Getting Over the Hump.

[The Budget Angler]

I've gotten decent at bass fishing.  I know what lures to use and where bass hang out.  I've caught a couple of decent fish and seen plenty of others.  But somehow, I want to get to a point where I can catch fish over a pound.  The biggest I've caught in the past few months was 1.35 lbs.  Decent fish, but nothing spectacular.  I'm not asking for DDs, but maybe some 3-5 lb fish?  Does anyone here routinely catch LMB that are in that weight range?  If so, what makes the difference?  Any help is appreciated!

[Susky River Rat]

One thing is you need to fish where bigger bass are. That might be one reason.  We there it’s body of water related or structure related. The thing is you found where the smaller bass hang out and how to catch them. Which is great. Now you need to find the bigger ones homes. 

[scaleface]

Fish cover. Get lures in there and fish it thoroughly. There are lures that work well in it. Make good ,quiet presentations. Pitching , underhand roll cast...You might have to use a different weight lure to make those cast.

[Zcoker]

Catch them all the time, 6lbs and up. All about that mindset. It wasn’t until I started thinking big bass that I started catching big bass. 

[Bankbeater]

Can you find any history on the water you are fishing?  Talk to other anglers and find out the sizes they are catching.  If others have caught 5+ pounders out of your lake, then maybe you need to change baits, or presentations.  If 3/4 lb bass are the norm, then you might need to change lakes.

[Mike L]

First you gotta be where they are. 
Fish the most likeliest of spots in the most likeliest of areas in your waters. 

Nobody can tell you where exactly, but one of the most overlooked and unappreciated parts of finding bass is taking the effort to eliminate water first. 
 

Then….,

Look for isolated clumps of anything, lay downs with eddy’s, grass flats, pad fields, submerged grass, thick matted vegetation, different types of vegetation close to each other, diving birds, the popping sound of blue gills picking of bugs on top etc etc etc 

All are high percentage indicators of the greatest possibility of Ma Bass being home. 
And that applies to resident or moving herds. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[F14A-B]

I literally saw Denny Brauer pick a single down fall tree apart over the full course of a day. He caught a limit on that last day and won the Bassmaster Classic because of his determination..

 

Be determined. No matter what. 

[A-Jay]

@The Budget Angler

As mentioned above, there needs to be big bass in the system you're fishing.

If there is not, that's your first move - Move. 

Also if you are, STOP using dink bass baits to get bites.

Clearly, big bass eat small baits but dink bass eat them too.

Perhaps Eliminate the use of neg rigs, anything with the word neko in it as well as 'downsized' stuff.

Fish baits 8 inch bass can't eat.

Replace the above with full sized Jigs with a trailer that's a mouth full, Big Spinnerbaits,  

Swimbaits of at least 5 inches and A-Rigs.

And although I am allergic to them apparently, and might be the only man on the planets that is,

 Full sized Glide baits get big bites for everyone else. 

I think you get the idea.

A 3 inch Senko isn't your friend right here. 

Good Luck

A-Jay

1 hour ago, Zcoker said:

 It wasn’t until I started thinking big bass that I started catching big bass. 

You are fishing is big bass heaven.

Try thinking big bass in northern Vermont and get back to us ~

A-Jay

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

The way I see it is that 90% of quality/large adult Bass take up the best 10% of habitat in a body of water.   If you catch a big fish on a spot, the odds are that you can continue to catch big fish on that spot.   You simply have to fish around enough to build a big enough of a data set to see where the bigger fish are coming from.   At the end of the day, the first priority is to A.) Fish where big fish live, and B.) target those fish in the specific locations they like to be at.   A great place to start is anywhere there is good cover or structure that is near deeper water.    Big fish like to relax in deeper water, and then simply slide up into shallower water near a critical piece of cover/structure like a main lake point to ambush easy meals.  

 

Learning where the biggest forage size and base are within a body of water is extremely advantageous.   For example, target the areas that have the biggest Bream, and Shad.   Gizzard Shad for example like to be in specific locations.   If you find a zone of life that has significant life from other species like Catfish, or Crappie, often times big Bass will be around, or even call that area home.   I've caught many of Catfish within feet of where I ended up catching a huge Bass.  

