Conference wahoo::fishing

    It depends on who you listen to. Some pro's swear that the bigger the
    bait, ( large spinner baits, top water plugs, Zara spook 6" Rapala's) 
    tend to attract larger bass. Other pro's have kept records and say that
    a pig&jig and large worms 8"+ yield the larger size bass. I was just 
    reading in a book last night ( Roland Martin's 101 ways to catch bass)
    that he gets his largest average fish when he's flipping. He use's
    jig&pig's,large worms, and Johnson spoons with a pork trailer or a worm
    for all his flipping. The rational behind his theory is that big fish
    tend to get back in the thick stuff and have to be teased or angered
    to strike. Another theory is that large bass are rather lethargic
    and would rather work for one large meal than have to chase around to
    fufill their hunger. When is the best times to catch large bass? This
    is another debateable subject. Some people tend to believe that larger
    bass are caught during the spring. This is a time when they are
    spawning and are more adept to come into the shallows from their
    deep water sanctuarys. I watched a tape (courtesy of Don Mac) by Doug
    Hannon and his philosophy is that large bass are caught during the 
    late spring and summer month's . He is very meticulous about keeping 
    records and tracked his big bass catches ( over 400 at 10lbs plus)
    and graphed them against the seasons, it was very enlightening. The 
    largest quantity of his big bass were caught during the summer months.
    He also noted that the World record Largemouth was caught in June
    (22 lbs 4 oz's at Lake Montgomery Georgia June 2 1932) and the World record
    Smallmouth was caught in July (11 lbs 15 oz's at Dale Hollow Lake
    Kentucky July 9th 1955). But let's face it a Hawg is a Hawg no matter
    when we catch him. I saw a picture of Easter's Haaaawg!! It's really
    depressing.   
       

    	Don't know about lure size.  I do know that you can oversize lures
    in CLEAR water.  If the water is clear, down-size the lures slightly to
    give the fish less to home in on as being fake.  Also, if you are
    fishing a lake that has trout and salmonoid types, Long "A"s, 14-17 cm
    Rapalas, etc. (will let you know how the stretch 1-Minus works later
    this summer) work well.  If it is a trout lake with Bass or Pike,
    expect the bass to suspend near the EASIER food source, the trout. 
    ERGO: DEEP WATER (California lakes type fishing).
    	Other than that, I will just repeat Doug Hannon's quote on the
    Sportsman's Challenge show and in the In Fisherman Magazine.  "If you
    are catching a bunch of small bass, look for the BEST cover of the type
    you are fishing within an area that is SHALLOWER!  Almost ALL big bass
    (Excess of 15 pounds) have come from less than 8 feet of water."  So,
    and I agree, COVER and STRUCTURE are more important than lure size. 
    However, too small and you get harassed by little fish.  BUT, a 24 inch
    Pike on 4 pound test line and a 1/32 ounce Crappie jig is FUN, too. :-) 
    So, to a degree, lure size will have some effect on fish size and
    number of fish caught.  However, I think (personal opinion here) that
    location and fishing pressure has more to do with the size of fish
    caught than lure size. 

    I believe big lures catch big fish.  I've caught my two largest bass 
    (7lbs 12oz and 7lbs 8oz) on a large plastic worm - 8" Gillraker.
    
    I got my first big fish (6lb13oz mounted) on a large noisy topwater at
    night - have got a few others over 5 the same way.
    
    When the water is cold early and late in the year a large pig-n-jig has
    also broken the 5lb mark for me a couple times.
    
    donmac - who still hasn't caught a smallie over 5lbs......8^(

     I don't think the big lure credo hols true for smallmouths. I also
    believe that bigger plugs generally only make sense at night or REAL
    (!!) deep. I'll bet that 90+ % of the time you pitch a plug in New
    England, you'd be better off with a 1/4 or 3/8 oz. lure.
    
     However, with worms, it's kinda a different story. If you wanna ony
    concentrate on big bass when you're wormin', stick a 5/0 hook in a 7 or
    8 inch worm. Given the amount of relatively clear water we fish, you
    STILL might be better off overall with a 6" worm, though.
    
     I agree with Wayne - pick out some cover that's your worst nightmare
    and fish it with the big stuff, especially worms. Otherwise, you'll
    spend a lot of dead time swimmin' an 8" worm. To be honest, you
    probably only need one big plug - a "Muskie Jitterbug" - and fish it
    LATE at night. Other than that, I'd put the big plugs away and just go
    bassin' .
    
    --The Skoal Bandit (now available on ASABET::VARLEY)

    Bigger baits tend to catch bigger fish on average. Funny though
    all my 10+ pounders have fallen for small spinners and spoons.
    Oh well, the lighter the tackle the merrier to play bigger fish!
    
