I went out last saturday, and today. today after a cold front so it was a little slower but still got some fish.

I am catching numerous 4-6 inch bass, and not catching any or only 1-2 bass over 15 inches.

is there anything you guys try to change to catch the bigger bass. im sure there are some bigger bass in with these smaller bass. will a bigger bait help? deeper? anything?

or is it just how fishing goes and there is nothing to do about it?

I know theres no sure fire way to switch from catching small ones to big ones, but i thought maybe you guys had some input that could help me out.

Maybe the bass are overpopulated, and stunted.

what lure are you using? Try using a bigger lure.

The biggest issue is the water you are targeting. Unless there are big fish in the pond, lake or river, you can't catch any!

Some places are known for bigger fish and these give you the best shot at a trophy. If you have a bait shop, Cabela's,

BPS or other sporting goods store, talk with some of the guys that work there, they just might give you a lead.

We are blessed here in the Mid South with lots of opportunity and a wide variety of species. However, even though quite

a few double digits have been caught this year, you can't "expect" to catch one. Your best shot at a monster largemouth

are in the Big Four States plus Mexico. What I think most locals want is just bigger bass than they are catching. Location

is still the key, but using bigger baits may help.

should have put more info,

Im fishing in a local lake, 1000 acres, it is known for good sized bass and i have caught a few over the years around 3-6 pounds. but here lately i have been catching tons of 6 inchers.

I was using a jointed cotton cordell crankbait, pretty slender bait. so maybe i could go up in size some.

I do believe the lake is overpopulated as there are signs stating to please harvast bass under 12 inches. but i know there are large bass in the lake. the local tournament states on their website in order to have a chance at placing in the top ten the limit must be atleast 17 pounds, and atleast 23 pounds to win any money. 23 pounds for five fish is pretty healthy to me.

Location Location Location.

Seeing as the lake produces good limits, if you are only catching dinks it's the wrong place.

Main lake points would be a good place to concentrate effort.

once again i should have added more info. I was fishing main lake points, mainly. tried further back in main coves and didnt get anything. i was fishing about 15 foot from shore and they were all biting either right on top of the grass (coon tail, and just algae) or right outside of it.

should i tie on a deeper diving crank and fish further from shore?

the crank i was using dove around 6 foot, and once i got into deeper water well outside of the weedline i wasnt cathcing anything, would it be better to use a deeper crank out far from the weed line?

So much to learn, so little time to learn it.

You are catching last years spawn, very young juvenile bass. These bass are hungry, very aggressive and easy to catch. The only reason an adult size bass would be in the neighborhood with 6-8" bass would be to target them as prey.

Not knowing where you are fishing, the general location like which state would be helpful. You mention coontail, so that leads me to northern states above the Mason-Dixon line, so your bass could be in pre-spawn or spawn? If that is the case, then target staging female bass in deeper water near the breakline where the bass tend to spawn.

Put away the jointed crankbait that attracts the juvenile bass and pick up your worm/jig rod and start working the deeper breaks. If you are not a slow type of angler, then tie on a deep diving crank like a Norman DD 15 or a lipless crank like Rat-trap and work the 10' to 12' depth zone. Baby bass color comes to mind.

Are shore bound or fishing from a boat?

Tom

Try bigger baits, deeper water and further away from the shoreline, 6-8 inchers are last year´s spawn as WRB mentioned and those are ready to bite anything they can, plus they form large schools and they love to patrol the shallower close to the shoreline area, where you get one there will be a big bunch just waiting for an opportunity to bite.

Bigger, deeper, and slower are the keys to bigger fish.

Bigger, deeper, and slower are the keys to bigger fish.

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Givem something different something the havnt seen a 1000x before. I have been using this new place I found on the internet basskickerbaits.net they got this bass jig made with marabou. We have caught the hell out ofem this year. I think its because its something they havnt seen before. hope this helps.

Bigger, deeper, and slower are the keys to bigger fish.

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With that said, IMHO, Bass will retreat to deeper water ( the deepest water in the area, also called sanctuary) when a cold front moves through, their seeking the safety of deeper water from the changing weather or light.

Check a topo map of the lake and look for a migration rout that leads from deep water to the shallows, i.e. a feeder stream, a wash, or some bottom formation, like a point or bar that the bass use to find their way from deep water all the way to the shallows. The route should have some kind of structure/cover along it, i.e. rocks, wood, weed, man made, etc.

I'm not trying to be smart here, but you don't say how your fishing, on a boat or on foot; or the type of lake (man made reservoir or natural, highland, lowland, or flatland), it matters. From a boat, start working the shallows, then work your way deeper and deeper. They'll be somewhere along this migration route between the deepest water in the area and the shallows.

For some good "old school" reading try Buck Perry

jigs

yeah these guys are right... go a little deeper, and if you have a boat rely on your electronics... it can put you on the fish, and off the points on a dropoff is probably where a lot of the bigger fish are at... if you don't have one get a good quality fish finder...

I'd also go to bigger baits... maybe try a 10" powerworm or a big jig/craw trailer presentation... and if you get low light/cloudy day type situation maybe try a zoom fluke or zara spook top water lure...don't let anyone fool you- the zara spook is a big fish lure- when they are biting on top....

I don't care if the biggest bass in your lake in 2 lbs or 20 lbs. Start with your PB from that lake, and try to beat that. If you shoot for the biggest, you'll catch some bigger ones in the way...

P.S. What JF says has worked out for me very well, although I have only been chasing strictly big ones for less than 2 years.

jigs

Exactly! I'm surprised no one else suggested it. Slow walking a heavy football jig & trailer up - or down - structure, will pay off big time. And, depending your intestinal fortitude and physical determination, tossing a large swimbait (i.e.: Spro BBZ-1) will definitely increase your catch size. However it will also reduce the numbers you can expect to catch as well. Unfortunately for me, this is too strenuous an activity, so I'll stick with my jigs and large plastic baits.

Don't know what lake or any details about the lake you are fishing, but I have run into a similar situation lately. Last week I fished jerkbaits all day around likely prespawn areas covering lots of water and ended up catching lots of smaller bass, especially spotted bass, with no luck on the bigger ones. Went out two days ago and fished creek mouth points and points in the creeks cause the water was too dirty back in the creeks and caught considerably less fish but all of a larger size. I was fishing a 3/4 oz football jig and wasn't trying to cover water like the other day. Even caught a 4lb walleye on the jig. I guess what I'm trying to say is focus harder on high percentage areas and throw something you have confidence catching a big one on. Hope this helps.

3 key thoughts IMO and basically mentioned previously:

1) I am of the opinion that Fast moving baits will catch more fast moving fish and Slow moving baits will catch more slow moving fish... My grandson is young and Fast, I'm old and Slow.

2) Similar theory for using small and large baits.

3) Big fish are normally not with a group of small fish.

www.ragetail.com

thanks for all the tips guys. I will defiantly try moving deeper, and using bigger, slower baits.

As for the questions,

I am boat fishing, i do have a decent depth finder.

the lake is Mozingo in maryville MO

It is 1000 acres, has a creek channel running from the north end to the south end. so it is man made.

Right now during the spawn the bass are in the north end were the sun shines for most of the day. Once the spawn is over the action will increase.

Right now during the spawn the bass are in the north end were the sun shines for most of the day. Once the spawn is over the action will increase.

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Also, follow the creek channel, and look for any feeder streams, or washes,entering the channel. As you probably know, the females will return to deepest water in the area to recuperate from the spawn.

jigs

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