Cant seem to catch the lunkers....

[Stephen Doemer]

I started fishing at the beginning of last summer and have really dove into it, however I haven't been able to produce any note worthy fish. I do fish mostly for small-mouth and wallelye using spinners, rapala alikes, and plastic worms....any tips for the big ones?

[Al Osmond]

With smallmouth, the bigger the lure, the bigger the fish. Try some Raps with three hooks. Can't say for walletes; none around here to catch. Good luck.

[Jairme & Jill]

match the hatch is a good suggestion to simply just get a few fish in the boat (you'd be surprised what type of fish will hit what and their size compared to the lure).

research! I spent three months before spring studying the different patterns fish lay their nests in, predators, preferred water temperature and habitat.


I find that crankbaits produce the best out of any lure/bait i've used... also try wacky rigging up a tube or plastic worm. Large mouth hit both of those really hard!

Tight Lines,

Jairme

[Al Osmond]

Funny you should mention that. I hooked a fish once and I said to my buddy, "hey, I got one on!. He said, "It a monster too!" I didn't tink it was a big one, but when I got it near the boat, I saw saw what he was talking about. I wicked big bass buggered off from my line, but I did manage to reel in what I originally caught. It was a 5 inch baitfish that took my Rap. The smallie latched onto it but I never got the hook set.

I can't remember for sure what I was using; it was about 7 years ago, but it may have been a green Rattlin' Rap. Either way, try something like that. It's my go-to crank.

May the wind be always be at your back,

Al.

[Connor]

Smallies love plastics. Try using tubes for them or my personal favorite is the Berkley Glup! Alive! 3 inch minnow grub. The pearl white color works best for me on either a quarter or eight-ounce white jighead. In the spring and early summer, make sure you fish slow. Cast up against the rocks and bounch the lure off the bottom slowly back to the boat. You'll get hung up a lot on rocks or whatever is on the bottom but you can usually reposition the boat and pop it off. Also fish islands and structure in the lake. Fish relate to structure such as creek channels, humps, rock piles, sunken trees, ect... Fish the structure and you will be successful.

[Connor]

P.S. Can't help you on the walleyes, bud. I caught my first one just about a year ago and don't fish for them often. However, when I do fish for them, I seem to fail....miserably.

[Connor]

Yeah, it took me a few days last summer to find them while I was in Canada but even after I did, we didn't have much success. At home, I know we have walleyes in a couple reservoirs but I've only managed to pull a couple out, and small ones at that. I've got to meet someone around here that' knows what they're doing.

[chris]

There is no easy answer to this question, this is the eternal fire that keeps us all fishing! if i could answer this question i woulden't anyways i'd be too busy lording it around in my 100k bass boat heading from lake to lake picking up fat winnings!

But as for some pointers....

1) location is for sure the most important, if there are no big fish within casting range you stand no chance of catching any. are other people catching big fish there? it helps to watch other anglers, just keep a respectfull distance.

2) numbers, you got to catch many 'average' fish to pick up the odd legend. make sure you are catching as many as possible, pay attention when you get bit and try to repeat exactly what you were doing.(re retrieve, depth etc)

3) bigger baits, this is relitivley true for bass (but not always! many huge bass have fallen for worms, crayfish, minnows and small lures) i would put the inline spinners down and try spinner baits. Small bass will still hit big lures, i have caught 5" smallies on 6" worms and 3/0 worm hooks!

4) confidence, if you know you are gonna catch good you just might!

5) try a different species, i guess you got pike there, they get bigger than smallies. If you really want to test your strengh and get something bigger than 10lb's then try carp fishing!

[Rusty Wallace]

Hoss, this is simple...get yourself some Gary Yamamoto 5" Senko worms, green pumpkin color with black flake. Then get some size 4 Gamakatsu offset shank hooks and some six or eight pound PLine fishing line. Put the worm on using the texas rig style (look that up on the web or ask someone how to do that), and then head out to the lake. This monday is the new moon, which means the moon will be underfoot at midnight. Head out to the lake this Sat or Sun at about 10 pm and fish till 1 am. Bring a camera, you're gonna need it!!! I personally guarantee that you'll land the lunker!!! Good luck!!!

[Connor]

I'm not going to say that this won't catch fish, and big ones at that, but as I've said before, there are literally thousands of ways to catch fish. Texas rigging Senkos is just one of them. I've had a lot of success with wacky rigging Senkos, but you can also drop-shot or Carolina rig them. One color and one presentation will not work for every body of water all the time. You just have to adjust your fishing for the time and place. You're going to catch a lot of smaller fish before you land some huge ones, but if you pay your dues and log the hours, it will pay off.

[Paul M. Kovack Sr.]

Right now you may want to slow down, cause the spawn has made the fish lethargic....
I might suggest you move your locations to points, ledges, and drop-offs in the areas you fish..Right now as fish are getting over the spawn season they are rather lethargic, but catchable....
Drop Shotting will work or a bitsy bug jig 1/4 oz. Black/Blue is my favorite worked very slowly off the ledges seems to do the trick on most Rivers here......Living in Delaware we don't have lakes per say, just huge ponds and not very deep, but all the rivers here are navigable waters, and there are over 6 within 1/2 ride from the house......................
Another technique here is a wacky worm worked close to banks, laydowns,pads,and even a float-n-fly pattern can bring you bigger fish

[Ken Kirk K2 Guide Service]

Here is another helpfull hint. Fish with a lot of different people and learn from them. Everyone has different ways of fishing. Take a little from all and use it to your advantage. You should also thing about hiring a fishing guide in your area. Most of these guys have a lot of time on the water (TOW) and most love to help folks catch fish. Tell him or her that you want to go after big fish only. You might not get as many bites but the fish you do get will be good quality fish.