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I FINALLY broke the 5lb mark for the year, in fact I jumped right into the 6lb club with one of the thickest fish I've ever seen.

I fished a bog for the first time in 2024. My prior trips were ponds. I targeted big bass with a big Shimano swimbait and focused on drop offs adjacent to flats, points, and wood. I caught a few, but nothing big. So, then I started poking around and discovered some bass in a summer location, i.e. relating to structure against the shore. I caught 14 in all and lead with a photo of the bog, then four of the bass. I hooked and lost three nice ones at the end of the evening. My hands were just too cold at that point to work well. I saw three eagles at once, two immature adults and likely one of their parents. I also saw loons, geese, and ducks.

Slow day at the pond. Wanted to fish before the rain and cold front came through this afternoon (and it sure did). I started with a chatterbait and a jig-and-craw, even though they are not the best producers here. That stayed true today as well. I switched to a weightless TR with a Rage Bug. Had a couple light bites and then had a good strike. Just under 3 lbs. The Bug got torn so I switched to a Rage Craw, but the bite in that spot died. Tried a WR for a while with no bites but was noticing some action on the surface. So I tied on a Pop Max. I casted 3-4 times and something was hitting it every time but no hook-ups. The next cast I got a good hookset. What a bluegill! I later went back to the Rage Craw. I made a cast under some overhanging limbs and was working it back slowly, when the line just started moving sideways. Never felt or saw a bite, but the bait was moving. I set the hook and caught a bass about 1.5 lbs. Like a male moving it off the nest. That was it for the morning. @ol'crickety I finally remembered to take pics of where I casted when I caught the bass. You mentioned that last year and I always forget to do that. Glad I remembered today. The center of the pond pics is where I caught the two bass. Right up tight against the cover.

Nothing super crazy to report here but I did catch this beautiful post spawner yesterday morning. Jake caught every male bass that he could find willing to bite expeditiously 🤣👍🏼 Seeing big fry clouds out deep shimmering under the surface being guarded by big wolfpacks of male and female bass out on offshore structure at the pond has been very very neat. It dropped nearly 40° over night and I plan on going fishing later this afternoon from the bank at the pond and I'm very very curious to see what I see. Lost a fish that was 24" long skipping a senko under a dock yesterday evening. She hit it right as I hopped it once after the initial fall and I set the hook. My 30 pound braid starts ticking my drag real fast and I see her shoot out around a support beam 10 feet with my hook and Senko. Gorgeous and super long. I start to pull her back towards the piling and she shook hard and popped right off. Heartbreak hotel but dang if it wasn't cool! Still a 5 lber to start the day on the dropshot was cool and my biggest fish on a dropshot to date! Let's GO!!!! Tight lines friends!

Jig trailers and some spinnerbaits…. man those look heavy… what could I be planning with those? Annnd a rod. That will be all for this season, bait monkey.

I've said on here several times that I'm pretty good and making a plan (that usually works) but when my plan doesn't work I usually struggle. There's 2 clubs that were having tournaments out of the landing I normally use so I used a landing several miles down river a couple miles up a creek channel. My plan was not a good plan since I didn't look at the weather forecast. My "plan" was to launch then go up river a few miles. I had what should have been a good "milk route" planned. The problem was the fog. (first picture) I caught a 12 inch White Perch (pic soon to be in other species thread) near the landing in the fog. I was frustrated by the fog, and my poor planning. I found plenty of Bass, near the landing before the fog lifted but either couldn't make accurate casts, or couldn't keep them pinned. After the fog cleared (still near the landing) I caught a couple Spots (14" and 16") then called it a day. I need to get better with "plan B", and quit getting aggravated when plan A doesn't work. When I'm aggravated it's not fun, and when I'm not having fun I can't execute. Right now my tomorrow plan is to go back the the same landing I used today, and fish near the landing. There's Bass there I just didn't catch them today. Forecast includes some rain. I'm cool with that as long as there's not lightening.

