Exactly, how does a person catch really big bass?

[Susky River Rat]

@Catt I am not going to keep high jacking this gentlemen’s thread to argue about spending $250 more. Which I never said that was the only model to by. It was a push in the right direct I would go. So if you would like to continue  PM. 

[Catt]

3 hours ago, Darnold335 said:

You are 100% hurting yourself without decent electronics. Get yourself a garmin striker or something comparable in a different brand  for under $1000. Something with side view, 2D, down scan way points. 

 

We ain't high jacking anything.

 

A Helix 5 would be huge compared to what @Darth-Baiter currently has now.

[thediscochef]

12 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Baits/lures are secondary considerations. Much like the lottery...

You gotta be in it to win it.

This right here. Can't catch a bass out of thin air. Gotta be where they are first. Then it's a matter of deciding what type of bait makes the most sense based on location, conditions, and visible forage. I believe that good bass fishing is 90% location based 

9 hours ago, GreenPig said:

I've known a few hunters that shot very nice bucks every year. What I learned from them was find the right area and spent every available moment you can there. My best years for bigger bass were the years I'd go fish every chance I had. 

This is also a thing

My quantity of 5# and up fish has definitely dropped with less time at the lake this year, though I have caught four over 6. Definitely not having the hot streak I had last summer

[Susky River Rat]

@Catt I do not believe a G2 has waypoints. The G3 does. Which a helix 5g3 and a striker cv5 are pretty much at the same price point. They both have gps. If you can’t get back to where you caught the fish it’s pointless. My memory isn’t as good as GPS. Maybe yours is.

 

I am not a pro in hummingbird technology maybe you can educate me if I am correct or not on this?

[Mobasser]

Good electronics can help of course, but folks still need to be able to read the water and understand structure, seasonal movements, forage etc. I personally don't think electronics are a guarantee for a big fish.                                  And the fact that in most lakes, there are way fewer huge bass than smaller ones. We have to put all this together, and still be there when a big bass is ready to strike. That's the challenge here.

[king fisher]

15 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Fish more?

Your PB is 7 pounds.  That is a big bass.  Just keep fishing.  If you want to drive somewhere, Mexico is closer to you than Florida.

[Mike L]

OP

You get the idea

 

Most everyone are saying the same thing..

Fish where they live

Spend the time

Use baits that are proven in your local waters 

Etc

Etc

Point is there is no “Exact” way to Exactly catch a trophy. 

Where’s the fun and challenge in that??

 

 

 

Mike

 

[A-Jay]

See now, all this talk about Big Bass makes me reminisce. 

I was doubtful that achieving my boyhood dream of holding a DD bass could ever be realized unless I changed what I was doing.  So many years later I 'made the commitment' to do 'whatever it takes'. 

As an over the top addicted basshead, there's Nothing, and I mean Nothing Else 

(at least for me) that compares to hooking, fighting, landing, holding & releasing one these beasts. 

I thought I knew what it was going to be like.

I don't think I have ever been so wrong.

If this is important to you and your fishing, make the commitment while you still can,

whatever that might be.

Still no guarantees but at least give yourself a fighting chance.

You'll be glad you did. 

 10 years ago I caught my first DD bass right before sunset. 

It was The only Bite I had ALL DAY.

Big Spinnerbait, slow rolled deep. 

https://youtu.be/YtFl-6Whtfk

Been able to catch a few more since then.

A-Jay

https://youtu.be/UYTzJHDCdMo

 

[Darth-Baiter]

YEa.  I will order a new fish finder.  

 

I fish a off a Hobie, so I tend to stay with Lowrance since the kayak is designed to fit the transducer with zero fanfare.  I will get side scan.  my Hobie can drop the transducer with a pull cord.

 

thanks.  and I was talking to a bunch of boaters about the need for a Hitch Minnow swimbait.  I get it.  go big, to win big.  

[WRB]

Casting big swimbaits from a kayak seems to me very tiring sitting. 7” to 8” Hitch would be my choice.

Clear Hitch spawning the tributaries around the lake with Kelsey and Adobe getting the attention. Hill, Cole, Manning, Robinson, Scott’s, Middle, Clover, Morrison, Schindler and Seigler are all possibilities. 

Just need to do your homework to decide where to spend your time. The creeks have a slough with a point nearby would be my choice.

