What Is Your Mindset For The Big Bags? 2025

jlew reply :

I can usually scrounge together a 15-20 pound bag. Every once in a while I can throw down 23 pounds or so. The problem is that these boys consistently bring 25+ to the scales. Mechanics-wise, I'd consider myself to be a very good angler. But mentally, I seem to have a flaw in what it takes to get over the hump.

For instance, when I'm working over fish that I've found. Say I'm catching a 2, five minutes later a 1, ten minutes later a 3.5, a couple 2lbrs, then a 4.5. I do this for a while until those fish quit. Then I move to another group I've located and do the same thing. Now each of these groups I'll work over with say a swimjig, spinnerbait, or swimbait, and then I'll go to flipping or pitching for about ten minutes. Like I said, this usually amounts to around 15-20 pounds by the end of the day.

Would you guys say that I am probably moving spots too quickly? Do you guys think I should slow down and pitch/flip or worm each area more thoroughly? After catching a 2 pounder, should I just leave and search for a school of only 4+ pounders? Or do these winning bags come from culling through the smaller fish?

I know those are a lot of questions, but I'm very curious about how you guys that catch those big sacks perceive those situations. ???

Zach Dunham reply :

I would say that you should figure out if there is anything different that is triggering the strike from the larger bass and just focus on that while ignoring the smaller ones. If you have that many numbers of fish around you can always come back later and fill out a bag of 2s and 3s if the going gets tough. Just my opinion!

jlew reply :

Thanks for the input Zach. I try to look for those subtle differences that trigger larger bites, but I'll make sure to focus on that more so.

Catt reply :

"Then I go flipping or pitching for ten minutes"

jlew reply :

Thank you Catt. It seems so obvious now after you point it out.

gardnerjigman reply :

I've seen and heard of professional anglers pulling up to a spot, making 5 casts and catching 2 fish and leaving, all in less than 10 minutes.

I would personally say you need to find better schools of fish, maybe off shore a little more. They are going to school up with like sized fish. (not saying you won't catch a 4lber with a school of 1lbers).

Around me, most of the time if you want to catch a consistent big bag, you fish off-shore with a deep crank, c-rig, heavy jig etc. You stumble across a big one beating the banks some times, maybe even 2 or 3. I'm ashamed at how many times I've been stomped at the scales with 3 good fish and 2 mediocre fish pounding the banks by a guy that was fishing off shore and brings in 23-27lbs every time.

Some day I'll learn.

jlew reply :

Lol gardnerjigman. That happened to me several times up in North Carolina when I was starting out tournament fishing. I quickly figured out that offshore is where it is at for most of the year up there. There they certainly group to size.

Down here in Florida, I've been told that the fish mostly stick around weeds for most of the year. For the summer a lot of them move out and school offshore, but most of the time they can be found elsewhere. I've only been fishing for a year down here and am trying to figure these big girls out.

Catt reply :

To me it's all about that kicker fish!

The bigger the kicker fish the smaller my next 4 can be.

A 5-6 lb average is more difficult to catch than a kicker in the 8-10 lb ranger.

This is by far the hardest question to answer, I've typed & erased several times!

jlew reply :

I think what I'm going to try is this... I'm going to go out and nail 10-12 pounds in three fish as quick as I can. Once I have that, spend the rest of the time flipping. That way, I'll have 5-6 hours to hopefully catch two over 5. That matches the weights I can do now, but gives me a better chance at much more weight.

Team9nine reply :

On 5/17/2015 at 12:04 AM, jlew said:
I think what I'm going to try is this... I'm going to go out and nail 10-12 pounds in three fish as quick as I can. Once I have that, spend the rest of the time flipping. That way, I'll have 5-6 hours to hopefully catch two over 5. That matches the weights I can do now, but gives me a better chance at much more weight.

If your water is conducive to swimbaits and A-Rigs (when seasonally appropriate), don't rule these baits out. If you watch the pro tours closely, you'll see soft swimbaits in particular play a part in a lot of the bigger sacks.

-T9

Catt reply :

Mid June!

I wouldn't worry about an A-rig in Florida!

jlew reply :

Good point Team9nine. Thank you.

