If I'm fishing a lake with a good bass population, I'll generally catch two, maybe three bass out of a spot to check their size, then I'll leave it. If I like what I found, I won't come back until tournament time, either. On lakes where bass are sparse, however, you might not want to catch any. When faced with this scenario, many pros will cover the barb of their hook with a small piece of electrical wire insulation. This way the angler detect the presence of the fish without catching them.
Every lake has a reputation.
Go for the big bite in this situation. Fish bigger baits in areas known to produce solid fish. Some lakes noted as excellent smallmouth and largemouth fisheries. Problem is, the most effective methods for catching the two sub-species are relatively different. Pick a fish and go exclusively for that sub-species of bass.