Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - Texas Fishing Forum

Posted By: thirtysixit

Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/22/20 09:57 PM

I'm fishing my first Big Bass tournament in a month on LBJ. There will be hourly weigh-ins. Is there a good strategy on when to weigh in or do y'all head to the scales when you catch a good one?

Posted By: bassmanrudy

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/22/20 10:20 PM

You'll need to pay attention to either the radio or online site that is constantly updating to try and determine "when" to go. Look up any past big bass tourneys on that lake and you'll have an idea of say "any 6lber will get a check" whereas if you have a "4lber" might want to wait until you know if it will cash or not. I fished my first big bass tourney earlier this year and some hours a 3lber would have cashed a check and some hours it took a 5+ to do the same thing! Good luck!

Posted By: Bruce Allen

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/23/20 02:34 PM

The first hour weigh in is usually very busy. Unless you have a real big fish I'd tell you to wait it out until at least the 2nd hour or later. A lot depends on how many anglers are registered.

I've watched the many hourlys held at Fork while running the live release boat and that seems to be the trend.

Posted By: Frank the Tank

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/23/20 04:01 PM

You just need to get time on the water. Nothing replaces time on the water.

Posted By: Ken A.

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/23/20 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by thirtysixit

I'm fishing my first Big Bass tournament in a month on LBJ. There will be hourly weigh-ins. Is there a good strategy on when to weigh in or do y'all head to the scales when you catch a good one?

Yes there is.

Make sure you have a good accurate scale so you know what your fish weighs within an ounce or two. Listen to the radio or watch the website. Most folks make the mistake of going to weigh their fish right away when they catch a big one due to the excitement of the moment. That is a mistake unless it is a GIANT. If you know you have a 8.25 in the well and an 8.96 is leading the hour don't go in that hour. Wait.

If the next hour there is a 6.88 leading, go into the marina 20 mins early but don't take your fish. Walk up to the TD and ask what's leading. Observe any other guys that will be at the tanks at the weigh in to see if they have a fish larger than yours. If they do, go back to your boat & go fishing. If they don't, hold your fish until the last 5 seconds before that hour closes then hand it to the TD.

I won $50K at the 2012 Mega Bass event on Fork and helped a young man win a new Ram truck by making sure we knew who's fish was bigger before we weighed them. He was about to weigh his fish thinking it was bigger than mine. They looked like twins. I got the digital scales from my boat and we weighed both fish on my scale. My fish went 9.50 and his fish went 9.35. This all happened at the weigh in stage while the TD was saying, "Y'all bring them fish up here and let's weigh em"

He waited for two hours to weigh his fish and won a new Dodge Ram truck. If he had weighed his fish when he was about to it would have cost him $17K. When the event was over he came up to me and shook my hand and said, "Man, thank you so much! I was going to weigh my fish because I was so stoked."

Posted By: Bruce Allen

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/23/20 10:12 PM

Ken is exactly right.

Posted By: BigDozer66

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/24/20 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by Ken A.

Originally Posted by thirtysixit

I'm fishing my first Big Bass tournament in a month on LBJ. There will be hourly weigh-ins. Is there a good strategy on when to weigh in or do y'all head to the scales when you catch a good one?

Yes there is.

Make sure you have a good accurate scale so you know what your fish weighs within an ounce or two. Listen to the radio or watch the website. Most folks make the mistake of going to weigh their fish right away when they catch a big one due to the excitement of the moment. That is a mistake unless it is a GIANT. If you know you have a 8.25 in the well and an 8.96 is leading the hour don't go in that hour. Wait.

If the next hour there is a 6.88 leading, go into the marina 20 mins early but don't take your fish. Walk up to the TD and ask what's leading. Observe any other guys that will be at the tanks at the weigh in to see if they have a fish larger than yours. If they do, go back to your boat & go fishing. If they don't, hold your fish until the last 5 seconds before that hour closes then hand it to the TD.

I won $50K at the 2012 Mega Bass event on Fork and helped a young man win a new Ram truck by making sure we knew who's fish was bigger before we weighed them. He was about to weigh his fish thinking it was bigger than mine. They looked like twins. I got the digital scales from my boat and we weighed both fish on my scale. My fish went 9.50 and his fish went 9.35. This all happened at the weigh in stage while the TD was saying, "Y'all bring them fish up here and let's weigh em"

He waited for two hours to weigh his fish and won a new Dodge Ram truck. If he had weighed his fish when he was about to it would have cost him $17K. When the event was over he came up to me and shook my hand and said, "Man, thank you so much! I was going to weigh my fish because I was so stoked."

