Pretty exciting watching bass chase a live perch in post spawn when the big females setup around perch beds. Maybe the easiest way to catch an 8+ other than sight fishing, which it's closely related.

I think about fishing with live bait all time, but I feel I can cover more water with artificial than live. And I never feel I am fishing in the right spot, so I am always moving. If you got the patience for live bait and can pick the right place to put it, you can catch a SAL. I don't and hope to catch a SAL on a giant piece of plastic.

If someone else wants to use live bait to catch a giant largemouth, have at it. Its not for me.

Still trying to break the double digits on a largemouth and I personally would not want that first fish to be on live bait.


Fished Alan Henry a few weeks ago right up to dark. Was a pretty afternoon and my buddy asked to troll back to the ramp. Started trolling 6xds and about 5 minutes in my rod doubles over. I thought I was snagged in a tree, so slammed the boat in reverse, picked up the rod and nope it was a fish. Had a lot of line out and fought it for 15-20 minutes with a few short runs mixed in. Reminded me of the 38 lb blue cat I caught last year in Louisiana.

The entire time I was fighting that fish, I kept saying, please don't be a bass. The crank bait pulled out when it got under the boat. Never did see the fish. Came to the surface about 20 yards behind the boat at one time, but never could tell what it was. I was actually a little relieved.

I knew if it was a bass, it was over 10 lbs. I'd rather go the rest of my life and not catch a 10 lber, than to catch one using any method not allowed in most tournaments.

But that's just me.

How others choose to fish, or what they choose to count as a "catch" is purely up to them.

I remember in the very early days of Fork. I think it was in Glade. Boats would be tied off to trees in a long row, everyone of them fishing dawgs. I thought at that time and still do that is not my cup of tea.

I watched a guy a fork a few years ago absolutely stroke fish every other cast on big shiners in front of the golf course. He was having a good time. I’ll sore lip em on live bait in heart beat. Guides on Lake Okeechobee fish big shiners below balloons all the time.

I know several trophy hunters from the past that used them on Monticello and Fairfield.
They work their walls were full of trophy’s not replicas. I will say only a few came on dawgs most on large plastics and jigs . Either way you have to be patient and be in the right area.
J D

My FOAL had an 8" crappie in her mouth along with a black/blue jig and craw worm. She was gluttonous.

If you fought a fish for 15-20 minutes I guarantee you it wasn't a bass....

There’s a guide on fork who made a name for himself using live bait, much success I believe too.

I think I read where the 14# caught at Lake Conroe a few weeks ago was caught on live perch while fishing for catfish

On highly pressured waters I’d say you have a much greater chance of catching a DD bass using water dogs or large shiners.

I caught an 8 pounder off a bed Saturday with a 6lb line drop shot and medium light rod. It only took 2 minutes to have her in the boat.

It seemed like 15-20 mins at the time, but I will admit likely exaggerated. I should have put for what seemed like 15-20 mins. Was hoping it was a catfish while fighting it, but regardless if it was a bass, I’m glad it got off. It didn’t peel line for very long like big catfish Ive caught before. Just a few short runs, which didn’t make me think big gar either. Wasn’t using 6 lb line, but with 12 lb line wasn’t trying to horse her in either. Most of the time it was like reeling in dead weight with a ton of line out. Had most of what a Revo winch will hold in 12 lb invisix. Trolling is a great way to target offshore spots if you just want to catch fish, but just not my cup of tea. Will do it occasionally for stripers on P.K.

First time I ever fished with water dogs was on Monticello about 20 years ago. You’d get your [censored] tore up if you weren’t fishing with at least 20lb big game.

You can do what you want as long as its legal. Artificial only for me.