Leaderboard

And that is why I carry, especially if I'm by myself.

A-Jay

I put them on when my wife goes on a cooking strike.

The other week I was out with my buddy at a local park on the Upper Niagara. We were fishing from shore and we were targeting smallmouth, I has a dropshot rig tied on with a roboworm with an 8# leader off of 10# braid. It felt like I was snagged up, after a long cast with a 5/8 oz weight. I started to reel in for another cast and my line was about 30 yards out when it felt heavy and started to fight back. After a few seconds of fighting the muskie leaped in the air and I knew it was no bass! haha, Surprisingly, I got her to shore while my friend grabbed the small net that I had and got down to net her. I have no idea how my line was not cut and held up to the teeth. That was the first and only muskie I've caught and it was certainly a pleasant surprise, People in the park were walking over to me and asking about it afterwards! It was an awesome catch! It was by no means a monster muskie, but catching that using bass tackle is just one of the reasons I love the Niagara River!

I don't get ignorant with it, but I think that a beer or two during a fishing trip is a good thing.

Braid.

Two against one - is not a good situation ever. It may not ever happen again - until it does. Sounds like you were very fortunate on this occasion. That unsafe, uneasy, insecure feeling you had was truly justified. I do not like that feeling and have taken steps to made the odds at the very least even or best case scenario - in my favor. I'm worth it. A-Jay

Yup, I was packin a Glock 30 too.. That was a whitetail hunt on a small detached piece of state land.. Locals ( bona fide deliverance types ) tryed to block my exit ( I was at my truck & trying to leave ) and that's where I stop my story... I'm not fighting anyone over a hunting area.. I have never been back, not from fear, but to avoid a potential " bad scenario"

Any time one can break 20 lbs plus for 5 bass there is no need to be embarrassed! Those tournament sacks of mine were on Toledo Bend a place a have 45 years experience; the double d's were over a 55 year span.

My uncle called me and asked to go down to tallahasee to go redfishing with him and of course I never pass up a good fishing trip so I told him alright and went down there today, I barely ever get to go saltwater fishing so I really try to get the most out of these trip, we caught a lot of redfish and even got some catfish, jacks, trout, and mackerel! Caught a pretty big 24.5" redfish and my uncle caught a 28" most of them came on shrimp but some came on artificials. It's a blast catching reds on spinning rods hearing that drag screaming!

I like to get on the water just before sunset to feel my way around and see what the bite is going to be like. I was happy to find that they are starting to blast toads which makes me happy. Anyways I got to the area I wanted to fish and hooked up with one about a pound and had another come unbuttoned both on a toad. I made my way over to talk to a friend who happened to be there and lost another on a swim jig. We were watching them bust the surface about 200 yards from us so we eased that direction and got no love. He had to take off but just as he was leaving I stuck this fish on a Chatterbait. I beat around for another couple hrs and picked up two or three more dinks then on my way towards the launch I stuck this girl on a toad. Tight Lines H

I've caught a number of grass carp but only once did one take an artificial - it hit a lipless crank on the fall - perhaps thinking it was plant matter. Otherwise, all the grass carp that I've landed have been snagged/foul hooked while fishing treble hook baits for bass. I don't specifically target them since, like in your case, they are placed in the lake for aquatic weed control. If you search in the "Other Fish Species" forum, there have been a number of threads about how to target them - including chumming with corn as mentioned by CeeJay. If the grass carp in your lake are "only" 15-20 pounds - then they're not even at 1/2 size yet. If they get enough to eat, they will get MUCH heavier...

Anyone thinking of carrying a gun owes it to themselves and their family to go get some practical training. I'm not talking about the "this end is where the bullet comes out class" I'm talking avoiding conflict and defending yourself if needed. Carrying a guitar does not make you a musician, carrying a gun does not make you safe. I've got a few hundred hours of courses under my belt, I am a good shooter, but shooting (and carrying) is such a small part of it all. Check out some SouthNarc videos on YouTube to get an idea of what I'm talking about. FWIW, I do some night fishing and I live near Memphis. Whether it is day or night, fishing, shopping, hiking, whatever... there is always a chance someone wants everything you've got and then some.

