MY TOP TEN CONSIDERATIONS IN BASS CATCHING BIG BASS

1. Choosing The Right Lake

   There have to be catchable numbers of the large bass I want    

        to target.

2. Seasonal Phase Of The Bass

   Winter = Deep (--), Pre-spawn = Mid-Depth (++), Spawn =

   Shallow (++), Post-Spawn = Mid-Depth (-), Summer = Deep (-),

   Fall = Heading Shallow (++)

3. Weather

Stable (++), Warming in Spring (++), Approaching Cold Front

(++), Passing Cold Front (--), Precipitation (+), Cloudy Skies

(++), Clear Skies (-), Windy (+), Calm (-),

Glassy Water (-), Choppy Water (++)

4. Water Temperature

        Below 50F (-), 50F-65F (+), 65F-75F (++), Above 75F (-),

        Warming to 75F (+), Cooling below 75F (-)

5. Water Clarity & Rising or Falling[/b

         Less Than 18 visibility (-), 18 36 visibility (++),        

         more than 36visibility (-), Rising Water (+) Falling Water (-)

6. Cover

    Is the cover mainly vegetation (++), wood (+), rock (+-)

7. Structure (Fishing Pressure Also Dictates)

    Creek Channels , Drop Offs, Points, Flats, Man-Made such as  

       road beds, old bridges, ruins, ect.

8. Strike Zone

       Large for Active fish (+), Small for Inactive Fish (-)

9. Lure Selection

    Speed, Depth, Action, Size

10. Lure Color

        Bright, Natural, Match the Hatch

Note: (+) is positive, (-) is negative, (+-) is neutral

      With more (+) I use a shallower, faster horizontal retrieve

      With more (-) the slower, deeper, more natural color vertical

           retrieve

           Very dark days or night with choppy dirty water I go dark and

            loud baits.

With these considerations I hope to put together a pattern where I put myself in the best possible situation to intercept active fish. Of course I do not write all this down but consider these situations when choosing locations, lures, and style of fishing. With 90% of the fish being caught by 10% of the fishermen, I just want to be part of that 10% of the anglers.

What is your top 10 list?

You forgot a whole lotta luck. And that guy at the crappie house fishing with minnows. ;D

MY TOP TEN CONSIDERATIONS IN BASS CATCHING BIG BASS

1. Choosing The Right Lake OK

There have to be catchable numbers of the large bass I want

      to target.

2. Seasonal Phase Of The Bass ** OK

Winter = Deep (--), **Pre-spawn = Mid-Depth (++), Spawn =

Shallow (++), Post-Spawn = Mid-Depth (-), Summer = Deep (-),

Fall = Heading Shallow (++)

3. Weather **Approaching low pressure with mild rain OK

Stable (++), Warming in Spring (++), Approaching Cold Front

(++), Passing Cold Front (--), Precipitation (+), Cloudy Skies

(++), Clear Skies (-), Windy (+), Calm (-),

Glassy Water (-), Choppy Water (++)

4. Water Temperature ** 50 to 67 OK, not above 68 big bass become very stressed.

      Below 50F (-), 50F-65F (+), 65F-75F (++), Above 75F (-),

      Warming to 75F (+), Cooling below 75F (-)

5. Water Clarity & Rising or Falling[/b **36" or more, big bas are sight feeders, even at night. **Stable water level is best.

      Less Than 18 visibility (-), 18 36 visibility (++),      

      more than 36visibility (-), Rising Water (+) Falling Water (-)

6. Cover

Is the cover mainly vegetation (++), wood (+),( rock) structure element (+-)

7. Structure (Fishing Pressure Also Dictates)

Creek Channels , Drop Offs, Points, Flats, Man-Made such as

      road beds, old bridges, ruins, ect.

8. Strike Zone

      Large for Active fish (+), Small for Inactive Fish (-)

9. Lure Selection **Looks and acts like primary prey

Speed, Depth, Action, Size

10. Lure Color ** natural with contrast

      Bright, Natural, Match the Hatch

Note: (+) is positive, (-) is negative, (+-) is neutral

      With more (+) I use a shallower, faster horizontal retrieve

      With more (-) the slower, deeper, more natural color vertical

           retrieve ** whatever triggers a strike

           Very dark days or night with choppy dirty water I go dark and

            loud baits.

With these considerations I hope to put together a pattern where I put myself in the best possible situation to intercept active fish. Of course I do not write all this down but consider these situations when choosing locations, lures, and style of fishing. With 90% of the fish being caught by 10% of the fishermen, I just want to be part of that 10% of the anglers.

What is your top 10 list?

See commits noted ** or OK, as a few suggestions to your list. I would add to be very quite and hunt for big bass like you would a trophy buck. Most bass fishermen don't fish where big bass live and have little knowledge of big bass behavior; study them.

WRB

If you're in SE Missouri you are already down by a couple lakes in the state capable of turning over a double digit bass.

I have lived in the South East Missouri Region off and on all my life and know of no lakes that produce double digit bass in the area. Please let me know as I will harass the bass.

Good list.

I usually go with the weather first and the moon phases followed by water temperature and water clarity.

I then select my baits and presentations.

After that I just go out and have some fun.  

PM sent.

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Catt, you are so subtle. I thought location was just the three most important things?

:

PM sent.

Send me a PM of these places and the next time I visit my Dad we'll go there.

Edit: I edited your post because cart7t sent you a private message

which indicates to me that he doesn't want this broadcast, but is

willing to share it with you.

I could be wrong, but that the reasoning.

-Kent

No problem, Kent.  Thanks for the heads up.

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I could not agree more, its like duck hunting.  You could have everything right, but if the ducks are landing somewhere else, your luck is 0!  

Secondly, the use of Live Bait (Shiners, Bluegill, etc.)  really tips the scales in the anglers favor. I call it cheating though!