BigEbass

THe big un that has got me thinking, more more more big uns!!

Yeah, I was afraid of that, but perhaps if I work at it, the totally skunked days will be a tolerable amount - not sure what that tolerable amount is, but we will see I guess. My plan for starters this summer may help curb the slow days to come...I have every other weekend to go fishing - I usually go with my neighbor on sunday and do our "traditional" tactics and we have a great time as always - but I want a trophy bass - I caught what I think was a 7 or 8 lber (see my profile photo) a few weeks ago and now I want more baby - I have been fishing since and catching 1-3 lbers all day just aint the same - I now have the desire to get more of those big uns My plan will be to go with my neighbor on saturday, and I will go at it alone on sunday and focus on using something like a larger swimbait....so I will get the best of both worlds I suppose and I can also toss the big bait with my neighbor some of the time too. Bottom line at least in my mind right now, I feel a real desire to catch the big ones - the payoff that you mention will be my motivating force through the tough days to come - I think I have alot of willpower, but I could lose confidence....we will see....I hope more people on BR make more suggestions for me too - There have been enough people to say good things about these tactics to encourage me a bit more anyway - still am testing the waters though.... Does anyone on here use em in my area? You are from texas, so if it has worked in texas and california, it will work in Bama? I wonder if there are many Bama peeps tossin these baits.??

What is a "KVD" ?

Thats my concern - but I wanted to hear from some of you about the idea. I guess I wonder if there are people that fish this way, but also catch at least 1-2 quality fish on most outings and perhaps more regularly. Are there some folks that actually attain the holy grail that is both size and quantity? If so, then I want on that train. Bill warns in his book that people are simply not willing to committ to it to get to this point.....but I dont know if Bill's recommendations takes into account my life situation ? I need to just call him up on the phone and ask him

Really that is my concern I suppose. I guess what I have remained unclear about is to what extent will I catch less fish? I mean, for guys that really put in the time to know how to use these tactics, are they really frequently skunked as much as you suggest? Bill's book countered this argument basically alluding to idea that there will be a learning curve like anything else, but that numbers of bigger fish will come with time, then you will catch numbers and size. So, I will only committ to this idea if I know there is light at the end of the tunnel - that is to say that I dont mind getting skunked for the most part for 1-2 years if there is a payout later, that is to say that later I can catch at least 2-5 bass on most days? I would like to hear from people that really truly throw these baits consistently and know how many they catch exactly on average - clearly for my first months or 1-2 years I will struggle and have to learn - but again, if I reach a point where big ones are attainable more regularly, I think I am willing to sacrifice quantity, to an extent anyway - if I have to fish for 5 days to catch one fish, well that is a bit over doing it for me, but the impression I have gotten from Bill's book and from a couple folks on here is that I will just need to get over a learning curve.... I was inspired when reading and learning about the career of Bill Siemantel - and the recent breaking of the world record by Manibu Kurita as well (who throws big baits as a staple). Kurita catches approx. 125 nine plus lb'ers every year, he is only like 34 - these guys doing these big bait tactics seem to be way ahead of the curve? And if they can do it, so can I on my home waters - that is to say not break the world record, but to more frequently break my own records and to increase my avg. catch size and increase the number of quality fish I catch. I can certainly stay on my traditional baits and keep learning, but why not take this plunge - it seems like it will take some dedication, but wont it pay off? That is a question that I am still not totally convinced - thus the post to discuss it a bit more..... But if there are guys out there catching 100 nine pound bass every year with these tactics, I want a piece of that baby - even if that means I catch 600 less dinks. But, given my available limited schedule to fish, I am not sure if this is the best decision for me.....

I have a 30HP mercury - it idles ever so quite and is quite slow at idle - I think I will be ok - I have never wanted to get in my boat so back just to idle

Cmon BR members - I was hopin someone would have some insight into my question - it would be a huge change for my fishing and I want some further feedback before I take the plunge into this - dont want to waste alot of time and money if it wont work :-?