I have a buddy that does heating and air conditioning. He has always said that the guy will not pay to have the AC fixed till it's to hot to F%^&. Then they'll pay what ever it costs.

It's your fish to do with as you please. I just ask that you (and everyone else), consider selective harvest when you do so. Keeping the smaller ones and turning the big fish loose and keeping the smaller ones is beneficial to the water they came from and yourself as the smaller ones taste better and have fewer toxins in them.I'm not trying to start a flame war on keeping bass and your post are appreciated as you're one of the only ones from the other side of the state line. Obviously you know what you're doing from the pictures you've posted. My post was simply a question. If you'd like some recommendations on lakes that need some bass removed I'd be glad to name some. Heck I'll meet you at a couple of them and clean my 5 for you too.

PM sent - There is a lot to know regarding this controversial subject - but the bottom line is - It Is Not That Complicated - You Can Carry a gun if you choose to and follow the rules. Some may not like it but that's their problem not MINE. A-Jay

Absolutely. But that also depends on the person approaching and if they feel they have any advantage. Either way, always be aware of your surroundings no matter where you are.

Haha

I have had a couple of times at night at the ramp, and a couple of other times while fishing with my wife in isolated spots that I have felt/been threatened. I now carry in these situations. This may not work for everyone, but I am not going to be in a situation where I cannot protect myself or my family.

Best Largemouth 7 lbs 13 oz caught in Maine Best Smallie is a tie at 4 lbs 1 oz. One from Maine and one from Vermont. Hopefully will be able to upgrade by the end of the year.

I sent a text to my wife last night. wife being the operative word. I'd finished grilling our dinner, and she was held up at work My text was supposed to say "taking a quick shower. I smell like grill". The iPhone auto-correct version of this was "taking a quick shower. I smell like girl". Not exactly a message designed to endear oneslf to one's significant other.

Mail call! Here's more Rebels and a vintage Rabble Rouser Angel Eye. These are all discontinued baits or In the case of the Rabble Rouser they are shut down. This particular Rabble Rouser never left the factory and was hand picked from one of the bins.(fn1) FN1. I know the guy who sold me the Rabble Rouser, he's close personal friends with Doug Parker, the owner of the company.

2 pounds is a good crappie anywhere and the fish of a lifetime a lot of places.

Try them both.

Do you hear frogs in the evening when fishing ponds you think don't have them? Frogs, like crawdads are nearly everywhere, just because you don't see them doesn't mean they aren't there. When there is an abundance of one prey type, it's difficult to get bass to eat a artifical lure mimicking that prey type. Try a white frog if the more natural color isn't working. Live frogs have been used to catch bass for centuries, long before lures became popular. Tom

Once I launch my boat I put on my PFD before stepping in the boat and my buddies do the same. It stays on until I step back on dry land. I know that even though I can swim if I fell overboard with all my clothes on I could easily drown. When you are on the water you are in a hostile environment because you can't walk on water and you can't breath under water. It is beautiful early in the morning out on a lake or a river, but it's still a hostile environment. Please everyone wear a PFD. Besides if you wear one then you will never fall overboard soaking everything in your wallet

I just got married so...yes.

I love the rain and fishin in it.. profile pic to left (rain)

come to California. We are begging for rain.

They did get a lot. We got between 12"-17" this month in OK. The wettest month ever I think. Most all the lakes in eastern OK are near the top of flood pool. Only like 7 or 8 days without rain........think we are in for a week or so with no rain. I'm with you.....tired of the rain!

I just got done fishing a little while ago. I bought a new UL and gave my brother my old one and it had a X-4 X-Rap tied on it already. I threw a variety of things on my UL messing around as for a few and a few on regular bass tackle. I ended up with like 5 or 6 fish for the day. He threw that X-Rap like the whole time other then to test swim some new bigbaits he got. He probably need up with 25 or so fish and almost all on the tiny X-Raps. A fair amount of them are like the smallest fish you ever caught in your life and he throws baits bigger then them but a good amount of 1.5-2# fish also. He also got a cat at the end that was maybe close to 4# that tore up a ton of drag.

