roadwarrior

Oooh Grasshopper, If you want to fight, do not pick the 600 lb gorilla as your opponent.

Doing nothing with your lure. It just sits on the bottom, sometimes completely still, sometimes just moving with the drift of the boat. Either way, the fisherman does nothing but let it sit.

Dark, I always fish dark soft plastics. Some times with red and/or black flakes, but always dark colors.

I have a Secret Pond that hasn't been fished much or at all since it was built around twelve years ago. I fish it for the bass that were originally stocked, the biggest bass in this water. I have had success with a 6" Senko, Ika, Fat Ika and jig with trailer. The first day I fished it I took a friend who caught the biggest largemouth I have ever seen in person. This bass was caught on a 5" Senko, chartreuse with gold flakes. I would suggest you focus on soft plastics and jigs. Fish for big fish, other guys probably aren't.

Although the profile apperars the same as a tube, the fall is totally different. I have fished it with the skirt up (the "correct" way) and with the skirt down with comparable success. I fish it weightless on a Gamakatsu 3/0 EWG. With the skirt at the top (eyelet of the hook), the lure falls away from you. I would decribe the rate of decent as medium, you'll get a better perspective if you work it a little in a swimming pool, although I never seem to catch anything in mine. Another interesting aspect of the lure is it's aerodynamics. You can cast this thing a mile, even against the wind. It's incredible! I fish it just like a Senko: Let is fall to the bottom and sit for awhile. I then move it 6-12" with a horizontal sweep, not a verticle hop, just lifting it off the bottom. After you move the Fat Ika, let it fall on slack line and repeat until you feel you are out of the zone. I get most of my bites on the movement after the lure has sat on the bottom, not on the fall, but that's not always the case. p.s. I caught a 25 lb flathead and a 8 or 9 lb bass on the Fourth of July on a Mizmo tube, black with red flakes, on back to back casts. The bass took the bait while it was lying on the bottom. Now, that doesn't have anything to do with the Fat Ika, but I can assure you, they are a totally different lure even though they may look alike. (See the post "Surprise!" in the Outing section)

Well, I guess I'm willing to pay a little more for innovation. I discovered the Senko at an outdoor show in 1998 and it really kickstarted my renewed interest in bass fishing. I started catching more and bigger bass, it's that simple. I don't fish 5" Senkos anymore because I think they catch too many small bass. Now, that may sound silly, but I'm a recreational fisherman and I target big bass only. The 6" Senko has moved my bass fishing to another level. I mentioned innovation. Does any other lure company make a Fat Ika knockoff? Maybe the general fishing community hasn't really discovered this lure and that's fine with me, maybe I should quit bringing it up. This one lure has produced more 5+ lb bass for me in the last two years than all other lures combined over all the years I have been fishing. Largemouth bass fishing is kinda secondary to me, most of the largemouth I catch are caught on ponds. I primarily fish for smallmouth and this time of year, stripers. As a result I probably only go through a bag or two of Yamamoto products a month. So lets say that's around $14 per month, probably less. Since that's not all I throw, I can't attribute all my fish to GYCB, but most of my 5+ largemouth bass can be. The baits are worth every bit of their cost to me.

For fishing: Gitzits, jigs, grubs, lizards, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, topwater and cranks. For catching: Live minnows on a split shot. Smallmouth fishing in a river is about current and structure. On lakes, structure in and near deeper water.

el_jewapo, Do you think that fish, the new potential record, is a recent plant from breeder stock at the fishery? I don't fish the Red River so I haven't heard this new story before. However, the last year or so all the guides out of Bull Shoals Boatdock have been talking about a world record they have seen and fish for on their own on the White River. I haven't seen it but the general area has been pointed out to me on several trips. The White supports 20+ lb Brown in numbers, I've seen many. Whether they were once stocked or actually born wild I don't know. I haven't caught one (yet) but I know that's possible. 40+? I think that would have to come pretty much full grown from the breeder stock. I guess that still counts.

