10 lb. or better 2025

Dr Pigg reply :

I'm fishing a watershed lake -known for big bass( many caught over 10 lbs) and believed to contain the next state record. Give me some ideas on zeroing in on big bass. Bigger baits? Slower presentation?

OR just percentage of cast,patience, and persistance?

fourbizz reply :

high quality structure

big baits

fish slow

fish in the dark

roadwarrior reply :

As a new member, you might not know about fourbizz.

Pay attention to his advice, he has caught a few bigger

than we can grow in Tennessee!

Most of my biggest largemouth have been caught on

a 6" Senko. My PB was caught on a Norman Fat Boy,

bluegill pattern.

8-)

Dr Pigg reply :

lake closes 30 minutes after sundown and reopens at 6am

Hot Rod reply :

Where I fish the only thing that I have chance reeling in thats 10lb or better is the pound test of the line that is on my reel ;D

If you can't tell, I'm jealous.

Good luck!

MojoGarcia reply :

RW. whats your PB?

MojoGarcia reply :

right. technically i cant get anything 5LB+ in Michigan. so i can use 5LB test all day without any worries. technically...

fourbizz reply :

Does the lake completely close, or are boats not allowed after sundown?

One of my favorite night lakes does not allow boats after dark, so we fish from the bank.

Some big bass guys will argue that midday is the best time for the absolute top end fish. I like night time fishin though. It has given me my two biggest fish.

fourbizz reply :

Quote
right. technically i cant get anything 5LB+ in Michigan. so i can use 5LB test all day without any worries. technically...

What? :-?

Dr Pigg reply :

sorry, you're right--Just the gate closes for entrance to ramp. You can fish from the bank.

Fat-G reply :

First off, I'd be happy with the fish in your avatar ;D

Second, Bizz knows a thing or two about hawgz.

Third, use anything that starts with j and ends in ig. Tipped with a brush hog.

Catt reply :

Quote
high quality structure
big baits

fish slow

fish in the dark

umahunter reply :

guess it depends where ya are every double digit fish ive caught has been mid day

Dr Pigg reply :

What were the double digit fish caught on?? : And don't say a Hook!

Wayne P. reply :

All the largemouth I have caught over 9# have been during the mid-day period.

umahunter reply :

last one was on a zoom super fluke with a hook to me alot of it is knowing your waters the food sources and being there at the right time which useally isnt sunrise or sundown biggins seem to eat at odd hours ive got a few spots where there are a couple 10 + fish i see almost every trip problem is if they had hands theyed give ya the bird for a lil tiny brain there preety smart but if your there at the right time on the right day

Northern Strain reply :

If you want to catch the really bigones use the biggest lures. There are some articles out there that talk about fishing musky lures for bass.

http://www.mepps.com/fishing_articles/article.php?id=256

http://www.mepps.com/fishing_articles/article.php?id=257

I think that a big swim bait or spinner would be best, but it may be getting to cold in tennessee to use fast baits. Good luck.

WRB reply :

If you want to catch big bass consistently you must fish for them. I know this sounds ridiculous, but it's true.

Take the time to learn what big bass in the lakes you fish are using as primary prey, then use lures that replicate that prey or the live prey, where the bass feed.

Swimbaits are an excellent artificial lures and made in nearly every prey type across the country. Jig replicate crawdads primarily and crawdads are in every bass lake that has big bass populations.

Low light or night when the lake is quite is a good time to target big bass.

WRB

roadwarrior reply :

Well, I'm with Fish Chris and a few other Big Fish, fishermen.

10:00AM to 2:00 PM is Prime Time.

8-)

Bassn Blvd reply :

Probably the easiest and fastest way;

7.6' heavy rod

Calcutta 300

20 Yozuri mono

3/0 - 4/0 circle hook

8-10" wild shiner or bluegill

No weight and no bobber.