Posted By: Kisndismis

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/24/20 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by Ken A.

Originally Posted by thirtysixit

I'm fishing my first Big Bass tournament in a month on LBJ. There will be hourly weigh-ins. Is there a good strategy on when to weigh in or do y'all head to the scales when you catch a good one?

Yes there is.

Make sure you have a good accurate scale so you know what your fish weighs within an ounce or two. Listen to the radio or watch the website. Most folks make the mistake of going to weigh their fish right away when they catch a big one due to the excitement of the moment. That is a mistake unless it is a GIANT. If you know you have a 8.25 in the well and an 8.96 is leading the hour don't go in that hour. Wait.

If the next hour there is a 6.88 leading, go into the marina 20 mins early but don't take your fish. Walk up to the TD and ask what's leading. Observe any other guys that will be at the tanks at the weigh in to see if they have a fish larger than yours. If they do, go back to your boat & go fishing. If they don't, hold your fish until the last 5 seconds before that hour closes then hand it to the TD.

I won $50K at the 2012 Mega Bass event on Fork and helped a young man win a new Ram truck by making sure we knew who's fish was bigger before we weighed them. He was about to weigh his fish thinking it was bigger than mine. They looked like twins. I got the digital scales from my boat and we weighed both fish on my scale. My fish went 9.50 and his fish went 9.35. This all happened at the weigh in stage while the TD was saying, "Y'all bring them fish up here and let's weigh em"

He waited for two hours to weigh his fish and won a new Dodge Ram truck. If he had weighed his fish when he was about to it would have cost him $17K. When the event was over he came up to me and shook my hand and said, "Man, thank you so much! I was going to weigh my fish because I was so stoked."

Ken not only do I like watching your videos, but this is a straight up solid in my book. Total respect for you for that. Like me giving guys the worms I used at ramps sometimes in front of my sons, teaching them to do things right. These things come back to help you in the future.

Posted By: BThomas

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/24/20 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by Kisndismis

Originally Posted by Ken A.

Originally Posted by thirtysixit

I'm fishing my first Big Bass tournament in a month on LBJ. There will be hourly weigh-ins. Is there a good strategy on when to weigh in or do y'all head to the scales when you catch a good one?

Yes there is.

Make sure you have a good accurate scale so you know what your fish weighs within an ounce or two. Listen to the radio or watch the website. Most folks make the mistake of going to weigh their fish right away when they catch a big one due to the excitement of the moment. That is a mistake unless it is a GIANT. If you know you have a 8.25 in the well and an 8.96 is leading the hour don't go in that hour. Wait.

If the next hour there is a 6.88 leading, go into the marina 20 mins early but don't take your fish. Walk up to the TD and ask what's leading. Observe any other guys that will be at the tanks at the weigh in to see if they have a fish larger than yours. If they do, go back to your boat & go fishing. If they don't, hold your fish until the last 5 seconds before that hour closes then hand it to the TD.

I won $50K at the 2012 Mega Bass event on Fork and helped a young man win a new Ram truck by making sure we knew who's fish was bigger before we weighed them. He was about to weigh his fish thinking it was bigger than mine. They looked like twins. I got the digital scales from my boat and we weighed both fish on my scale. My fish went 9.50 and his fish went 9.35. This all happened at the weigh in stage while the TD was saying, "Y'all bring them fish up here and let's weigh em"

He waited for two hours to weigh his fish and won a new Dodge Ram truck. If he had weighed his fish when he was about to it would have cost him $17K. When the event was over he came up to me and shook my hand and said, "Man, thank you so much! I was going to weigh my fish because I was so stoked."

Ken not only do I like watching your videos, but this is a straight up solid in my book. Total respect for you for that. Like me giving guys the worms I used at ramps sometimes in front of my sons, teaching them to do things right. These things come back to help you in the future.

Wrong Ken. But Ken A is a great guy.

Posted By: pacertom

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/25/20 01:06 AM

Originally Posted by Ken A.

Originally Posted by thirtysixit

I'm fishing my first Big Bass tournament in a month on LBJ. There will be hourly weigh-ins. Is there a good strategy on when to weigh in or do y'all head to the scales when you catch a good one?

Yes there is.

