Lets talk fishing

[MetalGearTrump]

You do have a chance. Big bass usually stick around the same structure giving you better odds if you can find it. Theres a lot of strategy that goes into those tournaments. Some guys just want to hurry up and get 5 fish and than start culling. Some guys work different presentations that attract bigger fish and aren't in a hurry to cull. I'm with that 2nd group for most of the day. All it takes is one good fish to change an entire tournament

Oh there is definitely separate strategy for a 5 fish vs a big fish tournament. I fished at lake Murray this past May, my partner cashed 2 checks. We were on schooling bass and were pulling out 2lb to 6lb bass and there were bigger ones in the schools. I look forward to going back, it took me 2 days to pin down a school that would come to the surface every 15 minutes ALL DAY LONG.

I'm currently fishing night tournaments, I finished 3rd two weeks ago. I won 2 of them last year.

 

[Liquid Smoke]

all you need is beer... lots of beer

Went fishing one time.
Forgot the worms, forgot my rod, forgot where I was going.
But I had beer so it was all good.

 

[Ceez]

Oh there is definitely separate strategy for a 5 fish vs a big fish tournament. I fished at lake Murray this past May, my partner cashed 2 checks. We were on schooling bass and were pulling out 2lb to 6lb bass and there were bigger ones in the schools. I look forward to going back, it took me 2 days to pin down a school that would come to the surface every 15 minutes ALL DAY LONG.

I'm currently fishing night tournaments, I finished 3rd two weeks ago. I won 2 of them last year.

Very nice. For us working stiffs it's harder to figure out unknown lakes because it takes time. I swear to Christ the last 10 years have completely changed the way I chase big fish. For the most part over here I'm finding everything 7lbs and up consistently in 25-32' of water and that's consistent across different lakes which baffles me. Also it's very subtle structure changes and not substantial points or drop offs that these bigger fish are cruising. I'm talking about like you took a shovel and drug a line across the bottom of the lake subtle, very weird.

The bigger fish here will shallow up towards November thru January and that's prime time for big swimbait fishing. You may fish 5 striaght days and not get a bite but that 6th day all it takes is just one and BAM!!! 14lber Takes a special person to cast swimbaits all day long knowing they're probably not going to get bit for days lol

 

[MetalGearTrump]

Yeah those swimbait guys are a different breed. I'll give one a chunk and play with it for 30 minutes, but other than that I'm not staying on it forever lol. The lakes near me are all different. The other day I was fishing in 100 degree temps and couldn't fish shallow enough, we caught 16 keepers in 4 hrs all less than 5ft and after 930AM. Other lakes this time of year once the sun hits the water, you better be fishing 15ft or deeper.. which i suck at after about 20ft..

I've definitely noticed how the bigger fish are much more peculiar... one particular lake 90% of my bass that weighted 5lbs or better come off this 1 spot. There is a brushpile down there, but I fish 100 brush piles, I did hook into a lawn chair and pull it out if the water there once lol. Have no idea what sets it apart @Ceez

 

[90 50]

This is a great book with lots of details on how and why different classes of bass pick structures etc.

 

[Ceez]

Yeah those swimbait guys are a different breed. I'll give one a chunk and play with it for 30 minutes, but other than that I'm not staying on it forever lol. The lakes near me are all different. The other day I was fishing in 100 degree temps and couldn't fish shallow enough, we caught 16 keepers in 4 hrs all less than 5ft and after 930AM. Other lakes this time of year once the sun hits the water, you better be fishing 15ft or deeper.. which i suck at after about 20ft..

I've definitely noticed how the bigger fish are much more peculiar... one particular lake 90% of my bass that weighted 5lbs or better come off this 1 spot. There is a brushpile down there, but I fish 100 brush piles, I did hook into a lawn chair and pull it out if the water there once lol. Have no idea what sets it apart @Ceez

Those smaller fish will get eaten by the bigger boys and I think that has a lot to do with it. I caught a bass at a local college lake one time and it had a tail sticking out of its mouth. Low and behold it was a smaller large mouth that I didnt want to pull all the way out lol. Bastard was full and was still eating.

Also I think once they hit a certain size they no longer have to worry about getting eaten themselves and cruise more freely. Of course this is pure speculation but with the depth of water and lack of normal structure (or hiding spots) that I'm used to seeing smaller fish sit on it makes a lot of sense.