Prefishing for my first club kayak tournament of the year Friday. I won this tournament last year on the same lake, also in April, so I felt like I knew what I wanted to do coming into it. After about 3 hours of fishing, I was sure I knew what I wanted to do. I had received some information about a little lake not too far away that was supposed to have real big ones, which always gets my attention, so I loaded up and headed down the road a little ways. Now it was not a numbers fishery at all, big fish lakes usually aren't around here, but it did not disappoint on the big fish. and of course, 2 cast after this one, I caught big momma. I thought she might be an 8 when I saw her jump, just because of how thick she was and how big the mouth was. Once I got her in the net, I knew the length wasn't there, but still one of the thickest fish I've ever seen.

Since getting that 5 pounder 2 weeks ago its been slow for me. Mostly due to work and weather. Got out yesterday morning. Almost caught another giant, followed my jig back to the kayak then took a swipe. Unfortunately i was distracted by a gigantic snaping turtle on the other side of the yak. The bass d**n near jumped in with me but i blew that whole deal. Then it started raining and i called it quits empty handed. There was a kayak tournament at the lake iv been fishing most latley, so decided to go else where. Less than 5 minutes from my house. A lake iv been to a handful of times but never caught anything. Started off pretty frustrating. Pitching the jig into shoreline cover. Caught nothing but branches. Was pretty chilly out. Decided to throw the lipless crank in deeper water and ended up getting this nice fish. Didn't weigh it but probably closer to 3. Really nice fish. I was surprised honestly. Might have to put more work in at this lake. It's definitely convenient being so close to home, that's for sure

Fished for 9 hours today for bass at one of my favorite lakes which is quickly loosing favor. 55-57 degrees, both sunny and heavy overcast, still and windy. I fished the bank, fished off shore, fished the flats, fished the drops. At one point I was fishing 55’ of water for fish I marked. Tons of bait but couldn’t buy a bass. I livescoped transition areas between deep water and spawning areas from 50’ to 5’. Anything I thought was a bass got thrown to. Most were crappie. Some I thought that before casting but the last one was on its own on a big flat and I was sure it was a bass. It was not. Didn’t keep any but if I’d have had my net bag I would have caught more.

I am a POP MAX Fan Boy ~ Big time. I won't even get into what happens with that bait in Mexico. But up here in the north woods, the brown bass crush it. Need to be fishing it in the right place and at the right time but still, it's a big fish magnet for me. I do best on Flat Calm Flats, late summer, - hot, sunny and clean water 5-12 feet deep. The 'retrieve' is no retrieve. Just an accurate cast, maybe a single pop or two and then wait. Wait some more, wait some more and did I mention, wait some more. It's a stupid slow way to fish, but it get's big bites when almost nothing else will. https://youtu.be/sITpRNLz_04?feature=shared&t=347 https://youtu.be/6Ds4Z22ywnY?feature=shared&t=119 A-Jay

So I picked up a Kast King speed demon rod after eyeballing them for a few years in a 6’-10” to replace my Lews speed stick Hank Parker rod. I know the KK rods aren’t exactly perfect but I really like the Wynn grips, the Fuji component’s although I’m not to sure about the rubberized handle area that has been pointed out, and lastly the color match with my Daiwa CA80 looks like it was made for each other. I will say for a $130.00 rod I would like to see a minimum 5 year warranty but it is what it is. I also received my Miravel from JLS and I have to say I’m excited to get this one spooled up and put to good use.

Dont forget to exercise, exercise is more important than fishin, sittin in a boat isnt exercise, paddlin a kayak only works some muscles, not much below your obliques, walking is ok but doesnt work the lower butt glutes, hammy, calves... or much cardio as much as you think. Find a steep hill and walk up it 2 times a week, you use upper body and lots of lower body muscles doing hill walks. Dont get lazy, motion is lotion to the body.

While Bass fishing today in heavy fog I caught a 12 inch White Perch. I don't know what "big" is for that species, but the ones I usually catch are only 6 to 8 inches long.

