well i need some help or advice you could say on fishing some bass in a small lake and small river. the water is real shallow from 1-4 ft deep. i cast out a litttle rapala and the bass see it and hit it but those are small spot bass and bluegills. i see the big bass say 12in. + and 2pounds + , they to see it but no hits at the rapala that i used to catch smaller bass and bluegill. ive tried jigs,, small crankbaits, worms ,spinner baits and nothing on those big bass! if you have a solution ir a secret lure that works well i would like to know it thanks.
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Need more info.
What state are you fishing.
Water conditions.......clear or stained?
I fished small ponds in the southwest for many years.
Small white spinnerbaits by Strike King with a Colorado blade.
Tube baits like a Gitzit in smoke color.
Also try Berkeley 6" power worm in Pumpkin with a Texas rig and 1/8 to 1/16 oz bullet weight.
Slow your presentation down, maybe try dead-sticking.
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You say "small" lake and river ... and you say you can "see" the larger fish.
Ok, Larger bass are more easily spooked than smaller bass and bream. If you can see them, they can see you.
I would suggest sneaking up on the bank very slowly next time, be very slow and take your time getting to the bank. Also wear neutral colors like brown, grey, or greyish blue cloths that mimic the surrounding flora. Bright colored clothing and lots of quick movements near the bank on small waters will most certainly spook the larger bass in that body of water.
Once spooked you will have a hard time catching those larger fish.
one word of advice here:
STEALTH.
Don't lob your lure way up so that it splashes when it hits, do a short, light side cast and try to let the lure hit the water with the least noise and splash. The let the lure sink to bottom and sit there for at least 15-20 seconds before you start your retrieve.
I've found using the advice above on small ponds and rivers that aren't very wide with clear water to be the most effective. Also if the water is clear you want to use "Natural" colored lures that mimic the bait available in those waters.
Good luck!
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Bigger bait,bigger fish. Throw a 6" senco in watermelon, weightless.
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I grew up fishing small farm ponds. Try spinnerbaits (experiment w blades and colors ) in my experience each pond has a different color/blade combo that works better, even if the conditions are exactly the same. Another lure to try is the Rapala shallow shad rap in their bluegill color. instead of reeling it in ..jerk and pause or jerk jerk jerk and pause seems to drive them crazy and they usually smash it. especially just before spawn or during. Another great , and I mean great lure is the banjo minnow (non weighted) experiment w color try matching the hatch as close as you can however in most situations it really doesnt matter. the dying action just produces large quantities of strikes.
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All I can say is Rat-L-Trap, bleeding shad cranked over the weeds!
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ok well i brought my boat down from my lakehouse down to my house and i have been experimenting lately before an during the spawn i used say 2-5in rapalas with different colors ,the best ive had was during the spawn and that was a 4in minnow color it works but spawn is over for this lake the water temp. is increasing and ive caught most the fish during the day around docks and in shade, and at night near stumps or brush. those were a mix of the rapala and a black chart lizard on a worm hook. spent 6 hours today and caught 2 fish during the day which werent even 2 pounds combined and finally caught to at night , usually ill catch 15 to 20 in 3 hours but that was during spawn. what now i tried plenty of things. the lake i fish at is a small 40 acre lake that has a river leading into it ,its in Georgia close to stone mountain. if ya can help me please do. the lake may seem small but ive seen 8 plus pound large mouth in here ive caught a 4 pound one just a week ago.
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Post spawn has never been the highlight time for me as well. But many days I'll get 15-20 bass from a lake to getting 2-3 the very next day. Did a cold front come in?? Was it windy the off day??In those days you have to read the water and try all things in your box. Something shut the bite down and sometimes we can just scratch our head. Thats bass fishing.
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there was a ton of rain that came in and lots of wind during the storms down here idk what it is but im just waiting for some change. yesterday wasnt my day. also i need some help finding where the big fish are i can get smaller fish easy. only reason i caught that 4 pounder was because spawn was over and it was at the mouth of the river and not up the river. im not sure if they moved out into the lake in deeper water or in the shade.
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every lake is different i cought bass from different lakes and they all feed different ly from a night crawler on a hook under a bobber. to slug-ohs, k-&-e weed less worms, rat-l- traps, hula popers, rapplas, jitter bugs , spiner baits, you neame it i have done it. talk around to guy that are on that lake see if they can help. also weather play a effect so does post spawn there not as aggresive trying to protect there reeds/eggs that are not there. have you tryed trolling for bass lol's no joke could not get a thing all week we were at one lake and trolled a rat - l - trap. and landed some monster about 80 foot behind the boat. this is were i wonder if that gizmo for color slection works. called a color- c - lector you put the probe in the water and read the scale and it will tell you a number like e-9 and you find a color for stained or clear water. that mite be worth some looking in to like i said there is a lot of diferent baits ask the loacls on the lake is my best advice.
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Michfishgod is correct, what works on one lake, may not work on another. Also the big bass may only eat once every few days, or once a week if not active. One big trout and they are full. Thats why we catch so many small compared to really large fish.
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rat-l-trap is amazing just went out and caught a few. thanks guys
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