Big Fish Show Up

I hope you all are out catching big bass; that’s because they seem to be available right now, just waiting for your casts.
In April, an abundance of 10-pounders was caught all around Southern California, and a few fish in the teens were landed as well.
So is this another big-bass year? Longtime San Diego-area biologist Larry Botroff has told me numerous times it comes in cycles; signs suggest that it may be on again.

How to Catch A Big One

I know you all want to know what the bass hunters are catching all these big fish on. Some big bass hunters are a little secretive, but I’ll bet a good number of them use some type of swimbait. It’s not that big of a secret anymore.
Swim baits come in all shapes and sizes and emulate everything from a mouse to a bluegill to trout and even to another bass. You need to determine which bait will work best at that moment in the season. With swim baits, you also have to have the patience and stamina to throw them.
Some quick tips would include to trout-imitating swim baits at lakes that plant rainbows. The more realistic the lure the better, but that is not as much of an issue nowadays, as some of these baits look like taxidermists painted them.
Baby bass swim baits or bluegill can be thrown around the spawning beds, as they represent nest raiders or provide an easy meal for a giant female about to spawn. There are also baits that look like mice or rats, and they work well where those creatures might be near the water’s edge for a drink and have fallen in.
Try low light periods, such as in the morning and evening. The baits work almost year-round, but you will increase your odds by applying the right lure to the right moment.

Big Fish

For tackle, try to fish with a 7½- to 8-foot rod with a heavy, fast action. Each angler likes a little different action, so go with what you like and how you throw those heavy baits.
Line should be a heavy braid like Daiwa’s or Maxima’s 50- to 60-pound test. Leaders vary, but I think most go with 25- to 50-pound fluorocarbon for theirs.
And you’re going to need a heavy-dusty set-up. One of my favorite lately is te Daiwa LEXA 300 or 400 model on a Proteus rod. And my favorite tungsten fishing weight would be 1/2 oz and 3/4 oz FISH PABY Tungsten Flipping Weight in Green Pumpkin and Matt Black. I dare to say tungsten fishing sinker is also an important part of fishing. I used to fish with lead weights, but the experience is not what I expected. If you hold a 1/2 oz Tungsten Flipping Weight in your right hand and 1/2 oz lead flipping weight in your left hand. You can definitely see the lead one has bigger body, the tungsten one smaller body and high density. Tungsten Fishing Weights feels better in hands and can dive more deeply than lead one. Don’t look down upon it’s a small thing, it could be a must-need in your tackle box. I once use 3/4 oz FISH PABY Tungsten Flipping Weight catch a big fish, which is amazing!

Get out on the water

Pick your favorite lake and put in the time on the water as well as with the bait. Study the bass and the time of year and this will help you decide what to throw. Hopefully, we will be reading about your record catch next time. Go get a big bass.