Big Hawg

[jamesedward]

Guys we have now caught 3 big large mouths on Stockton over 10 lbs in the last month. A lot of Bass have already spawned but a lot more spawning over the next month with the lake cooling off so much. Yes I have pics and I can show any of you on my iPhone cause I can't download them online. But they are hawgs and full of eggs. My big 11-12 lb fish we catch every year is gone and off her bed. She spawned in about 4 foot of water under a tree we placed for her.

[Walcrabass]

Guys we have now caught 3 big large mouths on Stockton over 10 lbs in the last month. A lot of Bass have already spawned but a lot more spawning over the next month with the lake cooling off so much. Yes I have pics and I can show any of you on my iPhone cause I can't download them online. But they are hawgs and full of eggs. My big 11-12 lb fish we catch every year is gone and off her bed. She spawned in about 4 foot of water under a tree we placed for her.

[Walcrabass]

Nice to hear about the Big Fish. Caught a couple myself last year only mine came in the summer. Caught them on logs I put in myself as you stated about the Big Girl.I really don't get to fish much in the Spring. Don't like to catch Bass on the beds anyway. I would rather they get to spawn undisturbed. Kind of impossible when fishing in the Spring so it's good to get them right back in the water. Just curious about what are your favorite BIg Bass baits. In early Spring I'm throwing Big Jerk baits in the morning and if it is bright and sunny I go to Stand-up Jigs and Trailers later in the day.In the Summer it is Top Water in the morning then Stand-up Jigs and Huge Plastic worms/personal creations. Just one more thing. I have been asking what the Lake record is for Black Bass(not Smallmouth of course) on Stockton. If you have that information I would like to know.

[jamesedward]

Nice to hear about the Big Fish. Caught a couple myself last year only mine came in the summer. Caught them on logs I put in myself as you stated about the Big Girl.I really don't get to fish much in the Spring. Don't like to catch Bass on the beds anyway. I would rather they get to spawn undisturbed. Kind of impossible when fishing in the Spring so it's good to get them right back in the water. Just curious about what are your favorite BIg Bass baits. In early Spring I'm throwing Big Jerk baits in the morning and if it is bright and sunny I go to Stand-up Jigs and Trailers later in the day.In the Summer it is Top Water in the morning then Stand-up Jigs and Huge Plastic worms/personal creations. Just one more thing. I have been asking what the Lake record is for Black Bass(not Smallmouth of course) on Stockton. If you have that information I would like to know.

My fish are coming on carolina rigs right now. Regardless what you hear others saying but the spawn has been on for about 3 weeks. My main go to bait is a 1.5 ounce jig.....Yes I throw a big jig. I like looking at the fish on the beds cause I have a cove that if full of bed fish. I went today and only seen 5 beds in my cove with fish on them. A LOT of empty beds. I think they dumped 2 days ago. I agree about the not fishing beds. NO WAY and I am glad you feel the same way. There needs to be more of us out there. On Stockton when the fishing gets tough and you all go deep I go shallower. Thats right. I fish 4 foot of water or less 10 months out of the year. The other 2 months I fish maybe 10 foot at the deepest. Spinner bait, big jig and 14 inch worm is the baits up there for me!

[straw hat]

Those are some awesome fish jamesedwards. I couldn't agree with you more on the shallow fishing. You see guys just working the bank randomly casting, you guys are right, to routinely catch those big ones you have to really know the lake and very specific shallow cover. Those kind of fish don't just hang out everywhere. I wish I had thought of putting out logs for cover when I was young. I probably would have done better. It brings back fond memories. Next time out catch one for me!!!

[MstStudent10]

Jamesedwards, Would like to see some pics of those 3 Hawgs. Unreal to have 3 that big in one spring. I also have an iPhone. If you wouldn't mind, could you shoot me some pics via text on iPhone. Or email if that'll work. I'll PM you my number and email.

[jamesedward]

I believe you got the pics of my best 5 last Sunday. Plus a another 10 lber caught in March. Did you get the pics

[MstStudent10]

I'm not gunna lie guys, at first I was skeptical. After talking with Jamesedwards it seems that Stockton truly can produce some crazy bass... that is IF, and a BIG IF you know what to look for, and why to look there. It seems James has been around since before the Lake was made, and knows A LOT of things that the average fisherman at Stockton does not know... Anyway, James you made a believer out of me, and good fishing to you sir.

I've attached 2 of the pics I got from him, and by his request and out of respect, I blacked out his face to help protect his anonymity for when he's out on the lake. These are both just over 10.

[Walcrabass]

My fish are coming on carolina rigs right now. Regardless what you hear others saying but the spawn has been on for about 3 weeks. My main go to bait is a 1.5 ounce jig.....Yes I throw a big jig. I like looking at the fish on the beds cause I have a cove that if full of bed fish. I went today and only seen 5 beds in my cove with fish on them. A LOT of empty beds. I think they dumped 2 days ago. I agree about the not fishing beds. NO WAY and I am glad you feel the same way. There needs to be more of us out there. On Stockton when the fishing gets tough and you all go deep I go shallower. Thats right. I fish 4 foot of water or less 10 months out of the year. The other 2 months I fish maybe 10 foot at the deepest. Spinner bait, big jig and 14 inch worm is the baits up there for me!

[Walcrabass]

Yeah, The Spinnerbaits and Carolina are great also. Glad to hear you use a big Jig. I do the same. Hardly ever fish with less than 1/2 oz. 3/4 and 1 oz. are better. Tie my own so I get the patterns that I want, they look lifelike. I agree if you know which bed the fish (Deer) or whatever you are after is in that is 90% of the battle. One of the reasons that I put a lot of my logs deeper is because I set them at "odd" depths where a lot of Bass Fishermen won't find them. This is getting harder and harder since the invention of side imaging. That is one of the reasons I keep them small and low to the bottom. It is harder to find a structure that is only 4 feet tall and not very big around. The other reason I put them at these depths is I like to catch several fish at a location. It is not uncommon for me to catch 10 fish before I have them stirred up and need to leave on my better spots. Don't usually catch big ones. Maybe a couple 3 plus pounders and several 14 to 16 inchers.

I would like to also mention while we are talking about the Bass that I cringe when I see people do the "Bass Tournament Pose" ( with the fish out sideways) that this tears and strains the tendons in their jaw especially on the bigger fish. There is scientific research that says a lot of fish that are handled in this way never recover. Please wet your hands and don't "grope" the fish getting the hook out. If you are releasing them get them back in the water fast. Just one more thing. Everyone needs to learn to tell the diffeerence in a Largemouth, Smallmouth, and a Kentucky. Let those Largemouth and Smallmouth Spawn, they need our help in competing with other fish.