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Been working over this big flat for a few days now. It's on the edge of the main lake basin so I'm thinking it reloads - Often. It's especially productive when the winds blowing in on it. About 400 yards long & wide there's plenty of room for the fish to move around. I can see them (SMB) chasing bait all over the place, in, around & over isolated weed patches. 4 inch yellow perch carcasses & the occasional crayfish have adorned my live well routinely each trip. A few different baits have taken fish. All Moving baits though so that makes me very happy - I get to Chunk & wind. SK RES, a 1.5 Square Bill, A KVD Perch Jerkbait and a Texas rigged tube, but a Megastrike Strikeback spinnerbait has been the most consistent producer the past few trips and today was no exception. Several 2 & 3 pound smallies came early & often and then later in the day this 5 pound Fatty De-Stroyed my spinnerbait. I Like it when that happens. A-Jay

This is the official measuring board, and although I have caught bass that measure longer than 65cm (25.59'') , I have never gone through the hassle of submitting it for the record. This fish was caught 8/28/16 just a couple weeks ago Jeff

I disagree. A beginner should not go with a $50 reel. Total waste of time and money. Once you're in the $150-200, you in the sweet spot. Reels in that bracket work well, need little service and will last years longer than a $50 hunk of junk. Over that amount, I agree, the beginner will not appreciate the differences, which are incrementally minor. For a rod, anything starting at $100 is pretty sensitive, in most brands.

My wife has always wanted to go to Italy as her grandparents were both born there. So after much hard work and planning, we left on Sunday 9/4 and got back yesterday 9/13. We went to Rome, Pompeii, Positano, Florence, Venice and then jumped over to Barcelona because i've had many friends say it was a great place to go. We did it all too! If there was a site to see in one of those places, i'm pretty sure we saw it. I have to admit i was pretty skeptical at first, but afterwards i will say it was one of the greatest experiences i've had yet! I've been out of the country a number of times, but only in North and South America, Europe was totally different on most every account. Food was FANTASTIC, both in Italy and in Spain. And the best thing was honestly the produce! I ate sooooooo many tomatoes, peaches and grapes it was insane, but they were so much better than back home it was unbelievable! I highly recommend the trip if you ever are afforded the opportunity to take it! A few pics from the trip: Positano Florence Fish Market Pizza (OF COURSE): Florence at Sunset Venice from a boat: Barcelona beach: Barcelona fish market:

It is when comparing it to living with your in-laws.

I target northerns. Braid, without some leader is a huge no-no. My best guess with people that don't have issues with braid is they are using moving baits. Often, I don't need a leader when tossing a spinnerbait or large crank/plug. Throw a jig or worm, and your done. A moving bait, they pursue and grab, then move the bait in their mouth to swallow. By then, you've set the hook, and aside from the facial and gill cover scales, it's little risk. A jig or worm on the other hand, they slurp and engulf, like a bass. Your line is definitely at risk with the teeth. For leaders, I use titanium, steel wire, or 100# fluoro. Get a crimping tool for the big line. Here's a nice fish I caught from a kayak on 8# CXX, and relatively light cranking stick. I was glad to get my Lucky Craft Flat Mini MR, lol.

I'm not exactly sure what they cost, but for the sake of conversation...lets say they cost $10. I would recommend taking that $10 bill and wading it into the smallest ball you possibly can. Take this balled up $10 and throw it in the lake/pond/river wherever you are fishing in the general direction of where you want to attract the fish. Without a doubt, this method has about the same effect as the above mentioned "bait ball", AND it saves you a trip from the store!