    According to statistics most 20+ pound northerns have been caught
    on six to ten inch wobblers/crankbaits. On the other hand, most
    big salmon/trout are caught on small crankbaits/spoons/flies.
    Explain that...
    
    Eki
    

    	I was told by a guy that ran a bait shop one time that the idea of
    BIG bait for BIG fish was based on the conclusion that if you are out
    fishing for a trophy fish only, you don't want to waste your time taking
    bluegills, perch or even smaller gamefish off of your hook. BIG bait 
    just discouraged these smaller fish from biting. Other than that the
    size of the bait didn't make much difference. So, whadda ya think, does
    this make sense?
    
    Barry
    
    

    .6
    
    I don't know about that.  I have had some pretty small fish hit my
    larger crankbaits.  In fact I have it on video a small mouth that I
    landed that was smaller than my bait.  How he got hooked and how he
    planned to eat something bigger than his mouth is beyond me.  I also
    have had so many perch hit large crankbait (rebel minnow type) that
    were also larger than their mouths.  Speaking of perch my brother and I
    was talking about a phenomenon we ran across fishing in Maine.  We
    found that from 6-8 AM we caught tons and tons of perch then suddenly at
    some magical point it switched over to bass.  The location was a rocky
    cove, big boulders,  12-15 foot depth with some underwater grass. This
    happened consistently for the three days we fished.  Has anyone else
    found this?  (not to get of the subject)  
    
    the Bassassin

re: -1

	Maybe catching all the perch caused the bass to come.  They might
have felt the vibrations of the struggling perch.

just a guess
Mike

I seem to get all ranges of bass sizes on a jitterbug at night.  The 3" bass
hit the 3" jitterbug with a vengance.  Unfortunately, they get foul-hooked most
of the time and their chances of survival are thin.  Big baits catch all fish
in my opinion.  Lure types seem to be a bit fussier.  Little fish ignore pig-
and-jigs but love those rooster tails (as do the bigger fish).  I've had little
fish chase spinnerbaits and hit them repeatedly without a hookup.  I think there
are too many variables to say for sure, but bigger baits in general will catch
bigger fish.


Tim

    Tim mentioned catching 3" bass on jitterbugs at night.  More than once
    I've caught bluegills on big jitterbugs at night.  I recall catching a
    few pretty good sized bluegills that I had expected to be bass judging 
    from the sound they made attacking the surface and by the fight they put 
    up...
    
    My biggest smallie(4lbs 8oz) and one other that was around 4lbs were 
    caught on a fairly large rapala, a 13s (~5").  I've caught a couple 
    others in the 4lb range on my 8" worm while fishing for largemouth in 
    areas where both small and largemouth were present.  
    
    However, I'm convinced a grub or gitzit will catch real big smallies,
    as well as a jig-n-pig.   I lost what was probably my biggest smallie
    ever (and may have broken the 5lb mark) while fishing a grub on an
    ultralight w/ 4lb test.  
     
    donmac - all this talk is getting me wondering if the launch ramps to
    the merrimack are clear...

    one more thing about big lure / big fish in general...
    
    A couple of folks have mentioned doug hannon... he's obviously one of
    the best big bass experts there is and he believes big lures catch bug
    fish... I believe the rationale he applies that in general bass are
    lazy...  big bass are going to expend as little energy as possible in
    obtaining an adequate diet...  it's more efficient for the big bass to
    chase one large prey one time than to chase around alot of smaller pray
    a buch of times...  so therefore the really big bass may ignore the
    small prey and wait for the larger prey to come along...
    
    donmac

    	If you believe that small fish won't hit big baits ask Don Mac
    about the Bluegill (he THREATENED to nickname me KIBBIE HUNTER) I
    caught on the torpedo on the Merrimac with him last year.  The major
    difference about the SIZE of fish being caught is LOCATION first, size
    second.  I don't TOTALLY discount size as a detrimental quality to
    larger fish.  However, it DEFINITELY comes in second to location.  (Why
    else would I throw a 5/8 oz. Roland Martin Big Bass spinnerbait most of
    the time with a #7 willowleaf blade?????)  Topwater baits tend to have
    the entire range of fish hit them.  I have caught bass on Zara spooks
    that were smaller than the Spook.  Fishing tighter into the cover and
    in shallower water, usually got bigger fish.  So, I don't disregard
    bigger baits, I just usually tend to personally fish cover type more
    than lure type.  However, I have caught 6 inch bass on the 5/8 oz.
    spinnerbaits, too.  THEN, there is ALWAYS Northern Pike
    non-predictability.  (EXAMPLE: having a 24 inch Pike hit a pig-n-jig
    AFTER just watching him eat a 14 inch bass.)  So, lure selection and
    location tend to have more impact on fish size than lure size.  IMHO

    Well, I don't have enough experience to add much to this conversation,
    but, like Donmac, I too hooked (and lost) my largest smallie on a grub,
    and the one of the smallest bass I ever caught was hardly bigger than
    the Zara Spook he hit.
    
