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Larger baits vs smaller baits debate #12551341 12/25/17 11:30 PM
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craigfish Offline OP
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When targeting larger fish outside the spawn what is your opinion regarding using primarily larger lures? Our home lake is a highly pressured, gin clear, extremely tough lake. You have to just about use a folded $100 bill as a trailer to get a bite on a jig there. They just don’t eat it good. We’ve all heard Lg. baits = Lg. fish -but even on super tough water? My fishing partner and I have an ongoing debate: he is a large bait guy (Jigs, swimbaits, glide baits etc.) and I’m more of a finesse guy (4 inch worms, Ned rigs etc.). I always want to scale down and he always wants to scale up. His philosophy is obviously big baits get big bites not dink bites. My philosophy is I wanna give em an easy meal they can slurp up with little or no effort. Results haven’t really been that great either way on our lake – again outside of the spawn. Opinions?

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: craigfish] #12551360 12/26/17 12:01 AM
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Douglas J Offline
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Live Bait


#MFGA
Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: Douglas J] #12551374 12/26/17 12:13 AM
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lconn4 Online Content
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Originally Posted By: Doug R.
Live Bait


Big ones! roflmao


A good rule of angling philosophy is not to interfere with another fisherman's ways of being happy, unless you want to be hated.
Zane Grey, Tales of Fishes, 1919

https://vimeo.com/73372194
https://vimeo.com/72859045

Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: craigfish] #12551380 12/26/17 12:30 AM
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YAKaddict Offline
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I believe big baits catch bigger fish just not numbers. I also believe certain baits get bigger bites but i dont know anything , my boat only goes 30 mphs

Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: craigfish] #12551382 12/26/17 12:33 AM
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Brad R Offline
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Panfish anglers rarely go out and avoid hooking up with a few bass, some of decent size. I have caught up to 4 lbs. bass on a #7 jig head hook and 2 lbs. braid.

The issue is if you are fishing anywhere near structure, they can wrap you up quickly. Spinning tackle isn't very conducive to over-powering fish so it can be problematic.

But, small baits work great. On the other hand, who hasn't seen a minnow-sized bass hanging off one of the 14" big swimbaits. Ha!

It goes both ways: big fish on small baits; small fish on big baits.

Brad

Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: YAKaddict] #12551415 12/26/17 01:10 AM
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Originally Posted By: YAKaddict
I believe big baits catch bigger fish just not numbers. I also believe certain baits get bigger bites but i dont know anything , my boat only goes 30 mphs
you need a faster boat to catch bigger fish.

Haha.

Little baits/ big baits (within reason) catch all sizes. Of course a Huddleston isn't gonna catch too many small fish.


Eat. Sleep. Fish.
Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: craigfish] #12551429 12/26/17 01:27 AM
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I have caught big fish from crappie jigs to 10XDs-12" baits, just have to fish the climates at hand.


Branden Hollingshead

38-DD's and counting
Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: craigfish] #12551466 12/26/17 02:16 AM
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stitch Offline
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I’ve caught my 2 biggest bass on a 1/4 oz spinner bait. I have caught good fish on big baits as well. I will continue to use both

Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: craigfish] #12551480 12/26/17 02:26 AM
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It is not the size of the bait within reason as mentioned. It is about getting on feeding fish and using a bait within reason that has all the things that Big Bass are looking for. Your parts are the key. The clearer the water the more important it is to get it all put together to make that bait as real as possible.
- Sight: Match everything form the size and species that they are feeding on to the colors they are feeding on. That can be anything from Bait fish of all kinds, Crayfish, small snakes and any other critter that comes off the bank which introduces some top water action.
- Sound: It must be putting out the right tune as it moves through the water. Sometimes that is subtle and sometimes it is loud.
- Vibration: It must have the right thump to bring them to the bait and that goes both ways also.
- Smell and Taste: I am big on scent and want the bait leaving a trail of scent. I want that scent to be as natural to what they are use to eating as possible. The three most natural are Minnow, Night Crawler and Crayfish. It absolutely comes into play with masking the human odor and gives you that extra second as they hold on longer.

Are these the little things that matter? No, they are the big things that sew up the deal.


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Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: YAKaddict] #12551573 12/26/17 04:48 AM
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Originally Posted By: YAKaddict
I believe big baits catch bigger fish just not numbers. I also believe certain baits get bigger bites but i dont know anything , my boat only goes 30 mphs

I must know less than you - my boat tops out at about 25mph.


In memory of my childhood friend Dan Sterling, who taught me at an early age how to catch bream with a hand-line, and who unknowingly hooked me on fishing for life.
Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: Marooned] #12551584 12/26/17 04:59 AM
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Originally Posted By: Marooned
Originally Posted By: YAKaddict
I believe big baits catch bigger fish just not numbers. I also believe certain baits get bigger bites but i dont know anything , my boat only goes 30 mphs

I must know less than you - my boat tops out at about 25mph.

Put racing stripes on your boat, that instantly adds 5 mphs

Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: craigfish] #12551720 12/26/17 02:04 PM
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Jarrett Latta Offline
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High pressure + clear water = fish at night..... problem solved for targeting big bass since that's most likely when they are feeding

Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: Donald Harper] #12551732 12/26/17 02:17 PM
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Something I was wondering on the scent, do minnows and shad smell the same? I’m just wondering because it seems like bass eat more shad than minnows. I’m not being a smart butt, I am genuinely wanting to know.

Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: craigfish] #12551763 12/26/17 02:42 PM
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2 of the last 3 Sharelunker size Bass ( between 13 and 14 lbs ) caught out of our local lake were caught on crappie jigs in January, watched someone in a little Pelican 1 man boat battle a giant right off the end of my dock, he caught on a Zebco 33 trolling for sandbass with a 2" yellow jig
and it's like yours Gin clear water most of the time

Re: Larger baits vs smaller baits debate [Re: craigfish] #12552222 12/26/17 11:01 PM
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TEXASJIGSTER Offline
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hmmm

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