Tom

 

[Darth-Baiter]

6 minutes ago, WRB said:

Casting big swimbaits from a kayak seems to me very tiring sitting. 7” to 8” Hitch would be my choice.

Clear Hitch spawning the tributaries around the lake with Kelsey and Adobe getting the attention. Hill, Cole, Manning, Robinson, Scott’s, Middle, Clover, Morrison, Schindler and Seigler are all possibilities. 

Just need to do your homework to decide where to spend your time. The creeks have a slough with a point nearby would be my choice.

Tom

 

You just described State park.  Kelsey creek w and offshore point.  Thanks 

[crypt]

as Catt said, time on the water, patience, bigger baits, slow down. Bigger fish don't like to chase baits. Fish where bigger fish live to increase your odds. You don't need every bait made, just a few will do. Bigger soft plastics, jigs, big topwater,shiners work the best. Another person to check out is the late Doug Hannon. He lived to catch bog bass here in Fl. you can find videos on YouTube. Good luck.

[WRB]

It’s a myth big giant bass are lazy and don’t like to chase down prey fish. These big bass didn’t get big being lazy they are more successful and faster then other bass in catching prey. If you ever see a big bass chasing down a fast trout it’s amazing the speed and effort they exert to get it.

Tom

 

[Susky River Rat]

@WRB I have no study of this other then my own eyes but, from what I have seen big predator fish put in little effort for small meals and more effort for big ones. So I agree with you. You drive to a restaurant for a meal. You walk out to the cabinet for a snack.

[Darth-Baiter]

Great.  Now I want a restaurant burger. 

[LrgmouthShad]

4 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Great.  Now I want a restaurant burger. 

You got this, Gordon Ramsey

[Catt]

@Darnold335 my point isn't about which depth finder is better. It's about spending as much of your budget actually fishing. 

 

Perfect example, do you know who Fish Chris Wolfgram is?

 

He was a member here & is probably one of the best Hawg hunters around. His boat is a 14' G3 Vee bottom with an outboard that's under 20 hp I believe. He depth finder is bare basics & according to him it's rarely used. He's thought process is use that budget to be on the water.

 

 

[TnRiver46]

The longer your hook is in the water, the better the odds 

[Glenn]

 

[MassBass]

I have a fishing buddy that years back got big into swim baits. Really big swimbaits. Keep in mind we were fishing in MA not CA or FL. I used to say things like 'what are you gonna catch on that?' After showing me 4lb+ fish on almost every outing, I don't talk anymore. So yes, big baits will help get big bass 

[J.Vincent]

I think some anglers (not necessarily you) assume Florida is just filled with Ten pound bass in every puddle of water...but in my experience that hasn’t been the case, because I have 200+ hours fishing Florida waters, including Lake Tarpon, Lake Seminole, Kissimmee Lake, Lake Toho East, Lake Toho West, Farm Pond 13, Lake Harris, Lake Eustis, Tamiami Canals and various off the map ponds, lakes and roadside canals…and I still have NOT caught a Ten pounder in that state. Obviously they live there and other anglers catch them but it’s not a guaranteed thing. 

[A-Jay]

18 minutes ago, J.Vincent said:

I think some anglers (not necessarily you) assume Florida is just filled with Ten pound bass in every puddle of water...but in my experience that hasn’t been the case, 

I think Mexico has the same reputation.

Just cast anywhere and DD fish are fighting for your bait.

Not really reality.

There may be more big fish, but they are still bass.

A-Jay

[Darth-Baiter]

there is a private lake here with 10lb fish.  lots of them.  I think it is $400 a day to fish there.  

[A-Jay]

53 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

there is a private lake here with 10lb fish.  lots of them.  I think it is $400 a day to fish there.  

If you do get a 10 lb bass,

that's only $40 a pound.

Sounds like a bargain.

A-Jay

 

[gimruis]

57 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

there is a private lake here with 10lb fish.  lots of them.  I think it is $400 a day to fish there.  

 

Not sure about you, but it wouldn't create the same level of personal satisfaction if I had caught a new PB DD bass out of a private pond for 400 bucks.  It would rank on the same level as shooting a buck out of a pen or a rooster at a game farm.  I realize that not everyone feels this way because there are lots of people that are willing to shell out dough for the easy way out.