Hunting Giant Bass, Swimbaits in Pursuit
by Mark Meddock

Bass Fisherman from all over the world are seeking knowledge about how they to can catch giant bass. The key is to stop thinking about catching fish and start thinking about How, Why and Where giant bass feed. Big Bass do not waste energy chasing down smaller meals. Big bass are opportunistic feeders and would rather ambush their prey then to try and chase it down 90 percent of the time.
To really understand how giant bass feed, you have to start out as a Bass Fry. These are tiny bass that have just hatched, fearing for their lives most of the time. At least until they are big enough not to be eaten, all this time these small bass are learning they to can eat smaller fish of all species.
Now just think about all of the fish that surround Big Bass, Blue Gills, Trout, Shiners, Baby Bass, Hitch, Carp, Tilapia and all species of Shad. As bass grow throughout their lifespan, each has their own ability to catch food. Big Bass find it very hard to run down those fast swimming minnows, so as a bass increases in size and age they seek easier prey.
One of the things Giant Bass have keyed on is the stocking of Hatchery Fish in all lakes around the world. Now this is the real story of Stocked Fish, when they are taken out of their hatchery environment and put into the local waters. They take their little strolls together in large groups of their own kind. Bass of all size are always on alert, thinking this is just the dinner table being set.
The Planted Trout just have no fear thinking these are friends of bigger size, but to their surprise these are Wolf Packs devouring everything in their path. These Wolf Packs can be Spotted Bass, Smallmouth, Largemouth Bass even Stripped Bass. These are the secrets to catching the giants of any species, target them with what they eat.
I always try to think outside of the normal range of bass food sources. This means feed bass what they want, big meals and lots of them. Giant Bass in the 10 lb. to 20 lb. range can eat several one pound rainbow trout at a sitting. This might keep them satisfied for a few days, but let a sad looking cripple rainbow trout come slowly swimming by and mister bass will come to action. This easy meal is just to much to pass up, sometimes you will have several giant bass trying for this easy meal. Catching two at a time is always a chance. The real key when looking for big bass haunts is to think about angles and how a bass is positioned on a spot and waiting to ambush their prey. I always study my maps and establish the best spots for big bass then I imagine I am a 10 lb fish and how I would ambush prey on the spot.
Where to find Giant Bass, they are in every waterway where bass are present. So if they plant hatchery fish in your lake, match the hatch by using that type of swim bait. Giant Bass are truly on the best spots in any waterway and all you have to do is study your maps and figure out the best way to present the swimbait to the fish on each spot remember that angles are the way to catch the big ones.