Leaderboard

Scale. Actually I was doing great before I had one. Now all my 5 lb-ers weigh 3 lb or less.

Are you talking about the fishes anus?

Got on some decent brown fish this weekend on a mid-lake hump. Spinnerbaits, drop-shots and wacky senkos did the trick.

Some suggestions: 1. Get on the water earlier. It gives you a longer window of prime time for top water fishing. It can work all day long, but if you're on the water earlier it gives you more time in that prime time for top water. 2. Down size your bait. Try throwing a small popper like a 2.5" Storm Chug Bug or Megabass Pop-X. 3. After you cast, let the bait sit until all the ripples disappear. Then very slightly twitch the bait. A lot of my strikes come this way. 4. Work your bait SLOWLY. Try killing it for a minute or so mid-retrieve. 5. Speeding up can work also. Try making your bait "panic" and work it very fast for a couple seconds and kill it again. Then twitch it like you would right after the cast. 6. Throw it in fishy spots. Along lily pads, under over hanging trees, over sunken logs, or parallel to the bank. 7. Ditch the fluorocarbon leader. Not saying it can't be done, but it certainly works against you. It sinks and can hinder the action of the bait. These are just a few suggestions that come to mind. I'm a top water nut and it's one of my confidence presentations. But on some lakes a top water bite is hard to come by. My "home" lake has produced less than 5 top water fish in my whole life, and it's not from the lack of trying. Most other lakes I fish I can get them on top in the early morning and evening, and a lot of times during mid day. Good luck!

Caught a great one on a private pond today, came on a Chartreuse/Black back 1.5.

May get a chance at some smallies later this week, but for now, it's more small lake hopping for the time being. About 40 in 2 hours today on 2 different lakes. Sunny, hot and calm, so had to work for them. Rain in the forecast for later in the week, which would actually be nice. Might energize the fish a little.

Haven't caught a muskie in years and then today that drought ended as I caught 3 of them in about 3.5 hours. I also caught 5 pike (33 inches) and 6 largemouth (20 inches) to boot. The muskie was 38.5 inches, estimated weight 15 pounds.

Topwater like any other bite aint always there! Some times when they are hitting on the surface ya keep it just under the surface with soft or hard jerkbaits.

I've fished mornings where my partner and I couldn't get bit on a topwater, and then one of us will pick up a Senko or Keitech and it's lights out. Just because first light is prime topwater time for this time of year, doesn't mean that something else will still be more productive.

Micheal, The great thing about being a beginner fisherman is every day is an easy opportunity to break your PB, especially if you have the bug. Nice catch. Had about 15 minutes to fish before work. On the last cast grabbed this solid bass. Was 5 minutes late for work but well worth it.

THREAD of The YEAR NOMINEE ~ ! A-Jay

Everything @Jar11591 succinctly noted above and I'll add on to it. 8. Wait about 2 weeks. (It's coming) A-Jay

Went to the bigger pond today for a couple hours. The walk there turned from about 45 minutes to only about 15 minutes. I knocked on a door of guy that lives right around the corner and ask permission to cut through his yard to get to the pond. He said yes and thanked me for asking. That being said, I was getting skunked today until I tried to pitch to spot right next to a very small tree that was about 2 feet from the bank. My line draped over one of the lower small branches of it about a foot off the water my Ol' Monster made it into the water and almost immediately this pound and a halfer hit it hard. My first oops bass...lol! So happy that the 2 ponds in my neighborhood are within a 15 minute walk from home. I'm really gonna be a fishing fool now...lol! ?

My daughters first outing in a few years yielding her a couple 2.5 pounder..... Glad to have the family all on the same page

lol.

Absolute lunker on Ft. Loudon Lake Didn't have a scale with me but she definitely looked like a easy 5 pounder.

Momma 8 me SKUNKED until big momma got hungry! 4 lbs 1oz! Frog bite!