Make sure you have a good accurate scale so you know what your fish weighs within an ounce or two. Listen to the radio or watch the website. Most folks make the mistake of going to weigh their fish right away when they catch a big one due to the excitement of the moment. That is a mistake unless it is a GIANT. If you know you have a 8.25 in the well and an 8.96 is leading the hour don't go in that hour. Wait.

If the next hour there is a 6.88 leading, go into the marina 20 mins early but don't take your fish. Walk up to the TD and ask what's leading. Observe any other guys that will be at the tanks at the weigh in to see if they have a fish larger than yours. If they do, go back to your boat & go fishing. If they don't, hold your fish until the last 5 seconds before that hour closes then hand it to the TD.

I won $50K at the 2012 Mega Bass event on Fork and helped a young man win a new Ram truck by making sure we knew who's fish was bigger before we weighed them. He was about to weigh his fish thinking it was bigger than mine. They looked like twins. I got the digital scales from my boat and we weighed both fish on my scale. My fish went 9.50 and his fish went 9.35. This all happened at the weigh in stage while the TD was saying, "Y'all bring them fish up here and let's weigh em"

He waited for two hours to weigh his fish and won a new Dodge Ram truck. If he had weighed his fish when he was about to it would have cost him $17K. When the event was over he came up to me and shook my hand and said, "Man, thank you so much! I was going to weigh my fish because I was so stoked."

And that next hour, me and that guy did a friendly weigh in at the tanks and whoever's was bigger got to go...He waited til the next hour. Mine was 9.36 and I think his was 9.32 but the scale we used had it a couple more ounces different....Goes to show how much water those big ole mouths/bellies will hold - or not hold. I know I remember telling you about the 4 or 5 shad mine spit up in the livewell...UGH !!

Posted By: Walls

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/25/20 02:43 AM

Originally Posted by Kisndismis

Originally Posted by Ken A.

Originally Posted by thirtysixit

I'm fishing my first Big Bass tournament in a month on LBJ. There will be hourly weigh-ins. Is there a good strategy on when to weigh in or do y'all head to the scales when you catch a good one?

Yes there is.

Make sure you have a good accurate scale so you know what your fish weighs within an ounce or two. Listen to the radio or watch the website. Most folks make the mistake of going to weigh their fish right away when they catch a big one due to the excitement of the moment. That is a mistake unless it is a GIANT. If you know you have a 8.25 in the well and an 8.96 is leading the hour don't go in that hour. Wait.

If the next hour there is a 6.88 leading, go into the marina 20 mins early but don't take your fish. Walk up to the TD and ask what's leading. Observe any other guys that will be at the tanks at the weigh in to see if they have a fish larger than yours. If they do, go back to your boat & go fishing. If they don't, hold your fish until the last 5 seconds before that hour closes then hand it to the TD.

I won $50K at the 2012 Mega Bass event on Fork and helped a young man win a new Ram truck by making sure we knew who's fish was bigger before we weighed them. He was about to weigh his fish thinking it was bigger than mine. They looked like twins. I got the digital scales from my boat and we weighed both fish on my scale. My fish went 9.50 and his fish went 9.35. This all happened at the weigh in stage while the TD was saying, "Y'all bring them fish up here and let's weigh em"

He waited for two hours to weigh his fish and won a new Dodge Ram truck. If he had weighed his fish when he was about to it would have cost him $17K. When the event was over he came up to me and shook my hand and said, "Man, thank you so much! I was going to weigh my fish because I was so stoked."

Ken not only do I like watching your videos, but this is a straight up solid in my book. Total respect for you for that. Like me giving guys the worms I used at ramps sometimes in front of my sons, teaching them to do things right. These things come back to help you in the future.

I think you have a couple “Kens” lumped as one.

Posted By: Ken A.

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/25/20 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by WALLS

Originally Posted by Kisndismis

Originally Posted by Ken A.

Originally Posted by thirtysixit

I'm fishing my first Big Bass tournament in a month on LBJ. There will be hourly weigh-ins. Is there a good strategy on when to weigh in or do y'all head to the scales when you catch a good one?

Yes there is.

Make sure you have a good accurate scale so you know what your fish weighs within an ounce or two. Listen to the radio or watch the website. Most folks make the mistake of going to weigh their fish right away when they catch a big one due to the excitement of the moment. That is a mistake unless it is a GIANT. If you know you have a 8.25 in the well and an 8.96 is leading the hour don't go in that hour. Wait.

