Luck is where preparation meets opportunity. I have caught two DD and I am currently in a slump with no fish over 9 in the past two years.

I spent $200 today on lures at BPS. I am changing my luck this weekend. Who's with me?

GO --------->

I have bass fished for about 45 years and have hired very well known guides on Lake Fork and the irony of it all was that I caught my DD a 10.46 here on my home lake of Lake Palestine. I have had some huge fish hooked on Lake Fork and others but something always went wrong until it was just my time I guess lol. Like someone said there is no feeling like catching that DD. You never know when it will happen or if it ever will but that's what keeps us fishing and so blessed to live in an area where we have lakes with those kind of fish in them. This was a great thread, I really enjoyed everyone's comments!

How you fish is a factor, focus and preparation are a large percentage, but quite simply if you're fishing where there are numbers of DD's you'll raise your chances accordingly. Richard's post takes a minute to decipher what he said was he caught more DD's when there were more DD's to be caught.

I fished a tourney mindset for years, spinnerbaits in the shallows, cranks and assorted stuff covering water and enjoying ourselves - whoever went with me.

1 slow miserable hot day we tied up to a tree - no trolling motor no electronics in the same area we always fished, guess what... 13.71 next trip 11.55 follow up trips were 1 DD for either myself or a PB for the guy that had never broke 7 lbs. The ONLY thing we did different was Stealthy quiet entry - easing into position pushing off tree to tree instead of hitting high 24 and bait presentation over and over an over. I had fished this area for years and had no idea these fish were there all along mostly under my boat in 12 - 15' FOW. Applied this "style" or mindset to numerous locations around Fork and what do you know... DD's!! and it still works today just not as frequent, no why ? not as many DD's.

Remember back when a Blk / Blu Lizard fished at 15' horizontal to the bank won every tournament on Fork ??

Hope this helps..

Denny

I know this sounds simple but my theory is most of the time fisherman aren't fishing with a bait that's big enough to draw consistent interest from giant fish. I think these DD fish eat big big meals, like crappie, large bluegill, other bass, etc. And fisherman generally do not emulate this large forage. Clearly there are times when big fish are vulnerable to smaller baits like in the spring, but usually I just don't think we throw big enough baits.

Now the flip side of this are you willing to go all day throwing a monster bait and not get a bite, but stay true to a theory that big fish needs a big bait? Most people are not...including me...especially if the other guy in the boat is catching fish on a smaller bait. It's so easy to lose confidence in a big bait, when you may actually be doing the exact right thing but just can't find the patience to see it through.

This is one of the better threads in my opinion. Lots of great info to take in and digest.

Mine came from a place I was catching good numbers but not so great size. For me it is about confidence, slowing down and lots of luck.

Great thread!