Cmon guys - he put if you keep EVERTHING then you are a "meat hunter" and that is "morally wrong". I dont think he feels if you keep some fish to eat in general it is immoral? I think he is saying that if you go out and literally keep EVERY single fish caught in GREAT numbers that this is simply not in step with what most of us like to do, and that is to preserve our fishery to the highest standard - to maintain a healthy population of game fish. I think he may have used a slightly harsh word like "moral" but if everyone did keep everything then it would have deleterious effects on a fishery correct? And if everyone or many kept everything, then there would be less and less to keep for the ones that want to keep. heh heh, this conversation did take a nasty turn - gotta love it

Show off I got to get me one of those ponds in my backyard or something!! ;D

Also, nothing wrong for us newB's not knowing - fact is I imagine many people who have fished their whole lives many times fail to ask questions or to further question conventions - never stop asking questions is my mentality - and question all assumptions - otherwise you may be stuck in the same old rut forever....at least that is my philosophy - no one on here will laught at you for sure!! "'Wisest is he who knows he does not know" - key element to the socratic method!!! You are already ahead of the curve - stay ahead of it!

I am relatively new to bass fishing (2 years) so this statement may be clarified by others to include niche situations - but as I understand, electronics help you find structure and cover primarily...also bait....but not so good for "finding fish" per se.....I think you are better off to search out structure and fish it at various depths and find the fish only by catching them.....But I am sure there are some exceptions - of course I am fairly new so someone may need to correct me

Wow - you put some numbers on the scoreboard for sure - I have only been fishing for 2 years so far - most I caught in a single day was 29 bass - 72 bass is crazy!! Freakin feeding frenzy for sure!!

JUST AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Was anyone with you - I would have went Ike out there and fell out of the boat out of excitement Cannot wait to see the pic of the giant - I am hunting now for my first dd bass this year - good job in seeing that fish and sticking with it - THE PAYOFF!!!!

No ice out in Alabama I just like any time I can get out there period - each season is unique and offer its own advantages....I will say this last winter stunk with lots of rain, some snow, and more frigid temperatures than usual for Alabama, but mostly I get out year round and enoy it year round!!! "a bad day of fising is better than a good day at the office"

Another BR member suggested Bill Murphy's book btw - I will look into that.

So I have been bass fishing for 2 years and have gained more and more confidence....I live in Birmingham, AL. This thread relates to another thread in ways from recently "go for numbers or quality this year?"....so reference that if you like, but not necessary. Anyway, I had read Bill Siemantel's Book late last year and it really questioned alot of conventions that I had accepted to date. And at the beginning of this year I started to seriously contemplate adopting these techniques potentially - that is the big swim baits and tube baits primarily with the finess tactics covered in the book. I had a number of concerns up from though, which the book seemed to address: 1) Will I simply catch very few fish, be skunked many many many days in search for the occassional big one? After reading the book and talking to people on here, I will simply have a learning curve and more importantly confidence curve to overcome - not sure how long that will take, but I am willing to committ if I continue to feel confident it will pay out later. If there is any truth to Bill's book, then I am willing. 2) Do these principles apply to my location? The book addresses this concern as well. People believe that this is a western clear water type of tactice only and that it will not apply in the stained southern waters? Bill refutes this assumption in his book stating the tactics will work an any waters...?? Are there any Bill Siemantel style fisherman in the southeast or particularly in the Birmingam area? I would love to talk to you specifically obviously! 3) Can I afford it? Where do I buy the tackle and gear necessary - there are some recs from the book I have to reference about rods and reels and stuff. I suppose I will be able to afford the tackle - will start with one good big swim bait rod and reel and perhaps one type of bait? One of those big tubes or a big swimbait or small variety to start tossin....It will take time to acrew the stuff I need for sure - I already got a nice setup for fishing on my tracker pro-16 and I recently got the HB 998 4) How do I know what I am doing and how I am doing it is working in the first year or so....He mentioned in the book that even getting a big one to follow one of these baits is good feedback and to help you gain confidence, but many times in my home waters I may not be able to see this bass more than 1-3 feet of water or more unlike some more clear waters...smith lake has some more clear waters, perhaps I should start there, or maybe it doesnt matter. 5) Is there anyone in my area to mentor me in these tactics who has already developed confidence and results in my area? That would be a great help to talk or perhaps fish from time to time with such a person obviously to gain an edge! 6) Do I have the time necessary to make this work? I work mon-fri as a clinical pharmacist, and I basically have 2 or at most 4 days per month to fish. I worry that I will committ to it for a few months then give up prematurely - but I guess if there are people in my area that can vouch for the effectiveness as well as Bill Siemantel has, then I will do it. Anyway, it would be a big change and alot for me to learn I am sure. I am only 26 at this point and am very dedicated as much as I can be and I dont want to do this if it will be a big waste of time. Any thoughts, criticisms, suggestions, concerns about my contemplating this change. I dont really care to keep going for keeper size fish or numbers - I hope to from this point on shoot for numbers of big bass. I want my cake and to eat it too - what do you all think. Sorry, I am long winded if you havent noticed yet :-X