Catt reply :

Are you not confident enough to flip/pitch the entire time?

jlew reply :

No, I'm not confident that I would be able to put five fat ones in the boat just by flipping. I'm decent at flipping, but I haven't spent a whole day down here with just with a flipping stick. Maybe I should just go out and do that for a few days to see what materialises...

Catt reply :

Where are the 25+ stringers coming from & on what techniques?

jlew reply :

Shoot, I wish I knew! Lol. I don't have a circle of fellow anglers around me and I'm not in a club. So I don't get any "insider" info. I have to rely on what I already know and gleen this forum for any tips.

J Francho reply :

I'm not sure I'm clear. Are you fishing a tournament? If not, why the big sack as your yardstick? I'd be looking at the biggest fish if it's not a tournament. Otherwise, my mentality in a tournament is getting five big bites that are bigger than everyone else's. It only takes five.

Catt reply :

On 5/19/2015 at 3:05 AM, jlew said:
Shoot, I wish I knew! Lol. I don't have a circle of fellow anglers around me and I'm not in a club. So I don't get any "insider" info. I have to rely on what I already know and gleen this forum for any tips.

Well alrighty then!

Let me clue you in on some secrets!

Find out where & when the local tournament weigh ins are being held. Go hang around & introduce yourself.

Pay close attention to any rod & reels visible in boats, especially the boats of the top anglers!

Catt reply :

On 5/19/2015 at 3:12 AM, J Francho said:
I'm not sure I'm clear. Are you fishing a tournament? If not, why the big sack as your yardstick? I'd be looking at the biggest fish if it's not a tournament. Otherwise, my mentality in a tournament is getting five big bites that are bigger than everyone else's. It only takes five.

This is where I disagree with most on this site!

Tournament or fun fishing I have one mindset & one only...wide open throttle 24/7/365!

jlew reply :

I used to do at least one tournament every week when I was back in North Carolina. That was about ten years ago. Now, between my work schedule and family, I get to do maybe 6-7 a year. I do fish at least once a week still, but my weekend is on Wednesday and Thursday. I don't know of any weekday tournaments around here.

Every time I do get out though I measure my day as if I were in a tourney. Five best. I don't sit on schools of dinks. I don't fish with live bait. And I'm constantly honing my techniques in pursuit of being what I consider in my mind a better angler.

The tournaments I do fish have the best local sticks. These guys know how to drop 25-30 pounds year round and they keep their lips buttoned. I can't blame them. Most of them have dedicated years to those weights.

I don't need spots. I can find those. I just want to know how those big bag anglers think about what I'm encountering.

Catt reply :

I would be willing to bet the are flipping/pitching grass!

FlipMcGillacuddy reply :

I live in Florida. I'm in the same boat as you are as far as 15-18lbs. But struggle to get the kicker. With that being said, do what you said above. Get a quick, decent limit and go flip your balls off. It might not always pan out, but here in FLA, flippin is gonna get you the bigger bites...especially in the summer

FlipMcGillacuddy reply :

I've learned over the last few tournaments. I need to flip more

Catt reply :

"If you do what you've done...you'll get what you've always got!"

jlew reply :

Thanks for the input Flip. I'll do that.

Catt reply :

If y'all know the bigger sacks are caught flipping why aint y'all flipping?

Bluebasser86 reply :

I agree with Catt. If you know how the big fish are being caught, why aren't you fishing like that? Not just during tournaments, every chance you get so you can get more comfortable doing it. If you don't want to do it all day, go catch your 5 real quick like you're saying, then go flip the rest of the day. You don't need but 1 or 2 more bites at that point, even if you don't know what you're doing really well, chances are you flip enough mats you'll hit one on the nose eventually. Don't keep beating yourself by limiting your techniques to the same things you always do that don't win. Take the time to learn about big bass too if you haven't, they're almost a different species of fish.

SenkoGuru reply :

I learned a long time ago, you either go big or go home. Do not start the day trying to get a limit and then moving on to what you hope will be better fish. Start the day out looking for those five BIG bites.

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What Is Your Mindset For The Big Bags? 2025

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