Well I'm gonna give Fork a shot tomorrow

I would think beating the bank would have netted a fish bigger then 4.5 lbs. Have caught many over 5 in less then 5 ft of water. Course the body of water may not have a lot of big fish that shallow. So it depends.

Get your boat wrapped.......

yea and your not going fast enough, If you arent running 80 to your spots you probably wont catch the big ones.

Ask the pro staffer about some prime holes of his that will help you catch bigger fish as I am sure he will gladly let you know where the big fish are and what they are biting.

Forget the catching part and concentrate on the big fish...take all the lures you have been using and set then a side.....use larger baits that catch big fish - jigs, large spinner baits, swim baits, larger plastics....thow in a couple large crank baits...stop beating the banks...back off and you will still catch fish.

Yes bigger baits and slow presentation!! fish big or go home!!!!

Swimbaits will produce big bass this time of the year.

Try different lures that are not in your comfort zone.

Big Bass become conditioned to seeing the same lures all the time.

I bet you are not "tournament loading/unloa.ding" like a true prostaffer

I'm sure you have heard the many stories of people throwing out their plastic worm then picking out a backlash or popping open a beer and staring blankly across the lake only to pick up their rod and find a big momma on the line. That stuff happens a lot!
You need to fish slowly!!
A weightless senko fluke or wacky worm or drop shot or jig or Texas rig all work better fished very slowly!!
That's my humble thought
Post up your next big one and good luck'

Also
Fish lakes that have big fish with ample Florida stockings!
good lord no dink lakes!
Also
Expensive boats sonar huge motors etc are all way overrated when it comes to just fishing for fun. You can get a lot of big ones in a kayak
If you fish slowly in
The right bodies of water.
Don't hit that trolling motor more than you have to!- big ones don't like it

You obviously suck as a fisherman, but don't fret, all u have to do is book a trip to Camelot bell and you'll go from a guy who can only catch dinks on public waters to posting pics with double digits like a true trophy.

Yes Tamale's advise is OBVIOUSLY the best-go with that

I got my Pb when I dead sticked a lft magic shad. Got a massive backlash and went to take a lee and came back with a big girl eating my shad

That happened this morning! Finally Broke my rut!! Was on Fork this morning, at about 8:30 I was in a cove on the North end with about 7 other boats, nobody was catching anything, I threw a weightless Texas riggen Yum Dinger in about 6 ft of water, had a minor backlash picked it out and felt the line tighten up. I set the hook and ended up with a 7.5 pounder and a bunch of jealous boats!! Hahahaha!! So the rut is Temporarily over. Thanks for all the great advice guys. I slowed down today stepped back and it payed off!