My hottest lure is the Rebel BIG CLAW CRAWFISH crankbait "D74" in chartreuse and dives to 10'. i always pick up a few extra when I'm shopping in the past. I was browsing sleezebay and seen the d74 prices at $10 to $20? There only $5.59 at most online places. My point is shop around don't jump on the first offer we see shop smart buy more for less. Shopping smart keeps me above the dollar menu and happy meal at the local fast food places. I don't get a toy but that's ok. food for thought. Bill

Can't believe there are no "basshole" jokes yet. (Oh, heavens! Bet I get blacklisted for even mentioning it! There goes my standing!)

Me too. A-Jay

Getting excited just thinking about it!

Historically, September sees the bass in your area start thinking about being shallower as well as being in the mood to eat. Both often make surface baits an effective option. A-Jay

Here's a couple of videos that should help:

First, if weightless and weedless is working, keep fishing it that way. I'd also try a lighter weight for a T-rig, and when you feel it starting to pick up weeds, snap/ pop it off. How deep are you fishing, and could you describe the weeds? Matted grass or something like milfoil?

What I want to know is why the rest of the smallmouth you caught DIDN'T have one...

I believe I am a patient man, but can't bring myself to slow down to the point of throwing a ned rig. The benefit is that it forced me to use other techniques that I had less confidence in. One way to get use to a new technique is make it the only one you use for the day. That is how my dad taught helped me improve my golf game........Play 18 hole with a 9 iron and a putter and your short game improves dramatically

My daughters first outing in years and landed 3 over 2 pounds...... ......proud papa

There is a time and place to fish finesse rigs and that time is when bass are less active, the place you need to determine, can't do that for you without knowing something about the lake. It's easy to go to presentations you have confidence in catching bass, we all do it! Eveyone else was fishing for shallower active feeding bass if they caught bass chasing down chatter baits or hitting surface lures. Smallmouth sounds like you should use a suspending jerk bait in perch or emerald shiner colors, should work for both the agrresive top water and chatter bait bass. Tom

My son is 3 1/2 and fishes with me all the time in the Broad River, it started with teaching him he has to give the fish a kiss before letting them go, and now its turned into a whole hug and kiss, haha. He can also catch the tar out of some fish as well. My Sons Monster fish

Worst year of fishing for me in a while. I haven't even caught one on a frog this year. That's my go to topwater bait. My two biggest fish this year were both 3# on the nose. If I have one takeaway this season it's I've finally gotten confident with spinning gear. I also found a new love in pitching. This year wasn't a total waste,but more of growing year for me. I learned alot about slowing down and having patience. It's not all about power fishing anymore. I'd say I rounded myself off quite a bit. I spent a lot of time on the finesse side of fishing. I also realized that I didn't need 30 setups to do what I do. I don't need every bait in every color either. I completely downsized my tackle and sold off setups that do the same as another. Kept everything that worked and gave away any bait that didn't. I feel lighter. I may not be completely pleased with the amount of fish, however I am grateful for the learning experience this year has been. You guys are all a part of my fishing journey as I spend more time talking to you than most. I'm grateful for this website for opening my eyes to the little things and helping me keep it basic. I plan on slaying them this fall so stay tuned.I thank you.

Good to know - hopefully I can finally get something to bite!

Ventured out into the mud and logjams Saturday. I've been on the reservoir after a lot of storms, but I don't think I've ever seen it quite this bad. Went down out of Fountainhead. Fished between there and Lake Ridge for most of the day. Lots of debris early, but visibility was nearly 18 inches, which actually isn't terrible for there. Fish were funny, probably because of the churn. Got a half dozen or so, nothing over 3.5. Shakey heads and jigs, mostly. Probably around 1PM where I was at (second bend past Jacob's Rock), the crap came in pretty quick. The mud thickened and the logjams got wider and longer. Such that I couldn't even fish what had been a fairly exposed main point anymore. Ran up from there, which wasn't the brightest idea. By the time I got past Ryan's Dam, the visibility was such that I couldn't see my spinnerbait only 6 inches from surface at boatside. Tried mudlines and any clearer spots I could find, but no joy. Went back down again and with extreme patience, was able to land some jig fish. Took a dozen casts to some wood....had to drop it on their heads, but they did hit hard when they found it. Good learning day.

