texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,571
TexDawg 119,516
Bigbob_FTW 94,879
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,260
Bob Davis 81,480
Mark Perry 72,282
Derek 🐝 68,311
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,823
Posts13,935,144
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Bait size #13821711 12/28/20 03:23 AM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 25
C
CoryK Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
C
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?

Wet Rooster Jigs Fishing Super Store
Re: Bait size [Re: CoryK] #13821985 12/28/20 02:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,435
🍀El Gato Azul🍀 Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
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.


There is a fine line between fishing and floating around like an idiot!!
texas Check out out my YouTube channel El Gato Azul TV texas
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg0aV-uOxzxKxeqFFfREzKg
⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️ Home of little boys holding big catfish! ⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️
Re: Bait size [Re: 🍀El Gato Azul🍀] #13821991 12/28/20 02:47 PM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,520
banker-always fishing Online Content
Pumpkin Head
Online Content
Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,520
Originally Posted by 🌊El Gato Azul🌊
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. thumb


[Linked Image][Linked Image]

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 !
Re: Bait size [Re: 🍀El Gato Azul🍀] #13822529 12/29/20 12:16 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 902
T
teamron Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
T
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 902
Originally Posted by 🌊El Gato Azul🌊
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.

Re: Bait size [Re: CoryK] #13823155 12/29/20 04:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,181
B
Big Sam Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,181
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
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.....
Re: Bait size [Re: CoryK] #13823372 12/29/20 06:42 PM
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 952
Z
z289sec Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
Z
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 952
Filet one side and put it on. Makes it nearly double in size. Deiter Melhorn does that a lot.

Re: Bait size [Re: CoryK] #13823931 12/30/20 01:41 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,861
J
jackiekennedyfishingguide Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
J
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
[Linked Image]
jackiekennedyfishingguide

Re: Bait size [Re: Big Sam] #13824319 12/30/20 01:44 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,210
B
bullcrappie Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
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.
[Linked Image]
"
Re: Bait size [Re: bullcrappie] #13824331 12/30/20 01:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,435
🍀El Gato Azul🍀 Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
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...


There is a fine line between fishing and floating around like an idiot!!
texas Check out out my YouTube channel El Gato Azul TV texas
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg0aV-uOxzxKxeqFFfREzKg
⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️ Home of little boys holding big catfish! ⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️
Re: Bait size [Re: CoryK] #13824608 12/30/20 04:30 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,889
C
Coolarrow Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
C
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.

Re: Bait size [Re: CoryK] #13824675 12/30/20 05:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,405
Catfish Tim Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
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! [Linked Image]
[Linked Image]


Catfish Tim
🐟🐟"If it doesn't have whiskers, it's just bait"🐟🐟
Romans 8:1

Re: Bait size [Re: CoryK] #13824773 12/30/20 06:00 PM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,181
B
Big Sam Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
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.....
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3