Big followers of ones already hooked

[Soupysayso]

Ok, I'm stumped and open to new ideas. So here's the problem in a nutshell. I live on a relatively clear lake with fish holding anywhere from 0-40ft deep. Seems like when I hook a fish anywhere from 8inches to about 2lbs I see monster bass tracking it as it surges and runs around trying to steal the bait from it or just plain turned on by the action. On one lunker tournament that I won this year, I hooked a 4lb bass and had 4 fish twice that big chasing her to the boat. So my question is basically, any NEW ideas about how to duplicate this kind of struggle? Before I put the question out there, let me say that I've tried double fluke rigs (no success), casting another lure to the fish while one is hooked (no success), and trying to shake the little fish off (no success). I was thinking about trying a large musky lure (to imitate a surging fish) with a fluke rigged through the side (to imitate the bait). I'd prefer not to have to zing 5oz lures around or to pay outrageous costs for those kind of lures but if that's what it takes, fine by me! I would guesstimate the size of the largemouth and smallmouth I've seen come up with some of the smaller fish I've caught at anywhere from 6-9lbs without exaggeration. Can you feel my frustration?

[bladesandbaits]

soupysayso,(this is long)

Thats a tough one.It depends on what pattern(technique)you are using.If your calling fish out of 50 feet,then it must be some sort of topwater bite/schooling bite.Here down south in the really clear deep lakes this is common.If the double fluke rig dont do it ,there are some mods to it that may help.Depends on how your rigging it.

Usually having someone follow up with another bait wont do it for large lips.

This is what we do in that case.There again it depends on the technique.I got into this same situation last weekend pre fishing for a tourny. I was catching good fish over a hump about 60ft with a Creek Chub and Lucky Craft Gunfish.I always use one of those Circle Hook trailers on anything topwater.(I will post a pic tonight).The trailer has about a 4 inch leader attached to it.The trailer threads through the back hook eye.

When the trailing fish attacks, hook up odds are better especially if he (the other fish)is trying to take the bait from the other.Normally the trailing fish is the biggest one.Last week I had a 3 pounder and what appeared to be a 6 pounder on. The big one got off.When you hook up 2 the odds are high one is going to get off.

I know this works on topwater bite but dont know about jerkbait or c-bait.

One other tip about flukes.When schooling bass are blowing bait out of the water the double fluke rig is effective.The problem is that the fish down here have gotton finicky to a fluke.Remember the "scales fish formula?"We started using this on our flukes and presto!!!!!!Back in Buisiness.We (anglers i travel with)figure that when the Bass are blowing bait out of the water like they often do when schooling,they are looking for scales from injured baitfish.You have to apply it often but it does work.God Bless You And Your Family JP

[ckarren]

Maybe next time throw back the biggest thing you have in your box. I can?t tell you how many big bass I catch on my musky lures.

-Corey

[Mr B]

Hey Soupy, I know this isnt what you want to hear BUT. If you have fish that large in your waters that are obviously very active you should commit your self to throwing some swimbaits.

In my local lake that I have fished for the past 10 years we have done well patterning the bass but it was very hard to pass the 5 fish 20 lb barrier.

Until, I started throwing the swimbaits in this lake. The first week of last December I had 28 1/4 lbs for 5 bass at this lake. And that was including loosing 3 fish over 5lbs. No kidding.

Yes, the big fish were on a tear that day. But I would not have gotten those huge guys on the smaller stuff. My partner was throwing the usual and his biggest was a 3.5.

I was throwing the 9" Osprey Talon. They are pretty pricy, but worth it. When they tear I use Aqua Seal to repair them and it works great.

Those fish that are chasing are active and might just need something large to trigger em.

Make sure you use a large enough, heavy enought rod so you dont beat yourself up .

Good Luck

Mr B

[Soupysayso]

yah, I have been leaning towards the musky baits and large swimbaits. It doesn't seem to matter what I catch the smaller ones on, the bigger ones always trail it, tube, crankbait, jig, topwater, doesn't matter. I don't have time left this year to play with it, as the fish are much deeper now but I plan on untuning some musky baits to run erratic and try my luck. Thanks for the suggestions.

[ckarren]

I don?t think throwing big 8? musky bait is going to help. I throw them all day and I maybe catch one bass every 3 trips. When I do it is a big one. This year I was fishing a small musky tournament the same day they had a bass tournament. I took 4th in the musky tournament but I would have won the bass tournament. I three fish over 6lbs and one that was a least 8lbs. 16lbs won the tournament. That was the best day fishing I have had, yea I had two small muskies all on my lures. This day I was catching big and small bass I have never done that before. I am with (MR I would keep it down to the swim baits maybe some of the smaller crank baits.

Good luck

-Corey

[lunk71]

have you tried a bulky chatter bait?

[wavewalker2006]

they hit musky baits. bass but try an bucktail big french blade nun. 7 at night you wont get many but when you do hang on big bait big fish most of the time

[nova]

What you need is a "puke bait". That's a white or off-color white bait like a 3" tube or a 3" fluke type fished with an EWG and a 3/0 splitshot about 12" up the line.

The reason it's called a puke bait is when you catch a fish and he spits up it's always that color. Some fish will follow the hooked fish waiting for the puke.(easy meal)

I catch more than a few fish like this when the timing allows. I even do it in dark water.(just because you don't see the fish doesn't mean it's not there).

www.novalures.com

[smirkplug]

I Love That Puke Bait Idea !!! You Might Also Want To Try A Big 10 Inch Herb Reeds White Sluggo With A Huge Worm Hook And Lots Of Nail Weights In The Rear End To Make It Swim Backwards On The Drop. Then Work It To The Bottom Then Swing It Fast Then Let It Sink Backwards. I Get Alot Of Fish On The Backwards Drop. Its Like They Follow It On The Swing Then Grab It On The Drop. I Can't Stand Being Teased By Fish So If This Doesn't Work I Mark The Spot, Go Fish Someware Else Then Come Back 15 Min.--1hr. Later With A Big Bait Like A Butt Heavy Sluggo.. Good Luck !!