Welcome fellow Bamanian - I live in B-ham - I have been on this site for a few months and its been fun - take care!

Hey hey fellow Bamanite Welcome to BR!

You still have not experienced what will hook you for life and turn you into a crazy addict....you first topwater bass - just wait - you will be ruined!! I know I was! Since you mentioned stags and bank fishing - I will say this. When I first started bass fishing 2 years ago - I started on fishing a small river in my area (the cahaba) and its snag city - that can really discourage you starting out. My first two lures I learned to use and gained confidence in were a pop-r and a texas rigged worm - the worm is nice cause it is very difficult to snag mostly - if you fish it in heavy stuff peg the sinker....have fun

But to be fair, I think that this comes up over and over for a reason - based on the assumptions I have mentioned. For people like myself and many others who work full time we may only get out on the water 2 days per month - I think we "go for numbers" - that is use traditional tournament tactics or the usual searching out of active fish that take usual offerings - we do this because it is fun to catch and we fear that going for the big ones will simply mean catching much less in general - amateurs I believe simply do not have confidence to develop tactics to catch size and quality - at least that had been my adversion so far - my mentor/neighbor who I have fished with "goes for numbers" based on these same assumptions - It seems there are people that catch numbers and size, why cant the rest of us do it or at least have that goal? I am willing to change my mindset, invest the time and work, and go for it - I am sure it will pay off - or at least I hope - for us weekend anglers, it is scary to think we will embark on a long course of possibly many days of getting skunked - that confidence hump will be tough to overcome with limited days pheasable to get out on the water....I think that is why it comes up so much....

Thats a really good point for very newb's - when I started I lost a bunch of fish that way - either they jumped at the boat and got slack, or I had grabbed the line or had tight drag and they broke off at the boat! I lost what would have likely been my first 5 lber a year ago right at the boat on a shallow crank bait - I let up for that quick second to lip him, and off he went after shaking his head vigorously - its heartbreaking - keep the pressure on!

Darn it gail, I am with fishingforfun - I am dying - I actually finished the install in totality last night - I actually do not know when I will be able to get out ont he water with it - I am going out of town to visit family this weekend - ahhhhh Gale, your description of your actual on the water experience is exactly what all of us hope for in buying this technology - you are making us salivate Cant wait to get it out there as I have said - even though the boat monkey is off my back, it is still in my mind cause I have not even seen it in action yet >

Yeah, if something isnt working, then I change it up to find what works. Weather it be the spot I am fishing, depth, water clarity, wind protected area vs. a windblown point, flats with submerged grass. I think finding the fish is the hardest part for sure in general! I look for any cues like birds, breaks and other cues for bait fish then key in on that area. It is perfectly possible that the fish were holding a bit deeper staging on those points and the like - I just work the water column till I find them to establish my "milk run" - but sometimes I dont figure them out either so whatcha gonna do

I think your hookset was likely ok, and it sounds like you tried to keep pressure on the fish - but I agree with others - we try to prevent the fish from jumping at all - that can frequently spell disaster - but again, what likely happened was a bit of slack line....on the issue of trailer hooks - it sounds as though your fish was hooked, it just got some slack and jumped which was the primary issue perhaps. A trailer added may not elininate your problem - rather I think that a trailer will help hook up with bass that are short striking the spinner bait....I only put on a trailer when I get those short strikes - sounds like they were all over your bait that day

Makes since - it wont be easy im sure - but I am looking forward to the challenge and possibly the big payoffs