Dr Pigg reply :

I have thought a swim bait would work---but, this lake has so much structure. They topped trees down 2 creeks that have 4 to 8 foot stumps in 10 to 12 foot of water. Some of the creeks are 15-18 foot deep. Very liitle dozer work took place on this lake except building a 600 yd. levee. Swim baits with the exposed hooks--won't you be hung up all the time. I fish a DD22 alot---Hang it alot-but have got good with the pocket rocket. Catching fish isn't a big problem----I'm greedy---I want PIGGS 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

Quote
I have thought a swim bait would work---but, this lake has so much structure. They topped trees down 2 creeks that have 4 to 8 foot stumps in 10 to 12 foot of water. Some of the creeks are 15-18 foot deep. Very liitle dozer work took place on this lake except building a 600 yd. levee. Swim baits with the exposed hooks--won't you be hung up all the time. I fish a DD22 alot---Hang it alot-but have got good with the pocket rocket. Catching fish isn't a big problem----I'm greedy---I want PIGGS 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Throw a 6" weedless Hudd or for something bigger, an 8" 3:16 mission fish.

You could also throw big wake baits, no worries there about getting hung.

Randall reply :

Just to be different. If I had to pick one rig to catch a 10 lber on any lake in the country it would be a split shot rig on eight pound flurocarbon line. As far as bait I would take a seven or eight inch straight tail worm. This has been the bait and set up that has produced the most big bass for me.

It works if you know where the bass are at or where they feed and just stay on those spots fishing it slow. But the big key is knowing where they are which is not only fishing the best structure but often the right spot or spots on that structure.

If you are not exactly sure the big fish are there or are using a spot to feed I would chose a swimbait to cover more water and find those big fish.

Catt reply :

Over 90% of my big bass are caught on plastics & between the hours of 10 pm-2 am

J-B reply :

I caught my first dd lmb this past Sunday on a mattlures hardgill. It was 11.2 lbs according to my berkly scale. Then I proceeded to throw a 4year old temper tantrum because I left my camera at the house. But it was caught around 12:20pm. I then left and went to walmart to purchase a camera to keep in my tackle bag.

Dr Pigg reply :

Congrats J-B. How deep of water and what was you presentation?

Two things you never forget bass fishing 1) Camera 2) Toilet paper ;D

etommy28 reply :

my 4 biggest fish all over 9 pounds have come between 9 and 1, 2 came on a ragetail anaconda(including the 11 pounder), one came off a bed and the 3rd came using a 6 inch money minnow, with a weighted hook around stumps and hydrilla patches(I hooked a 2nd one on this that i never saw but if it was a bass it was 10 plus easy.)

J-B reply :

Quote
Congrats J-B. How deep of water and what was you presentation?
Two things you never forget bass fishing 1) Camera 2) Toilet paper ;D

Thanks. The water depth was 6 to 8 feet and it is the floating version of the swimbait. I was fishing it sort of like a slow walk the dog presentaion. I thought I was having a heart attack after the fish killed the bait from below. The blowup was incredible to say the least. X2 on the camera and toilet paper.

WRB reply :

Quote

Quote
I have thought a swim bait would work---but, this lake has so much structure. They topped trees down 2 creeks that have 4 to 8 foot stumps in 10 to 12 foot of water. Some of the creeks are 15-18 foot deep. Very liitle dozer work took place on this lake except building a 600 yd. levee. Swim baits with the exposed hooks--won't you be hung up all the time. I fish a DD22 alot---Hang it alot-but have got good with the pocket rocket. Catching fish isn't a big problem----I'm greedy---I want PIGGS 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Throw a 6" weedless Hudd or for something bigger, an 8" 3:16 mission fish.

You could also throw big wake baits, no worries there about getting hung.

Agree the 6" weedless Huddleston should work depending on the type of baitfish the bass are targeting. Matt Lures soft Bluegill or Crappie is also a good choice. Hot wake bait today is the Lunker Punker.

Wood, including trees, is considered cover. During the cold water period the big bass should be located near the dam area or the lower 1/3 of the lake. Structure (the dam), major points, humps with saddles near deep water, etc.

Most giant bass are caught during pre spawn, spawn and summer nights. During late fall and winter cold water periods it is rare to catch record size bass.

Although the big bait big bass theory works sometimes, big bass are often caught on small lures like jigs for example.

If you are a serious trophy bass fisherman or want to be, then learning bass behavior is important. My recommendation is read; In Pursuit of Giant Bass by the late Bill Murphy. You may not agree with Bill on his techniques, however this is one of the best books written to date on big bass behavior and location in deep structured lakes.

