roadwarrior

Well, the bottom line, which has already been mentioned, is that suspending fish in open water are the hardest to catch. I'm not saying that you can't catch them, just that "targeting" them is a long shot. Now, if we include "suspending" fish on structure or cover, that's a differnt ballgame. Those fish are waiting on easy pickin's. Lures fished at the correct depth can efffectively trigger a strike. Crankbaits are one option, vetical jigging (spoons or jigs) is another.

Nope.

Cold water can be tough...Warmer water is usually easier to fish.

All soft plastics are sometimes productive around docks. If the water is generally shallow (<12') I usually fish a weightless presentation (Fat Ika or Senko). If it's deeper, T-rigged (Micro Munch Tackle El Gordo or Mizmo tube, Kut-Tail or Kreature).

So, I was off by 16.7 lbs and two years? Actually I thought, for some reason, that the first and second fish were the same...which might make my guess-timate a little closer. Of course, then you would have to question whether or not I can count to five... Those are great fish. I didn't mean anything by grossly underestimating your catch. (41.7 lbs, if I can add)

Smallmouth bass For numbers, head north. For size, the options are the Cumberland River System and the Tennessee River System. Everyone that knows anything about trophy smallmouth, knows about Dale Hollow. This is the first impoundment on the Cumberland in north central Tennessee and southern Kentucky. This is the home of the World Record and the next largest smallmouth ever caught. I fish the Tennessee River. The tailwaters of Wheeler, Wilson and Pickwick hold the potential for the next World Record. 5 lb smallmouth are special, but not uncommon. In addition to smallmouth, these waters contain a number of other very aggressive species. On a typical day, my partner and I will only catch a combined total of ten to fifteen bronzeback, but we will each catch more than 100 lbs of fish! Our biggest day ever (for numbers) was twenty-five smallmouth, but only three of those were over 5 lbs. Typically we catch two or three big bass. In 2005 we boated a total of fifty smallmouth over 5 lbs. In November 2004 my partner caught the only 10 lb smallmouth I have ever seen. On 1/08/05 I caught seven over 5 lbs. The following Saturday I caught the two in my avatar. What appears to be the smaller fish in this picture was the strongest bass I have ever caught. It weighed just over 7 lbs. The other bass was caught an hour and a half later. Although it was about 4" longer, it was only 1 lb heavier. Note: I don't fish for smallies from the middle of March through most of September, that's striper season for me. With the holidays and cold weather, December is usually a bust, too. Nearly all of my smallmouth are caught in October, November, January and February.

From what I have seen here at BassResource, Stick Marsh with George Welcome can not be beat. Yesterday he took his granddaughter out for a few hours and had five bass before 9:30 AM that looked to me to weigh something north of 20, maybe 25 lbs. That's what I would do.

I was at a seminar in 1997 and met a pro who introduced me to the Senko. Prior to that encounter, I was one of those guys that thought a great day fishing was catching a couple of bass, regardless of the size. That particular moment changed my bass fishing life, this was "THE MOMENT" I started catching big bass on a regular basis. Today is July 13, 2006, nine years later. The Fat Ika is "UNKNOWN". Away from this forum, virtually no one fishes this bait. I have never met anyone not associated with GYCB that has ever heard of the lure, let alone fishes it. This bait may be next year's hot item, but right now it's a sleeper.

George Welcome strikes again. The procedure George posted is not as easy as it looks, or at least not initially. Stick with it and it will become second nature. This technique works most of the time for all fish, but I have found it to be 100% effective for big fish where you have a little more room to work. I'm a guy with ten thumbs, I get five gold stars for replacing a light bulb around my house. Believe me, if I can do it, you can do it.

Hmm... By 9:30 today? George has my best day, everyday.

Wrong... The Fat Ika also looks like a Gitzit, but the action is SIGNIFICATLY different. I fish single tail and double tail Hula Grubs, too. They have SIGNIFICANTLY different action than the Fat Ika.

I want all my bass tail dancing and the bigger they are, the more I enjoy it.

I have been following this story from the get-go. It could have been anything EXCEPTa turtle. Although you will never know, I suspect it was a big catfish. Once they decide to eat something, they don't just "taste" it, hey eat it and move away. However, bass will do the same thing. There is no way of knowing what it was. If I were guessing, I'd bet it was a 22 lb 6 oz largemouth bass!

YankeesWin, Nope...You can't keep the dinks off. With the Fat Ika it's just good luck getting past the smaller fish. I don't fish 5" Senkos, they catch too many fish, I only recommend them to guys that are having a problem catching any bass. For me, it's 6" Senkos only.

