Not all anglers have found the sweet spot for big bass on their favorite fishery, but one thing is for sure—we all fantasize about it. Although most of us work towards that magical moment for an entire lifetime, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

There are a few things we can all do to help our chances of finding our own big bass honey holes.

Requirements for big bass

If big bass were easy to catch, we’d all be touring professionals. Unfortunately for us, they don’t get big by being dumb. There are 2 environmental requirements areas must have in order to host a trophy bass.

Deep water makes giant bass feel secure and they will seek areas that provide quick access to an easy meal.

Whether it’s the steep side of a point, a nearby creek channel swing or a river bend, big bass congregate in these areas. While they can be inactive and fairly unmolested in deep water, these areas allow them to slide up and feed without exerting much effort.



Timing is a huge factor

Most anglers target specific pieces of cover and structure when searching for big bass. You can often notice the biggest bass keeping their distance from these areas.

True giants—like 8 and 10-pounders—don’t sit on structure very much. They’re usually in the area, but the only time they’ll actually pull onto specific structure or cover is when they’re actively feeding. This is why castable umbrella rigs have been producing so many giant bass—they’ve given anglers a way to effectively target these suspended, big bass.

Fishing for suspended bass is difficult, so It’s best to target these big bass when they’re most gullible during their small feeding periods. In order to do this timing is everything.

I think big bass stray away from competition, which is why you rarely see schools of 6-pounders, you catch more kicker fish 30 to 40 feet away from brush piles than I do inside of them. So when they move up onto more predictable cover and structure to feed, you’ve got to be there waiting for them.

You’ve got to be persistent and keep hitting the area, more often than not, it will only take 15 minutes to catch a giant if they’re feeding. If it takes longer than that, your timing isn’t right and you should try again later.

Revisit key areas often

If you’ve found an area with a large population of bait and deep water nearby, don’t give up on it too easily. As stated earlier, big bass don’t feed all day, so an hour can make a world of difference.

If you catch 2 or 3 good ones and it shuts down shortly after, come back every hour throughout the day, you can definitely over fish big bass areas and really mess up an otherwise perfect spot. You need to let your best areas rest without forcing the issue.



Don’t overlook finesse presentations

When first approaching a big bass area, start by throwing reaction baits in order to catch the most aggressive fish.

Try to start with reaction baits, but you’ve got to be careful with it, Sometimes catching a bunch of random ‘stragglers’ can get you off the school. This approach can make it tough to pinpoint the sweet spot. However if you pay close attention to the area and your depth finder you should be fine.

After a short stint with reaction baits, break out a shaky head. Although it’s not necessarily billed as a big fish technique, the reasoning makes a lot of sense.



In my opinion, the more bites you can get in a single day, the better chance you have of running across a giant. You may catch some peanuts, but your next cast could be the kicker you’ve been waiting for.

Keep ‘em honest

Fishing for big bass isn’t a science and it takes years to master. Even if your convinced the bass are in a specific pattern.

It doesn’t matter what lake you’re fishing—there will always be big bass doing something weird. Something that they shouldn’t be doing. If you’re catching average-sized fish on points, try to make your way into some really skinny water or vice versa. If you can find these big bass, you’re going to do well in any tournament because you’ll have them to yourself.

Pay close attention to casting angles

Precise casting angles are very important when fishing big bass areas. Start fishing about 150 yards or so from your primary spot to promote proper casting angles.



There will almost always be that magic cast when the big one will bite. In many circumstances if you miss the sweet spot by a few inches you probably won’t get a bite. If you know there are big ones there cast from several different directions. This way you are sure to cover the whole area. If you still don’t get a bite don’t give up. Throw several different baits at them.