Big Fish Spots !!!! Where are they?

[Super Fluke]

Well I was wondering how many people have certain spots on lakes that prove to produce over and over again. Has anyone caught two or three eight pounders in the same spot? Or a specific ledge that has produced three seven lbers over the last few years. Or six six lbers in the back corner of the lake by a creek that flows in. It's hard to find these spots, but once you do it seem like they produce over and over. I keep trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together it takes so much time! Do you fellow ifishers notice any patterns for big fish? Do you experience the same kind of phenomenon from big bass? Well lets hear what you have experienced?

[ExBassGuide]

Yes I have a few spots that have kicked out several bass over 7 pounds.
Most are on Silver Lake. The same spots just flat out give up good numbers of bass too.
Lots of people fish the same spot, but not the same way I tend to fish the spot or the same time of day.
Roger

[Senko86]

in the ponds I find that my big fish come of of a drop off with brush into the deeper water

[raptorschild]

I have not found any "big fish spots"....thats why I don't catch many bigguns probably! The entire tri cities area is kind of a big fish area....so the numbers arent as good up here.....but I can tell you that my biggest fish have certainly come in certain times of the year, and with certain baits.

One pattern I've noticed, is that if there are smaller fish around.....the bigger fish are not in those holes. There are exceptions, and I'm no big fish expert but that is what my experience has taught me.

[Tar Heel]

Yeah, most fishers have special places that they approach with extra confidence and patience.
I found a nice hole on the Columbia R where I have never seen another boat, and I suspect that's why we have pulled so many 4lbers out of it. It has a nice combination of current, irregular rocky subsurface, and gravely shallows neer deep water.
On one nasty windy day in May, my son and I nailed a 5lbr and 2 over 4 in just about 2 hours fishing. The fish spread out alot later in the year, but the bigguns are still in the area all summer, and it has kicked out several 4 pounders in July/August.
I wonder if the tournaments move so many of the big fish out of some of the more popular CR holes that your chances of a big fish are better if you can find areas not worked over by tourney fisherman. I know what tourament fishers are supposed to do to release the fish, but how many go out in 25 mph winds and travel more than a mile from the ramp?

[bad habit]

Like you said there hard to find. Either you strategically find that spot after YEARS and YEARS of trial and error, or maybe your lucky enough to know someone who would kindly give that info up(not likely for most of us).I read a really good article that talked about this exact topic. . In the late 70s a scientist tagged several LM from 6-10lbs. All equipped with some kind of frequency chip. One lm was 10-11 lbs and seem to be the center of his research For seven years this man went back to the same exact spots and caught the same lunker fish year after year, using the same lures never changing colors,slow retrievals etc. wow! later , after 7-8 years of catching the biggest bass over and over the scientist recieved a call from the taxidermist claiming to have is beloved fish. He found that after his fish was "removed" that another BIG bass moved right in. SO that tells me your exactley right . Once you find one of these spot your golden.

[1bigfish]

I knew some big bass spots on my favorite lake in Kentucky. Stilling looking for one of those spots here. Personally I think there are two things going on here and both have been discussed already.

1.

Originally Posted by bad habit

He found that after his fish was "removed" that another BIG bass moved right in. SO that tells me your exactley right . Once you find one of these spot your golden.

Fing a spot with just the perfect cover and food source and the bass will fight to keep that spot and the biggest bass usually wins the fight.

2.

Originally Posted by Tar Heel

Yeah, most fishers have special places that they approach with extra confidence and patience.

As with any kind of "honey hole" you will have more confidence and stay and fish that spot longer because you already know it will produce.

[Super Fluke]

Originally Posted by bad habit

Like you said there hard to find. Either you strategically find that spot after YEARS and YEARS of trial and error, or maybe your lucky enough to know someone who would kindly give that info up(not likely for most of us).I read a really good article that talked about this exact topic. . In the late 70s a scientist tagged several LM from 6-10lbs. All equipped with some kind of frequency chip. One lm was 10-11 lbs and seem to be the center of his research For seven years this man went back to the same exact spots and caught the same lunker fish year after year, using the same lures never changing colors,slow retrievals etc. wow! later , after 7-8 years of catching the biggest bass over and over the scientist recieved a call from the taxidermist claiming to have is beloved fish. He found that after his fish was "removed" that another BIG bass moved right in. SO that tells me your exactley right . Once you find one of these spot your golden.