I caught 10 today in the rain. The lens on my phone was fogged up by the 2nd one so I put it away. My phone is supposed to be IP68 rated but I figure if the lens is fogged up it's not liking the water. None were BIG or I would have gotten my phone back out. Biggest were 16". One LM and one Spot. The rest were between 12" and 14". About the time I released the first one I saw some fleeing shad on the other side of my boat. I grabbed a rod and cast a Devils Horse toward the commotion. A small (Longnose) Gar hit my Devils Horse, coming a couple feet out of the water with it in it's mouth. It threw in on it's next jump. I've never been able to land a Gar, but I'm not sure I want all those teeth in my boat on a fish that's considered a trash fish. It's cool to watch them jump though. I think I can almost hear them laughing when they throw my lures back at me. It was 59 with light drizzle when I launched my boat at 9. It was 50 with harder rain at noon when I loaded it back up.

Spent most of a killer a day out on Lake Menderchuck today. I was on the water early and had the lake to myself, big fan of that. Air temps were in the low 40’s as was the surface water temps. An on & off NW wind and cloud cover kept me company most of this trip and seemed to increase a bit as the day wore on. I was dressed for the wind chill which was right on the edge of uncomfortable. The previous night’s rain had added just the right amount of ‘color’ to the water. I arrived early and already rigged up with a selection of jerkbaits so that’s where I started and stayed. The Megabass Vision 110 + 1 in perch did most of the heavy lifting. I was fishing edges & inside turns of some main lake points & drop offs – ALL in the wind. Fish were hitting the bait near the bottom in 6-8 feet. For whatever reason my stern GoPro decided not to record any sound. Both my cameras have been operating somewhat sporadically, and I’ll need to address that sooner rather than later. Either way all the views from the back are coming to you in radio silence. Once the fish gets on deck its ops normal. Overall I enjoyed this one. Got a couple of dozen brown bass to pull my string. First two ended up being the Best two. They went 5.58 lbs. and 6.48 lbs. Still trying to get the math right when it comes to taring out the weigh bag weight but I’ll get there - Eventually. Point of interest; After upgrading my electronics package late last summer, I decided to dump all my way points and start from scratch. And so this was my first adventure out on this lake since dumping my pins. It was interesting fishing it all new & free. Even managed to drop a few new points of interest as I went. Fish Hard A-Jay

My dad, Thomas Hutson was a Sergeant in the old Army Air Corps. He was stationed in Alaska at a radar outpost.

So, you have no idea what you're talking about other than some vague notion of something from 20 years ago. I rest my case on that matter. I have a Tat 80. It's nice but it's a niche reel. Forced to choose one over the other for general purpose bass fishing I'd take the S3 over it without a second thought. BTW, My Curado K has been mothballed since I got the S3 four years ago. Anything else?

If you want casting distance go with the Tatula Elite. Doesnt Daiwa call this a long cast reel? Elite has a deep spool. Zillion has a SV spool. Both have the T wing and Zero Adjuster, but the Zillion has SV boost, plus many more extras. I like the clicking drag on mine but thats not something needed. Ive had my Zillion sitting in a box since last year but am going to start using it, from other peoples experience it sounds like a do everything kind of reel depending on ratio and line. Either reel can do practically any technique, the Elite will shine on casting that lure as far as possible, the Zillion will shine at being a work of art, no really it will actually shine in sunlight. And youll think to yourself how can i keep this thing looking new. But seriously the Zillion will be good for any technique or lure where you want the ultimate experience of fishing enjoyment while getting all the benefits of the SV spool, like for instance smoother feeling, easier casting without having to worry about backlashes. Pluss youll be able to cast the lighter stuff/lures that arent very aerodynamic with ease. And they are within similar prices right now, JDM Zillions going between 200-210 lately and theres a place online selling the Elite for i think 190 right now (do a quick search). Both are excellent reels though. And ill just be honest here and say what we are all thinking, you buy the Zillion youll be happy with it and wont think back about not getting the Elite, whereas if you buy the Elite you will think back and blame yourself for not getting a Zillion. Plus when you take that Zillion out for the first time to the lake or pond/where ever you are fishing youll feel like a rich man walking into the country club on a nice warm sunday afternoon. And who wouldnt like that?