Water clarity has a lot to do with those fish you were catching super shallow. I'm gonna guess that the water is very clear in that lake and you guys were using lighter line? Diamond Valley Lake over here is just like that. Hot ass summer weather but you can catch tons of fish up shallow with light line and the water is crystal clear

 

[Cpt Migraine]

Some serious fishermen here..

Nice!

 

[MetalGearTrump]

Those smaller fish will get eaten by the bigger boys and I think that has a lot to do with it. I caught a bass at a local college lake one time and it had a tail sticking out of its mouth. Low and behold it was a smaller large mouth that I didnt want to pull all the way out lol. Bastard was full and was still eating.

Also I think once they hit a certain size they no longer have to worry about getting eaten themselves and cruise more freely. Of course this is pure speculation but with the depth of water and lack of normal structure (or hiding spots) that I'm used to seeing smaller fish sit on it makes a lot of sense.


Water clarity has a lot to do with those fish you were catching super shallow. I'm gonna guess that the water is very clear in that lake and you guys were using lighter line? Diamond Valley Lake over here is just like that. Hot ass summer weather but you can catch tons of fish up shallow with light line and the water is crystal clear

As a general rule the water where I'm from is generally clear. Visibility in most lakes is easily 3ft and even as much as 10ft on lakes like Norman. We were definitely fishing with light line. Using 1/8 oz tungsten on black trick worms dipped in clears jjs magic with 10lb test leaders. We have some stained water in a few locations.

Why do you think those fish were shallow due to the water being clear? I noticed bream were also attacking our lures and that was usually when we'd catch a bass. On some larger lakes around here it's hard to find bass in shallow clear water, but that may just be due to the pressure.

 

[Ceez]

As a general rule the water where I'm from is generally clear. Visibility in most lakes is easily 3ft and even as much as 10ft on lakes like Norman. We were definitely fishing with light line. Using 1/8 oz tungsten on black trick worms dipped in clears jjs magic with 10lb test leaders. We have some stained water in a few locations.

Why do you think those fish were shallow due to the water being clear? I noticed bream were also attacking our lures and that was usually when we'd catch a bass. On some larger lakes around here it's hard to find bass in shallow clear water, but that may just be due to the pressure.

They chase the bait fish into the shallows. A lot of what they eat look for cover in the shallows more so in clear water from what I've seen here but this may not be true everywhere. Also Diamond Valley has big Striper which in turn keeps the smaller bass up tighter to the shoreline. But Castaic also has big striper but you won't find the same conditions and the water isn't near as clear either.

Who the hell knows, I just do my best to pay attention to the patterns on each body of water. Certain fundamentals will serve you well everywhere but a lot of shit you have to figure out and start from scratch with new bodies of water and especially very large lakes.

 

[90 50]

As a general rule the water where I'm from is generally clear. Visibility in most lakes is easily 3ft and even as much as 10ft on lakes like Norman. We were definitely fishing with light line. Using 1/8 oz tungsten on black trick worms dipped in clears jjs magic with 10lb test leaders. We have some stained water in a few locations.

Why do you think those fish were shallow due to the water being clear? I noticed bream were also attacking our lures and that was usually when we'd catch a bass. On some larger lakes around here it's hard to find bass in shallow clear water, but that may just be due to the pressure.

Typically in my area at least, the waters muddy, they are shallow.

Clear water they are deep, with some exceptions, running clear water like creeks with current they will be shallow too.

But mostly, they go where the food is

 

[MetalGearTrump]

They chase the bait fish into the shallows. A lot of what they eat look for cover in the shallows more so in clear water from what I've seen here but this may not be true everywhere. Also Diamond Valley has big Striper which in turn keeps the smaller bass up tighter to the shoreline. But Castaic also has big striper but you won't find the same conditions and the water isn't near as clear either.

Who the hell knows, I just do my best to pay attention to the patterns on each body of water. Certain fundamentals will serve you well everywhere but a lot of shit you have to figure out and start from scratch with new bodies of water and especially very large lakes.

We have striper but mostly hybrids. It's always interesting when I end up catching more striper than largemouth at times

 

[Ceez]

But mostly, they go where the food is

 

[Ceez]

We have striper but mostly hybrids. It's always interesting when I end up catching more striper than largemouth at times

Striper are retarded. When they go on a chew they'll just about eat anything. I've literally caught them with half chewed off swimbaits with no tails lol, just a lead head and a little plastic covering the hook.

