Carolina riggin vs. Catchin the bigguns

[mybentrod]

Seems when I Carolina rig I only catch Wendal the one pounder. I move out deeper and I then catch nothing. So it's Wendal, or nothing. I weathered the rain yesterday at Nolin and they turned on only after it poured down rain. I could only catch small fish. This happens at every lake i go to. So its something im doing that specifically tagets small fish. So what does everyone do to turn up the size of fish?

[numbuts]

use a larger bait

[offdtop]

you didn't say your standard bait you throw.......

[mybentrod]

I have thrown a zoom lizard and a shaky head curl tail worm. Numbuts, I did go bigger. I went to a 10 inch power worm. All in watermelon. Yet I still get that same sized 14 inch fish.

[ukbass]

I have thrown a zoom lizard and a shaky head curl tail worm. Numbuts, I did go bigger. I went to a 10 inch power worm. All in watermelon. Yet I still get that same sized 14 inch fish.

I have caught many big fish on CR. Just stick with it. I caught a 7 1/2 pounder in early spring this year.

[Col Forbin]

Alot of the time when fish school up, most of the fish are similar size. I know in the summer here on ledges you can get on a school that are all 14 inch fish - and no matter how many you catch - they will be around the same size. However, every once in a while you will run up on a school that are all 3 pounders and you may catch several in a row that are all that size.

I would just hang with it - I have caught more big fish on a carolina rig than any other presentation, but I have also caught more small fish than any other presentation - it is my go to. I think the problem has to do more with location than actual bait. I usually fish a fairly small bait on there (Charmers timber pup). I have caught several 6 pounders on it, and a couple of 7's. I have a good friend that caught one over 10 earlier this year on the exact same bait.

[mybentrod]

Alot of the time when fish school up, most of the fish are similar size. I know in the summer here on ledges you can get on a school that are all 14 inch fish - and no matter how many you catch - they will be around the same size. However, every once in a while you will run up on a school that are all 3 pounders and you may catch several in a row that are all that size.

I would just hang with it - I have caught more big fish on a carolina rig than any other presentation, but I have also caught more small fish than any other presentation - it is my go to. I think the problem has to do more with location than actual bait. I usually fish a fairly small bait on there (Charmers timber pup). I have caught several 6 pounders on it, and a couple of 7's. I have a good friend that caught one over 10 earlier this year on the exact same bait.

I agree but those of us who have taken Daves how to eliminate water class knows he has taught us to not leave waters with fish to go after waters with the potential of having fish. Following that school of thought it's hard for me to pull up and leave when I'm boating fish. They're just smaller fish. It's a matter of information overload. I have adopted it as my go to cause I can feel the contour alot better than any other presentation. For that reason I can feel the bite alot better than let's say a jig or Texas rig. Its hard for me to slow down and let the bait simmer. So maybe that's the reason I can't get a good feel of the bottom. It's not settled yet to the bottom. Don't know, just trying to increase my arsenal of presentations and tactics to put em in the boat more often. I, like all of you, have invested alot of time and money to catch Wendal the one pounder.

[Dave Stewart]

I agree but those of us who have taken Daves how to eliminate water class knows he has taught us to not leave waters with fish to go after waters with the potential of having fish. Following that school of thought it's hard for me to pull up and leave when I'm boating fish. They're just smaller fish. It's a matter of information overload. I have adopted it as my go to cause I can feel the contour alot better than any other presentation. For that reason I can feel the bite alot better than let's say a jig or Texas rig. Its hard for me to slow down and let the bait simmer. So maybe that's the reason I can't get a good feel of the bottom. It's not settled yet to the bottom. Don't know, just trying to increase my arsenal of presentations and tactics to put em in the boat more often. I, like all of you, have invested alot of time and money to catch Wendal the one pounder.

Fellow took my ledge teaching trip with the class last Wednesday...he went out that evening and used the information to find a ledge...he caught one over 7 and 2 over 5 by C-rigging a timber pup on Barkley.

Change lures.

[mybentrod]

Then so be it. Next outing I change my lure. Proof is in the pudding. Thanks Dave.

[numbuts]

I have thrown a zoom lizard and a shaky head curl tail worm. Numbuts, I did go bigger. I went to a 10 inch power worm. All in watermelon. Yet I still get that same sized 14 inch fish.

sorry didn't mean to be so blunt short on time. I use a large bait in early spring before spawn then switch to smaller bait after fry hatch and upsize as season progresses you might try working deeper in areas you are catching fish

[RICHYD4U]

Seems when I Carolina rig I only catch Wendal the one pounder. I move out deeper and I then catch nothing. So it's Wendal, or nothing. I weathered the rain yesterday at Nolin and they turned on only after it poured down rain. I could only catch small fish. This happens at every lake i go to. So its something im doing that specifically tagets small fish. So what does everyone do to turn up the size of fish?

I've experienced similar situations at Nolin with the bite....it will be REAL slow, then a little rain and....ITS ON LIKE DONKEY KONG! I catch a lot of Wendals at Nolin, but I just keep on throwing that bait and usually come out with some NICE keepers in the mix. I always go large on my worms, 10" +...and I try to stay away from finesse curly tails as the little ones just pick at the tail and rip it off....drives me crazy! I put my worm on a 1/8oz slider or I C-rig it if I'm fishing a little deeper off the bank. Slap some spike-it on the end of your worm, and just keep pounding those banks! Now, if I could only find the magic bait that catches keepers everytime, I'd be in business! lol!

-Rich

[mybentrod]

I'd call ya Van Dam if you caught fish on every cast Rich.