Big bass?

[Fawkinnae]

Each year in the Challenge I struggle to catch a big bass, and let's say a big bass is anything over 20".

I catch good numbers of bass but have a hard time catching big bass. I must be doing something wrong.
So my question is this-
1. How many big bass do you catch per year (over 20")?
2. What time of year do you catch them?
3. What baits do you use?
4. And what depth do you catch most of your big bass? Shallow? Deep?

[Lee Borgersen]

Each year in the Challenge I struggle to catch a big bass, and let's say a big bass is anything over 20".

I catch good numbers of bass but have a hard time catching big bass. I must be doing something wrong.
So my question is this-
1. How many big bass do you catch per year (over 20")? (enough to keep me )2. What time of year do you catch them? ( Spring and Fall best)3. What baits do you use? (football Jig/plastic crayfish...live perch (in WI) crawler leech)4. And what depth do you catch most of your big bass? Shallow? Deep? (shallow in Spring 15' and less, deep in Summer up to 40')

[Bobby Bass]

My ? for Lee is are you talking smallmouth..

For Doug, where I live a 20 inch bass is a trophy up here. Last year we caught 2 over 20 and lost two more. The two we caught were on big bulked up spinnerbaits in late summer early fall. These are largemouths and all four of them came in water less then ten feet deep.

[Fawkinnae]

My ? for Lee is are you talking smallmouth..

For Doug, where I live a 20 inch bass is a trophy up here. Last year we caught 2 over 20 and lost two more. The two we caught were on big bulked up spinnerbaits in late summer early fall. These are largemouths and all four of them came in water less then ten feet deep.

I'm interested in both species. I spend time on good smallmouth waters (Rainy Lake  and occasionally the St. Croix or Mississippi) and good largemouth lakes (mostly west metro out to Annandale). It's all good.

Lee I'm guessing you are talking both. I see big bass of both species in your reports. And Bobby my point exactly - one 20" bass puts you in pretty good standing in the Challenge.

[Lee Borgersen]

My ? for Lee is are you talking smallmouth..

For Doug, where I live a 20 inch bass is a trophy up here. Last year we caught 2 over 20 and lost two more. The two we caught were on big bulked up spinnerbaits in late summer early fall. These are largemouths and all four of them came in water less then ten feet deep.

The waters I fish contain both species of bass. My clients and I target mostly smallies and the majority of our 20" bass are smallies. We do catch a number of 20" largemouth but not as many as the smallies. Obviously the lake you fish will dictate your odds of a lunker. Don't think their jumping in the boat for me. Just godda pay your dues

[MTCOMMER]

I am with you Doug - I think I have caught 1 bass that has been 20"+, but the lake I fish doesnt have that big of bass.  Alot in the 12-16" range.
I have fished waters with larger bass, but never landed a big one.  I guess you just have to put in the time - it seems the smaller ones are dumb and agressive, so those are the ones we are catching.... 

[DDSBYDAY]

   Lee, do you have size and color preferences on the football jigs?  Are they weedless because I have both.  I can put some  in your package.

[HD]

I've never caught any good un's..... 

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[Fawkinnae]

Would sure like to hear more on this important subject!!!

[MNBucKKiller]

I catch large mouth over 18 inches almost every time I go out.  On a good day Ill get a dozen or so 16-20, and very seldon get any under 14.  My bait of choice is a 2 oz spinner bait, Tripple D's or a jointed tail X-rap. 

In case you didn't realize by now, I get my biggest bass fishing muskies.

[DDSBYDAY]

    I have caught a number of big bass.  All by accident.  Unfortunately I couldn't get one last year when I was trying.   I expect this year to be different.  I am making bigger baits.  I also am going to start fishing the heavy slop where most people won't even try.  I am making some weedless swim and flipping jigs and a couple of weedless 6 inch swim baits to fish the heaviest cover I can find. The new tubes I have can be fished weedless too.  My thoughts this year are go big ,heavy and weedless. 

[whiteoakbuck]

i myself do a ton a bass fishing i think last summer i caught 2 or 3 over 20'' mostly catch the big ones in less than 4ft of water using either a buzz bait or rasberry sented crawler but unless your fishing a stock pond a 15- 18 inch bass is a nice one for Minnesota JMO 

[whiteoakbuck]

i myself do a ton a bass fishing i think last summer i caught 2 or 3 over 20'' mostly catch the big ones in less than 4ft of water using either a buzz bait or rasberry sented crawler but unless your fishing a stock pond a 15- 18 inch bass is a nice one for Minnesota JMO