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Big Bass


kt

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I just can't seem to top that 20" mark on a certain body of water. I have caught about 25 19-19.75 inch bass on this lake in the past three years but have yet to catch one over 20. I am completely baffled, where are these 19 inchers i caught three years ago. Do they just quit growing in lenght once they reach 19.75 inches or what. I've caught a couple 19.5 that were 5 to 5.25 lbs. Maybe they start growing in width once they reach 19.5 or something kinda like us humans haha. Three years ago i was dreaming about all the 20's i was gonna catch and i still haven't pulled one out of this lake. I highly doubt many of them have been taken out of the lake because i rarely see anyone fishing bass in this lake. What do some of you big bass hunters do when in search of the big bite. I have tried everything, shallow slop, reed beds, deep weedlines, flats, points, inside turns, midlake structure. I just can't seem to get a 20 incher out of this lake. Its almost comical everytime i hook into a big one im thinking alright this is the one and it never fails they are always about 19-19.75 inches. This past week i hooked 4 19+ inchers, one on a deepweedline one on a dock, two fishing thick bulrushes. Don't get me wrong im not complaining about anything, in fact, this is probably the best bass like ive fished on for both size and numbers have had a lot of 60+ fish mornings on this lake and the size isn't small, lots of 15-18 inchers. I just want to prove to my self that 20 inchers do exist in this lake. Have any of you guys seen a lake like this where you just can't seem to break a certain length? Sorry for the extremely long post, but i just had to rant for awhile, it will be interesting to read some of your thoughts and insight.

thanks

kt

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sounds like you are doing the right things. 20's are hard to come by. how deep is the lake? the lake i fish up north is fairly deep (95 at the deepest) and i think a lot of the big fish (pike, wally's and bass) are moving out and suspending over deep water. i read an article last summer that was describing how most of the big fish in lakes are suspending over deep water feeding on Ciscos. they really have no need to come shallow anymore except in the spring to spawn. the jist of the article was to look for schools of bait fish and troll or cast deep diving Cisco immitation baits. the Cisco is a fish that lives its whole life suspended over deep water. they spawn out there and feed. they don't come shallow so a lot of the big fish have changed their patterns of feeding to go after these.

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YIPPPPEEEEEEEE

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Sound to me like you're taking the right approach, just a matter of time, 20+ bass are not all that common in alot of lakes, sure, I would still bet that almost every lake that holds a good population of bass and quality forage has a population of them, but they are certianly not easy to come by. The most obvious time to pursue the larger fish is in the fall. When the weeds start dying off, bigger bass will seek and find clumps of cabbage and coontail that is still alive, if you can find these as well in your in luck, as the weeds are dying off they are no longer providing cover and oxygen for baitfish, so the baitfish seek out what they had all summer, weeds. And the bass are right on their tails. Try slow rollong a spinnerbat along the bottom and around the remaining weeds you find of a jig 'n pig combo will work also, I would definately try a larger profile swim bait reeled slowly along the bottom. Also the deeper the live weeds the better. And don't be surprised to find numerous bass holding on one clump of weeds, be thorough and work all sides. I believe this is your best chance of hooking a hog.

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The lake is fairly deep, max depth of about 85 feet. It also has ciscoes in it. It would seem like a prime candidate for open water trolling or casting for fish feeding on suspended ciscoes (it has a large basin of 60+ feet of water) i just haven't tried it yet. Even bought a dd22 a month ago just in case i got the urge to give it a try. I thought that was more of a pike, muskie, and walleye thing though. The openwater thing might be an avenue that im gonna have to try. I just have a hard time pulling myself away from the weedlines, flats, and slop. I've caught my share of 20 + inch fish, but i just haven't been able to get one out of this lake.
Do any of you guys pay attention to moon phases? Ive read a lot about the bigger fish feeding during certain parts of the moon phase, but i have never really planned a fishing trip around them.

thanks again for all your responses,

kt

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