I bought one of them fancy remote control thingies and now I don’t have to watch nuthin I don’t like. 😉

My standard disclaimer, I only target Bass so when I catch another species it's a matter of luck, not skill. A guy I know stayed out of work today and went fishing with Dolly (Yorkie). I........."he" caught an 11.40 pound Blue cat on my third cast. After getting it to the boat I held it next to the boat for a while so it was good and tired. Dolly was all excited, barking and growling at it. She had to check it out real good once I got it in the boat. I also caught a decent Crappie. I'd guess 11 inches. It's a minnow compared to the Crappie I see around here though.

Not that anyone cares.

I use a variety of different retrieves, work it like a walking bait with pauses. I pop it 3 times and let it sit. Pop walk pause. I use everything that I can think of and let them tell me how they want it.

I’ll cast it and always let it sit for 15-20 seconds. Then I’ll give it a tiny little twitch. 50% of my strikes come on this twitch. If nothing on that, I mix up the retrieve. A few pops at a steady pace, then a few erratic ones, or vice versa. A lot of the times it will be obvious what retrieve is working better and you can narrow your it down to that one.

The fry look like glitter! It's mesmerizing! They get bigger fast but in that first stage it's like glitter mist just under the surface. You can see wolfpacks of purple bluegill encroach and the 5-6 lb females plow through them like lightning while the males hover in the fry. They position up on the hard high spots in the evening sunlight I presume for the warmth and so that the fry can eat phytoplankton and the water is so clear you can just sit and watch it.

Hey, Just wanted to show my latest caught fish 😎

Tom (@WRB) is right: Take nothing for granted. Get busy fishing and whatever else you love. I turn 68 this summer and feel a big difference between 63 and 68. I can't imagine 78. Or 88. Actually, I can. I see my parents, who are 92 and 89, and they're weak and wobbly. So, all of us should get out and fish!

Caught this little lady a few days ago on a sexy shad fluke in a pond that doesn't even have shad in it...

Hit a local spot super early for a change of pace. High winds and cold overnights have really chilled the shallows since last I was out, so it was no surprise that Pickeral were still on a rampage. Thought I hooked into a lunker bass when a big one nailed my fluke and fought like crazy. Its head was the size of my fist, and somehow its razor teeth didn't slice through my braid. Just after daybreak and just before I had to go, I landed a nice chunk, so I was able to go to work with a bounce in my step.

They've wreaked havoc on one of my favorite smaller lakes. Use to be full of grass, now there isn't a strand of grass in the lake. I need to start making night trips out there with my bow and trying to take the lake back. Only a 200 acre lake, myself and a couple buddies could make a big impact in a summer I'd imagine.

Congrats @Bluebasser86! She's been spawning too.

That lure really wiggles. I was afraid one of the five eagles I saw might eat it. I also got my first hit on a Whopper Plopper. The water is 54 degrees, so surface feeding isn't that far off! @Bluebasser86: That bass makes me laugh! Sooooooooooooo fat!!!! Incredible that she's under 20" and six pounds. Wow.

A lot of people don't realize that wardens are also state police officers and may be involved in sting operations and drug busts. They have a really tough job. I've only seen wardens a few times, and they've always been pretty nice to me. I feel bad that they get such a bad rep. They're enforcing the laws that make sure there are fish for us to catch next year. We need more of them, to be honest. I also believe we as fishermen have a responsibility to narc when someone else is breaking an angling law. I called 406-TIP-MONT on people fishing illegally too many times to count, lol.

I only talk about things I own and have fished. How about you? You'd be in the minority on the board if you own this reel and haven't found it to be an overachiever. They got it right with this one.

