i guess im in the minority. unless its a new PB, id rather fight five 4lb'ers on 6lb test than waterski one 6lb'er to the boat with a broomstick and 60lb test for bragging rights. (dont laugh. 6lb is a big fish up my way)

if i want big game i hit the coast.

Ok, so this pretty much sums up the question that I have that I believe keeps people and perhaps including myself from trying something like Bill Siemantel's book offers.  In the above quote there is an assumption that when targeting these big fish, you greatly sacrifice numbers?  If you work at it as the book states, can you not have both and the book simply states that we all simply choose not to.. In the above quote there is the assumption too that these tactics work only in wester clear lakes, but Bill's book specifically refutes that as well - not that I would know personally.   

I will postulate that there are very very few fisherman that actually will really do what it takes to build necessary confidence in throwing these big baits mainly for the reasons discussed above out of these concerns.  I mean, I never see someone on Lay Lake throwing some monster bait (although they may exist?).....perhaps we all are just stubborn to learn a new/unconventional tactic in the face of years and years of dogma?  If these big bait guys are getting quality and quantity, then I am game for investing some serious time in trying it - I am gonna keep researching this and seriously do it.

How about, numbers of BIG bass.

Roger

I am a newb, and this is my goal....There is also an assumption that I must learn the traditional tactics to produce numbers before graduating to the big ones....I wonder how true this really is? (and it may be abolutely true for all I know).  In light of Bill's book, its not all that complicated, but would require real dedication, hard work, and time on the water - I may skip the next 3 years of catching dinks If I find that these methods truly work as his book alludes to

Numbers this year,  :)I have to justify the cost of all my new equipment this year!

Anybody know if books a million might have a copy of bill siemantles book? I could get it online but I'm all about instant gratification

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've got

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've got

That is what I am afraid of - I am going for the big uns here soon - and I am gonna go for numbers of big uns - I am only 26 so I have plenty of time to figure the monsters out.

Anybody know if books a million might have a copy of bill siemantles book? I could get it online but I'm all about instant gratification

Actually bought my copie at books a million in hoover - but it isnt there anymore since I bought it - you will find a very limited selection of good fishing books at either books a million or barnes and nobles - you may very well have to order it online - that or call a few places and ask them over the phone - btw - I am totally like you in that I like the instant gratification as well

I know for a fact that a number of the stores nearby do not have the book mentioned earlier by Bill Murphy - I would have noticed and bought it.

I am a newb, and this is my goal....There is also an assumption that I must learn the traditional tactics to produce numbers before graduating to the big ones....I wonder how true this really is? (and it may be abolutely true for all I know). In light of Bill's book, its not all that complicated, but would require real dedication, hard work, and time on the water - I may skip the next 3 years of catching dinks If I find that these methods truly work as his book alludes to Smiley

You have the dedication, hard work and time on the water part right. Experience is the cornerstone.

By saying traditional tactics I am thinking you mean lures. Are jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and so on... not big fish baits? I think you are seeing this in the wrong light. Lures are TOOLS much like a mechanic has different tools for different applications.

Location, Location, Location...There are certain places big fish relate to. If I asked you to find me someone who is rich and you do not know the area, the most logical place to search is where rich people live. In prime locations, on top of a hill, the beach, a river front etc... you may find someone who is rich in the ghetto but the chances are not as great. So by eliminating transitional areas and focusing on prime locations (points,humps,ridges and creek channels) you drastically increase your chances of a big fish.

Last but not least is presentation- Boat position, fishing up hill, directional changes, cadence and where are the fish active in the water column top, middle, bottom. Then make the proper Tool/bait selection for the application.

Anybody know if books a million might have a copy of bill siemantles book? I could get it online but I'm all about instant gratification

Good things come to those who wait

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=big+bass+zone&x

I am a newb, and this is my goal....There is also an assumption that I must learn the traditional tactics to produce numbers before graduating to the big ones....I wonder how true this really is? (and it may be abolutely true for all I know). In light of Bill's book, its not all that complicated, but would require real dedication, hard work, and time on the water - I may skip the next 3 years of catching dinks If I find that these methods truly work as his book alludes to Smiley

You have the dedication, hard work and time on the water part right. Experience is the cornerstone.

By saying traditional tactics I am thinking you mean lures. Are jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and so on... not big fish baits? I think you are seeing this in the wrong light. Lures are TOOLS much like a mechanic has different tools for different applications.

Location, Location, Location...There are certain places big fish relate to. If I asked you to find me someone who is rich and you do not know the area, the most logical place to search is where rich people live. In prime locations, on top of a hill, the beach, a river front etc... you may find someone who is rich in the ghetto but the chances are not as great. So by eliminating transitional areas and focusing on prime locations (points,humps,ridges and creek channels) you drastically increase your chances of a big fish.

