several years ago on a lake well after the spon I caught a 6 lbs smallie, not ten min. later in the same spot I caught a five lbs. er. within three casts I caught yet another 5....don't figure.

Great info guys.  I have been going crazy trying to figure out what to do with myself out on the water.?. I've convinced myself that I need 3 or 4 poles at my feet with different presentations in order to be a productive basser. After reading your posts I think I need to just RELAX and try and remember why I started this hobby in the first place-TO HAVE FUN!! It definitely cuts down on line tying time, though . I think being comfortable with your presentation is very important. If your out there throwing everything you "think" should work and not focusing on your present technique you could be costing yourself valuable fishing time.
Wade
P.S.
Glenn, you might want to check the "Trophybass...." link in your earlier post.

I've never heard of that book... It sounds pretty interesting! I may pick that up sometime soon.

Thanks for the info,
Chris

No problem, Chris.  As a matter of fact, I may have read something you may not be aware of.

Besides talking to trophy bass hunters such as my buddies Chris "fish" Wolfgram (www.trophybassonly.comn) and Chuck Bauer (www.worldrecordbass.com), ; I've also read several books.  Most notably is "Tracking Trophy Bass" by John Hope (I have several of his articles on my site).

As the story goes, John Hope caught 2 trophy bass within a week's time and implanted them with radio transmitters.  One of those two bass he named after his wife, Wanda (he named all the bass he tracked).

That week marked the beginning of an amazing story that has established John as a nationally recognized expert on the behavior of trophy largemouth bass.

John and his wife tracked more than 30 largemouth bass ranging from seven pounds to 15 pounds, eight ounces on lakes throughout the nation. The tracking program also involved other species, including walleye and a couple of trophy smallmouth bass.

The first 10 years of John's tracking program resulted in, Tracking Trophy Bass, a comprehensive book on locating and catching trophy fish. The book was very well received in the angling community and soon sold out.

John was the person to note what he calls "funnel points".  John's terminology came from his attempt to describe locations in a lake where trophy bass feed. He sat down with a map and marked all the places where he'd caught really big bass and started to notice they all had something in common. They looked like funnels.

During a trip to Houston County Lake (Texas) he decided to test his theory and announced to all on the trip that he could mark 10 places on the map where trophy fish had been caught. There were professional guides and others with many years of fishing experience among the crowd.

"After they all stopped snickering," says Hope, "I marked the map and let them take a look at it." They all had to admit that every spot he marked was correct.

John and co-author Jesse Miller released an updated version of the book in 2001. The new edition includes new information garnered through 16 years of John's continuous research, which includes findings from extensive research conducted on his private lake on his property.

In his book, he notes that big bass tend to be loners, and stay within a defined area.  My trophy hunter friends note the same observations, based upon their experiences.  He also defines 3 types of bass - shallow, mid-layer, and deep bass - that stay within their haunts except during the spawn.  It's a pretty good read.

Doug Hannon also has some good books and videos on trophy bass worth reviewing.  He's also a well-known expert on trophy bass behaviors.  It's been a while since I've dusted off the stuff I have by him, so I don't recall what he says about bass being loners, if at all.

Are these definitative research studies?  Probably not in the eyes of some.  However, there's nothing else I know of that comes close.

Hope that helps!

Really great post, Rev! This has turned out to be an excellent discussion.

Glenn - The only reason I asked you about particular studies is because you typed, "As for big bass being loners - tracking studies have proven that theory." Even if you didn't mean "always", it sounded like it, and I thought maybe you had read something I didn't know about. If I was new to bass fishing, I might just take your statement for fact.

Yes - I've read a lot of tracking studies and that's why I was curious. I wasn't trying to be an A%%. The tough thing about tracking studies is 1) they're expensive (tags usually cost about $100 or more per fish) and 2) they only give you individual fish information, and it would be difficult to say anything about what other fish are around the one you're tracking, if there are even any.

Peace out,
Chris

Anyone who has an underwater camera knows that there are far more fish located in those "fishy looking" places than we dare want to admit; especially when we can't catch them.  If the average fisherman knew how many fish saw their lure during a normal day, many would quit fishing in disgust.  But some guys understand that at "some time" during the day, those fish WILL become active.  Some like to wait for moment, patiently throwing their confidence bait.  Others don't have that type of patience and will crank up the motor, fly to a new spot looking for active fish, often switching baits constantly.  Both can be successful.  Neither is necessarily wrong - they are just different.

When I first joined the club we had a couple of brothers who used to pick a spot in the middle of a lilly pad field, and sit there all day long.  While the rest of us flew around the lake using everything in our boxes, they fished the same spot all day.  There were times they did very well.  When they didn't it was probably because their fish didn't turn on until after the tournament "check in time" occured.  It's the risk you take.  That style suited them.  I'm a type-A personality and that just would work with me.  Successful or not, I just wouldn't enjoy it.

Personally, I think what you do in a tournament situation has more to do with your PERSONALITY than anything else.  Two pros in the same tournament will use both approaches (one run and gun - switching baits constantly, the other using their "tried and true" in one spot.)  Both will do well.  I think we need to stop worrying about what the other guy does, and find out what works for us. 