I agree with you completely. The things that enter my mind is what are all the pieces to the puzzle in order for these fish to get this large?How do the big fish know when and were to be,and how to survive without becoming victim to us and preditors?It's like you are searching for a ghost sometimes,but that's what keeps me motivated!It's a big game your trying to win.Over time a few have to slip up.

[fishlipper]

A lake I grew up fishing has some very nice fish. Once summer evening about an hour before dark, I worked a bank that I had caught many fish on. I never had pulled anything bigger than 5 pounds off this bank. There Is a group of stumps that are in rows pretty close to the bank. I tied on a spinnerbait and flung it towards the stump. My spinnerbait sunk and then stopped, I pulled back and wham, I had a good fish. That fish was just over 7lbs. The funny thing was, I could only catch good fish off this bank during that last hour of light. It was like clock work. I caught many nice fish over 6lbs off that bank that summer. Since then the lake has never been that full, so most of the time those stumps are out of the water during the summer. I have never done that well on these stumps in the spring. Go figure.

[ExBassGuide]

It is not always about the spot some times the bass are just there.
I have got two bass over 6 pounds off the same piece of wood within one minute (or less) of each other several times over the years. So if you get a good bass be ready for more soon!
I think that covering water or run and gun is a good way to find more and bigger bass. If you know a lake well enough you can run from good spot to good spot...... So how much time you spend on a spot has a big part to play. If you sit on one spot and over fish it you can be wasting your time.
Roger

[Hunt'nFish]

I think we all know that the biggest, strongest, most competitive fish seek out the prime locations for feeding and ambushing.

But the question I think Super Fluke is asking is where are these spots most likely found?

Personally, and keep in mind I know very little about big LM, I think these locations change w/ the seasons and available feed at differant times.
What is a great spring spot isn't so during post spawn, mid summer or early fall.

So IMO, it would be interesting to hear where, when, and on what, folks find big bass.
At least that kind of information can be applied to any body of water at any time w/o fear of giving up honey hole info. And by where I mean depth, structure, etc. Not what lake. I really don't care what lake a guy fishes, I just want to learn how best to fish the lakes I fish.

So lets brake it down by season, location and bait.
Post up your pics and tell us when & where you found it and what bait fooled it. Weather & moon conditions would be also useful.
Hunt'nFish

[bad habit]

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

I think we all know that the biggest, strongest, most competitive fish seek out the prime locations for feeding and ambushing.

But the question I think Super Fluke is asking is where are these spots most likely found?

Personally, and keep in mind I know very little about big LM, I think these locations change w/ the seasons and available feed at differant times.
What is a great spring spot isn't so during post spawn, mid summer or early fall.

So IMO, it would be interesting to hear where, when, and on what, folks find big bass.
At least that kind of information can be applied to any body of water at any time w/o fear of giving up honey hole info. And by where I mean depth, structure, etc. Not what lake. I really don't care what lake a guy fishes, I just want to learn how best to fish the lakes I fish.

So lets brake it down by season, location and bait.
Post up your pics and tell us when & where you found it and what bait fooled it. Weather & moon conditions would be also useful.
Hunt'nFish

I will have to go back and check the article but If I do remember correctly this article did go into that a bit and the real big lunkers dont really leave that spot, except for maybe its daily routines, but the fish generally came back to the same spot. So this elusive "great spot " were talking about must have several specific qualities for the lunker bass to be interested . For instance this specific section of water might be mildly affected by seasonal changes compared to the rest of the river. Perhaps this fish doesnt ever need to move on. Of course I know not all fish behave the same so who knows , a good thread/discussion I'd say

My pb lm is 7.11, so Im not sure I should speak on the matter but i will. I look for deep water with shallow water nearby , of course BIG bait , late , midnight , early , slowwwww , shhhhh dead silence, and lots of determination. I like the way that super fluke put it " It's like you are searching for a ghost sometimes,but that's what keeps me motivated!It's a big game your trying to win "

[Senko86]

I think that is what motivates most of us. My best is 7lbs 8oz caught on a crank in sept 9 am next to a drop off into 14' on a little and I mean little grass flat that comes up to 5' next to some brush. I wont tell you the color or type of crank I mean we all have to have some secrets right.

