FS Digest

I feel like I am a pretty competent bass angler now. I only get skunked on heavily pressured waters and I catch a few each outing. More often than not these aren't that nice but they count.

At these new waters I have been going to there are these sea monsters hitting the surface a little ways out. We're talking 5lbs + largemouth, which is a big deal for the frigid north.

These appear to be actively feeding in the late afternoon as I often see what appears to be strikes on or near the surface.

I can cast to them but they don't seem to want anything that I have been throwing, mostly jerkbait, swimbait and crankbaits, admittedly. I select lures mostly based on the Bass Forecast app and then tailor colors to the weather conditions. I carry a few proven all-condition rigs like drop shot and crankbaits, too.

What can I do to try and catch one of those monsters? What do these large bass respond to? I know I need to come back with some top waters but, I can use all the help/advice I can get here.

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by Heavy_Acanthisitta_9

Trophy Walleye Hunter Loc: lower Western Michigan

Are you sure they are not carp?

rockinHfishing Loc: Bonne Terre Missouri

Walk the dogI see the same thing at MyLake as well in pre spawn/53-55 deg water, and I threw a KVD sexy dawg, and got a 4 pounder. I’ve also caught em slow rolling a bucca shad ( 3”) near the surface. Long casts. These are the big females out past the secondary’s

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

If they are bass . Try a topwater.
2 main choices I’d reach for
Kinda finesse subtle approach throw a lucky craft gun fish.
If that don’t work try to wake em up with a commotion type bait. Prop baits or rebel Pop R.
Also use the old remove the rear hook on a pop R , tie on a 16-18 inch leader and tie in a small hair jig. Deadly

Actually there is a third in between approach
Tie on a floating rapala , like a no 7
Cast it out , rip it a couple foot , let it rise to the surface and repeat. Sometimes a rip/ twitch works better. This will get em. Especially early morning.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

So, either what Ben said, or perhaps a plastic frog, or even a lizzard. Just Sayin...RJS

aldeureaux Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

I was watching an Ike video, and the fishing was tough. They decided to slow down, and he caught a big'un. That struck me because I tend to fish too fast.

Bass face

I’d throw an Swaver 200, 8” Magabass Magdraft, 10” Savage Gear line through trout or shad! If you want a truly giant bass, throw giant baits! That said, you’ll need specialized gear... extra heavy mag rod and a reel to match... Shimano Cardiff 300-400 or an Okuma Citrix 364... big baits catch big bass!

vic1964 Loc: massachusetts

i can tell you that maine lakes have big bass lm&sm. because the water is so clear they spook easily. you MUST BE REALLY quite. my biggest lm (10.25) was caught in maine aug, @ 2.30pm on sluggo golden shiner color. i fished tournaments and have caught b'tween 3.5 &5 lbs fish . my constant lure for big bass is frogs, spinners. senko type stik baits and most productive kalin 5" grub,chatruesse,blue, blk/red wtrmln. always go to bait when trying to get weight in tournaments, enjoy and good luck.

Billy Bob Loc: Terre Haute,IN

Might try something like a fluke. Give them impression that it is a dying bait fish.

Mauwehu Loc: Norwalk Ct

Shiner live bait, shiner hook, bait running reel. With float to check top water. Without for deep water.

agatemaggot Loc: iowa

Next time you witness fish jumping , listen for the sounds of Gill rattling as they shake their heads . A lot of bottom feeders thrash the surface during warm weather to rid themselves of Mollusk larvae.

YES, their gills are full of (baby clams ) . That is part of the life cycle of Mollusks, they attach themselves to bottom feeding fishes gills during their first few months of life and drop off starting colder weather to become Clams as we think of them. They start life as parasites and later on become table fare !

A bit of trivia for the folks here with inquiring minds .

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Hey Bass face. How do you like your Cardiff’s ?
I have 2 on lighter musky set ups and haven’t used em a lot
What are your thoughts?

Mauwehu Loc: Norwalk Ct

Very interesting. Thanks for the info.