Yea, I know, let the fish tell you...

I fish "big" all the time, all seasons,

finesse and power fishing. Not quite

like the big swimbait guys, but comparable

on "normal" baits.

What about you?

8-)

I do both, depending on what "they" are telling me.

Most of the time, they say "go home" ;D

I tend to favor a 5/16oz jig and Flappin Hog (pretty small profile bait) but I throw much bigger baits alot of times too (mostly swimbaits).

I will downsize in a Tourney to get bites and find fish in an area and then work my way up in size.

I basically use a natural colered jig all the time

I start big and go smaller.I don't fish tourneys,so i like to try and catch something for the day.

I've gotten down to 1 1/2" lures before and started getting bites.Talk about being finicky and picky.

I fish larger lures in stained to murky conditions or when its overcast. (I want the fish to see and feel the bait better) I fish larger lures early Fall to beginning of Winter. (baitfish are the largest this time of the year). Early spring through early summer time I scale down unless I am fishing deep. (new hatch small baitfish) or I fish big (if I want to tick off a larger spawning fish) Winter and super clear water I scale down also. (bass are finicky) also post spawn conditions for the same reason. I also fish small if I am fishing a pressured lake or go the opposite direction which ever works.

I fish big baits on the move and if they-er not so aggressive, I slow down. if that doesn't work downsize.I forgot: that Ill switch to different line diameters with the same baits.Like20lb test for crank-in shallow,strength and less action,towards lighter line 12lb deeper with the same crank and more action.Tide directly to the bait no split ring, or and witch ever you prefer.

I don't limit my chances of catching by being size or lure type specific. I try most all presentations suitable for the time of year and location. Then I focus on the best producing presentations after establising a pattern. I usually have 10-20 rigs with various presentations to lessen the time it takes.

Historically for me,, smaller produces larger.

I tend to throw bigger baits than the average angler

I seldom throw a spinner bait or lipless crank under a ½ oz or worms under 7 ½ ; even in tournaments I never target dinks.

I tend to throw bigger baits than the average angler

I seldom throw a spinner bait or lipless crank under a ½ oz or worms under 7 ½ ; even in tournaments I never target dinks.

On a lake the size of Toledo Bend, you enjoy that luxury....

My lakes around here would fit into a creek bend on Toledo.

Ive personally have 9 rigged combos with bait-casting reels 3 spinner bait outfits as well;Tourney rigged and ready weather or not involved in the tourney for the day.Or out just fishing by myself or with friends.Different lines, braids, floral or mono.Just plan ready for what ever mother nature decides to through at me.

My goal is 'always' to catch a trophy-class bass, but the path to that target is rarely the same.

We've all heard the well-worn tune: Let the bass tell you what they want,

but if you're not catching any bass, that advice is of little value.

To keep the line of communication open between bass and angler, I spend most of my day casting lures of average size.

If I were tossing an 8 swimbait all day with little or no action,

I'd feel as though I were closing myself off from valuable feedback.

Once I believe the time is right, I will then upsize my lure.

Oddly enough, the best bass of the day will generally fall for a lure of average size :

Roger

I've caught enough keeper size bass and pickeral on 1/16 oz jigheads with a variety of plastics (2" Senkos, 1.5" to 2" tubes for example) to know it's no fluke. Big fish will hit small baits all year long. The library on this site has several good articles about light fishing, especially the one written by Craig DeFronzo.

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/light_line.html

Well the only thing that I do understand is if you toss a 6-8inch bait your targeting bigger fish,because the smaller fish tend to shy from predator that is out to get them.Yes I do catch small average size fish with the bigger baits, but most unlikely to happen,I know that smaller baits will put together a sack of fish, even some, hardy fish too.But like I said I am here to target bigger fish,and then move on from there.

The only time I don't fish big baits is spawn. Last year I couldn't get a bedding bass to bite or even hang around to look at a big bait. 99% of my bedded bass were on senkos and beaver tail type baits. Baby brush hogs also.

Yup; but I was dropping a sexy swimmer in the beds, and watch out, game on.Drop shot-in a yum money minnow as well.Also take the money minnow and side hook it,shell move for ya.

A lot of variables for me. I'll usually start out fishing bigger, more aggressive lures, like say a bigger buzzbait if it's early morning. If no takers, maybe change to a popper-style bait and fish a little slower, but still a bigger bait. Still no takers, down size to a smaller topwater. As the day progresses, I'll change to other lures like spinnerbaits or crankbaits but again starting out with bigger lures and downsizing if no luck. Same thing with plastics, I'll start out with larger baits and down size to a shakey head or a split shot rig. Then some days I'll stick with larger baits thinking what the heck, I just want to try to catch a big 'un. Then there are days when I'll stick with smaller lures if I'm just looking for numbers. In 2007 I used in-line spinners a bunch. A lot of the fish were smaller but still a fair number of "keeper" size bass, with a ton of bluegill and crappie mixed in. It was one of the most enjoyable years I've had, but after that one year it was back to "regular" baits. The thing is, around here, big fish are a rarity, so it really just depends on what I feel like fishing.

I guess its were your located in the states, when I lived in Indiana,Chicago areas , it is a rarity to see even 3lbers unless the smallies were in site.Small standard baits rule,anything bigger would scare the hell out of them.You would be fishing the big part of the day for 1big bite.This is a half hour trip from down the road at my Dads place.This is a long time ago.

Water Clarity would really answer that question for me. but there are other variables like what kind of bass am I fishing for and how agressive might they be. If they are slashing at baits then a bigger profile doesn't hurt as long as its moving. I like to fish small profile stuff when the bass aren't agressive in clear water...but I don't have to do that often. Lake Tuscaloosa last year was definiately one of those cases.

Mottfia

Most of all my poles are set up with something light, then I'll have one pole set up with something big on it.

I will fish 9inch senkos all day. I usually throw A.C. Plugs in the morning.

Go big or go home. 8-)

My question is do you want to catch quality fish or dinks?