[ExBassGuide]

NO! If some one would like to know the spots I catch all my bass over 6 pounds I would tell them! I have the place I got my 9 pounder on my silver lake map that I have posted on line. The dock is called nine pound dock on waldon island and its on the south east end of the island. Others have broken big fish off fishing that dock. I wish them luck! It takes hard work and time on the water to catch 10 bass over 7 pounds over the years in oregon and Washington!!!! I enjoy helping others.
EVERY one should know my top three baits by now!
Have I helped you?
Roger
Ok this is how I really get all my big bass live bait (video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3HRzr3BUgQ&NR=1

[Basshound]

ok, here it is. Go to the lake that has water. Then launch from that one good dock. and go to the really good looking shore. You know the one you always want to fish but someone is there already. Yea that one. then go past three stumps on the left and turn 30 degrees to the right. now go straight for 57 seconds with your troller on speed 5. Stop drop the anchor then drag it on speed 3 in one BIG circle. "For feed". Then fish the biggest heaviest lure you have, it doesnt matter make model or species its intended for. But you have to fish it on 6lb test. Then BAM!! works everytime.

[Tar Heel]

H&F is right, that seasonally, these areas change. But within any given lake or river, there nay be a few general areas that have more food and better cover/structure than many others.
I think one key to finding big fish is over looked areas that other fishers may not work over as much, despite what Roger says! A guy who fishes as well as Roger can maybe afford to tell everyone where is hole is, but 90% of us (like me) have a very slim chance of fooling one of these worked over giants. But if I can find a lightly pressured area, I have a better chance at casting and splashing my way into a lunker who hasn't been offered every lure on the walmart bait board.
Perhaps one area that is overloked more often than not, is offshore structure. Like most fisherman, I tend to focus too heavily on the shoreline, and one of the msot often overlooked areas of any water body is going to be off shore humps, ledges, reefs...

[Super Fluke]

Originally Posted by ExBassGuide

NO! If some one would like to know the spots I catch all my bass over 6 pounds I would tell them! I have the place I got my 9 pounder on my silver lake map that I have posted on line. The dock is called nine pound dock on waldon island and its on the south east end of the island. Others have broken big fish off fishing that dock. I wish them luck! It takes hard work and time on the water to catch 10 bass over 7 pounds over the years in oregon and Washington!!!! I enjoy helping others.
EVERY one should know my top three baits by now!
Have I helped you?
Roger
Ok this is how I really get all my big bass live bait (video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3HRzr3BUgQ&NR=1

It's nice that you offer the spots that have produced for you but not everyone wants to share their spots and that's fine! It's their choice~ I want to make this clear~ I'm not asking for anyone's spot. What I'm trying to learn are the pieces of the puzzle. What makes the giant bass live in these spots? I enjoy the challenge of trying to figure it out. I want to aquire this knowledge. Two, three and four pounders are easy to catch but for some reason, once they get over six pounds, it changes in a big way. What is it?????
Is it the spot~ deep, shallow, wood, rocks, ledges, weeds, drop offs, points, creek beds, humps? Could it be the season and which one~ spring, summer, fall or winter? Is it pre-spawn, spawn or post-spawn? Summer patterns or fall feeding? Everyone has great ideas~ keep them coming. If a person can figure these things out, they will be able to catch the biggest fish in any lake or river, in any state. MAYBE???