Everyone has to learn so there are no improper questions. Now PK has gained some additional knowledge which is why we are on the Forum.

Ended the day catching 3 more. All 1lbers. Not bad for about 4.5 hours total spent over three visits. On my way back home a lady told me her husband caught a 6lber in that small pond and released it. I'm confident if it's still out there, not only will it be bigger now, but I'll catch it. Besides there has to be a momma and daddy bass out there somewhere. Those baby bass and 1lbers didn't just appear there one day...lol! ?

So, While out on the kayak yesterday fishing the Shenandoah river, I had a very interesting encounter with a large small mouth. I recently bought a small size whopper plopper and wanted to give it a fair shot so I went to the river in the area of Molten Park and figured I would lead off with the new top water bait since it was cloudy. I was working around small islands and eddies since the river is up and murky. I lost a few fish here and there but nothing big. So I cast above this island next to the overgrown bank and hooked what felt like to be a psycho bass. This thing went three shades of nuts. The second time it jumped it hit the water and ran straight upstream breaking me off. I was so mad I lost the new lure let alone a massive bass. So I figured I would paddle over to that area and look around since it was fairly shallow. As I was floating up on that spot, the fish jumps out of the water shaking my lure. It almost hit the front of the kayak and dog. It definitely had the lure in its mouth. So not even 30 seconds later it came out of the water again and threw the lure upstream about 5 feet. I ended up retrieving it and tying it back on. I have never ever experienced something like this. I wish I would have had it on camera.

Dick's dumped a bunch of inventory into the Kmart going out of business sale. I guess stuff they didnt want to discount so deeply at their store. I got a pair of Korkers wading boots (regularly $190-$200) for $18. The fishing stuff was pretty picked thru but they still had tents and camping gear. If you have a Kmart nearby its worth a walk thru.

Good morning fishing wake baits.Imakatsu Buzz Bill Magnum doing most of the damage.

I was getting concerned about having someone to fish with in my latter years, but it seams that problem may be solved......She also said we needed a bass boat.....we settled on a Lund Pro V

Wow! I'd be 5 minutes late to work if I had the time before work to go catch something like that too. Nice bass! How much did that big girl weigh? You're right, it's easier to top a 2-3lber than it is to top 8lbs plus. Any day now I expect to have a new PB, hoping so anyways.

If it aint broke why ya trying to fix it? You caught 4 out of what I assume was a 5 bass limit! When to switch from "power" to "finesse" or shallow to deep is always the question everyday. One suggestion

A lot of pros have made a lot of money by specializing . Maybe finesse is your thing .

6 pound bass is big where I live.

My new Mattlures bait, I think this is my new most prized lure. It's the most I've ever paid for one that's for sure... But would you just look at this piece of art. Can't wait to fish this thing.

Oooopppsss.... Got the rod a while ago on sale but just got the reel.

Attila... thanks for the suggestion, I'm looking for one even a little shallower running. But on another note, I've never seen anyone rig their live bait to a jerkbait before? (You seem to be someone who can take a little good natured ribbing... and give it back) oe

Kastking Assassin arrived in the mail last night. Spooled it with 12lb Trilene XL and put it on my *** rod. The weather was iffy for Kayak fishing today so I went to the local pond to break it in. Got 3 Bass and a Chain Pickerel on a Zman Chatterbait Greenback Shad color with a Yum Warning Shot in watermelon candy color as a trailer.

His pb small mouth

A memorable fishin trip.

Walked to the smaller pond in my neighborhood at 6:30 this morning. It's only 10 mins. from the house. The baby bass were biting...lol! Caught these 2 dinks and threw em back to get bigger. Had to be back at the house at 8:30am to watch my granddaughter. Gonna try to get back out either to that same pond or the bigger one that's a little further walking to later as long as the weather permits. Already had a little rain this morning and it wouldn't surprise me if it rained some more.

First I would get out of this God forsaken hell hole of a state, New York, and head south. Probably eastern Tennessee. Went there last year on a road trip type of vacation and fell in love. There aren't enough people that still value freedom in my home state and it's downward spiral is in full effect. Not to mention the bass only grow for a few months up here.