One thing to increase my odds

[Goose]

For me it's learning from my mistakes, sounds very easy yet very hard.

[luds]

Ross,
Some of my best fishing experiences were standing next to you fishing topwater at dawn. You know where obviously and I imagine you remember that blitz a few years back when we first met. The main thing I would suggest is less topwater and using deeper running baits not the the topwater action isn't hard to pass up. The bigger fish just seem to come from the bottom for me.

[Slipknot]

I have to agree that deeper is better most times for larger fish. I was reminded last fall when early one morning fishing the canal at dawn, fish were breaking and I had some decent fish hitting pencils, not many and not better than 20 pound range, but then I hooked a bass and as it sounded and fought, it became unbuttoned, so I just popped the pencil a few times while it was down deep, and it got a nice whack and hooked a better fish high 20's low 30's, my largest to date on one of my own pencils and best plug fish for me in the canal.

Gotta have sharp hooks!

[luds]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

I have to agree that deeper is better most times for larger fish. I was reminded last fall when early one morning fishing the canal at dawn, fish were breaking and I had some decent fish hitting pencils, not many and not better than 20 pound range, but then I hooked a bass and as it sounded and fought, it became unbuttoned, so I just popped the pencil a few times while it was down deep, and it got a nice whack and hooked a better fish high 20's low 30's, my largest to date on one of my own pencils and best plug fish for me in the canal.

Gotta have sharp hooks!

cool story. must have been fun to experience.