Lures and techniques for trying to get a new PB.

[Vlokkinfluke]

Are there any specific baits you can recommend or techniques for getting specifically bigger Bass.

I got my hands on a packet of Manns swimming bull nose shad 5.5 inch swimbaits, do you reckon these are any good?

What else can you recommend? This question is for largemouth.

I catch moerse smallies all the time.......lol

[breedesmallie]

If I have no choice and I must choose only one bait for big bass, that most deffinetly would be the Yamamoto senko ( big ones ) The reason I prefer Yamamoto is the softness of their plastics. That is why most people call them the one fish bait. One fish for every bait most of the time but they are damn good.

[Toadee]

Jigs have always been considered a good bet for bigger fish.

The accepted knowledge on swimbaits is that they're best in clear water, so while they're good at hauling in double-digit pigs in California's gin-clear water they might struggle in TWK. Doesn't stop me trying though. Clanwilliam and Mofam might be a good local spots to drag a swimbait around.

Big baits and lots of patience is probably going to give you the best chance of catching a good fish but don't be surprised to see a guy with a inline-spinner catch a 2.5kg fish either (LaRocks I'm looking at you! :blue-smile: )

[Bassaholic]

Swimbaits are definately big fish catches but I myself have not had a lot of success in our SA waters with them.

The ones I can recommend from my own experience as well as other anglers I know are:

- jigs as Toadee said.
- deep diving crankbaits and lipless cranks.
- spinnerbaits
and lastly, a top water frog.

[Just]

Spinnerbait and any topwater. Jigs are also great. Net bait big thump has produced great fish for me.

[jmgravenor]

I think you should give PM a shout. He catches many big bass...seems like he's more of a finesse fisherman though maybe thats why.

[August]

Jigs
Spinnerbaits
Lipless
Weightless senko or fluke

[Peter]

Pacience is a virtue. Its mostly the luck of the draw or being at the rite place at the rite time. I've caught big fish in the shallows and in the deep and on my "Go to Baits", because those are the baits I have confidence in and throw more often.

[Riprap]

I don't think there is anyone here who can't say that they lost a bus of a fish and quite possibly their PB! Most times this comes from fishing one's confidence bait in your normal comfortable style of fishing.

That aside, big fish tend to relate to a certain area that has a combination of structure, cover, deep water close by, plenty of food, etc but that doesn't mean that some big fish aren't caught on featureless banks or in 30m of water suspended around dead trees and the like. Besides the spawn, the best way to catch a PB and there is no substitute for this, is to spend time on the water doing what you love. Sooner or later you will hook one of these monsters. Lures as previously indicated do give you a better chance but I want to add one...........wait for it...........a BLACK buzzbait! :blue-shock:

[Baarsmeister]

What I have experienced with all the bass I've caught raging from 1.8kg, 2kg, 2.5kg & 4.7kg , is that they did not strike the lure on the first cast in the area that I was fishing. I've sat in one spot for about 15-30minutes "believing" that there must be something down there.

When I fish, I try to imagine that the lure is "annoying" the fish and it is only a matter of time before they will "loose there temper" and just annihilate this weird thing passing them all the time.

I also make sure not too retrieve too fast, as I believe your bigger bass, although being aggressive, doesn't like to chase a smaller prey and would rather just gulp up something bigger when it passes by.

Lures that worked for me:

Old school popper. Fished close to heavy cover. Letting it rest and every odd 10 seconds give it a loud pop. Think the noise annoys the bass and eventually it just smashes it. Ripped the reel off my little spinning rod that day.

Spinnerbait White/ Chartreuse- they tend to gulp them up when you retrieve quickly and then suddenly let them "dip" by stopping the retrieve.

Google Butch Brown. This guy fishes in California and uses those huge Huddleston Deluxe swimbaits on a propper Penn reel. He hauls out 19lb bass.

Time of year also is a factor for me regarding the size of bass. Historically I have caught all my biggest fish end January - middle of March.

[Donster]

Fighting Frog

[Toadee]

So to summarize:

ANY LURE should be suited to catching big fish / your next PB.

Isn't Bass fishing fun?!?!? :blue-lol: :blue-lol:

[Vlokkinfluke]

Thankss guys for the advice, just found it strange that I cant manage a Largie over 2.3 kgs and I fish at venues where they are. I'll just keep going at it. Need to get lucky sometime.

Thanks again for the advice everyone

[plasticman]

Hi Vlokkinfluke

Next time you in the area,come pick my brain,I will help if I can.

Cheers
PM

[Vlokkinfluke]

Thanks Plasticman, you know I am in your area(shop) every week!
lol
Maybe I must alabama rig those beeeg fish
My pb is proper stuck on 3,215.