Well, earthworm77, that's kinda my point, too. The world record brown trout is officially recognized as being caught a few years ago on the Red River near Heber Springs, AR. No one catches 10 lb fish on that river and to my knowledge, no one has ever caught a 20+ lb brown. The story is that a resort development coincidently was having their grand opening a couple of weeks after this 40 lb monster was caught. Would you believe this fish was caught right at or very near the development? Another version of this story that was told to me FIRST HAND, was that a breeder was released in the White River to see if it could survive. Since this fish had NEVER lived in the wild, it didn't go anywhere. The story continues that the fish was electroshocked and mysteriously ended up in the Red River. Here's my point and I think the point earthworm77 is making: You just have to question how a record fish can come from water that doesn't produce NEAR RECORD fish. Dale Hollow produces near record smallmouth bass. As a matter of fact the "official" IFGA record (10 lbs 14 oz) was also caught at Dale Hollow. 11 lb 15 oz? Yes, I think that is probable. I am sure that a 10lb smallmouth could eat two, 1 lb skipjack. So, if you caught that 10 lber at exactly the right moment in time, she would be the new world record!

In order to have a legitimate chance of breaking a world record, the general population of fish in any river or lake must have a base that supports many large fish. Big fish don't just pop out of nowhere. To produce the next world record smallmouth, the water system, be it river or lake, must occasionally produce 10+ lb smallmouth. Dale Hollow certainly qualifies and that would be a good bet. The main reasons smallmouth in the Midsouth grow so big is two fold. Number one, this is the northern most range of the threadfin shad (yellowtail). These fish provide a food source that is enormous. Second, smallmouth in this region of the country never become dormant, they feed all year. Whereas 5 lb smallmouth in northern lakes may be fourteen years old, southern bass only live to be eight or nine years old on average and can grow to 5 lbs in four or five years. The Tennessee River and Pickwick Lake in particular, have the potential of producing a 12 lb smallmouth. My fishing partner caught a 10lb monster in November of '03. If that fish is still alive, it could be the next world record. I hope to find out this fall!

I fish my pool often. I always fish new hard baits in the pool, it's surprising just how many are defective right out of the box. I'm still searching for the right bait. I've fished all hours of the day and even occasionally at night. I still can't get a bite.

Largemouth: Small fish, small schools. Big largemouth are loners. Smallmouth: Same size, year class sometimes school, but bigger bass are usually loners. White bass: Usually in large schools. Kentucky: Often large schools. Stripers: Smaller fish are usually in schools. Big ones scare everything in fresh water, they're usually alone.

As a rule of thumb, hold your breath. When you run out of air, the fish is out, too. Next time you have to wait for your dad or are just waiting to take a picture, leave the fish in the net in the water or put it in your livewell.

I like catching real big fish and lots of 'em. I fish artificials exclusively for largemouth bass. I catch my share and some of them are pretty nice, occasionally huge. I don't know how challenging it is, I mostly fish ponds that hold big bass. That' how I like to fish, I fish where big fish live. So, when I'm fishing on the Tennessee River, whether it's for giant striper or monster smallmouth, I want to catch 'em, all of them. In order to catch lots of big fish it really helps to feed them what they like to eat and they really like minnows! I see lot's of what appear to be very good bass fishermen throwing tubes and jigs all day long. We stop and talk with them everyday. They usually catch one or two, 2 or 3 lb smallmouth. Some of the striper guys catch 8 and 10 lb stripers on sassy shad lures. Everyone's having a good time and I'm not making fun of anyone, it's just not what I do. Live bait? It works for me.

I fish a medium power/ fast action spinning rod becasuse we have big smallmouth here in the Midsouth. Generally I think you'll have more fun fishing a medium light/ fast action rod, it's more fun if you're catching bass under 5 lbs. Line size matters. I recommend 6 lb diameter line, I fish 4 & 6 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid. I fish live shiners on #6 circle hooks on the Tennessee River. On Bull Shoals Lake I fish artificials: Lucky Craft Pointers, Rogues, a Rapala Husky Jerk, baby diaper yellow Gitzits and lizards C-rigged. Probably the most popular baits are grubs. Smallmouth suspend around structure, not cover. Concentrate on structure in or very near deep water. Generally, I would recommend primary points, not coves.