    I seem to remember reading a Doug Hannon article on catching big bass
    that said that *smaller* baits (and shallower water) were the thing for 
    big bass... I'll check again though.
    
    Ed
    

    I found the article I was looking for in a recent issue of
    In-Fisherman. 
    
    Hannon says that many big bass are to be found in shallow flats rahter
    than in deep water, and as far as artificial lures go, smaller is often
    better, because it is harder for the wily big bass to determine that
    it's fake. Conversely, he says that with live bait bigger is definitely
    better, and says his favorite is 11" shiners. He calls it a "larger
    slice of reality." I've caught smaller bass than that! He also says that 
    long thin artificials are better for big bass than short fat ones. He
    favors Rapala/Rebel type minnows and plastic worms.
    
    Ed

    
    In my opinion, knowing that a lake, pond, river or whatever you are
    fishing produces good quality fish. I believe that even if you are
    catching smaller fish, lets say 1-3 lbers, if these fish are very
    healthy looking and seem strong and fat, chances are thier is a very
    good food source and that means thier are probably trophy size bass in
    that body of water. 
    
    Lets say the body you are fishing is heavly fished or thier is always 
    water skiers or just a lot of commotion going on all day(usually
    weekends) then try and get out during the week while its quiet. As in
    what we read and experiment with, we know that big fish are usually
    predictable, although we don't always catch them because that thier
    just isn't as many of them out thier. but if we try and learn and think 
    how they get big you might have better luck catching them.Example in
    that same heavly presured body of water, big fish have to eat sometimes
    and chances are they are feeding in the shallows at night near thier
    favorate hiding spots during the day( most likly away from lots of
    commotion ) maybe some hidden under water structure near or in deep
    water. also to consistently catch big fish, you must think big all of
    the time and you must fish as much as humanly possible or (what your
    wife allows you to do). the more time on the water = more fish.
    
    I would suggest that you fish unpressured bodys of water, like your
    local rivers. they don't have to be big(merrimuck,connecut, whatever).
    you will be surprized at how much stronger river fish are. In the last
    couple of years i started fishing slow moving rivers and am extremly
    surprized at the quality fish that our local rivers produce, although i
    havn't caught any big ones yet, but i have been with guys who have
    caught them over 6 lbs and one friend of mine claims he has caught one
    in the same river i fish over 9 lbs. (in mass) all released of course.
     NO I WILL NOT TELL YOU WHAT RIVER I FISH!!!!!
    look for rivers that are usually dammed at one end and you will
    probably find at that end of the river that the water will have no
    current and fishes more like a pond.
    
    You might also try and fish very small bodys of water, like farm ponds
    and the like. Places that are inaccesible to rangers and other big
    boats. I have a 16 ft boat and a canoe and i catch more fish out of the
    canoe every time. plus its more enjoyable to be on a small pond just
    relaxing and knowing that i am not competing with 20 other boats on the
    lake. don't get me wrong i like to fish out of my bigger boat also, but
    i use it more in big waters (v hull boat). Usually in quabbin, but this
    year i plan on using it in maine.
    
    well i hope that this helps you catch that trophy fish that you are
    searching for and the best part in catching good fish is catching them
    with someone that cares.
    
    good luck,( knees shaking, palms sweating ) mark 

    I too have been on the lookout for Doug's view since our last postings...  
    A recent article (in BASS Times I think) stated that him, along with 
    other big fish experts all agree that big lures catch big fish.   
    
    Then, on this week's Sportsman's Challenge (Saturday am on ESPN, where 
    he is a weekly regular this season) he said that during mid-day under 
    high-light conditions smaller lures work well, and that at night and 
    low-light conditions larger baits work well.  He also stated that a 
    large jig with a trailer is a large silhouette that is always good.
    
    donmac

    My daughter bought me one of Hannon's books for Xmas. My take on what he
    is saying is that in clear water and high light conditions the bass are
    feeding on sight more than sound. At night and on cloudy days the larger
    lure works better due to sound. Also the bass in clear water, during 
    high light can see the bait much better.  
    
    My view from down under.
    
    Ed

    
    	Big Lures do catch Bigger fish. I friend of mine is going to
    Lake Okeechobee next week. A friend of his is going to be his
    guide. This Friend just happens to be from Marlboro MA. and is
    now fishing the B.A.S.S. pro tournament trail. His friend Danny
    told him to bring a rod you use for deep sea fishing and put
    35 to 40 pound line on it. Apparently he knows a smaller lake
    near Okeechobee where they have been catching 10 - 12 pounders
    on 9" shiners consistently. My friend has caught a 8 pound 2
    onze Bass before that he had mounted. He is hoping to top that
    next week and have that mounted.
    