Hamma - I am definitely going to check out the dam area as well. There is a creek channel that runs from the 89 bridge to the dam so I want to get the finder on all that. To clarify, I don't think my transducer is mounted sideways, it just attaches to a track ball thing that is on the side of the kayak, but it is designed to hang straight down. I believe the thing I'm realizing from all the replys here is that I only see a very small cone to the bottom directly beneath me.. And maybe those odd fuzzy shapes are just a portion of the bait fish (or suspended fish) or whatever it is. My depth setting, or lower range is 15 ft. Since the deepest I believe in the entire lake is the 89 bridge area around 12-14ft Spinnerbaits are one of my favorites, And I'm just now realizing to never retrieve just straight and steady. But making it dance or bulge or "killing it" or slow rolling, etc. Todd2- Same day I go back to the dam, I'm graphing the whole channel to the bridge.. I plan to graph as much or more than I actively fish. Also downloaded my particular finder's online manual just now Catt - I got below saved just gotta keep reading it until memorized and then find it out there Breakline: A breakline can have more than one meaning. It can be another word for a drop-off/ledge, or a point of any quick change in depth. It can also be used to describe the edge of a vegetation line. For example, a "weed break" is the area of the weed bed where the weeds meet up with open water; or, where one type of weed meets up with another. The last example happens when bottom composition changes, as different weeds prefer different types of bottom composition. In rocky impoundments, a breakline can also describe a line where rock meets mud, pea gravel, etc. In other words, the most correct definition for a breakline is "Any distinct line that is made by cover or structure which leads to an abrupt change in bottom depth, composition, or cover transition". I just pulled the trigger on Spoonplugging: Your guide to Lunker Catches earlier tonight

IGFA started a catch & release program a few years back based solely on length. They established minimum lengths for most species. Anyone conforming to their rules can submitt a fish that exceeds those minimum lengths. The program only pertains to fish caught after the *** of the catch & release program so previous records do not qualify. If someone submitts a bass for their state & that exceeds the minimum qualifier then that becomes the new record if it is the longest submission. IGFA sells vinyl measuring devices for proof of length along with the required photos. If someone catches a longer fish than the existing record but doesn't enter it the old record stands. The catch & release program is only as good as the participation and effort put into it.

Honestly, those birds come to where I am fishing. Them and the Green Herons. They'll come land by me and give me that look, as if to say, "Hey buddy, you getting anything?"

No kidding. Clean it up and be done with it. Maggies are pretty clean really. I've read that they secrete an ammonia solution or something similar which keeps them clean. Since they are, or have been, used medically to clean wounds they can't be all bad. Ain't that big of a deal and certainly not worth throwing out a good tackle box!

It's the quick change of direction or action of the bait, triggers the response from the bass. Kind of like if you run from a dog.

Awesome Smallmouth Bass and even better story of how he caught this giant. Goes to show you that what matters most is being at the right place, at the right time, using the right presentation!

If you want to keep the budget under $1000 check out the perception 12.0 pro. I picked one up on Labor Day and am really impressed with it. The seat is like a nice beach chair and if you have average balance you can stand and fish in calm water or just stand to stretch in choppy conditions. It is drilled for a Lorance transducer, but with a little bit of creativity you can make transducer brackets from other companies fit. There is a compartment to store your battery and gear tracks to mount your display. It runs about $830 which will leave you some extra cash for a carbon paddle.

I fish for river smallmouth frequently, but I've never fished a river as big as the Ohio. The big difference that I see is that current is very, very important with river smallmouth fishing. Success is nearly always found near current. With largemouth, they will hold more in the slack water and current is not as important. My best piece of advise for river smallmouth is to look for current breaks. Areas where faster water is moving past slower water such as happens behind a wing dam, islands, fallen trees, bridge piling, rocks, or points of land. The bass will hold just on the edge of the fast water, just out of the current. If those were the only places you ever fished on a river, you'd do just fine.

Welcome aboard! Native makes excellent kayaks, so does Wilderness Systems, Hobie, FeelFree, Jackson, Ocean Kayak, and many more. I'm not sponsored by any kayak company and I've sat in quite a few boats. I settled on the Native Ultimate 12 because, for me, it felt better than the Wilderness Systems Commander. Both are hybrid kayaks. I have not been disappointed in all the years I've owned it. Your best bet is to go to a kayak store and demo as many as you can -- of those you're interested in. Reviews and recommendations are one thing, but they are subjective. Only you can determine what will fit best for you.

Nice bass Jeff!That is a beautiful trophy bass that many guys in Florida have never caught and would do anything to catch.

Just seems to be to light of line for those lures/applications. I would throw a chatterbaiter and texas rigs on 15-17 lb flouro. Buzzbaits/topwater would be 12-17 pound mono or braid (on baitcasters). I know P-line tests better than the suggested breaking strength, but i don't know. If you are using spinning gear (which I assume you are) you might want to try the Braid/leader thing. Maybe 20# braid with a 12lb mono/copoly/flouro leader.

