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Post #417 by Rajesh Kumar on March 3rd 2016, 6:23 PM (in topic “How To Catch A 10-Pound Trophy Bass”)

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How To Catch A 10-Pound Trophy Bass

Everyone wants to catch big bass, but fishing specifically for them requires dedication and careful planning.

Of course, a lot depends on your definition of a big bass. In some parts of the country, anything more than 4 pounds is big. While I share that same thought, I’m talking about catching really big bass – like more than 10 pounds.

To have a fair shot at 10-pounders, you have to fish where they live and where the annual growing season lasts long enough to get them to the magical number. That includes Florida, Texas and California, where the faster-growing Florida-strain largemouth bass live.

Although I prefer to use artificial lures for bass, shiners are tough to beat in Florida. I’ve fished tournaments there where the anglers around me were catching 8- to 12-pound fish on shiners while I was catching 1- to 2-pounders on lures.

California, especially in the San Diego area, produces a reasonable amount of lunkers on “swimbaits.”  These large chunks of plastic weigh about a pound and are cranked slowly around the spawning areas.

My biggest tournament fish was 10 pounds, 12 ounces and was caught on a big willow-leaf spinnerbait at Florida’s St. John’s River. However, the biggest fish I ever caught on an artificial lure – but never weighed – came from the Bienville Plantation in Florida on a Hank’s Lizard. I was filming a television show and had flipped that lizard into a small pocket of grass in shallow water on the edge of a deep drop-off. I’m sure the fish weighed more than 12 pounds.

Timing is everything when it comes to catching big bass that are moving up to spawn. Stable weather that is warming the water temperature into the low 60s can trigger that movement, but you still have to be there when the fish are first moving up. Once word gets out and other anglers start fishing those places, the bass become wary and its gets harder to make them bite.

When fishing for big bass, you have to accept the fact that you may only get a couple of bites and must stick with the plan throughout the day. I’m convinced big baits catch big bass, yet the temptation to throw a small crankbait or other small-fish lure is always going to be on your mind.

When I’m targeting big bass exclusively, I rely on a jig-and-pork combination, especially during early spring when the water is cool. I base that on the fact that the majority of my biggest bass have come on a jig. It’s a bait those early migrating fish can’t resist. As the water warms, a big spinnerbait rolled around logs and stumps or a large soft-plastic lure flipped around cover can catch them, too.

It pays to fish heavy cover in shallow water nearest deep water. If it’s grass, then you may need to increase the weight of your bait to penetrate the cover and control the rate of fall with the rod tip. The rate of fall is important, as you don’t want a bait moving too fast in cold water.

When hunting big bass, make sure you’re equipped to handle anything that bites. That means the lure should have a big-bite hook capable of handling monster bass, and the rod and line must be stout enough to play them. If you’re fishing for giant bass with a willowy rod and 8-pound line, you’ll probably get your line – and your heart – broken. That sort of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?

You can find more articles, quick tips and much more at HankParker.com.

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Post #417

Post #416 by Rajesh Kumar on March 3rd 2016, 1:03 PM (in topic “Fishing Report: Few more lakes”)

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Fishing Report: Few more lakes

black Bayou: A few chinquapins are starting to bite wax worms, red wigglers or grass shrimp. Bass have been fair around the banks on spinners and Flukes. Crappie are hitting jigs and shiners 8-10 feet deep. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.

caney Lake: Bass to near 10 pounds have been caught around grass up Smith, Boggy and Clear branches on craw-worms, lizards and spinners. The crappie are starting to move in shallow with jigs and shiners starting to pick up some fish just off the banks. Look for the chinquapin bite to start to pick up using small crawfish, red wigglers or night crawlers on the shallow humps. No report on catfish this week. For more information, call Brown’s Landing at 259-6649 or the Honey Hole at 323-8707.

lake Claiborne: Bass are starting to move shallow with best catches of fish in the 2-3 pound range made on topwater lures or soft plastics. The crappie are biting shiners fished on yo-yos which means they’re starting to move to shallow spawning areas. A few stripers are beginning to show up while a good many catfish are being caught along with the crappie on yo-yos baited with shiners. Some are also being caught on blood and cheese bait. For latest information, call Tim Lofton at Kel’s Cove at 927-2264.

