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A Christmas Eve I won’t soon forget! got done shopping around 10:30 and had my buddy meet me at the boat ramp. I was thinking we should fish deep on the bottom with spoons, maybe the white bass had showed up. As we were making our way upriver , there was a boat in the middle drifting for walleye. I slowed down to go around him and saw some strange disturbance on the surface. SHAD!!! I broke out the cast net and got plenty of bait. I haven’t used this particular boat since about the weekend after thanksgiving and doggone it I also haven’t charged the trolling motor battery. So break out the paddle and the cinder block anchor, Yee haw. Thankfully I had a long rope on board as well, the current was fairly swift. Not long into fishing on anchor I get a bite, nice 16” SMB. A couple minutes later I got another SMB a little smaller. Some time passes and we discuss where to fish next and I hook up again. The fish is fighting weird, I kept saying it was surely a drum. My buddy sees the fish out of the back and says nope it’s big smallmouth. Get that one boated and it’s 3.9 lbs, forgot to measure length. We drift down a ways and I think I’m snagged and sure enough the snag begins swimming and it’s a 3.6 lb largemouth. Water temp 46-49, fish caught with live and dead threadfin shad and 6 lb line A little report with some more pics from Monday afternoon. Had 1 hour after work in the kayak but caught 2 SMB and a bluegill. Had a lovely sunset at 6:09 pm, getting tiny additions of daylight time makes me happy. Did have to paddle the kayak back to the dock in the dark and cold, but it wasn’t too bad. Got her up to 4 mph for a little while, good speed for a 90 lb boat you can stand in

My two best for 2024.

Mine was early, January 7, 2024. Jigging a spoon in a current seam and all hell broke loose

I could post my PB, but instead, I'll post the girl below. I caught her on my third trip from the last. To reach her home, I drove a ridge line in the dark, down a gravel road, and then down a narrow, dangerous drive to launch beside a dam. I had to carry my canoe down a slippery slope to launch. I then paddled down a gorge in creepy blackness, skirting fallen, spectral trees. That led to a long flat and I had to follow the old riverbed to find water deep enough to float my canoe. It was hard and several times I paddled onto a mud flat and I had to use my paddle as a pole to extricate myself. A couple of miles of mis-directions later, I reached the widest and deepest part of the river and proceeded to catch 56 bass and two jumbo perch. I'd caught more bass in a morning in 2024 and I'd caught bigger bass too in 2024, but I'd never caught so many big bass as I did that morning, about a dozen in total and this gal was the thickest of them. I think I caught her on a big walking bait. Black and gold. She has everything I love in a bass. My everything isn't much: just a big head followed by a big body. She didn't look beaten down by life, but thriving despite its myriad challenges, and I saw five of them: three bald eagles in a V cruising over her home and two ospreys too. I didn't weigh or measure her, but if you really need a number, here's one: A perfect 10.

Idk if this thread has been started yet but I'd like to see everyone's best basses of 2024. This doesn't necessarily have to be LM or SM specific, just your most memorable and favorite catch of the year. Because ultimately the memory is what makes the catch, right? I'll start. I caught this one evening in late March, it was 7lbs 5oz on a bone choppo 75. Not even two months later, an EF3 tornado tore through my home lake and shut me down for a solid three months on this water body. The marina signs are still being held up by stacks of rubble. I digress. I was working the lure slowly, to a point where I could feel each turn of the prop in my hand. The fish hit super lightly, as if it just came straight up under the lure and just opened its mouth. It wasn't until I felt it pull and set the hook that "I Knew". It wasn't a particularly long fight, but on a medium light rod it felt like an absolute giant. Pulling it out of invasive milfoil with that light rod was a task. Of the 7lb fish I have caught, this one might be the most balanced and healthy specimen I've ever caught. It's for sure the biggest bass I've caught all year, but also the most memorable. My hand was cramping holding it for pics and weight. Time out of the water was maybe 60 second, but it's maybe the most memorable 60 seconds of the year. Let's see em

