Catchin' the Hawgs

[Jackster]

Andy, seeing your last post, you may be the right guy to answer this one. I have been fishing for over 30 years now and the biggest bass (sm or lg mouth) I've ever caught was about 4 1/2 lbs. I was 14 at Taylorsville Lake in an old john boat wiith my dad. I am a weekend angler and get out 5 to 10 times per year. Whether I am on the bigger lakes or at the local farm pond, I can consistently catch bass up to 15", but never seem to hook into anything bigger. I assume it is because I tend to focus too close to shoreline structure rather than deeper water. Any advice on how to break my own personal best? It has been a long 22 years.

[cra97]

Good luck getting Andy to share any information, you may have an easier time getting the schematics to the Ft. Knox vault~~LOL

[Col Forbin]

I think Andy will agree with this, fish more. I know Andy has said he is on the water more than anyone he knows. Fishing more will help you pinpoint patterns as well as increase your odds of catching bigger fish (more line in the water time, more opportunities for a big taker). I have increased my time on the water this year by at least 5 times compared to other years, and I have my personal best SM, LM, and spot already this year. It really took hitting the water 3 or more times a week for my numbers to increase.

[DJD]

The best thing you can do is fish as much as possible in the Spring. The big females are up shallow. This doesn't mean bed fishing it just means go where there big fish should be.

[Stevens]

Andy coverd everything really well, and im just going to exphasize some things. This is the toughest time to catch really big bass, but you can still put odds in your favor. All my bass over 6lbs have come in summer and thats just because i have more time to fish in summer. Half those fish were during a half moon and the other half before a new moon. And alot of those fish were taken when the moon was above or below foot. Big fish are lazy and they only feed majorly during short time periods, alot of times when you catch one good one in a spot youll catch another in the same spot. still your best chance is pre spawn

[buzzking]

i like to fish by myself, I catch 8 lbers every trip, oh don't believe me, guess I better buy a camera to vindicate my skillz.

[fishin350]

I do not why people give you a hard time. The proof is in the pictures you know your stuff. It takes dedication to learn the skills needed to catch the big ones. I think its cool that you try to help people. Some people spend to much time giving people a hard time to fish.
Keep posting those HAWGS

[snavel]

Well put Andy. I don't have the skills of Andy but I can agree with many here that I have fished 5 times as much this year as any other year and I too have broken most of my prior records.
Also don't know if was said but fish with people who know how. . .and pay very close attention.
I used to think I knew how to fish until I spent some time in other people's boats. Always be open to change.
Good luck.

[kc]

More than anything you need to fish waters that hold numbers of big fish. That's what will improve your odds more than anything. For example I fell in love with the big lakes out west back in the mid '80s and have fished there fairly regularly since and my success with bigger bass -- both brown and green has gone up much. There are many good waters for trophy fish in the state both small and large but finding one that holds many big fish is the first step.

And like others said on here you need to learn where they live in a lake, by season, and then fish for them accordingly. Larger bass act and react differently most of the times than smaller fish. They tend to hold a little deeper, they spook a little quicker, and they have different preferences in lures and techniques. I find that I catch larger bass more on bigger lures and slower, more methodical techniques than smaller bass may prefer. So when I am on the water often I make the choice between fishing smaller but for more numbers or larger and a few bites at best.

As far as seasons go I find spring and late fall my favorite times to chase trophies because those are the times when they come up from the deep and are more accessible. Winter is also another good time to chase hawgs if you know how to read the water/weather conditions. The biggest fish move up first and February/March on the right days are prime time to take a trophy. Summer fish at night. In the late fall and winter afternoon until dark has been prime time for me.

kc

[smljaw]

The HAWGS can be taken all 12 months of the year. My personal best in KY was 8 pounds, caught in late August at 2PM on a hot, sunny day in about 5' of water. Caught her on a tube.

IMO, fishing bigger baits pays off. Also, find good cover on or near a bank where deep water is close by. If your boat is sitting over 20' and you are pitching to the bank, that's likely a honey hole for big fish. Even better, back the boat out and fish into that 20' depth. Fish it SLOW and pay very close attention. Big bass don't get to be big by accident. There is no telling how many of us have lost a big fish because she spit the bait. And like Andy said, hit 'em hard!

Over the past 10 years, jigs have caught most of my big fish. If I had one bait to fish 365 days a year it would be a jig, without a doubt...

[Bobby Headrick]

Like Andy says, fish more often, the lake I caught my largest smallie and largemouth in, see my other post is a small 100+ ac, tmotor watershed, I had fished this lake since it was built.and knew every inch of it, it took me several years to finalliy get that big one, but I knew they were in there. The conditions, bait and presention has to be spot on. Catching big bass is similar to hunting trophy bucks and it seems like Andy has the magic touch and skills, and he admits he is still learning, that is what makes a good big bass fisherperson, never quit learning and never quit trying and never give up. Since I have started tourney fishing my big bass catches have suffered as I have to target limits instead of single fish and I fish faster in tourneys. It takes time and patience to catch the hawgs, keep on chunking and it will happen. And most important RELEASE the hawgs as gentics grow the hawgs.

[Stevens]

Over the past 10 years, jigs have caught most of my big fish. If I had one bait to fish 365 days a year it would be a jig, without a doubt...

And SWIMBAITS! ill throw them anywhere clarity is beyond 2 feet. and ill throw them all day if i have to and maybe only get one bite, but that fish is probably going to be over 3 pounds and i feel if i put it infront of a 7 he's gona choke it.