The presence or lack of current makes a big difference in your plan when fishing bridges. Many guys will go directly to the pilings on either side of the creek bed,which is a good starting point for active fish when there is current. You can then work the other pilings and out to the riprap banks. The lack of current may be the reason the locals ignore the bridges and that's a mistake. Would you avoid a major piece of cover on a creek bed that wasn't visible above the surface? Choose a presentation you have confidence in and don't forget to target the up current side of the pilings current or not. Debris will collect there adding a different form of cover. A systematic approach will keep you focused.

Just to add. Braid will slip on the reel when wet. So without a backing on it the braid will just spin against the spool.

15lb P-Line CXX especially since I see you fish Silverwood lol. That use to be one of my favorite lakes when I lived in SoCal, infact my PB came from that lake.

Nope, he went straight for it! Hooked him right through the bottom lip. Frogs arent built like fish (squishy and less dense) so the hook was harder to get out than i thought it would be but he swam away fine. That'll teach him to eat his offspring!

For ponds it's hard to beat a Rapala X-Rap size 4. I think they say like X-4. Put one of those bad boys on a UL and its game tkme. They don't suspend very deep at all and still kinda come through sparse weeds pretty good.

GoPro catches mans face being ripped off by vengeful fish.

The lure tied on Roger

I got into bass fishing due to live frogs. I went to a Pond with no bait and seen little water frogs along the shore I caught some of them and put them on. Hook and sure enough the bass couldn't get enough of them! I caught probably 7 bass that day all were small 12in or less. Ever since that day I became addicted! I lost a rod and reel in another pond while it was casted out with a frog on it and I was using another rod a couple yards away either a bass or catfish took that frog along with my rod lol

Wonder why, when they were just selling the Curado i for that price. Hootie

Any soft plastic black blue fleck. That or a powerbait worm pumpkin/chartreuse tail on a Texas rig.

Ive often wondered the same thing. A pond by my house has an infestation of frogs. Ive never caught a bass in this pond. I believe one of two things is happening. There are no bass to eat the frogs, or the bass are huge and well fed thus they wont take anything i have to offer.

Looking for strikes? Want action? Consider the BPS Crappie Spin @ 3/16 oz. single blade in various colors . Bass will hit 'em. Sometimes a big one. The old school basser...

I set the hung rod down and keep fishing said cover with another set up & once I wear area out I go in and retreive hung lure

There's uually a good topwater bite there early and late, it goes a little longer during the day if you've got some clouds and or chop on the water. After that it will tend to be a matter of either going down into the grass after them, or fishing the grass edge around points and drop-offs. I don't know what you mean by deep, but I wouldn't worry too much about anything beyond about 15' there, for the most part that is about the depth where the grass edge will be. Again, the recent post about Glenn in the pond hopper thread (by gr8outdoors) is pretty solid. If you can read that one again and start to apply that info, you are on the right track, IMO Good Luck!! One other thing about Glenn, I haven't had a ton of luck finessing them there, at least not the way most people think of finesse. I will use some finesse type baits, but on heavier heads and worked faster than most people do. That is pretty clear water by our standards here, and they will reject you more often if you let them get too good a look at it.

Oh wow! I have a very similar boat, and it looks like the exact same trailer. I've been looking for a wider 14'er though. I like going hunting, and sticking a 300lb hunting partner in the front of my boat makes it float like a bathtub. VERY nice work!

3 fish for 21 lbs ? Wow, a 7 lb average, that is huge. How much did your buddies fish weigh ?

Do any of yall know of any clubs around wilmington/ lake waccamaw nc? I looked on the pinned thread here and couldn't find anything.

I hope my wife doesn't see this!

When is the proper time to use a jig? Year Round IMO How do I work the lure? For me 75% of the time they hit it on the intitial fall. So make a good presentation and thats half the battle. If not let it settle to the bottom. Lift the Jig off the bottom and let it settle again. Some people swim these baits but I have very little experience in that. Are trailers required? and What advantages do they add? I always use trailers. Different size ones in different situations but always use them. It makes the jig drop slower which keeps it in front of the Bass' nose for a longer period of time. Not to mention the movement of the trailer creats more vibrations in the water.