[Dave Smith]

Really big fish are super curous (but shy) and they're biters. They are like a completely different animal all together compared to bass up to 6 1/2 pounds or so. The reason why you don't catch them very often is because of five things: there aren't very many of them, they are most active at times and during weather when we aren't fishing, they aren't in the places that most people fish, they aren't very willing to expend the energy it takes to eat the lures that most people throw, and most people are WAY under gunned for them, so that even if they do get lucky and hook one, they will break it off.
It's awesome to share information with people, especially when it gives some people just the spark they needed to continue fishing that otherwise might have been ready to give up! The irony, though, about telling people where a big fish hideout is, is that the spot will no longer meet all the criteria of a big fish hideout as one of the main ones is that you can't over pressure the spot or go breaking big fish off and then expect all the big fish to keep coming back for more fun and excersize.
Though really big fish do roam a little, you can't say enough about the fairly DEEP spot with even deeper water close by, and if she can dive off of either of two sides to get to the deeper water, so much the better. They are alot like a big blacktail buck.
Dave

[bad habit]

I always work the heck out of deep holes I believe may hold lunkers . Except I really dont know how to approach these deep areas. Of course I try every thing I feel may work , every angle, Every possible relevant combination available , but for the most part I Just dont have a solid strategy . So thanks for the great tip DAVE - another piece to the puzzle !! I will definately be in search of " fairly DEEP spots with even deeper water close by " . Also isnt it true that the real big fish may eat once or twice very 2-3 weeks ? try and time that one out...........

[Dave Smith]

Originally Posted by bad habit

I always work the heck out of deep holes I believe may hold lunkers . Except I really dont know how to approach these deep areas. Of course I try every thing I feel may work , every angle, Every possible relevant combination available , but for the most part I Just dont have a solid strategy . So thanks for the great tip DAVE - another piece to the puzzle !! I will definately be in search of " fairly DEEP spots with even deeper water close by " . Also isnt it true that the real big fish may eat once or twice very 2-3 weeks ? try and time that one out...........

Try working those spots from the bottom toward the top.

[Super Fluke]

Originally Posted by Dave Smith

Really big fish are super curous (but shy) and they're biters. They are like a completely different animal all together compared to bass up to 6 1/2 pounds or so. The reason why you don't catch them very often is because of five things: there aren't very many of them, they are most active at times and during weather when we aren't fishing, they aren't in the places that most people fish, they aren't very willing to expend the energy it takes to eat the lures that most people throw, and most people are WAY under gunned for them, so that even if they do get lucky and hook one, they will break it off.
It's awesome to share information with people, especially when it gives some people just the spark they needed to continue fishing that otherwise might have been ready to give up! The irony, though, about telling people where a big fish hideout is, is that the spot will no longer meet all the criteria of a big fish hideout as one of the main ones is that you can't over pressure the spot or go breaking big fish off and then expect all the big fish to keep coming back for more fun and excersize.
Though really big fish do roam a little, you can't say enough about the fairly DEEP spot with even deeper water close by, and if she can dive off of either of two sides to get to the deeper water, so much the better. They are alot like a big blacktail buck.
Dave

Dave, I agree with your words of wisdom! There is no substitute for experience, and pictures don’t lie! Your five suggestions for giant bass are embedded deep into my brain!Thanks for your input.I agree with your analogy completely.

[flippinbaits]

Originally Posted by Senko86

I think that is what motivates most of us. My best is 7lbs 8oz caught on a crank in sept 9 am next to a drop off into 14' on a little and I mean little grass flat that comes up to 5' next to some brush. I wont tell you the color or type of crank I mean we all have to have some secrets right.

contour and structure of the place holding fish is much more helpful to me than the color of crank.

plus it was prob a lipless craw or a medium diving shad pattern which 1,000+ anglers throw

lol

none the less, wish i stuck a 7lb here in oregon

[Senko86]

Well fine it wont matter anyway it was caught on a norman crank deep little N in the appocalypse color. But the location has been key not the lure I continually catch good fish off that same spot in the summer and fall. I think the big ones need a reaction bait because they don't feed too often. I mean I fish the spot all the time and haven't caught her in over a year and a half I know shes there and only getting bigger.