 

[MetalGearTrump]

Striper are retarded. When they go on a chew they'll just about eat anything. I've literally caught them with half chewed off swimbaits with no tails lol, just a lead head and a little plastic covering the hook.

Yeah no kidding. They've ruined so many crankbaits... or just broke me off. I had a few zoom WECs at one point and a striper relieved me of my favorite E-1s. New rule, if there are striper, I throw nothing I cant stand to lose

 

[Ceez]

Yeah no kidding. They've ruined so many crankbaits... or just broke me off. I had a few zoom WECs at one point and a striper relieved me of my favorite E-1s. New rule, if there are striper, I throw nothing I cant stand to lose

Years ago they used to have really big striper in Silverwood over here. Upwards of 60lbs. I haven't seen anything over 23-24lbs though in some time. I threw a huddleston for hours one day off the damn. 65lb spectra with a topshot of 30lb flouro. I got picked up, set the hook and tried to wind, couldn't...raised my rod some and let it run than got about 4 cranks and POP!!! That flouro breaks at around 50-60lbs and my drag and knot were set and tied correctly. That was a big sumbitch and just smoked me!

 

[Deleted member 335905]

Those smaller fish will get eaten by the bigger boys and I think that has a lot to do with it. I caught a bass at a local college lake one time and it had a tail sticking out of its mouth. Low and behold it was a smaller large mouth that I didnt want to pull all the way out lol. Bastard was full and was still eating.

Also I think once they hit a certain size they no longer have to worry about getting eaten themselves and cruise more freely. Of course this is pure speculation but with the depth of water and lack of normal structure (or hiding spots) that I'm used to seeing smaller fish sit on it makes a lot of sense.


Water clarity has a lot to do with those fish you were catching super shallow. I'm gonna guess that the water is very clear in that lake and you guys were using lighter line? Diamond Valley Lake over here is just like that. Hot ass summer weather but you can catch tons of fish up shallow with light line and the water is crystal clear

I was at Diamond on Friday, it was a little cooler but def still hot. Alsi the full moon earlier this week killed the daytime bite. There are some spots with millions of Baby blue gill. So there were small Bass coming in for those, and then bigger bass coming for those. I caught a couole 8inch lil Bass and as I reeled em in you could see some Biggies chasing after em. My buddy was working a Blue Gill type Swim Bait all day but had no takers. Saw lots of big fish following it tho!

 

[MetalGearTrump]

I was at Diamond on Friday, it was a little cooler but def still hot. Alsi the full moon earlier this week killed the daytime bite. There are some spots with millions of Baby blue gill. So there were small Bass coming in for those, and then bigger bass coming for those. I caught a couole 8inch lil Bass and as I reeled em in you could see some Biggies chasing after em. My buddy was working a Blue Gill type Swim Bait all day but had no takers. Saw lots of big fish following it tho!

Pisses ya off when they wont commit!

 

[Ceez]

I was at Diamond on Friday, it was a little cooler but def still hot. Alsi the full moon earlier this week killed the daytime bite. There are some spots with millions of Baby blue gill. So there were small Bass coming in for those, and then bigger bass coming for those. I caught a couole 8inch lil Bass and as I reeled em in you could see some Biggies chasing after em. My buddy was working a Blue Gill type Swim Bait all day but had no takers. Saw lots of big fish following it tho!

I remember years ago when they had a sting on DVL. Caught some assholes flylining live trout. Shit that was 15+ years ago. I wish you could fish live bait though besides shad and crawdads. I bet the record for LMB would be broken fairly quickly like that.

 

[Deleted member 335905]

Pisses ya off when they wont commit!

Seriously! My buddy worked that swim bait alllllll daaayyyy just waiting for one to take a bite. They followed it all the way to the boat sometimes too.....big ole tanks too. My adrenaline was pumping just watching.

I was working drop shot and content with my 8inch to 4lb fish.

 

[Deleted member 335905]

I remember years ago when they had a sting on DVL. Caught some assholes flylining live trout. Shit that was 15+ years ago. I wish you could fish live bait though besides shad and crawdads. I bet the record for LMB would be broken fairly quickly like that.

Speaking of Diamond Valley, did you see they stripped the record for LMB Bass cuz the dude was caught cheating???? Apparently he did it all over.....