I've read your night fishing thread twice 😎 I'll be starting from the bank unless someone goes with me bc wifey won't let me go alone. She's the smart one around here 😄 I know it's not magic. I do have a touch of ADHD and I think it will help reduce distraction and focus on what my lure is doing.

While I can certainly applaud your willingness and enthusiasm. Remember that although night time does hide some of the boat’s & the lures negative cues, please know that night time is not some magic witching hour for bass where all the trophies become suicidal and will attack any & every lure with reckless abandon. This is simply not the case. Lures still need to be presented with the same Stealth & Care at night as they do during the day to be effective. And well before you recognize any benefits that being successful at night can offer, you'll need to actually get good at fishing at night. And in the beginning it's not 'easy'. If it were, everyone would be doing it, but the truth is, they don't. And believe me, it's a whole new kind of ball game. Totally doable but certainly not "rapid" by any stretch. It's just different and forces us to use skills that we might not really & totally key in on during daylight fishing. But at night, some of these are all we have. So going out and night fishing IS, IMO, very beneficial, but please know that there's a learning curve. Good Luck & stay safe. A-Jay https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/176285-night-bassing-~-a-jays-version/

I'm definitely going to try night fishing soon! Seems like that may be the closest thing to a cheat code in rapid skill improvement

It's worth it at full price. Fantastic reel, and a steal at 50 off. Yup.

😲 I’ve got line older than you are!

I realize it’s not the biggest bass, but 18” 3 1/2 pounds is nice in Wisconsin. My best so far this spring!

Between work & weather there was not much fishing to be had this week. To make matter worse I managed to grenade my baitcasting reel earlier this weekend putting it out of commission, perhaps permanently. So when I was able to get away for a little while today I decided to take my cranking rod out for a test drive. It had been sitting a corner collecting dust since I bought it earlier this year. I didn’t do too hot, but I got one and it’s kinda special for me since it’s my very first fish I’ve caught on a crankbait. Also I finally saw a fish on a bed so that’s exciting as well. I hope that means things will start picking up around here soon.

4 and 3 from a quick shorebanging session. They’re already starting to look thin. This years spawn might be in trouble with how fast the lake is dropping. Seen one bed in like 6” of water that will be on dry land soon. If they refill the lake the beds will be 6’ under.

I retired 4 years ago abruptly, it's over......on the request of the wife. Stay busy, live healthy and hope you thoroughly enjoy your retirement.

Once you get settled in you will be in for the good times. I got bought out at the age of 50 purchased a camper and never looked back.

Congrats - enjoy your retirement as life is far too short. As a matter of fact, I just submitted my intent to retire yesterday, and I too am 63. I am in IT and will be retiring on the day of my 24 year anniversary as a full time employee. Best of luck to us both!

Enjoy retirement buddy! I know I will never be able to retire. Anyone who can more power to them you earned it!

I retired at age 72 because I thought my skills were needed… wrong the company is doing great without me. Enjoy your retirement nothing in life is guaranteed. Health has a mind of it’s own. Tinkering with lures is different then making them for a living. You are a young man with decent pensions you earned, enjoy life. Tom

Seasonably Cool & Windy on #lakemenderchuck this morning. Of the couple of dozen landed, best two went 5.58 lbs & 6.48 lbs respectively. A-Jay

I had an evening free finally tonight but not enough time to really put the boat in so I grabbed the trout rod and went to the local stream that’s 2 minutes from the house. I haven’t trout fished since 2020 when I got the kayak. This year I decided to buy a trout stamp just to have something to do. Instead of hopping to the local pond to catch a dozen 8” largemouth I could pop to the stream and catch some 9” trout. The water has been up from the rain but it was pretty clear and coming down. Still not an insignificant amount of water running though but this is how I like it. I was shooting for 20 trout in 2-3 hours and I got close. Ended up with 15 or 16. Most all were the NJ standard 9” stocked rainbow but a couple were 10-11” and two were in the 15” range. Considering I haven’t been out for almost a month, it was good to be out and about on the water.