[ExBassGuide]

I have found that lots of big fish live on open water spots that almost never get fished. On silver the bass will roam open water till they find an old stump or log and set up shop there for some time. 99% of all bass fishermen focus on shoreline or visible cover and do not even put in the time to fish off shore spots. Think about it this way On silver lake this island always has lots of fish on it and some big ones too. The bass move till they find a good spot even if is out in the middle of the lake!
Roger

[Dave Smith]

Originally Posted by ExBassGuide

I have found that lots of big fish live on open water spots that almost never get fished. On silver the bass will roam open water till they find an old stump or log and set up shop there for some time. 99% of all bass fishermen focus on shoreline or visible cover and do not even put in the time to fish off shore spots. Think about it this way On silver lake this island always has lots of fish on it and some big ones too. The bass move till they find a good spot even if is out in the middle of the lake!
Roger

absolutely- I agree 100%

[DJD]

Originally Posted by Dave Smith

Really big fish are super curous (but shy) and they're biters. They are like a completely different animal all together compared to bass up to 6 1/2 pounds or so. The reason why you don't catch them very often is because of five things: there aren't very many of them, they are most active at times and during weather when we aren't fishing, they aren't in the places that most people fish, they aren't very willing to expend the energy it takes to eat the lures that most people throw, and most people are WAY under gunned for them, so that even if they do get lucky and hook one, they will break it off.
It's awesome to share information with people, especially when it gives some people just the spark they needed to continue fishing that otherwise might have been ready to give up! The irony, though, about telling people where a big fish hideout is, is that the spot will no longer meet all the criteria of a big fish hideout as one of the main ones is that you can't over pressure the spot or go breaking big fish off and then expect all the big fish to keep coming back for more fun and excersize.
Though really big fish do roam a little, you can't say enough about the fairly DEEP spot with even deeper water close by, and if she can dive off of either of two sides to get to the deeper water, so much the better. They are alot like a big blacktail buck.
Dave

Well put Dave, I have noticed that big fish will always be near a deep sanctuary. They will stay in their safe place most of the time and then move up into shallow cover to feed. This may only take a few minutes; then back to the deep sanctuary. Also a deep sanctuary doesnt have to be really deep; a six foot ditch in a 2 ft flat can be a sanctuary. Most of my large Fern Ridge fish have come out of 4 to 6 foot water that is near deeper water. Some kind of heavy cover seals the deal.

[ExBassGuide]

Dave Smith said "Bass are most active at times and during weather when we aren't fishing".
I have see days that the wind is blowing 30 mph and up and most fishermen are back at the dock. I have landed big bass in pilings with strong winds blowing and no one around. Windy days make the bass much less spooky and more aggressive.
Great point about the weather Dave!!!!

Understanding bass will help you catch some big ones!
Roger

[Tar Heel]

Ain't that the truth. Some of my best days on the Columbia have been downright dangerous, whitecaps, the big barges blowing spray off the bow, trolling motor chopping air, and active fish. I have heard fish will come up from the deep and work rocky shorelines for crawdads and minnows that are getting washed around by the wave action. Some times the fishing is best on the windward shore--when we, the predator, would rather be in a wind protected cove. If there's a mud line along the bank, sometimes you can catch fish rt along the edge of it on a windy day.
Heading back to NC for some work and visiting this coming weekend, and my Dad has us booked with a striper guide on one of the local reservoirs Sunday. I'll post some pix, if we hook up. That's one fish I do not like to C & R, but, of coourse, will do so if it's a biggun. They are the best table fare bass I have had, by far.

[ExBassGuide]

Good luck Tar Heel! Hope you get a 30 pounder!
Roger

[T Dot]

i believe there are 3 things that really come to play.


location - once you see them, mark that spot. as they rarely stray far from their homes. as you know when there is one there are many. these locations are like the penthouses of the water. if a fish is removed from that location, one of similar size will replace it eventually. types of locations will vary from every body of water.


time - after locating a few spots, come back througout the day, and see when they are most curious, active or feeding. you may quickly notice they are only active for a certain time frame. just like humans bass are creatures of habit, and are so the whole lifespan. you will notice a pattern of when they show up, and when they feed. you will also notice they will only bite certain lures. on some lakes it takes us a while to unlock the secret, on others its fairly easy.


lure size - ive gone through my share of lures, and the biggest factor i believe is the not the lure choice, but how big the lure is. as they say, the bigger the better.


so to to be honest - if you can unlock a single lake, simply apply those same type of rules to other bodies of water, but again the quickest and easiest way maybe simply throwing something large. curiosity killed the cat, and we should use that to our benifit - ive had many quality follows, and try to remember every location to the best of my ability.