If the next hour there is a 6.88 leading, go into the marina 20 mins early but don't take your fish. Walk up to the TD and ask what's leading. Observe any other guys that will be at the tanks at the weigh in to see if they have a fish larger than yours. If they do, go back to your boat & go fishing. If they don't, hold your fish until the last 5 seconds before that hour closes then hand it to the TD.

I won $50K at the 2012 Mega Bass event on Fork and helped a young man win a new Ram truck by making sure we knew who's fish was bigger before we weighed them. He was about to weigh his fish thinking it was bigger than mine. They looked like twins. I got the digital scales from my boat and we weighed both fish on my scale. My fish went 9.50 and his fish went 9.35. This all happened at the weigh in stage while the TD was saying, "Y'all bring them fish up here and let's weigh em"

He waited for two hours to weigh his fish and won a new Dodge Ram truck. If he had weighed his fish when he was about to it would have cost him $17K. When the event was over he came up to me and shook my hand and said, "Man, thank you so much! I was going to weigh my fish because I was so stoked."

Ken not only do I like watching your videos, but this is a straight up solid in my book. Total respect for you for that. Like me giving guys the worms I used at ramps sometimes in front of my sons, teaching them to do things right. These things come back to help you in the future.

I think you have a couple “Kens” lumped as one.

Yeah I'm the better looking one!

Posted By: Fish Killer

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/25/20 02:53 PM

May just be me but I hate hearing a tournament called a “derby”

Posted By: Douglas J

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/25/20 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by Kisndismis

Originally Posted by Ken A.

Originally Posted by thirtysixit

I'm fishing my first Big Bass tournament in a month on LBJ. There will be hourly weigh-ins. Is there a good strategy on when to weigh in or do y'all head to the scales when you catch a good one?

Yes there is.

Make sure you have a good accurate scale so you know what your fish weighs within an ounce or two. Listen to the radio or watch the website. Most folks make the mistake of going to weigh their fish right away when they catch a big one due to the excitement of the moment. That is a mistake unless it is a GIANT. If you know you have a 8.25 in the well and an 8.96 is leading the hour don't go in that hour. Wait.

If the next hour there is a 6.88 leading, go into the marina 20 mins early but don't take your fish. Walk up to the TD and ask what's leading. Observe any other guys that will be at the tanks at the weigh in to see if they have a fish larger than yours. If they do, go back to your boat & go fishing. If they don't, hold your fish until the last 5 seconds before that hour closes then hand it to the TD.

I won $50K at the 2012 Mega Bass event on Fork and helped a young man win a new Ram truck by making sure we knew who's fish was bigger before we weighed them. He was about to weigh his fish thinking it was bigger than mine. They looked like twins. I got the digital scales from my boat and we weighed both fish on my scale. My fish went 9.50 and his fish went 9.35. This all happened at the weigh in stage while the TD was saying, "Y'all bring them fish up here and let's weigh em"

He waited for two hours to weigh his fish and won a new Dodge Ram truck. If he had weighed his fish when he was about to it would have cost him $17K. When the event was over he came up to me and shook my hand and said, "Man, thank you so much! I was going to weigh my fish because I was so stoked."

Ken not only do I like watching your videos, but this is a straight up solid in my book. Total respect for you for that. Like me giving guys the worms I used at ramps sometimes in front of my sons, teaching them to do things right. These things come back to help you in the future.

where can I find Ken's videos? Wait, I may not want to see that

Posted By: Douglas J

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/25/20 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Fish Killer

May just be me but I hate hearing a tournament called a “derby”

spot on

Posted By: Dubee

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/25/20 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by Fish Killer

May just be me but I hate hearing a tournament called a “derby”

Trust me. It's not just you. I don't know how it started but it needs to stop

Posted By: senko9S

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/25/20 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by Dubee

Originally Posted by Fish Killer

May just be me but I hate hearing a tournament called a “derby”

Trust me. It's not just you. I don't know how it started but it needs to stop

Posted By: GROD

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/25/20 06:01 PM

I typically try to fish where the crowd is not.... especially on 2-3 day tournaments. Less boat traffic and fishing pressure in an area the better in my opinion.

Posted By: cephusjoe

Re: Big Bass Derby Strategy?!?? - 08/26/20 02:15 AM

If you weigh in, zero your scales to the tournament directors scales as good as you can... Then Later on in the day or next day you know about where you are along with the field.