Careful attention to the choice of tackle and picking the locations big bass like will help catch a larger fish.
Upsize Your Tackle for Huge Fish
Big fish don't get big by accident. The ones that do survive long enough to reach trophy size have adapted to feeding on larger prey, thus feeding less often and expending far less energy. Many mature bass will not expend a lot of energy chasing small or medium size baits. They much prefer to eat one large bait fish than try to outrun and catch several smaller bait fish. Crawfish are an important source of protein that big bass need to survive. Learn where crawfish are present and fish crawfish pattern baits. These baits should be at least three inches long and have brown, green, orange or even a little black coloration.
If shad or bluegill are the predominate prey species adjust size and color of your baits accordingly. Try to match the hatch so to speak. Except for in Florida, most big bass anglers opt for artificial lures when fishing for trophy bass. Lures are easier to control and less time consuming than live baits. Eight- to ten-inch plastic worms, 1/2 ounce spinnerbaits, 1/2 ounce bass jigs with pork trailers and three to four inch crankbaits are great lure selections for over-size bass. Anglers need lures with some flash, a large profile and one that displaces a lot of water when moved. Slow to medium retrieves are recommended, again, big bass do notlike to chase. A twenty-inch bass can easily eat a five-inch fish.
Look for Isolated Cover or Structure
Big bass are seldom caught mixed in with smaller bass; big bass are loners. When anglers are catching a lot of smaller fish it's a good bet no big fish are around. The larger fish just can't compete with the much faster smaller bass during feeding frenzies.
For the best odds of catching a trophy bass, concentrate your efforts in or near isolated cover. Find the largest rock, biggest tree or best brush pile in the area and thoroughly fish each part of the cover. Start by fishing the outside edge of the structure and make several casts. It may take up to ten casts to one piece of cover to aggravate a big bass into striking. Move slowly closer to the cover and begin flipping or pitching a large plastic worm or jig and pig right into the heart of the cover, the thickest part. Always use a stout rod and reel and heavy line, preferably a braided or copolymer line. Dragging a big bass out of heavy cover can be a chore, but most big bass will be right in the thickest, gnarliest part of the cover.
Anglers fishing solely for big bass should not expect a lot of bites, but the when strikes do occur it's usually a solid fish and maybe the fish of a lifetime. Use large baits and seek out the best cover available and you will begin to catch much larger fish.
