Yes, it's fishing. When people in general think of fishing, most think of  fun and relaxation. Sitting on the bank in a lawn chair, pole in the water, feet dangling in the water,"cold one" in your hand... Ahh that does sound relaxing.  This can be the case, depending on the fish you are looking for. If you are looking to just get out into nature and maybe get lucky, this is all for you. Well, I've got news for you, there is an entire other world when it comes to really getting down to business and looking for that catch of a lifetime.

Tired of fishing the same places time after time? You know the lake like the back of your hand. You can go out every time and catch 30 bass. Heck, you could be a guide on those lakes. Yet no matter the effort, that big one still eludes you. Once you have it set in your mind that you want a "wall hanger", there are several factors that come into play. Among them are research, baits, patterns, time of year, location, and of course patience and persistence. This blog is going to cover research.I bet you thought it couldn't get any easier, yet here I am telling you that you're going to have to do homework.

When choosing a lake, the first and most important thing to know is: "Are there big fish in this lake?" One would think, any public stocked lake has potential of holding a world class bass, but what is its track record? For example, my home lake is not a big bass lake. I've fished it for 20 years and just shy of 6lbs is the largest I have ever caught. In the history of the lake, one bass over 10lbs has been caught. Could i catch a monster from there? possibly. Is there a 15lb bass in that lake? possibly. But the odds are very very slim. However, about 2 hours south is a lake known for world class bass fishing. The lake record is 16lbs, several 14lb+ bass are caught every year. 10lb+ bass, I wouldn't even try to put a number one, but at least once a week I hear of a new "double digit" caught. With information like this, my odds of catching a monster increase exponentially. Does that mean i can go down there any time I want, just throw in a line and catch a double digit? If only it was that easy. But that's for another time.

Remember to do your homework. Ask around. Look up information on the internet. Call the tackle shops. Look for pictures. Building your confidence in a lake is almost as important as the population of the lake. Without confidence, you are defeated before you go out. Along with this information you are finding; bait colors and patterns, water temps, structure, spawning patterns, and presentation techniques will undoubtedly present themselves to you.  

For more literature on this and much much MUCH more, I highly recommend Largemouth Bass Tactics. Have been a hardcore bass angler my entire life (over 30 years). I have learned, and still I still am learning, some great tips and techniques. Just when I thought I knew everything I needed, this opened my eyes and actually led me to my first double digit bass. 10lb 7oz from Choke Canyon Reservoir in Calliham , TX.

Stay tuned for my next tip!

Travis