Walk the bank and cast parallel to shore, out 5 - 15 yards. Although you are really looking for structure and/or cover, unless you already know the water, fish the entire bank. If the water is relatively shallow (<12'), I suggest fishing a Fat Ika and 5" Senkos, weightless. If you are able to find deeper water, particularly a ledge, pool or steeply sloped point, try a tube, T-rigged.

1/08/05 Smallmouth fishing on the Tennessee River. Fifteen smallmouth, seven over five pounds. Estimated weight of the best five, something just north of 30 lbs. The following Saturday (1/15/05) I caught the two smallies in my avatar. That was a comparable day.

Back to the top line...

I don't like that "double hook-set". Your initial hook-set should penetrate the fish. As she fights, the hook will dig deeper. A second jerk tends to dislodge the hook or increase the size of the hole if it is in soft tissue. Either way, that's not good. Be confident, you already have the fish hooked up.

It's not that difficult... All you need is six numbers and they don't even need to be in any particular order... You can buy them for every Wednesday and Saturday drawing... Good luck!

Well, that's ridiculous. Medium power/ fast action rod Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hooks Dip you rod as you QUICKLY reel up slack Snap-set, hook-set 90%+ hook-up ratio.

I would like to fish the lakes and rivers of the BASS circuit with the best guide on each body of water, a week or two in front of the tour. And, as others have mentioned, Brazil fishing for peacock bass, but they are not really "bass".

I'll bet your fish have never seen a Fat Ika. That's my #1 bait for big bass right now. I think a big part of the success I have been having is that no one else around here fishes this lure or I should say, I have never seen anyone else using a Fat Ika. My best producing pond might be the most heavily fished pond in the region, it's the center piece of a public park. I have been fishing this particular water for five years or so. I rarely see anyone catch anything except bluegill and I have never seen anyone catch a bass over a couple of pounds. My PB (27 1/4") and two other 10+ have come from this pond. I usually catch at least one bass over 5 lbs every week throughout the year and nearly everytime I fish there this time of year. Think about that for a minute. Good luck.

I just got back from a pond I fish regularly. The fishing has been exceptional this year, in both size and numbers. It's close and convenient. There are many attributes to fishing from shore. However, I would never fish this way if I had the option of fishing from a boat on this or any other water. Besides the bugs and the snakes, the narrow selection of usable lures is what I dislike the most. Not counting single hooks, I have lost five lures over the past few years and they were all at this particular pond. Maybe that's no big deal, but it's just irritating. I find myself restricted to soft plastics, topwater and shallow running crannkbaits. There are other lures I enjoy fishing, but really can't from shore. I'm glad you enjoy your pond and I like mine, but I certainly prefer being on the water.

Hmm... Good luck. I fish ponds almost exclusively for largemouth bass. Some are private, but most are heavily fished public park ponds. I see lot of guys fishing heavy equipment, but I never see anyone catching a fish. I hope you have better luck. After you fish it your way a few times, if that doesn't work, then here is another suggestion: I get more bites and catch bigger fish using lighter tackle. I prefer a medium power/ fast action rod, #6 (11.9 lb test) Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft line and soft plastics. Specifically I would recommend the Fat Ika, 6" Senko and Micro Munch Tackle El Gordo tube. Cast parallel to the bank and focus on structure and cover if there is any. A one acre pond is, frankly, too small to hold much and I seriously doubt there are many big bass in that pond. In that water the bass must search the entire pond for food. So, fish every square inch like it is the perfect spot for a monster, you never know where that big fish might be. Regarding the fight: I keep my rod high, at about 11:00, so the rod maintains pressure on the fish. My drag is set light and NEVER adjusted during a fight. I want the bass to jump! Man, that's what I live for. With sinlge hooks bass rarely come free. I've lost a few good bass (mostly on treble hook lures), but I have never lost a monster.

How 'bout being prepared? Bring some gas... Spool up some fresh line... Okay, now this is how it works: Drift with the current, only using your trolling motor to position the boat 20-30 yards off the bank and keeping it straight. Cast to within four or five yards of the shore and fish up stream at no more than a forty-five degree angle, NEVER downstream. If you find a pool or some very interesting structure, anchor down. Position yourself so that you can cast upstream and drift your bait into, over or around your target. River bass always face upstream. If you are fishing for smallmouth, focus on STRUCTURE, not cover. Smallmouth are attracted to rocks, humps, pools and current breaks. Fish in front of and on the outside of eddies, smallmouth are never in slack water if there is an option. Live minnows are the best bait. If you are fishing artificials here are a couple of suggestions: If the current is slow, the Fat Ika is king. Otherwise, 3 1/2" tubes fished with an inserted jig head. C-rigged or split shot lizards are another option. Grubs and Hula Grubs might be the ticket. In low light, Spooks, Sammys and jerk baits will slay them. I like Pointers, Rogues, Husky Jerks and X-raps. Good luck!