 

The easiest way to catch big Bass is time on water.   The more time you spend fishing, the more big fish you'll catch.  There is no substitution for learning with a line in the water.   You learn 10x as much on the water, and most importantly your brain retains it vastly better than if you watched it in a video or read it online.   

 

You never want to be comfortable in this sport as long as you're interested in growing and becoming a better angler.     If you're fishing for big Bass, you have to understand there are far less of them than normal and small sized Bass, and you have to be willing to fish for less bites or even be okay with getting skunked in order to explore new areas, and fish baits you've never tried.   When I first got back into the sport, I learned how to always catch at least some fish trolling a finesse chatterbait.   I must have caught hundreds of sub 2lb Bass doing this.   Whenever I thought the bite was slow, I'd just start trolling.   Long story short I never got skunked, but never caught a fish over 5lbs trolling a small bait.    I came to the conclusion that I wasn't out there just to catch Bass, my priority is to just catch fish over 5lbs so if I wasn't going to fish for 5lb Bass I might as well just leave or learn a proper way to catch them.    The comfort of catching easier fish was a huge detriment to the uncomfortable task of trying to catch larger fish.

 

 

[gim]

Shouldn't be that difficult to catch a bass over 1.35 pounds.  I would imagine nearly every body of water that harbors a self reproducing population of bass has a few bigger than that.

[Catt]

Learn what structure is, how to truly identify it, interpret it, and then fish it effectively.

 

Learn what the predominate prey species are in your lake and how that species relates to structure with each season...morning, noon, and night.

 

Learn that next after location is timing; just because you don't get bite does not mean the bass aren't there or you tied on the wrong lure.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

   The comfort of catching easier fish was a huge detriment to the uncomfortable task of trying to catch larger fish.

In a nut shell ~ Well Said.

I fished 8 hours yesterday for one bite

and Never got it.

Catching half a dozen tight eyes wouldn't have made me feel any better or less sore. 

Nature of the game.

👌

A-Jay

[TheSwearingAngler]

How many different bodies of water are you fishing? I’m assuming you’re in the bank? What are your 3 most productive lures? 
 

I’ll give you my guess of how to meet your goals… fish different water, that can mean try new ponds or lakes or get a cheap canoe and get yourself to different parts of your current fishery. 
 

I catch slobs in the little pond 5 minutes from my house.. you’d never guess looking at it how big the fish are but I catch most of them from a canoe targeting areas that nobody else does. I occasionally find them from the bank but I chalk those up to luck and knowing what baits were working the days before out in the canoe.

[king fisher]

If I'm catching only small bass a pound and under, I will try a different location, different depth in the water column, or a different bait.  Most of the time I have the most success changing location.  Big bass may hit a variety of lures, at all positions in the water column, but they can't hit your bait if they are swimming on the other side of the lake.  If I catch one or two baby bass I don't change anything, but if I catch more, with no big ones, I will change something.

[Zcoker]

6 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 

You are fishing is big bass heaven.

Try thinking big bass in northern Vermont and get back to us ~

A-Jay

 

 

Pretty strait forward to fish where they’re at, but I can tell you this: I used to fish the Everglades years ago and only caught small ones and it wasn’t until I changed my mindset that I started catching the bigger ones.  

[Susky River Rat]

There also comes to a head what do you want. Big fish or numbers. They usually do not come the same way.  People catching the biggest fish are putting in a lot of time. 
 

I am by no means a big fish hunter like @A-Jay .

 

Fun and rewards come in many different ways for each of us.  Sure, I want the biggest fish I can get. In that same note I am not going to target only big fish. Fun for me is catching fish enjoying my day and relaxing. 

[WRB]

If you are catching juvenile size bass move. LMB tend to group by size or year class, females being larger size.

You are located in North Carolina good LMB State.

Are you a shore angler? Fishing ponds or a lake?

