Larger lake bites

[Bsampson]

When you guys are fishing larger lakes do you tend to find you larger swimbait eaters near schools of fish (smaller bass) or are you tending to find those fish hanging by themselves? I haven’t had an issue finding fish but I have really struggled finding size recently. I feel like I hang up on schools hoping to drag a larger fish out when I should move to new fish 

[Jim137a]

2 minutes ago, Bsampson said:

When you guys are fishing larger lakes do you tend to find you larger swimbait eaters near schools of fish (smaller bass) or are you tending to find those fish hanging by themselves? I haven’t had an issue finding fish but I have really struggled finding size recently. I feel like I hang up on schools hoping to drag a larger fish out when I should move to new fish 

In my experience specifically in large lakes smaller fish school up and the true giants that were all after are territorial loners. 
 

I’ve fished lakes in the Carolina’s that are literally 50 square miles for reference 
 

 

[Mossypumpkin]

I kind of see big fish as loaners and pretty much always on cover, whether deep or shallow. Not cruising or following bait schools. And I specifically say deep or shallow because here, you don’t seem to catch big fish in that mid depth, 5-12’ zone. The deep guys get big fish in 15+. And the guys that fish really shallow get em. Most of the year, my biggest fish (5+) all come from less than 5’. 

[Bsampson]

That makes sense. I think I need to shift my focus. I have started to find some deep rock piles in some new lakes down in the 30-50’ range and I think they will be good places to look. Thanks for the input. 

[bigpoppabass]

The old school Caly sb videos and books all conclude big fish will pack together to coral stocked trout. So I think it depends upon the bait. 

[bdpettit]

Agree with all of the above. My biggest have all been solo fish dominating a structure/cover in the area