Big baits, big fish?

No one wants to weigh in...well I have a few thoughts. I have learned and continue to be amazed by by fishing, I realize there are NO absolutes in fishing! I've had a guest put on the ugliest, twisted, stinky bait on the end of a hook and real in fish that would make you question why or what I'm doing guiding...

SO, i think that larger baits will typically catch bigger fish, simply because smaller fish can't eat that size of prey. As a biologist (U of MN fisheries degree) seems simple: bigger the bait would reduce the number of fish that could possibly engulf that size prey. Likely less fish, means less strikes, and knowing you are specifically targeting a size of fish your expectations should be realistic.

As a guide, my hopes are to catch LOTS of fish and have fun doing it. I know several tournament fisherman, and they have a completely different mindset. There goal is 5-10 bites...yes, they are targeting big, winning type fish. They don't want to find numbers of fish, they are quality over quantity, and to do this large baits, faster presentations, selective areas all are considerations to bigger fish.

Now we've caught HUGE walleye, HUGE pike, HUGE bass on tiny baits...but that's not the question. You could argue that the reason is location, presentation, and a little luck. I came to work for my uncle at Harmony Beach in about 1994...I learned the lake from Tim, Laurence Ball, and the guides and fisherman I encountered. I love fishing and tried to learn or steal the wisdom of these guides and fisherman. One stringer that has always stuck in my head over the years is LeVerne Oveson, who once shared a photo with me of a day fishing near Kettle Falls. He had 5 or 6 walleyes on this stringer and I think the smallest walleye was 29 inches, 9 pounds. The largest was 13 pounds according to him. Could be a fish tale...yes, but even if the numbers are off slightly, these 5/6 walleyes were trophies in any walleye angers eyes. I of course asked "what were you using", and honestly I'm not sure he divulged that info the first time I asked but eventually it was HUGE sucker minnows on large jigs...

I love putting a big sucker minnow on a hook, under a bobber and cast off a point or in the center of a bay. Just waiting for that 40+ pike to take that bobber under like Jaws did with those barrels in the movie...But HUGE suckers for walleye...on a jig, fishing off the bottom like I've done thousands of times, just with smaller minnows. If that story LeVerne told me is true, that is one mark for the side that big baits means big fish! I'm still in awe, and always will be...

This monster was caught within 10 minutes of another 40+ northern pike on a guide trip with me. Brian K, was pitching a Booya spinner bait and definitely had the hot hand this day! It lure wasn't huge, the presentation wasn't different. What I found interesting with this fish or these fish (2 fish over 40 inches/20 lbs) was that they were in the same area feeding...Northern Pike are territorial and generally (my thought) is that they aggressively monitor and attack prey in their territory, so to have 2 big fish in the same small inlet or off the same point it rare in my eyes. Love to hear if others share the same thoughts or have a different opinion. See you on the water!