[Super Fluke]

Originally Posted by T Dot

i believe there are 3 things that really come to play.


location - once you see them, mark that spot. as they rarely stray far from their homes. as you know when there is one there are many. these locations are like the penthouses of the water. if a fish is removed from that location, one of similar size will replace it eventually. types of locations will vary from every body of water.


time - after locating a few spots, come back througout the day, and see when they are most curious, active or feeding. you may quickly notice they are only active for a certain time frame. just like humans bass are creatures of habit, and are so the whole lifespan. you will notice a pattern of when they show up, and when they feed. you will also notice they will only bite certain lures. on some lakes it takes us a while to unlock the secret, on others its fairly easy.


lure size - ive gone through my share of lures, and the biggest factor i believe is the not the lure choice, but how big the lure is. as they say, the bigger the better.


so to to be honest - if you can unlock a single lake, simply apply those same type of rules to other bodies of water, but again the quickest and easiest way maybe simply throwing something large. curiosity killed the cat, and we should use that to our benifit - ive had many quality follows, and try to remember every location to the best of my ability.

Thanks for the input T Dot.You have added some pieces to the puzzle.

[Super Fluke]

Originally Posted by Tar Heel

Ain't that the truth. Some of my best days on the Columbia have been downright dangerous, whitecaps, the big barges blowing spray off the bow, trolling motor chopping air, and active fish. I have heard fish will come up from the deep and work rocky shorelines for crawdads and minnows that are getting washed around by the wave action. Some times the fishing is best on the windward shore--when we, the predator, would rather be in a wind protected cove. If there's a mud line along the bank, sometimes you can catch fish rt along the edge of it on a windy day.
Heading back to NC for some work and visiting this coming weekend, and my Dad has us booked with a striper guide on one of the local reservoirs Sunday. I'll post some pix, if we hook up. That's one fish I do not like to C & R, but, of coourse, will do so if it's a biggun. They are the best table fare bass I have had, by far.

That striper fishing is fun.I used to fish back East and caught lots in the Ocean.Please post the pic's AWESOME fish to catch!Talk about using swimbaits,thats one fish that loves them!!!!Good Luck

[Tar Heel]

They are a great fish. The Res. we will fish isn't known for very big fish- New Hope, aka, "Jordan" Lake near Chapel Hill and Durham. The bigger ones are in L Gaston, and Kerr L. I have a feeling it's going to be a bait watching or jig affair, as we are using a guide. (didn't mean to hi jack!)

[DJD]

Originally Posted by Tar Heel

They are a great fish. The Res. we will fish isn't known for very big fish- New Hope, aka, "Jordan" Lake near Chapel Hill and Durham. The bigger ones are in L Gaston, and Kerr L. I have a feeling it's going to be a bait watching or jig affair, as we are using a guide. (didn't mean to hi jack!)

I remember a day just outside of Depoe Bay charter fishing the reef for sea bass. The ocean was dead calm and the bass were feeding on the surface. The captain had a bunch of rods rigged up with large white grubs on a jighead. You could pick the fish you wanted and just pitch over to it! That boat limited out in about 20 minutes! I also caught a 12lb lingcod that wouldnt let go of a 4lb sea bass!

[Greg516]

All of my have been in or near timber.. So I usually fish in and around the timber at the pond I fish at.

[Tar Heel]

20 mph wind and "ice pellets" predicted here tomoow, so it doesn't look like any stripers for this Tar Heel this yr. We are really bummed out, and may have to drown our sorrows while we watch UNC whoop up on GA Tech.