I am new to this site...but have been large/small mouth fishing steady for about 2 years now...I am having trouble catching the larger fish though, particularly larger largemouth bass...I am fishing lakes in upstate New York, and it seems like I limit myself (by habit perhaps) to fishing shallower water casting in towards shore near structure.  Sometimes I will get a nice 3.5/4 pound bass here and there (maybe 2 or 3 a year), and most of the time I'm hitting all smaller bass.  I use alot of soft plastics/senkos/and pig n jigs.  It seems like this year primarily a 2/2.5 pound bass is a rare occurance.   I have also started getting in to some small tournaments but my performance has been sub-par to say the least...I fish hard the whole tournament, and figure no one else could have possibly got anything better, especially considering I am in the general area as other boats.  I get to weigh-in and these guys are pulling out 12-15 lb. bags steady on five fish, while I am sporting the 7/8 lb. bag.  I would appreciate it if I could get some suggestions, or advice on how I could start hooking on to these bigger fish...Thank you!

Welcome aboard!

My #1 suggestion is to get away from the bank. Focus on structure associated with deeper water. Spend some time in the BassResource.com Library ("Fishing Articles" at the top of the page).

If you scan back through the "General" section you will find numerous threads dealing with structure.

Good luck!

8-)

The rest of the guys here are the experts, but I can comment on my own experience.  

Spend a lot of time on quality water.  Use bigger baits.  If you are fishing solely for large fish, don't expect but a few good bites a day maybe, so you have to be ready to do a lot of casting with not much action, so be ready at all times even when you are bored with all that throwing.  Talk to some of the locals who have caught some bigger fish and find out colors, depth, time of day etc.  Keep at it. You will get a big one. I have already caught several and I have been bass fishing less than the two years you mentioned that you have.

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!