Tom

 

[A-Jay]

16 minutes ago, Zcoker said:

 

Pretty strait forward to fish where they’re at, but I can tell you this: I used to fish the Everglades years ago and only caught small ones and it wasn’t until I changed my mindset that I started catching the bigger ones.  

You know I get it.

I'm living my own version of the mindset.

Decent chance we both know that the 'mindset' has about 10 layers

and only comes with countless hours on the water.

Even then, there's no guarantee that the light will go on.

Always impressed by the way you go about your business

and the results speak for themselves - 

Haven't even mentioned that it all happens at night which is borderline insane.

A-Jay 

 

 

 

 

[The Budget Angler]

4 hours ago, TheSwearingAngler said:

How many different bodies of water are you fishing? I’m assuming you’re in the bank? What are your 3 most productive lures? 
 

I’ll give you my guess of how to meet your goals… fish different water, that can mean try new ponds or lakes or get a cheap canoe and get yourself to different parts of your current fishery. 
 

I catch slobs in the little pond 5 minutes from my house.. you’d never guess looking at it how big the fish are but I catch most of them from a canoe targeting areas that nobody else does. I occasionally find them from the bank but I chalk those up to luck and knowing what baits were working the days before out in the canoe.

I fish everywhere I can.  I have three ponds near my school (one that supposedly holds bass up to 12 lbs), falls lake, Jordan lake, Shearon-Harris lake, Gaston, a 60 acre lake that shall remain nameless, a friend's farm pond that holds 2 DD bass, a gin-clear pond that holds a fish I guess to be 7-8 lbs (and a giant catfish), and any other spots I can find.  The pond that is most accessible to me as a student doesn't allow boats or wading.  It sucks because there's an entire flat I can't get to as well as one entire side of an island that is inaccessible.  I've seen good fish in there during the spawn (biggest I saw was probably 5) and heard rumors of people catching DDs.

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Are you a shore angler? Fishing ponds or a lake?

Primarily a shore angler.  I have a raft, a belly boat, and a kayak, but I don't get to use them often and I can't catch as much with them.  I fish lakes, ponds, spillways, and anything else.

[WRB]

Thank you👍

primarily fishing from shore and local ponds, time permitting near shore from belly boat or kayak, no sonar.

Don’t know about your tackle ?

The fact you are going to school and focusing on studying (hopefully) fishing time is limited.

Adult size bass make up a smaller % of the population then the bass you are catching, the bigger they the fewer.

My suggestion is focus using 1 rod/reel combo and Texas rigged soft plastics.

T-rig being a 3/0 good quality sharp worm hook and 3/16 oz sliding bullet weight.

Yamamoto 5” Hula grub #221 & #301

Barkley 7 1/2” Power worm Blue flake.

Fish these by fan casting in front of you starting about 3’ away from the bank all the around to 3’ in back of you. 
Start with any point area or near the dam.

Tom

[The Budget Angler]

1 minute ago, WRB said:

Don’t know about your tackle ?

I primarily use a 6' ugly stik baitcaster with a Lew's speed spool (needed a new combo and they didn't have a 6'6" or 7' in my price range).  My top lures are texas-rigged plastics (flukes included), crankbaits, and swimbaits.  Those are my go-tos but I use whopper ploppers, frogs, chatterbaits, jerkbaits, and whatever else the bait monkey made me buy.

 

I try to fish at least once a week but I usually make it out two or three times.  i should also note that most of my water is chocolate milk, so I don't know if water clarity has anything to do with color selection.  The biggest bass I've caught recently was 19.5" and thick with eggs (yes, caught in the spring).  Would it be worth going back to that pond even though it's hard to fish?

I should also add that I have access to a Lew's 7' American Hero if that ups my chances

[WRB]

7’ rod helps casting distance and higher modulus rods helps to detect bottom lure strikes.

You have already met your goal👍

I recommended the 2 lure types to focus on that can be fished anywhere near surface to bottom adjusting retrieve speed. The worm is a bottom contact lure, the hula grubs can be bottom or swim them, easy to carry.

