first attempt, unless you get really lucky or fish with someone who knows this lake and it's structure intimately.

[Lund Explorer]

The first question I would ask is what kind of weight does it take to either win the tournament or to place in the money? How much is the entry fee? What about big bass pot, entry and prize money?

Catching a limit of fish that average 2.5 to 2.7 would give you a weight of 12.5 to 13.5 lbs. If that is good enough to win the tournament then you have to figure out how to put five in the boat. If the winning weight is closer to 15 lbs, then you need to start thinking about catching bigger than average fish.

Assuming that it would take that 15 lb bag to cash 1st place money, I would try to break down the day so that you are targeting bigger fish during the prime times of the day. That may mean throwing big topwaters first thing in the morning as well as throwing jigs or big worms on prime deep water structure at other times of the day. Around here, there is a good chance at hanging a deep water hawg between noon and 2pm which is when you want to be on that prime structure. Between these two times, I would setup a milk run of a few high percentage docks or other shallow water spots trying to put as many fish in the box as possible. Looked at another way:

First two hours - Big topwaters looking for a toad during prime morning bite.

Middle four hours - Fill the livewell with the two pounders.

Last two hours - Cull the dinks with a possible hawg or two!

[zip pow]

The first question I would ask is what kind of weight does it take to either win the tournament or to place in the money? How much is the entry fee? What about big bass pot, entry and prize money?

Catching a limit of fish that average 2.5 to 2.7 would give you a weight of 12.5 to 13.5 lbs. If that is good enough to win the tournament then you have to figure out how to put five in the boat. If the winning weight is closer to 15 lbs, then you need to start thinking about catching bigger than average fish.

Assuming that it would take that 15 lb bag to cash 1st place money, I would try to break down the day so that you are targeting bigger fish during the prime times of the day. That may mean throwing big topwaters first thing in the morning as well as throwing jigs or big worms on prime deep water structure at other times of the day. Around here, there is a good chance at hanging a deep water hawg between noon and 2pm which is when you want to be on that prime structure. Between these two times, I would setup a milk run of a few high percentage docks or other shallow water spots trying to put as many fish in the box as possible. Looked at another way:

First two hours - Big topwaters looking for a toad during prime morning bite.

Middle four hours - Fill the livewell with the two pounders.

Last two hours - Cull the dinks with a possible hawg or two!

x2 good post

[slonezp]

The first question I would ask is what kind of weight does it take to either win the tournament or to place in the money?

This

How well do you know the water?
Your larger than average bass aren't going to be as easy to catch as the average ones. This applies to you and your competition. BUT, if the competition knows the water better than you, the cards are now stacked against you. In the tourneys I fish, bass are roughly the same average as you mentioned 2-3lbs. You need to know where you can get a limit, and you need to know where to get a kicker. If you spend all day looking for the kicker you may never find the limit.

[basslover12345]

The standings for a tournament last saturday: http://www.americanb...Date=04/28/2012

[slonezp]

So you need a 3lb average to be in the money. A 2lb average with a 6lb kicker isn't in the money. Again, How well do you know the water? I advise you to learn new spots or new presentations since the old ones are only working on smaller fish.

[123brad]

The first question I would ask is what kind of weight does it take to either win the tournament or to place in the money? How much is the entry fee? What about big bass pot, entry and prize money?

Catching a limit of fish that average 2.5 to 2.7 would give you a weight of 12.5 to 13.5 lbs. If that is good enough to win the tournament then you have to figure out how to put five in the boat. If the winning weight is closer to 15 lbs, then you need to start thinking about catching bigger than average fish.

Assuming that it would take that 15 lb bag to cash 1st place money, I would try to break down the day so that you are targeting bigger fish during the prime times of the day. That may mean throwing big topwaters first thing in the morning as well as throwing jigs or big worms on prime deep water structure at other times of the day. Around here, there is a good chance at hanging a deep water hawg between noon and 2pm which is when you want to be on that prime structure. Between these two times, I would setup a milk run of a few high percentage docks or other shallow water spots trying to put as many fish in the box as possible. Looked at another way:

First two hours - Big topwaters looking for a toad during prime morning bite.

Middle four hours - Fill the livewell with the two pounders.

Last two hours - Cull the dinks with a possible hawg or two!

Noted!! That sounds like some great advise!

[basslover12345]

So you need a 3lb average to be in the money. A 2lb average with a 6lb kicker isn't in the money. Again, How well do you know the water? I advise you to learn new spots or new presentations since the old ones are only working on smaller fish.

I've fished here 7 times, 6 tournaments here, once with a Guide March 31

[Lund Explorer]

The standings for a tournament last saturday: http://www.americanb...=04%2F28%2F2012

These are the guys you're fishing against?

If you are front seating your own boat with this crew, you need to throw away everything in my previous post!

[basslover12345]

No, Those are the weights it took to win at the same place, but this past Saturday, I will be fishing against no more than like 30 guys

[ChiCityBasser]

The first question I would ask is what kind of weight does it take to either win the tournament or to place in the money? How much is the entry fee? What about big bass pot, entry and prize money?

Catching a limit of fish that average 2.5 to 2.7 would give you a weight of 12.5 to 13.5 lbs. If that is good enough to win the tournament then you have to figure out how to put five in the boat. If the winning weight is closer to 15 lbs, then you need to start thinking about catching bigger than average fish.

Assuming that it would take that 15 lb bag to cash 1st place money, I would try to break down the day so that you are targeting bigger fish during the prime times of the day. That may mean throwing big topwaters first thing in the morning as well as throwing jigs or big worms on prime deep water structure at other times of the day. Around here, there is a good chance at hanging a deep water hawg between noon and 2pm which is when you want to be on that prime structure. Between these two times, I would setup a milk run of a few high percentage docks or other shallow water spots trying to put as many fish in the box as possible. Looked at another way:

First two hours - Big topwaters looking for a toad during prime morning bite.

Middle four hours - Fill the livewell with the two pounders.

Last two hours - Cull the dinks with a possible hawg or two!

Great post

[J Francho]

You haven't caught a limit here in any tournament. You have to catch a limit. I hate setting this as a goal, because it's not a winning strategy, but I'm thinking baby steps here. Are you in the back of the boat? A lot is going to hinge on your boater.

[basslover12345]

You haven't caught a limit here in any tournament. You have to catch a limit. I hate setting this as a goal, because it's not a winning strategy, but I'm thinking baby steps here. Are you in the back of the boat? A lot is going to hinge on your boater.

Its a draw tournament, I draw my partner 15 minutes before we launch, basically I am competing against him