lake D’arbonne: The bass are moving shallow with crank baits, spinners and soft plastics starting to take a few fish around grass in the sloughs. The crappie are anywhere between 18 feet deep and the banks as the migration to shallow spawning areas is about to get underway. They’re biting shiners and a variety of jigs including the Popsicle, Wasp, Tadpole, Halo, Pink Lemonade and Cajun Cricket. A few bream are beginning to show up off Highway 2. Catfish are biting cold worms around the lake. For latest information, call Anderson’s Sport Center at 368-9669 or the Honey Hole at 323-8707.

ouachita River: The water is still high with a good bit of current and fishing is slow. For latest reports, call the Honey Hole at 323-8707.

cheniere Lake: A few bream were caught on red and wax worms. Crappie are best on shiners and hair jigs around the trees. Bass are fair around the grass on spinners and jigs. For current information, call the Honey Hole at 323-8707.

lake Poverty Point: Huge crappie are making the news. At least 10 weighing three pounds each or better have been caught. Twayne Hosea set a new lake record with a 3.52 pound slab. Bass to near 10 pounds have been caught as well. Catfishing is fair on cut shad. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 878-0101.

lake St. John: Catfish and crappie are fair on yo-yos, bass are fair on jigs and creature baits. Call Ken Mahoney at 757-0013 for latest reports and fishing conditions.

lake Yucatan: The water is back over the road for another 10 days or so. For camper trailer rentals on the lake or for latest fishing information, call James Lachney at 467-2259.

lake Bruin: Crappie are good in shallow water on shiners and jigs. Bass are good on Brush Hogs and spinners. Some chinquapins are starting to hit night crawlers. For latest information, call Colby or Seth at 766-0075.

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Post #416

Post #415 by Rajesh Kumar on March 3rd 2016, 12:51 PM (in topic “Nevada fishing report, March 3, 2016”)

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Nevada fishing report, March 3, 2016

■ Lake Mead — Smallmouth bass and stripers are biting on shad, though striper action in Vegas Wash remains sluggish. A few fish were coming in on jigs and jigging spoons in 100 feet or more of water, but overall it seems the fish still are in their winter patterns. Some anglers reported catches ranging from six to 10 stripers. Black bass action has picked up slightly, and reports are that smallies are acting like they are beginning to spawn. This should mean exciting fishing is in store. The weekend will bring windy weather, so be prepared if you hit the water.

■ Lake Mohave — Willow Beach still is giving up good stripers. One angler reeled in a 12-pound striped bass using anchovies while fishing from the shore north of the marina. At the south end of the lake, anchovies fooled a 7-pound striper. Smallmouth bass action has picked up and should continue to improve. Mohave offers excellent coves and cover that hold nice bass.

■ Laughlin — Trout are providing anglers with the best action. Rotary Park and Davis Camp have been great family fishing spots. The water level has gone up, so be on the lookout for marshy shorelines. Rainbow, orange and yellow PowerBait has been productive. Switch up the Powerbait colors if one isn’t working. Night crawlers also are catching fish. For striped bass, try trout imitations such as the AC Plug or the Bomber Long A in yellow.

■ Las Vegas Urban Ponds — Unseasonably warm temperatures are causing water temperatures to rise, and that means the season’s final trout plant will take place this week. At Floyd Lamb Park, yellow Power Eggs and an olive-colored Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear fly pattern are catching fish. The first catfish plant tentatively is scheduled for some time in April.

■ Kirch Wildlife Management Area — Though daytime temperatures remain unseasonably warm, the reservoirs remain mostly frozen. Dacey has the most open water, giving accessibility to shore anglers, but if temperatures continue to remain high, the WMA expects to see total ice-off in the next few weeks.

■ Eagle Valley Reservoir — The reservoir remains covered with ice, but thinning sections call for extreme caution when venturing out on the ice. Seasonal runoff has created murky water conditions and a slow bite. Those who are fishing with baits are finding better action than those using lures.

■ Echo Canyon Reservoir — Water levels remain high, with ice still covering much of the reservoir, but open water can be found along much of the shoreline. If daytime temperatures remain unseasonably high, ice-off should be occurring soon.

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Post #415

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