Editor’s Note: Larry Nixon of Bee Branch, Arkansas, has fished competitively for 40 years and has won Angler of the Year on the Bassmaster circuit twice, the Bassmaster Classic in 1983 and numerous other tournaments. According to Nixon, who’s won about $4 million in tournaments plus sponsor money, “Bass don’t have rules like fishermen do. For instance, bass don’t know that they are supposed to bite a certain lure of a certain size and a particular color on a specific day, based on water and weather conditions, and where they are in their spawning cycle. Bass are opportunistic feeders, so many times, if you break the rules that most bass anglers hold near and dear to their hearts, you’ll catch bass that other fishermen won’t catch. This week we’re looking at how, where, why and when I break the rules.”

Most anglers will fish crankbaits when they’re fishing in shallow water, but I’ve learned that many times you’ll catch more and bigger bass when you work a big deep-diving crankbait in that shallow water. You have to remember, when bass become conditioned to seeing small baits in shallow water, big baits will pay better dividends. Even in clear water where most fishermen are using 4- or 5-inch finesse worms, I’ll use a giant creature bait and catch more bass than the finesse fishermen will. The bass will look at that big ole creature bait and say to itself, “Instead of eating a lot of little bait, I can gobble up that one big bait, get full quicker and take the day off from hunting something else to eat.” So, anytime you’re fishing a lake or an area that the rule says you should fish with a little bait, try going to a big bait. Many times you’ll trigger more strikes and catch more bass than the little-bait fishermen do.

Bass like to eat unusual-looking baits that they haven’t seen all day, every day. Therefore, big baits in shallow water and big creature baits in clear lakes often will cause you to catch the bass the other fishermen who are using little baits don’t catch. This tactic will really pay off for you during the spring of the year after the bass have been bedding. I’ve found that a big bait cast near a bass’s nest will make that bass mad. I’ve seen the days when I’ll fish a big creature bait near a bass’s bed, and the bass will eat the creature bait. However, if I fish with a tube or a worm, the bass probably won’t even look at that smaller lure. Don’t be afraid to use big baits when the bass-fishing rules dictate that you should use little baits.

To learn more about bass fishing and get John E. Phillips’ Kindle eBooks, print books and audiobook on bass fishing, go to https://johninthewild.com/books/#bass, or for Nook books, visit www.barnesandnoble.com.

Tomorrow: Knowing When Little Baits Are Better for Catching Bass with Larry Nixon