I too prefer fishing from a boat. I fish several very productive ponds from the shore. My main complaint about bank fishing is that the fight is usually so short. Big bass usually head to the middle of the pond once they realize they're hooked. That part is fun! Sometimes they'll make a couple of runs, but they eventually head for the spinach. Once they reach shallow water, largemouth usually give up. Occassionally they will bury up in the vegetation and continue to fight. Sometimes I can get them out, sometimes I have to wade in. Either way, I always land the fish and get it released without harm. The battle is pretty short even with relatively light tackle and truely big bass. The bass just don't have that many options and they seem to tire easily. In big water bass seem to have the upper hand. More options to get away, structure to run to and thick cover to hide in. It seems like big bass in big water know they can escape. I think they fight harder and longer. I like it, I like it a lot!

I have an Ocean Kayak that seats two. I would NOT recommend one to you, especially if you are big or a little less flexible than you use to be (old). First of all, you can't move around at all so I have to go to the bank and just get out occasionally. There's not much room for gear and you have to cast from a rigid seated position that is often at an awkward angle to your target. When you catch a bass you can't move her and you have no leverage sitting right on top of the water. Then when you get it to the boat, especially if it's a big bass, it is VERY hard to get a handle on the fish, even if you have a net. Finally, the kayak is significantly effected by even the slightest bit of wind. You spend a lot of time and effort paddling with one hand and holding your rod in the other, just to make small adjustments in your boat position.

KU_Bassmaster, One of my very favorites! The downside is they are not very durable and you need to test everyone of them before you start really fishing them. BPS is great about exchanging defective lures, don't be shy.

For spinnerbaits and buzzbaits or any single hook lure, you can cross their eyes when your rod loads up. For lures with treble hooks, I don't really set the hook, the hooks set themselves while you're reeling and the fish is fighting. "Setting the hook" often results in pulling them out of the fish's mouth. I also suggest that you NEVER set the hook twice with any lure or bait. Use sharp hooks and the hooks will penetrate the fish, usually by themselves with treble hooks and cetainly on the initial set with a single hook. I've caught too many fish that are barely attached when I get them in. One more "set" and they would have been gone.

I would fish just like you have planned to fish. I fish in the rain often and don't think adjustments are required. If anything, you have more choices since rain usually creates lowlight conditions. Be careful, if it's rain there's no problem, but if it's associated with lightning...Get off the lake!

The pond could have been killed and restocked or more likely, the fish have over populated and are stunted. There may not be any good bass in there. I fish ponds a lot. What I look for is a pond that is at least four or five years old and was initially professionally stocked, privately or by the DOW. I fish some relatively small ponds, but they are still at least five acreas. More water supports more baitfish that can provide a better diet for larger predators. Also, bigger ponds usually have some structure that is totally missing in little ponds. Bottomline: You probably need to find a different pond.

For fun: Jerkbaits For big bass: Soft plastics

I thought I might update this post with the results of my 4 lb experiment. 4 lb diameter Yo-Zuri Hybrid is 8.5 lb breaking strength, 6 = 11.9. I had great success with the 4 lb line. I'm using it exclusively on my main smallmouth rig (G. Loomis PR844S/ Shimano Stella 2500FB). I have also converted to circle hooks only, specifically #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks. For my other spinning rigs, I am spooling 6 lb Hybrid. I predominately fish soft plastics on these rods and the 6 lb line has worked out very well. (Note: I had been using circle hooks on a different rig which is medium power, moderate action. I'm now using them with the PR844S which is medium power/ fast action).

el_jewapo, Ditto, fish don't care.

Largemouth: Six 10s, four from private ponds, one from a public pond and one from big water (Pickwick Lake). All midday, all on 6" Senkos. Smallmouth: Just over 8 lbs, the long one in the avatar. Caught on a live shiner on the Tennessee River below Pickwick Dam (1/15/05). The fat one in the picture was the best fighting fish I have ever caught in freshwater. That fish was just over 7 lbs. I release all my smallmouth, including these two.