WRB

SoFl-native reply :

Quote
I have thought a swim bait would work---but, this lake has so much structure. They topped trees down 2 creeks that have 4 to 8 foot stumps in 10 to 12 foot of water. Some of the creeks are 15-18 foot deep. Very liitle dozer work took place on this lake except building a 600 yd. levee. Swim baits with the exposed hooks--won't you be hung up all the time. I fish a DD22 alot---Hang it alot-but have got good with the pocket rocket. Catching fish isn't a big problem----I'm greedy---I want PIGGS 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

from just what you said there i would be tempted to throw a 10 inch powerworm or a big jig if i was going after a big fish.

David P reply :

You might just catch one when you least expect it, and when you're not searching for that big bite. I threw swimbaits a lot last years, and my big fish on a swimbait was 9-11. I dropped a swibait, and got a 12 and 13 on small baits. Don't put all your marbles in one bag and assume you must throw a swimbait.

Structure is very important, and finding those spots where the big fish are. I'd worry about baits last.

paul. reply :

gibson co. lake? besides all the good ideas already suggested, i'd try a big willow leaf spinnerbait slow rolled through the timber close to prime structure. i am also a fan of rattlebaits, jigs, and plastics.

of course i might be able to tell ya more if you'd take me to said honey hole.

Hook Set reply :

I agree with the structure theory.

My personal best (12.12lb) came off structure with a LC G-splash in September.

I might have twitched it 2 or 3 times before she engulfed it, My buddy lipped her at he shore and we threw her back to fight another day.

Dr Pigg reply :

Paul--Gibson Co. Lake. Opened April2003. TWRA watershed lake. Has never filled to summer pool--a No Wake lake! 560 acres. All fishing -non-recreational. Although TWRA--It's a Southern, Redneck Mafia Controlled Lake. Anything even close to being a trophy can be photographed, weighed, then must be released or your life will be in DANGER!! :-? It's a government owned--Mafia controlled Big Bass Farm!!! All welcome, but please comply.. Replicas look too good to keep big Bass 8-) 8-) 8-)

Paul, Would love to fish with you here sometime.

Thanks, PiGG Game Warden

fishfordollars reply :

I just read all three pages and not one person mentioned fishing deeper. I firmly believe that the reason most don't catch larger fish is that they spend way too much time in 1-12' of water. Get out there, find some creeks, river ledges, humps, deeper grass lines,etc and get after it.

All but two of my fish over ten pounds(I have been lucky enough to catch seven) came in twenty foot or more of water. Fish larger lures, slow down, and make it a point to learn how to fish offshore.

Good luck,

Jack

roadwarrior reply :

Quote
I just read all three pages and not one person mentioned fishing deeper. I firmly believe that the reason most don't catch larger fish is that they spend way too much time in 1-12' of water. Get out there, find some creeks, river ledges, humps, deeper grass lines,etc and get after it.
All but two of my fish over ten pounds(I have been lucky enough to catch seven) came in twenty foot or more of water. Fish larger lures, slow down, and make it a point to learn how to fish offshore.

Good luck,

Jack

Great point!

I would just add, it doesn't hurt to fish in Texas, Florida,

Georgia and Kalifornia, too!

WRB reply :

Quote
I'm fishing a watershed lake -known for big bass( many caught over 10 lbs) and believed to contain the next state record. Give me some ideas on zeroing in on big bass. Bigger baits? Slower presentation?
OR just percentage of cast,patience, and persistance?

I get the idea you are fishing for more than a few helpful hints.

Each lake has it's own potential for growing record size bass depending on several factors. The strain of largemouth bass, the quantity and quality of the prey, fishing pressure, length of the warm water period, quality of the water, deep water sanctuary, other competing predator fish are just a few to consider.

If the lake is producing catches of NLMB over 10 lbs, the potential for a 14 to 15 lb NLMB is possible.

There isn't any panacea's to catching trophy bass, no magic lure or presentation. Learn big bass habits, what they eat, where they live and spend a lot of time on the water and you may be rewarded with a catch of a life time.