You may have caught a spawn bass, the deeper water nearby will hold that size bass year around.

Tom

PS, you need the 3 wise 🙈 

 

[Swamp Girl]

17 hours ago, TheSwearingAngler said:

I catch most of them from a canoe targeting areas that nobody else does.

 

^This is how I fish too.^

 

23 hours ago, The Budget Angler said:

Does anyone here routinely catch LMB that are in that weight range?

 

Yes, nearly every time I fish. Ask the BR crew if you think I'm exaggerating.

 

Again, I fish from a canoe on less fished water. This morning I carried my canoe through the woods in the dark and carefully down some rocks. Where I launched, the water was so shallow that I had to step into it, so my feet were wet and cold all morning. My fingers were so cold it made it difficult to unhook bass.

 

Such challenges aren't for everyone, but you're young. You're perfect for such challenges.

 

11 hours ago, The Budget Angler said:

The biggest bass I've caught recently was 19.5" and thick with eggs (yes, caught in the spring).  Would it be worth going back to that pond even though it's hard to fish?

 

Yes.

 

I'd also listen the BR brain trust. 

 

To a great extent, I fished three lures this year.

 

In the spring and early summer, I fished an underspin with a Crush City Mayor, pitching into cover. They were tight to cover and I can pitch an underspin anywhere.

 

In the summer, I fished a Dobyn's Beast spinnerbait with a Crush City Mayor. They were both tight to cover and in open water. The spinnerbait works well in both places.

 

This fall, I'm fishing a popper. It works in shallow water, where rotting weeds are an inch below the surface, and also brings up bass that are feeding in deeper water.

 

These are the lures that work in MY water. Find the best lures that work in YOUR water by trial and error. 

 

I had a 70-bass morning and a 75-bass morning and many 40/50/60 bass mornings this year and I rarely catch a 12-inch bass. I'd find a pattern and work that pattern, again by trial and error.

 

Here are a 12-year old's bass that I took fishing this June. I caught lots of similar bass, but I'm proudest of his fish. One morning he caught three four-pounders. I think his top and bottom bass are over five pounds:

 

 

21 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Try thinking big bass in northern Vermont and get back to us

 

Hey, that's my latitude! 

[Functional]

You are around some of the best lakes in the state but I have no idea how they are for shore fishing. This time of year and in stained water I'd be throwing a shad colored double willow (silver) spinnerbait with like a zoom paddle tail fluke on as a trailer. I've had little luck with solid pure white even when my home lake goes to chocolate milk and despite colorado and indiana blades giving off more vibration I've actually had less takers vs the willows. A walking bait like a KVD Sexy Dawg with a white or bone colored belly should do well around this time. 

 

Its been my experience but when I'm hammering small fish its just best to move spots and/or come back and hit it at a different time. Its rare I'll come across a decent sized fish when so many smaller ones are feeding. I'm not talking a far move either, sometimes all it takes is a couple yards down the shore. 

 

As for a rod, if you are looking to upgrade, the ARK Catalyzer is actually a really good value for the cost. I bought one to leave at my in-laws and it hasn't made it out of my boat yet. Also nothing wrong at all with a speed spool (i use several myself). You'll likely come across some good BF deals and pick it up cheaper...think I got mine for like $45 on sale. 

 

 

[J Francho]

On 10/20/2024 at 9:06 AM, The Budget Angler said:

I've gotten decent at bass fishing.  I know what lures to use and where bass hang out.  I've caught a couple of decent fish and seen plenty of others.

 

On 10/20/2024 at 9:06 AM, The Budget Angler said:

Does anyone here routinely catch LMB that are in that weight range?  If so, what makes the difference?

Not thinking I'm decent, and settling on that; not really knowing the whats and wheres. The difference is to keep trying, and keep fishing.  Don't make assumptions, and don't keep doing the same things that catch 1.5 lb. bass.  Big fish are different.  My move is almost always fishing deeper and slower.  It doesn't always work, but if I catch dinks, I know I'm part of the way there.