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Bait size
#13821711
12/28/20 03:23 AM
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 25
CoryK
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 25 |
I have some questions about bait size for big blues. We hear “big baits for big fish” and I get it. At least big baits will keep way the small fish. It seems like in the winter, like now, we can only catch small Shad around 3-5”. We catch tons of these this size, so it makes me think, the big fish have to be feeding on this size as well since obviously they’re so plentiful. We’ll usually catch one or two big Shad 10”+, but that’s it. Thoughts? Just use the small ones? Or keep throwing the net until we gather enough large ones? If we are to use smaller Shad, is it helpful to hook a couple on at a time?
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Re: Bait size
[Re: CoryK]
#13821985
12/28/20 02:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,435
🍀El Gato Azul🍀
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,435 |
You don’t need big baits to catch big fish but it certainly helps. I won’t start fishing until I have enough big baits for my 6 planers. Getting the right bait is the first piece to the Big Bluecat puzzle.
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Re: Bait size
[Re: 🍀El Gato Azul🍀]
#13821991
12/28/20 02:47 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,520
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,520 |
You don’t need big baits to catch big fish but it certainly helps. I won’t start fishing until I have enough big baits for my 6 planers. Getting the right bait is the first piece to the Big Bluecat puzzle. Plus #1.
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Bait size
[Re: 🍀El Gato Azul🍀]
#13822529
12/29/20 12:16 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 902
teamron
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 902 |
You don’t need big baits to catch big fish but it certainly helps. I won’t start fishing until I have enough big baits for my 6 planers. Getting the right bait is the first piece to the Big Bluecat puzzle. This....I've caught Blues up to 40lbs on cut bait up the rivers in spring on bait not much bigger than the end of your Thumb.
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Re: Bait size
[Re: CoryK]
#13823155
12/29/20 04:01 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,181
Big Sam
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,181 |
I go big unless I'm trying to catch eating size fish in the winter...
If it ain't broke don't fix it...but go ahead and work on it anyway.....
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Re: Bait size
[Re: CoryK]
#13823372
12/29/20 06:42 PM
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 952
z289sec
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 952 |
Filet one side and put it on. Makes it nearly double in size. Deiter Melhorn does that a lot.
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Re: Bait size
[Re: CoryK]
#13823931
12/30/20 01:41 AM
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,861
jackiekennedyfishingguide
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,861 |
I for sure want big bait if I can get it to try and keep the little fish off of it. Yes I've caught big fish on small bait but I prefer big bait.
903-603-3793 Clients or I have landed eight state record fish and eighteen water body records. TPWD Elite Angler jackiekennedyfishingguide
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Re: Bait size
[Re: Big Sam]
#13824319
12/30/20 01:44 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,210
bullcrappie
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,210 |
You have one "bait" that shouldn't be in pic.you may want to delete I'd think
..The Original old style Side imaging sonar.. With 360* degree side scanning. "
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Re: Bait size
[Re: bullcrappie]
#13824331
12/30/20 01:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,435
🍀El Gato Azul🍀
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,435 |
You can use those striped shad up in Oklahoma where Sam fishes a lot Bullcrsppie. That’s all we use when we go up there...
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Re: Bait size
[Re: CoryK]
#13824608
12/30/20 04:30 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,889
Coolarrow
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,889 |
Shad head cut about an 1” behind the gills on a 5” shad has caught me a ton of big winter time blues.
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Re: Bait size
[Re: CoryK]
#13824675
12/30/20 05:15 PM
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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,405
Catfish Tim
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,405 |
First, I'm new to the forum so thanks for the add. I recently left facebook because of all the nonsense going on there and I need a place to talk fishing so here I am! I too like big baits when I can get them but when I can't I use what the good Lord and the lake give me. I've heard some guys say match what the fish are feeding on. In other words, if they are eating small. throw small baits, if they are eating big, throw big baits. Finding out what they want through experimentation is part of the sport. There are times when the conditions will tell you what to throw. For example, post spawn they are starving. Bigger is better. When it gets cold (early winter) smaller seems to work but, if you need to sift out the bait stealers, go bigger. Late winter, when the weather warms up and they fish head to the shallows I've had days where tiny little pieces of bait caught 30 pounders and I've had days where I caught dinks that were almost smaller than the bait I was using!
Catfish Tim 🐟🐟"If it doesn't have whiskers, it's just bait"🐟🐟 Romans 8:1
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Re: Bait size
[Re: CoryK]
#13824773
12/30/20 06:00 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,181
Big Sam
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,181 |
It's okay I meant to leave them in there... I'm legal you can use any any fish you catch in Oklahoma for bait long as you catch it on a rod and reel..... Striped bass and crappie is fair game......
If it ain't broke don't fix it...but go ahead and work on it anyway.....
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