WRB

fishfordollars reply :

Quote

Quote
I just read all three pages and not one person mentioned fishing deeper. I firmly believe that the reason most don't catch larger fish is that they spend way too much time in 1-12' of water. Get out there, find some creeks, river ledges, humps, deeper grass lines,etc and get after it.
All but two of my fish over ten pounds(I have been lucky enough to catch seven) came in twenty foot or more of water. Fish larger lures, slow down, and make it a point to learn how to fish offshore.

Good luck,

Jack

Great point!

I would just add, it doesn't hurt to fish in Texas, Florida,

Georgia and Kalifornia, too!

Yes it does. At the Toyota Bass Classic weigh in on Lake Conroe Saturday Kevin Vandam mentioned while on stage how lucky we (Texas Anglers) were to have our parks and wildlife department working for us the way they have been for the last many years. They are bound and determined to produce 20 lb. fish. They have even gone as far as changing slots to larger lengths and force feeding lakes oversize offspring. Two lakes (lake Nacogdoches and Town Lake), you are now required to release fish over 24". Only allowed to keep one to see if it qualifies for the state Share a Lunker program (Over 13 lbs.), and if not it must be immediately released back in the lake. Fish under 16" may be kept for consumption. State limit laws must be followed on these undersize fish except for the spotted bass. They may not get it done, but they are giving it one heck of a shot. It cost a lot of money, but thanks to Toyota, it's going all out.

Raul reply :

Quote

I would just add, it doesn't hurt to fish in Texas, Florida,

Georgia and Kalifornia, too!

It don 't hurt to fish in Mexico either.

Now back again on the subject, most of my big fish have been caught during the warmest time of the day ( 12 - 4 PM ) during the hottest time of the year for us ( spring ) under clear bluebird cloudless skies.

Now that I come to think about it .... no wonder why my wife says I 'm crazy, all that sun and heat have melted my brains.

Dr Pigg reply :

WRB-what else could I be fishing for besides a few helpful hints? Fished all my life and still learn something nearly every trip out. This forum is the closest thing to fishing while on dry land. My wife and co workers could care less about a lunker.

Sorry to take up your time

WRB reply :

Quote
WRB-what else could I be fishing for besides a few helpful hints? Fished all my life and still learn something nearly every trip out. This forum is the closest thing to fishing while on dry land. My wife and co workers could care less about a lunker.
Sorry to take up your time

The Gibson Co. lake thread lead me to believe you just might be promoting a fishery and nothing wrong with that.

The reason I posted Murphy's book is his detailed illustrations of how big bass relate to structure and bass behavior from 40 years of remarkable catches of big bass. I fished with Bill back in the early 70's and he was very secretive back then and it surprised me how much detailed information he shared in his book. Murphy passed away from skin cancer a few years ago.

Fishing sun up to sun down or longer and not bringing anything home to eat gets a remark from the wife occasionally.

Please feel free to ask a specific question regarding catching potential record class bass; how would you fish in lake X to catch a record bass? Just need some info on lake X to answer properly.

WRB

Mattlures reply :

A lot of good advise and I agree with most of it. I have caught many over 10lbs (around 30 I think). I have caught them at different times durring the day. Mid day has not been the only good time for me. Morning, mid day and night time. Summer nights and big plastics and wakebaits are my most consistant patern. These fish are caught shallow. As WRB has said summer nights, pre spawn and spawn are the most productive times. I think summer nights because the fish are predictable and they are ususly up shallow and actively hunting.

Prespawn because the fish are just bigger. A fish that might be 8lbs throughout the rest of the year could be pushing 10lbs when its fattening up for spawn combined with the cool water and slow motabalism. And of course the actual spawn because you can choos which fish to fish for. Those are the main times I fish for LMB. because I can find and catch the big ones. The rest of they year I am having too much fun playinhg with the saltwater fish to work hard for LMB

Mattlures reply :

I also recomend

"in pursuit of trophy bass" by the late Bill Murphy. He is the original trophy hunter.

Also "tracking trophies" by John Hope has some good info.

I have the BBZ book but I never finished it. It just wasnt exciting to read. Good info but it semmed long. Now the BBZ video is a different story. I liked that one alot

As for weedless swimbaits. The mission fish and 6in huds are good choices. There are a nuber of good floating hardbaits out there.

