Large baits catch massive bass. It’s that easy. However understanding when and find out how to throw these big lures isn’t as reduce and dry. There are particular situations the place bass reply higher to bigger baits and are extra prepared to take them. In case you can dial in on these instances and discover ways to fish these baits correctly, the probabilities of you hooking right into a lunker are excessive. Large bass reply the very best to massive baits.
In recent times, increasingly anglers have been selecting up big swimbaits and enormous arduous plastic lures in pursuit of monster bass. I ultimately gave in to the development and began fishing these baits right here within the Southeast—and I’m actually glad I did. A few of my greatest bites in latest reminiscence have come on outsized lures, and it’s a tactic that I’m fairly severe about. The one draw back is the worth of a few of these baits, however there are nonetheless loads of reasonably priced choices to get began. Here’s a fast information to the three predominant types of massive bass lures and find out how to fish them the appropriate means.
What Are Large Baits
The time period “massive baits” is relative. Relying on the goal species and elegance of fishing, the dimensions of the lure goes to vary. For the needs of this dialog, I’m referring to massive baits as something within the 6- to 9-inch vary. These are comparatively massive lures for bass fishing, however nonetheless manageable sufficient for use in most freshwater fisheries.
Baits on this measurement vary can be utilized to focus on noticed, largemouth, and smallmouth bass in nearly any physique of water. And whereas they could appear outsized and typically even unrealistic in our minds, these baits aren’t as intimidating to fish. They may typically draw aggressive strikes from massive bass which might be large enough to take down prey of that measurement. Typically, they even entice smaller bass that don’t have any enterprise going after bait this massive.
There are three predominant types of outsized bass baits: glide baits, wakebaits, and harnessed swimbaits. Here’s a nearer take a look at every sort of lure, together with find out how to fish them and particular suggestions.
Easy methods to Fish Glide Baits
The sluggish sweeping side-to-side movement of a glide bait has produced a few of my greatest bites. These lures provide life like actions and have implausible drawing energy, capable of lure bass from a number of yards away. Not like most bass baits that must be “labored” by twitching your rod, the motion of a glide bait is healthier generated by the flip of the reel deal with. Utilizing fast, partial turns, you may develop a start-stop cadence that permits the bait to glide in a single route after which the opposite. Shorter glide baits with taller our bodies (just like the Chad Shad) have a uneven, faster movement. Extra elongated baits just like the sixth Sense Draw have a wider, slower glide.
Some anglers desire to make use of a slower gear ratio reel within the 6:1 vary to assist make this cadence really feel extra pure. Stepping as much as a 300 measurement reel for the larger lures is a good suggestion, too. The 2 baits talked about above weigh 3.75 ounces and a pair of.4 ounces, respectively. So that you’ll want a lot heavier gear to fish them. I like to recommend graduating to a 300 measurement baitcaster in the event you’re going to go together with 9-inch baits or greater. I’ve additionally discovered {that a} 200 measurement reel works fantastic with baits smaller than that. After all, you’ll must beef up your rod, too.
All casting rods include lure-weight rankings on them, so choose one which’s ample for the load. You’ll need a rod with somewhat little bit of a bend to it, however nonetheless has loads of spine to struggle fish and handle the lure. A top quality 17- to 20-pound fluorocarbon line works effectively with these baits.
Easy methods to Fish Wakebaits
A wakebait is a hardbody lure that rides alongside the floor of the water and produces a wake, therefore the identify. Wood rats are among the many hottest fashion of wakebaits, and I’ve been fishing with an outdated one a buddy gave me for over 10 years (see under). Large wakebaits have a fantastic side-to-side wobble as they’re crawled alongside the water’s floor. The physique sometimes consists of two massive sections that bang up towards one another because the bait rocks backwards and forwards, including a rhythmic knocking sound to the already tantalizing visible of a small rodent swimming alongside the floor. The lengthy tail sweeping backwards and forwards behind the bait is the exclamation level of this engaging motion.
Different massive wakebaits, just like the Clutch Wake Gill, are designed to look extra like bluegill and different species of baitfish. They’re used to imitate a shocked bream floundering on the floor, versus a rodent that’s fallen in from above. In both case, these baits draw the eye of bass to the floor and generate aggressive strikes. They work rather well round massive semi-submerged cowl like laydowns, in a position to attract fish up from beneath. They’re additionally actually efficient round bream beds and in shade throughout the summer time.
Braided line and a considerable rod are essential to fish a wakebait correctly. The braid helps the bait keep on the floor and provides wanted power for when a fish tries to interrupt you off in thick cowl. You’ll need a lengthy, heavy energy rod that may deal with these hefty 2-ounce-plus baits. It must also have average motion as effectively. This helps the rod load on the forged, making it simpler to get distance, and likewise prevents treble hooks from pulling free from a combating fish. Right here’s the gear you need to fish with.
Easy methods to Fish Harnessed Swimbaits
A 6-inch harnessed swimbait is a good entry-level lure for somebody who’s thinking about entering into massive bait fishing. Each the Berkley CullShad and Megabass Magdraft are implausible baits to start out with. In case you’ve by no means thrown massive swimbaits earlier than, these could appear somewhat intimidating to fish, however they’re much extra manageable than a 9-inch glide bait and quite a bit cheaper.
Moreover being simpler to forged, these swimbaits will even produce strikes from smaller- to medium-sized fish, together with getting eats from giants. Plus, you don’t want an particularly heavy rod and reel to fish them. Most traditional gear will do exactly fantastic. The CullShad solely weighs 1 ounce straight out of the pack, whereas the Magdraft is somewhat heavier at 1 and 1/4 ounces. Nonetheless, each of those baits could be fished on a medium to medium heavy rod within the 7-foot, 3-inch vary. No matter rod you select, ensure that it’s a medium motion with sufficient spine to get the bait on the market. Fishing a extra delicate, quick motion rod will result in misplaced fish.
You’ll wish to use fluorocarbon line when fishing these swimbaits. Fluoro sinks and is nearly invisible. Sluggish rolling these baits again to the boat is essential. No different motion is neccessary aside from the sluggish kick of the tail and wobble of the bait that occurs naturally because it’s reeled in. These lures are nice for skipping underneath docks and different overhead cowl, in addition to overtop submerged cowl like factors, humps, flats, and ditches. I desire the CullShad if I need my bait to remain excessive within the water column, inside three toes of the floor. Then I’ll go together with the Magdraft when fishing deeper. Right here is the gear to fish these swimbaits.
Catch Your Private Finest Bass With a Large Bait
Don’t let the large bait class intimidate you. There are many reasonably priced choices, just like the $12 CullShad and the $18 Magdraft. Begin with the cheaper baits and discover ways to fish them the appropriate means. As soon as you are feeling assured in throwing massive baits, take a step as much as the costlier, greater lures just like the $60 Chad Shad glide bait. There’s no must spend north of $100 for giant baits. There are many nice choices available for under a C-note. You’ll additionally wish to ensure that the gear you utilize is as much as the duty, too. Don’t skimp as a result of you may simply break a rod that’s not rated for a heavy lure. Have a look at what your rod is really useful for and plan accordingly.
Don’t assume you may’t catch bass in your native fishery on massive baits. If there’s a 2-pound bass within the lake, pond, or river that you just’re fishing in, then there’s a bass lots large enough to chunk an enormous bait. Begin throwing these lures in seemingly massive fish spots and be able to hook into an enormous. Possibly even your private greatest bucketmouth.
