The small details in Lure Selection and
Presentation for Trophy Size Bass

We have all noticed that when a new type of lure comes out that it catches Bass easily. Remember when the spinnerbait came out. You could catch a ton of bass on it when the bass wouldn't even look at another type of lure. It was the same when the Big O crankbait came out. So, to catch the wary Bass, one way is to use a new type of lure that the Bass hasn't seen several times or even been caught with.

Trophy size Bass want to eat one big thing rather than several small things. In other words, the Trophy Size Bass is more likely to eat a bluegill than a shad because the bluegill gives more food with less energy exertion. Remember, we are after the Trophy Size Bass. Trophy Size Bass are just like people, if they don’t exercise they get fat and that is what we are after; the biggest, laziest, wariest Trophy Size Bass in the body of water we are fishing.

It is harder to fool a Trophy Size Bass when the water is clear. When fishing in stained or muddy water the Trophy Size Bass can not see the lure as well making it easier to fool the bass. The stained and muddy water hides some of the presentation mistakes that we make.

Trophy Size Bass face into a current. If you do not present the lure to the Trophy Size Bass in a natural way, they will not bite. So, the lure should approach the Trophy size bass with the current not against the current. The Trophy size Bass will face into the current as the water flows naturally from the mouth and out through the gills. It is unnatural for the fish to suspend in water where the water is flowing from the rear of the fish.

Another thing to remember is that normally forage in the summer will be coming from the shallows to deeper water whereas in the winter it is just opposite, the forage will naturally be coming from deep to shallower water. In the summertime, I always anchor in the deeper water and throw shallow and bring the bait back to the deep water. In the wintertime, I anchor up in the shallow water and throw towards the deep water.

I do want to remind you to handle the Trophy Size Bass with care. The Bass to the right had it's lower jaw broke because it was not handled correctly. Look at the size of the mouth and this fish was 24" long. Because it couldn't eat, this bass only weighed 3 lb 10 oz. When you hold a Trophy Size Bass for photos, either hold it like I am to the right or if you hold the fish horizontally, support the weight of the fish under the belly so that you don't torque the bass's lower jaw and break it.

In conclusion, remember that your bait needs to be as natural as it can be. You should always make sure that the bait is going with the current or a direction that the Trophy Size Bass is accustomed to. The Trophy Size Bass is a wary fish that notices small details in forage behavior.