Your 200 kHz 2D sonar coverage is a little more that 1/3 the depth. That would be about 3' in 10' of depth. The 455 kHz sonar coverage is about 1/2 of that. The sonar pulse is sort of an inverted cone shape, more depth=more coverage. Using 455 kHz DI, your left to right coverage would be a little more than the depth or 10' of left to right coverage in 10' of depth. The Imaging pulse is very thin front to back, a few inches, and wide to the sides. Think of it as a CAT scan that hospitals use. If you use 800 kHz, its coverage is about 1/2 of the 455 kHz coverage. For the Imaging to work correctly the transducer wide end has to face forward and narrow temp sensor end facing rearward. Turn FishID on and take advantage of that fishing tool. You will get symbols for fish that are about 1# and larger.

Do you guys use braid or mono for the laces? I prefer braid, about 50# mossy green for my topwater shoes and mono, 17# for my jig shoes.

Fished chapman tonight and did pretty well. Had 5 in the boat including a 4.35. Won the last little local money tourney and big fish

I wish I got those. I only get these that seem to ask me the same question.

I really wanted to do this with what I now call my "unofficial PB". Left my scale in my tackle bag and didn't have a tape in the car when I caught this. I can only say, "it was a nice fish". Which is a little depressing. But I did go home and figure out that I measure 22" top of my head to bottom of my teets. So that made me feel better about the situation. Still unofficial...

Fleet farm $1.25 for structure jig and bitsy went for 68 cents.

I would love to see everyone's head explode when the next world record comes from somewhere totally unexpected.

Second that But it only takes one lure to catch a bass. The plastic worm.

Hi all, Finally got out today after a few weeks of non fishing. With our drought this summer the water level was down about 3 ft. We almost couldn't launch. But once we got out into the main lake we had a fun day. Fishing in 3-5 ft. of water we saw some nice bass. I tried swim baits, spinner baits, frogs etc. and could not get a bite. I finally hooked one on the infamous T-rigged Senko. I knew it was a nice fish by the amount of line it took, but when I got it in the boat I realized just how big it was. Per my scale it was 7.1 and just about 24". By far the biggest I've gotten in the boat, and a real decent fish for Maine waters. Here's some pics thanks for looking Jim

Smallmouth tend to be more structure oriented while largemouth tend to like some form of cover. They also seem to prefer a smaller or slimmer bait (minnow profile versus a shad profile), but of course there's always exceptions to the rule. When it's topwater season, always have one tied on and never be afraid to fish it. I fish topwater all day long for smallies, even in water less than a foot. Last time I fished for them, my dad and I were on a clear water lake and our biggest smallies were coming out of less than 2' of water on flat rock banks. We could see the bottom, it seemed like we should be able to see the fish, but when we'd throw our baits onto what appeared to be barren banks, the "rocks" would come to life and destroy our baits. This was in the middle of the day with the sun high overhead and very little wind. Smallies really have no regard for the rule book.

yes! you've put up some real good ones brother but i aint asking that blonde with the big hooters to move. carry on!

You've stood waist deep in a cold river for 5 hours without a bite but complain about the air conditioner temperature control not working.

You can barely spell, but Yamamoto and Gamakatsu are no problem.

It's a great feeling when you're WRONG in thinking it was a decent pike. Nice Smallie, man. You're tearing it up lately. Almost like you know what you're doing...

That's pretty funny. I'll admit that although not done consciously, I think that the last three Really big pike video's I posted all included some version of the Trifecta. I know the PB Pike from last Fall definitely did . . . We'll get along just fine. Abnormal - but fine. A-Jay

I am, personally, of the opinion that a fishing video with some good, contextual cursing in it is the best one. Like when someone first sees a giant pike next to their canoe and mutters the H-F-S trifecta. It makes me feel warm in my heart. And not alone...

Thanks - I'm usually the "Reason" for any muting or voice over editing - I'm good for at least one Harsh "K" word per video. A-Jay

Our local DNR uses big catfish for the same problem. There are only so many small fish a catfish can eat. If it were me and it was my pond, I'd scatter food on the same spot on the pond every day for a week or two. Once the fish become accustomed to being fed every day, they will gather at that spot waiting to be fed. A friend of mine had a bug zapper that collected hundreds of dead bugs every day. He'd use the collected bugs to feed the fish in his pond. All he had to do was stomp his feet next to the pond and the fish would come to him. Once you have them where you want them, throw a cast net right after you feed them. Remove the fish you don't want in the pond, and throw back the ones you want to keep. Repeat as needed.

