When is a bass lure too big? Not including the giant swimbaits of Cali, but a large lure for catching an average bass in anytown USA. It seems manufacturers are making baits larger, both hard lures and soft plastics. 7" to 12" is becoming more common. I know bass will at times attack prey like a mouse, snake, baby duck, etc., but this seems rare.

My question is, When is a bait so big that it scares off the fish instead of attracting them?

If I was an average bass and saw a 12" bait coming at me I would not think of food, I would head for cover. Your thoughts please.

Big baits = big bass.!!!!!!!!!!

X2 Big baits + Big bass now a 12 " worm isnt gonna catch a average 1-2 lb. fish but you will catch 4+ bass

X2 Big baits + Big bass now a 12 " worm isnt gonna catch a average 1-2 lb. fish but you will catch 4+ bass

I've caught many1-2# bass on 12" worms.

I'm in Eastern Wa and the first thing I plan to through when I get home in about a week is a 12" worm, shortly after that I'll be throwing a 8" Hard Swimbait.  I agree that both these baits will also catch smaller fish, but I believe if I want to entice the biggest bass in my lakes I'll have a good shot with these big baits.

I've caught a bunch of dinks on 16 inch worms.  Bass will eat whatever the heck they think they can fit into their mouth.  Sometimes it borders on sheer stupidity.

With big fish it's more about location and presentation than lure size. Most all of my big fish come on "normal" size baits. Put it were they live.

i catch a lot of little 9in fish on a 6in worm or senko and lots of 7in fish on big deep diver cranks

X2 Big baits + Big bass now a 12 " worm isnt gonna catch a average 1-2 lb. fish but you will catch 4+ bass

I've caught many1-2# bass on 12" worms.

Last weekend I caught a 7" bass on a 10" Rage Tail Thumper. It wasn't one of those "tap-tap-tap" hits, it was one those where they pick it up and start swimming off with it. Since that worm is so big, of course I'm thinking I'm going to set the hook into something huge. The Thumper probably outweighed the bass.

You'd be very surprised what they will try to fit into their mouths, if they can actually get their lips around it at all, then it's fair game. One thing you have to remember about lures of any type is that the larger the bait the easier it can be for the bass to be able to distinguish it as a fake.The flaws in the lures action and the flaws in your presentation will stand out more.This is why you hear a lot about downsizing in clear waters. I believe that is probably why the big swimbait throwers in places like California bash cheap baits .Your throwing a 10-12 inch trout imitation it better look and act real. I think with all of todays luremaking technology constantly advancing that they are able to produce much more lifelike actions finishes etc on baits and are now able to offer them in bigger sizes more akin to what bass,especially large ones,eat on a daily basis.Most all the mainstream baits that have been on shelves for so many years are so small that I think that most people are stuck on the notion that this is the size food that bass prefer.

Just kind of my take on the whole thing. I used to think that so many baits were way to big until I've seen so many ridiculous moments over the years where I've caught little tiny dink bass on absurdly large baits especially plastics. Those lures don't look so big to me now. I'm talking about 1 oz spinners with #6 and 7 blades,7 inch senkos,12-14 inch worms,super spooks or even some of the giant saltwater poppers sold around here,catching 6-7 inch bass on dd-22's. Just a few examples

When is a bass lure too big? Not including the giant swimbaits of Cali, but a large lure for catching an average bass in anytown USA. It seems manufacturers are making baits larger, both hard lures and soft plastics. 7" to 12" is becoming more common. I know bass will at times attack prey like a mouse, snake, baby duck, etc., but this seems rare.

IMO big baits scare far more anglers than fish. The reason manufactures are making bigger baits is because of the demand for them. As far as bass eating larger prey like snakes, birds, rats and so on. It happens much more often than you think it does. No matter where you go across the United States there is large prey. You can say that you that you do not have large bait fish in the waters you fish but I would have to disagree. Take all of the larger prey out of the equation such as gizzard shad, trout, hitch, etc... but the fact still remains that bass still eat other bass.

My question is, When is a bait so big that it scares off the fish instead of attracting them?

Big baits have made up a large portion of my game for the last few years. What I have found true is the exact opposite of what many people think is true. The bigger the bait is, the more drawing power it has. That's not saying your going to get bit more on a 12 in bait. But you will be amazed at the audience you will receive. A bait of this magnitude is great at locating larger fish. Say you pull large fish off of a dock you can go back later and target that fish with what ever method you like. You will really start to get an idea of how the bigger fish are relating to the structure and cover. With this knowledge in combination with a sonar you can make much better presentations to specific locations. Big bass use the same locations over and over.

With big fish it's more about location and presentation than lure size. Most all of my big fish come on "normal" size baits. Put it were they live.

I have to agree that location and presentation are most critical aspects of catching large fish. However I believe size plays a significant roll. I have had days where I catch 2 pounders on a 8in swimbait. Yet I turn around throw a 3in minnow imitation and catch the big girls.

One thing you have to remember about lures of any type is that the larger the bait the easier it can be for the bass to be able to distinguish it as a fake.The flaws in the lures action and the flaws in your presentation will stand out more.This is why you hear a lot about downsizing in clear waters. I believe that is probably why the big swimbait throwers in places like California bash cheap baits .

IMO cheaper baits are bashed because of quality control issues and their lack of capability. If realism was the main issue baits like the slammer or a pink swimbait for that matter would not be looked at as got to have baits in the big bait world. Quality baits are far more versatile and can be fished fast with out rolling to the side or supper slow and still have tail wag. They can be walked, popped 180 deg and the way they fall through the water column is in many cases a presentation in itself. One of the biggest bags I had last year was dead sticking a ROF5 6in weedless hud. It falls horizontally and shimmy's on the way down. I don't think a reaction strike does that.

My question is, When is a bait so big that it scares off the fish instead of attracting them?

No such thing 

I've landed bass with so much worm in their mouth the hook could not penetrate & they couldn't spit it out.

A Jig-N-Craw is well know for catching big bass yet they average 4-6" in length.