Whether open or hard water fishing, try upsizing your bait to catch the big ones. Depending on the time of year you happen to be fishing, what is considered large as bait can differ greatly.

For instance, I’ve used nine-inch pond shiners in the summer and caught three-pound large mouths on them. I’ve also used jigs through the ice that were smaller than a pea, and caught the same sized fish. Knowing what big bait for the conditions you are fishing is a key concept in catching large fish. By focusing in on the lake forage species and understanding which food source is being utilized, you can choose the most effective bait.