1. Minnow w ffs

2. Jig

3. Swim baits

4. Nighttime top water

5. Other

 

What is everyone's opinion on best technique to catch trophy bass if you had to pick 1?

Go to Mexico.  

 

like real estate. It’s location x3

7 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Go to Mexico.  

 

like real estate. It’s location x3

Agree location but big would be relative to the location fishing I would think.

33 minutes ago, Craigholland said:

Nighttime top water

 

I'm a top water novice. What should I be throwing and where should I be throwing it for some top tier night time bass?

Sight fishing spawning beds 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

I'm not so sure the technique or presentation is the single biggest factor here.  As previously stated, the body of water and location plays a bigger role.

From the list given, I'd vote Jigs.

Whatever technique will allow you to present a bait to a trophy bass where the bass is at that moment.  The right tool for the job depends on the job.  Using a Musky Jitterbug may work great at night on a shallow weedy pond on a hot summer day in Florida, but will not be the right bait if the large bass are schooled on a ledge on the bottom in  25 feet of water.  Many times a number of techniques could catch the same large bass in a given moment, but only the one you are proficient at will be the one that will work.  Almost all techniques can catch trophy bass, the challenge is determining what technique will work for you on your lake, in the conditions you are fishing in.  

Jig or Texas rig usually gets the job done for me.  Just kinda play around with size and weight and profile until you dial in what they're in the mood for.  I find those almost always are good presentations for big bass.

Keep "the minnow," just FFS 

44 minutes ago, Rucksack said:

 

I'm a top water novice. What should I be throwing and where should I be throwing it for some top tier night time bass?

 The big muskie jitterbug and buzzbait are what most use at night.

@Rucksack  Night time top water outside of a frog has never really done well for me, but night time is the absolute best time to catch big summer bass on my lake.  Swim jigs, grass jigs, and a chop style glide do the most damage here on grass lines in 8-12' fow.  I guess my point is; go fish at night, but try other things other than topwater.

 

scott

A big slow vulnerable Wake bait, during the day or night, would be my #1.

To me it’s not about the bait. It’s where I’m throwing it. And apart from short windows very early and late in the season, my big fish come from deeper water (8-20’). 

For big bass ... Storm Chug Bug and Smithwick Devil's Horse and Berkley Power Worm.

Good Fishing

mid strolling.

Can’t say I’ve ever caught a trophy bass. My bigggest is about 4 pounds. That said out of what you listed I’d say jig. You can up or downsize the presentation. Make it as bulky as ya want.change its ROF. It’s in general a versatile lure for all size bass. 
 

my biggest fish have come off a lightness rig or weightless 5” stick bait worked slow though honestly. They always get bit. Flip into any cover easy. And can be worked multiple ways. 

I am of the rule of thumb that BIG baits catch BIG bass.  But also, TINY baits catch big bass.  The "normal" size baits have never worked for me catching lunkers.

9 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

I am of the rule of thumb that BIG baits catch BIG bass.  But also, TINY baits catch big bass.  The "normal" size baits have never worked for me catching lunkers.

I think @softwateronly said something very similar to this in a different post. How big does a bait have to be and how small does a bait have to be in your experience? 

51 minutes ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

I think @softwateronly said something very similar to this in a different post. How big does a bait have to be and how small does a bait have to be in your experience? 

6" plus and tiny BFS stuff

14 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

6" plus and tiny BFS stuff

You’re going to make me buy more tackle….

15 minutes ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

You’re going to make me buy more tackle….

 

 

Big swimbaits (magdraft, chad shad, and bigger) and tiny stuff like the Megabass Karashi and micro jigs

21 hours ago, Craigholland said:

What is everyone's opinion on best technique to catch trophy bass if you had to pick 1?

 

I caught seven bass 19" or longer this past week. Those are big bass for Maine. I caught three of them at a stream exiting the lake and four of them trolling. Trolling isn't as fun as casting, but your lure is at your target depth 100% of the time. So, it ups your odds.

 

Being quiet also helps me. The three bass that I caught at the stream's headwaters is a tight, shallow area with clear water. I think many anglers would reveal their presence. I caught all three on a wacky worm. There's current there and I correctly guessed that the current would provide enough action to entice a bass. The less I moved, the less likely a bass would realize I was there. So, I cast my worm from a good distance and let the current move it. My challenge was watching the line to see a strike. The worm was moving constantly in the current. I had to differentiate that movement from a bass taking the bait. 

 

I focused on that spot because it's a prime site to ambush prey and bigger bass claim the prime sites.

 

So, basically fish an area likely to hold big bass, don't betray your presence, and keep your lure in the water. I think these matter more than a certain lure. At the very least, this approach works for me...or worked this past week. 

Jig / bladed jig for me. Also landed one on a fluke but that may have just been...a fluke.

 

(I'll show myself out now).