Confidence is a prescious commodity - and at the end of the day, you have ask your self "Did I do it my way?  Did I give it my best shot?  And did I enjoy it?"  And if the answer is "Yes", you can go home happy.  Every day's experience (successful or not) can be a learning experience if you analyze it carefully.  But as Frankie used sing "I did it my way!" 

I was in a tournament long ago in which my partner and I were in first and second place after day one.  The next day the conditions changed a little bit, and when it didn't pan out like the day before, my partner tried every thing in his tackle box.  He literally spent more time switching baits and tying on new set-ups than he spent with his line in the water.  I chose to "dance with the girl I took to the prom" and I slowly picked up four fish by the end of the day.  I amazingly held on to first and he dropped to 6th.  I am not saying I did the right thing and he did the wrong thing.  But I was COMFORTABLE with my decision, (win or lose), and he ended up frustrated and deeply disturbed by his choices.  He still beats himself up when he talks about that tournament.

In the end, the opinions you will get to this question will be varied, and equally valid, depending on a person's personality.  Learn and experiment with each of them until one begins to feel comfortable for you.  When you spend enough time on the water, "you'll just know" which approach works for you the best.  Only experience and time spent fishing can lead to that revelation.

Chris

You do hear of guys fishing 1 spot and winning tournaments. Last years Bassmaster in Tri-Cities was that way I heard. That guy caught his fish on that pole or post on that hump. 

These have to be hum-dinger spots I'm sure.

All I know is that I hinder myself because I fish baits and tactics that I get comfortable with. This is something I need to work on. I need to be more versatile. Hopefully that catches me bigger and more bass.

Good rule of thumb.........Find bait....find fish. Of all sizes

First, I wouldn't use the word "always" - there's never a sure thing when it comes to nature.

Second, I don't have the specific research articles you're looking for. I'm sure you're much more adept and proficient at finding those sorts of studies than I, so I'm a little puzzled why you're asking me.

That said, I've read articles that refer to such studies, and/or imply larger bass tend to be loners.  As I stated above, nothing is set in stone when it comes to nature, so I'm sure there are studies that contradict each other - which is often the case with just about anything these days ("this causes cancer!"  "no it doesn't!" etc). In addition, occasionally what is passed off as truth sometimes turns out later to be myth (remember when we all used to believe that bass hid from sunlight because "it hurt their eyes"?).

It seems in the articles, forums, and conversations I've been privvy to state it's an accepted "fact" that big hefers are loners, yet I've never seen the actual studies they refer to. 

Perhaps this may someday, too, turn out to be a myth.  And if this is indeed the case, then I am guilty of perpetuating the myth.

If you know of any scientific studies or insider information regarding the behaviors of trophy bass, please enlighten us.

Thanks!

Hey Glenn,

Do you have any links or reports on tracking studies you could post here? I haven't seen any that seem to prove that big bass are always loners, but I have an open mind!

I, and I bet a few other folks, would like to read those.

Chris

You know what's funny about that comment from OT Fears, Rob?

If I remember correctly, OT held the all-time Bassmaster weight record for a while (I believe he has lost the record since). I also believe he got that record from dropping anchor on one area so no one else could fish it. He sat on one hole the whole tournament and kicked butt!!!

A lot of times you hear pros talk about finding patterns during a tournament as being the key to success. I agree, but based on tournament reports I read, I would change that slightly:

Recognizing a pattern is important to finding other key areas, and it is also important to help let you know when you have found THE SPOT. If you read B.A.S.S. tournament reports, I think you will find that the majority of winners fished one or two holes. They weren't exactly pattern fishing.

Maybe interesting... maybe not. 

Chris

I was talking with a guy from Puyallup Hawg Hunters who talked with O.T. Fears when he was up here fishing Washington. Wolskey was with me when we were chatting with this guy. Fears said that up here he noticed that the anglers got to focused on a "spot." We wanted to cruise to a spot and live or die by it because it looked good. He thought we blinded ourselves to trying to relate to the conditions and what the fish should be doing because of them.

I like reading the articles they put in Bassmaster were the Pro fishes a lake he has never been to, and they document  it. They fly back and forth through spots all day depending on the temps and sun. They try yo fish the attitude of the fish and not fish what they think looks like good structure. Sometimes the attitude puts them on the good looking structure but sometimes not.

I do agree that little things can make a difference in strikes. Like pausing for 5 seconds between twitches instead of 2. Once you find that little something, stick with it.

Great topic Jim.

I would have to concurr with Sarges post.  It does boil down to decision making while on the water.  It was enlightning and accurate.  Must be all that edumication.......... 8)
Kirk

For me, it all boils down to confidence.  Once I lose confidence in the lure I'm using, the place I'm fishing, or the technique I'm using, it's time to switch.

That said, when I'm not tournament fishing, I employ a tactic Larry Gonzcy taught me years ago.  That is, once you've established what the bass are hitting, start experiementing and try to determine exactly what is triggering the bite.  That is, change colors, weight, retrieves, lure type, etc. until you figure out what it is they're keying in on.  It's a great learning experience and an excellent mental challenge.

Also, it's a good practice to cover an area with reaction baits, then go back through with a different bait if you caught a bass or two on the first pass. 

As for big bass being loners - tracking studies have proven that theory.

Jim, I agree with all the good info above...but I will stick with my standard answer.....YES!