Last but not least is presentation- Boat position, fishing up hill, directional changes, cadence and where are the fish active in the water column top, middle, bottom. Then make the proper Tool/bait selection for the application.

When I meant skipping "traditional" tactics, I mean using the "traditional" baits used by tournament style anglers - mainly in search of keeper size fish and numbers of fish.  Bill's book certainly emphasizes location, but what it does not do really was make a huge distinction about big bass locations vs. 2 lber locations - as you stated it pretty much could be many of the common hot spots, humps, ledges, creek channels, points, flats....on the note of location I will add this paraphrase from his book as well - I cannot recall the percentage he quoted, but he had stated a large majority of big fish he catches are in 10 or less feet of water as they are generally up there chasing baitfish into the banks etc.....he still stongly advocates fising deep on structure too - just thought his statistic was interesting as there are people that believe that the best bang for the big ones is from deep fishing primarily - I am quoting bill siemantels words keep in mind so dont attack me

What I was asking was perhaps I will skip continuing to use "traditional" lures and presentations and rather try the big bait finess tactics discussed in Bill's book.  Most anglers feel there is a progression to learning fishing - first learn to catch numbers, then go for size.  I am just contemplating on skipping ahead to size and with time size and numbers perhaps

The "jump" is all about patience...Are you willing

to go hours on end without catching a fish? Most

of the "big bass guys" it seems, have simply caught

their fill of smaller bass. As Fish Chris has often

stated, "Not catching a fish doesn't bother me,

it's simply a part of the time spent working for

the big bite."

8-)

I have a great 100+ acre farm pond in Kentucky that offers great numbers and great numbers of big fish.  I mainly fish a few spots throughout the whole year, where water drains in from other lakes in the area.  The first big fish we caught was on a white grub on a spinner.  It was a little over 6lbs.  After that, I only fished spinners, year round, and have caught fish hovering a bit over 10lbs.  I have tried big baits, and other types of spinners, cranks, soft plastics, everything I have in my tackle box.  The best numbers and the biggest fish come from a white grub on a jig head and a spinner attached.   

This year I am going to try to get numbers of big fish in big lakes.  I am fishing several tournaments this year and want to do as good as I can...So numbers of big fish is what I am after this year.

I have a great 100+ acre farm pond in Kentucky that offers great numbers and great numbers of big fish. I mainly fish a few spots throughout the whole year, where water drains in from other lakes in the area. The first big fish we caught was on a white grub on a spinner. It was a little over 6lbs. After that, I only fished spinners, year round, and have caught fish hovering a bit over 10lbs. I have tried big baits, and other types of spinners, cranks, soft plastics, everything I have in my tackle box. The best numbers and the biggest fish come from a white grub on a jig head and a spinner attached.

This year I am going to try to get numbers of big fish in big lakes. I am fishing several tournaments this year and want to do as good as I can...So numbers of big fish is what I am after this year.

Oh yeah, sweet - hope it works out for you!!

The "jump" is all about patience...Are you willing

to go hours on end without catching a fish? Most

of the "big bass guys" it seems, have simply caught

their fill of smaller bass. As Fish Chris has often

stated, "Not catching a fish doesn't bother me,

it's simply a part of the time spent working for

the big bite."

8-)

Makes since - it wont be easy im sure - but I am looking forward to the challenge and possibly the big payoffs

Omg who keeps asking this numbers or size questions GO FOR BOTH lol

Omg who keeps asking this numbers or size questions GO FOR BOTH lol

But to be fair, I think that this comes up over and over for a reason - based on the assumptions I have mentioned.  For people like myself and many others who work full time we may only get out on the water 2 days per month - I think we "go for numbers" - that is use traditional tournament tactics or the usual searching out of active fish that take usual offerings - we do this because it is fun to catch and we fear that going for the big ones will simply mean catching much less in general - amateurs I believe simply do not have confidence to develop tactics to catch size and quality - at least that had been my adversion so far - my mentor/neighbor who I have fished with "goes for numbers" based on these same assumptions -

It seems there are people that catch numbers and size, why cant the rest of us do it or at least have that goal?  I am willing to change my mindset, invest the time and work, and go for it - I am sure it will pay off - or at least I hope - for us weekend anglers, it is scary to think we will embark on a long course of possibly many days of getting skunked - that confidence hump will be tough to overcome with limited days pheasable to get out on the water....I think that is why it comes up so much....

At the moment, I want numbers.  Over the past few seasons I have not fished nearly as often as I would like.  And to make matters worse, I got skunked a fair number of those times, so I'm just looking to get bit.

After I get to a point where I can consistently catch fish, then I'll start looking for the "big" bite.  Until then, I'll settle for any bite.   

I vote GO BIG!

Nice Fish!!! Im interested in what everyone has to say as well.