    /Ron

    Howdy,
    
    Re: .5  And just where do you live good buddy that produces such
    nice big 'ol bassies?  Up here a big fish at a tourney would be
    anything over a real five pounds and a seven pound biglip gets you
    in all the local papers.  
    
    Re: .0  Sounds a bit like there is an echo chamber in here but I've
    had a lot of small fish bust a big lure too.  It usually depends
    on the conditions as stated in previous replies.  At times, I too
    have been surprised at the size of the fish that inhale my little
    offerings tossed from an ultra-lite spinnin' outfit while fishin'
    for Black Crappies (Croppies) in the early part of the year.  
    
    	One of my best lures in the last two seasons has been the "new?"
    deep divers that probe the depths at 15' to 20+' range.  There are
    more or less untapped fish at these depths in almost all of the
    lakes I fish up here in Canada and these rattlin' crankers do a
    fine job of bringing out the aggressive nature of a mature bucketmouth.
    It took me quite awhile to get the nerve up to toss a B.B.S.B. that
    my hero Roland Martin had been touting because I found it intimidating
    because for 9/10's of my fishin' life I've used small to almost
    medium (3/8oz.) lures.  However it didn't take more than three hours
    of heavy duty field testin on one of my favorite lakes to get hooked
    on this Dirty, Dirty chunk of heavy metal.  
    	All in all, a smaller lure, day in and day out, will catch more
    fish in general.  BUT if you really want bigger fish, the LargeBait
    =Largefish story is as true as the day is long.  Keep in mind you
    won't catch quite as many fish but that is a small price to pay
    for those big pigs we read about out there.
    	The weather up here has turned real mild and we are all expecting
    an EARLY spring.  Last night I spent four hours workin' on tackle
    an singin' my favorite fishin' song that goes like this: A bassin'
    we will go, a bassin' we will go.  High ho the merry O, a bassin'
    we will go.
    
    	Hope you hang a pile of hogs this year folks.
    
    Chow 4 now
    
    ::Larry::
    

>>    Re: .5  And just where do you live good buddy that produces such
>>    nice big 'ol bassies?  Up here a big fish at a tourney would be
    
    Larry, I believe this gentleman is from the UK and is not referring 
    to the freshwater black bass family.
    
    donmac

    I have tried switching to big rubber worms 9-10".  I usually rig them
    texas style but have noticed a lot of short strikes.
    
    Do you think the short strikes are small fish or should I rig a trailer
    hook.  If so how, without getting the worm kinked or the hooks twisted
    so they start spinning the worms around.
    
    Also stay away from the Mann's paddle tails that are multi colored Ie
    the worm body is grape but the tail florescent red.  I find that they
    are molded two piece and the paddle part pops right off with any
    pressure.
    
    Brian

     You're getting short strikes. Don't know about multiple hook rigs.
    BTW, have you tried the 9" black pork rind eel ? That may be the best
    big fish lure yet - compared to big worms (like the DeLong worm, etc.).
    You might also want to try big (7") lizards, or Muskie size Jitterbugs
    at night.
    
    --Bandito

    I've toyed with the idea of using a spinnerbait trailer hook and double
    texasrigging large worms (I use 8"), but I haven't tried it yet.  It
    would probably decrease the action.  
    
    donmac 

    This weekend, in the famous Spencer weed beds, a buddy of mine was
    getting short strikes on a 9"worm, he used the multiple hook method
    3 hooks, 1/0 I believe, on the head of the worm had a spinner hooked
    up for some flash,  I think he was getting a little desperate. well 
    anyways, I gave him a jab for having a funny lure, but on his first
    cast BAM a nice 2 lber.  He ended up catching 2 more in the next hour
    on it, I only boated one in that time but had several short hits.
     I have put rubber skirts on the head of salt worms the action in the
    water is great but it hasn't been successful enough to say it maters.
    I got the idea from "T" LURES at the Centrum.  The lady swore by them,
    Good sales pitch I guess!!!   
    
    Try experimenting with any idea,  remember areas with heavy fishing
    pressure slows down for several reasons, one is that the fish have seen
    some of the tricks before
    
    Good Fishin'
    Les

    Back to the original question
    
              BIG LURES = BIG BASS
    
       FYI   The biggest bass I have ever caught was on a 2 3/4" Gitzit
    	     with a 1/8 oz weight.
    
             The smallest bass I have ever caught was on one of two lures,
             both fish were tiny about 3"- 4", Zara Spook and a 1/2 oz Jig
    	     with a 7" pork trailer.  
    
    		These lures were much bigger than the fish, boy are those 
    	bass pigs or what??
    
    Les
         

My biggest bass came on a 4" finesse-style worm.  I've caught lots of bass on
8" worms that were shorter than the worm.  Little bass are pigs especially on
topwaters (Spooks, Jitterbugs, etc)

Tim