J_B congrats on the toad, I wish you had a camera too! :'(

J-B reply :

Quote
J_B congrats on the toad, I wish you had a camera too! :'(

Thanks Matt. My wife said that she wished she had the camcorder with her so she could have posted the vid here to blackmail me with.

Dr Pigg, I think that all the above information is great advice for finding bigger fish. I have just begun my journey into that world myself. I wish you luck on your catching the bigguns there.

RoLo reply :

If nothing else, I think we've learned from this thread that neither "time-of-day" nor "water depth" hold the key.

Fourbizz and Catt are accomplished moonlighters that do big business after dark.

Raul and myself are sun-worshippers who not only live in the skin-cancer belt,

but embrace the midday hours (my favorite is 11am to 3 pm for both large and smallmouth bass).

I love deepwater fishing and find it easier than shallow-water fishing for pinpointing location,

which is sharply limited by bottom contour. My best pike and walleyes have come from deep, offshore holding sites,

along with a slew of saltwater species (pike in my avatar was 18 ft deep off the outer weed-line).

Although we've taken lots of smallies from deepwater haunts, it's never been the ticket for trophy largemouth bass.

I've spent a lot of time fishing for bigmouth bass in deep water (too much time),

but most of our heaviest bigmouths have come from water less than six-feet deep (Hannon style).

Roger

Bass Junkie reply :

Ok, here ya go. This isn't coming form a guy who's caught tens of tens, but heres the lures I've had the biggest bass of my life strike:

1. Watermelon/Pearl lamanite Yum! Dinger, fished like a fluke

2. Baby Bass Stanley Ribbit Frog, Buzzed

3. Spro Bronzeye Frog, Leopard, Walked

4. Berkley Hollow Belly swimbait, Hitch

These are lures, just like what are in your box. I personally don't beleive in one, or four, magic baits. You need to understand how the bass function in your lake, where they are, and what mood they're in, then fish accordingly. Have patience, maybe use a larger lure. One great point that has been pointed out on this forum is that finesse is relative. A 12 inch bass will eat a 4'' finesse worm, but what about a twenty incher? His needs a greater, and his pray larger, so downsizing for a twelve incher may mean 4" worms, but for a twenty incher, larger lures are in order, even in finesse. Also, have confidence in your tackle, make sure its in the best possible condition, i.e. no line nicks, strong knot, properly running bait, properly set drag, ect. And have patience. Trophy hunting can lead to single fish days, or no fish, but its worth it when that giant bites.

WRB reply :

It is nearly impossible to predict accurately what a record size bass in a Tennesse water shed lake or anywhere else may strike. Each trophy bass fisherman has there own lures or baits they have confidence using, the odds favor the lure or bait they fish with most often.

Sometime back I posted board topics regarding my opinion about giant bass (topics 1243873480 & 1244073579) based on my own experiences. Catt believes in and uses soft plastics, good choice. However I have never caught a bass 15 lbs+ on a plastic worm or creature; 14.2 lbs is my best plastic worm bass. Just because my preferred lure are jigs and swimbaits doesn't mean plastic worms and creatures won't work, they do. The best lure can't work unless it's fished in the right place at the right time.

How deep big bass are located is dependant on both seasonal periods and the type of lake. I have caught a lot of 10 lb+ bass and the average depth where I fish is about 15' deep. I caught them spawning in 2" of water and 60' deep during the winter, that is why it is important to determine where the big bass are located and what they are feeding on.

Jigs and swimbaits work extremely well during the pre spawn where I fish. Soft plastic worms and creature work well during the spawn and high overhead sun light is the best time to sight fish spawning bass. If you don't bed fish, then mid day sight fishing may not be a good time.

I also love to night fish, however have never caught a giant bass over 15 lbs at night, lots of 10 lb to 12 lb bass and that doesn't mean a giant size bass can't be caught at night.

WRB

PS; Don Iovino, the father of finesse fishing, caught a 18.5 lb bass doodling a 5" plastic worm. Don spends 95% of his time finesse fishing, so the odds were his PB would a finesse fish. For me it's jigs.

zach t reply :

While I can't boast to having caught alot DD fish , I can say that every single one that was 5+(including my 2 10s) was caught with a frog. And that ranges from Guntersville to private ponds.

But, then again, I throw frogs. Alot.

10757

10 lb. or better 2025

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