Really nice fish for up here. On a side note, when my wife took a video of me landing a three pounder(which is the biggest she's ever seen) she was much less calm than yours and that video would have required extensive editing to be BR appropriate. So at least you have a reliable cameraman.

That particular "record" is something many of us break often.Hundreds of bass fishermen every year in Florida catch bass in excess of 24",yet none of them challenge that longest bass record since it's a joke.There's been a couple guys that have caught +28" bass in the state of Florida this year alone...

@soflabasser whatttt ???????? I caught a 24 inch largemouth out of a 4 acre pond this year. Surely the world record must be longer than that..... I debated on getting it mounted. It only had a 15.5 inch girth. I think it might have been on its last leg. But I put her back anyway. And hope to see her next spring

i tried the Gliss , did not care for it ( too wispy ! ) been using 10 lb. Sunline SX1 and i got to admit that this line is perfect ! believe it or not , i'm getting considerably longer casts and no wind knots ....

Sufix has NanoBraid now too. I've used Fireline for many years now. I like it but most seem to hate it. It cuts through vegetation like a razor blade! It was wildly popular among the walleye guys when it first come out. They used it to troll with, because of the small diameters so they could get baits deeper. I don't know if they still do that or not??

Hey, if you guys enjoy maggots so much, I'm happy for you. I, on the other hand, am quite comfortable with my manhood while also wanting nothing to do with them. So you don't look down on me for that, I won't look down on you for being Judgy McJudgersons.

The Double Wide Beaver in Juicy or White Trash! Lol

Crankbaits naturally lend themselves to chuck-n-wind, which is great... when it works. However, a crankbait, like other lures, is not "food". The lure has to do something special to draw strikes much of the time. It's called triggering. It's always nice if you can find aggressive fish that will meet you half-way. Cover water and put the clues together: find bait, find bass, find feeding bass. If you think you are only on the first two -the bass won't meet you halfway- then you may have to employ more triggering. You seem to be afraid of the brush, which is understandable! It could be you are fishing a bit far from where the fish actually are though. You can fish cranks in brush if you fish deftly, crank down easily until contact, then gently walk the crank through with the rod, not the reel. If you hang, slack and let it float up a bit. If still hung pull easily but firmly and it will likely roll past the hold-up. And...get a plug knocker. Fish easy and deftly, like fishing a jig. Cranks can do that, and should much of the time. Contact also allows you to trigger strikes from reluctant fish. Accelerations and direction changes, crashing bottom or cover, and ripping free of cover edges (don't do this in the middle of cover!) are strong triggers. Lastly, or maybe firstly, angles can mean getting the lure to the proper depth and keeping it there, or in the sweet spot, long enough. It can mean paying attention to subsurface currents that position prey and bass in a certain orientation. Fishing across current, or down and across is often best. Each spot can be different due to current directions and topography. Remember, you are fishing a crankbait, not just "cranking" it.

Braided line is actually more susceptible to bite-offs than fluoro or mono. That's why musky guys always use fluoro or wire leaders. I think pike are fun to catch. I often fish for them intentionally. When I do, I use an 80 lb fluoro leader. As a bass fisherman, you just have to deal with pike. I lose tons of soft swimbaits and tubes to pike, which isn't a big deal. Maybe I'm lucky, but I rarely lose jerkbaits. I have a couple of Pointer 100s with more tooth marks than paint.

Being a local, Hoover is probably your better bet! Alum Creek is more wide open and has unlimited horsepower boats. Hoover has a 10hp limit. My brother-in-law and I used to fish Hoover all the time. Of course a small boat helps at Hoover and Alum. I think the fish have seen every kind of lure known to man from the shore! LOL Red Bank Marina has some great walleye fishing just north of the marina in the grass beds. Getting to it by shore is not likely though because of the residential housing. I am just getting back into the swing of things with fishing. I had a 21 year lay off due to family (kids). But I am an empty nester now and plan on doing a lot more fishing! Happy Fishin'! Jeff

Nice Bass PB's are Always a Blast Congrats And thanks for not naming the lake. A-Jay

That is awesome man! looks like you could fit your hand in its mouth, gotta love it!

Unfortunately they make these like garbage these days. You would do well to replace the crappy hooks while you are at it.

The bass in the top pic is about 6 lbs. The bottom pic is about 4 lbs. If they are the same fish I'll split the difference and say 5 lbs. I'd like to make a suggestion that for every thread like this we donate $1 to the "Buy a guy a scale" charity.