My bass catch of the year happened 24 April 2024. I planned my trip to this lake specifically to do exactly what I did. However, I've done that a few thousand times over the years, with varying levels of success. This Lake Menderchuck is a little over an hour away so I had plenty of time to contemplate a few different plans of attack before my arrival. Once on scene, I was faced with pretty much exactly what I hoped for. Some sun, a mostly stiff SW wind and water and air temps that bordered on perfect for the pre spawn bite I was hoping to get on. No other boats (pretty common) and clear, clean water conditions. All of this indicated I would be going with Plan A - Jerkbaits in 8-10 feet. Didn't take too long to find the brown bass and for the next couple of hours I proceeded to have a really good day. Multiple schools of 3-5 lb brown bass were up and feeding. Then I got one over 6 lbs. And now I'm really starting to think something special was happening. A couple more big 5's on the scale and then . . . . .It happened. I had really zeroed in on what part of the edge the bass were using and it seemed like any errant casts or a bad boat position in that wind would not get any bites. So as I approached this one very promising little flat on an inside turn, I took my time, Taloned down in the right spot and made my cast. About a 1/3 of the way back to the boat my 7 ft spinning rod loaded up. And after just landing a solid six, I was pretty sure this was a bigger specimen. I even said the old phrase I always say once I feel the weight of a big fish in the spring, "Hope it's a Bass". As often times the biggest mutants are not; walleye, trout, pike and even musky have been known to dupe me more than once. But not this time. Not knowing for sure what was stripping all that line off my reel, I took my time landing the fish, and I Mean I went SLOW. Seemed to take forever to get the fish on the leader as she dogged me every inch of the way and stayed deep. Admittedly there were a few "Oh MY GOD" moments once this freak came busting to the surface boat side and I got my first looks at her. #likeadream. Eventually got her in the Frabil and once the scale finally confirmed it, I had landed the second 7 lb Brown bass of my life. I was beyond excited and truly at a loss for words. No sooner was she on deck, she was swimming free back to the depths. Clearly I am happy to have landed such an awesome fish, but truth be told, I am very proud of the 6 years of 'preparation' it took to even get a shot at it. From keeping me, my rig & my tackle in prime shape to be ready when the moment came. And then to execute successfully when the pressure was on. All real confidence boosters moving forward. Picking the right place, the right time and the right presentation can't be overlooked either. Here's the fish . . . And here's the video . . . Fish Hard A-Jay

I caught this PB out of a pond back in June. It's rare around here for a crappie to get to this size in a 3 acre pond.

Got the Ben and Griff’s Xmas bento from Hookup tackle. Quite a haul for $200. Retail price for all of the below is around $640! The most useful baits for me are the hard baits and jigs. I’m not sure if the swimbaits and glide baits will be used much, if at all. The raid plastic baits are interesting but at retail of I think $9.99 a package, I don’t think I’d repurchase. The whip worms look like a cross between a senko and a finesse worm. Has anyone used these swimbaits, glide baits and whip worms and had success?

I'd like to add one item as rebuttal to the personal freedom argument. Not wearing a PFD not only affects the individual but it spins off from a rescue operation to a recovery mission. This effects all the responders. More time involved, additional risks they may encounter, rescue resources that could be best used elsewhere, and the heartache the members of the family endure while the body is recovered. At the end of the day, the one who chooses to not wear a PFD can impact many other people. Just an observation, but it seems that the dominant paradigm focuses on the "me" and not the "community". Pretty sad in my book.

Seeing as it's after midnight, I thought I'd be one of the first to wish all the fine people on this site, especially Glen and the mods that continue to keep this site the best of it's kind, a very Merry Christmas to you and your families. That said, I'm going to bed.

Got the same box. I see I am not the only one that didn't get the Gizard Shad LV 500. Looked like an awesome color. On the swimbaits....The One Up Shad is a pretty good bait. I have had good luck with it. The others I have not tried but the Osakana Swimmer is supposed to be a great bait. It doesn't look like it would have much action. We will see. I have not used the Whip Worms but they look good. I have used the Battle Hog and the Buggy Craw. I have caught fish on both. The Egu Dama is a great finesse jig. I've caught several good size fish on it. Looking forward to using this stuff but it's going to take a while.

I have a wife and children. I owe it to them to come home. I do not want my family to spend the holidays alone and mourning my absence. I wear a PFD 100% the time I am on the water. My Chinook in the kayak or my Mustang Elite self-inflator in the boat. I have a Garmin InReach for emergencies when I'm out of cellphone range. I may not look cool, and I may not be as comfortable as I want, but I am stacking the odds in my favor to come home, whatever happens. And God forbid I have a heart attack or stroke and keel over (I'm at that age), no-one should have to risk their life to recover the now lifeless me. Kind of morbid perhaps, but on this Christmas eve, it seems kind of appropriate.

Medium Heavy that leans towards Heavy, X-Fast because I want to get into the backbone asap. I want to turn that head & get her coming up all in one motion.

Fast action 5 to 6 power. Get a good hook set and the bass can’t shake off, can’t remember losing a jig fish from coming unpinned and use 10# or 12# FC, no braid. Tom

Seatbelts are not optional. They are required. That’s not the same as a PFD or motorcycle helmets in many cases. At one point many years ago they were optional in some capacity. Now they have to be worn. Data from car accidents clearly showed the benefit of wearing them, so they were placed into law. PFDs are not required here unless there is a child under 10. They only have to be “accessible” which could be open to interpretation. Buried in a storage compartment? Probably not. Sitting out or strapped to a chair? Probably good enough. But PFD laws vary by state, as do motorcycle helmets. My point here is that until PFD use (wearing it) is required and there is the reasonable threat of being caught without one by an LEO, nothing is going to change. I see way more people not wearing one here compared to those who have one on. It’s not even remotely close. For the record, I wear mine when my boat is moving on plane from point A to point B, and my kill switch is attached. It didn’t used to be like this though. Years ago I did neither, but it was my wife who persuaded me to change my habits, not anyone else. If someone chooses not to wear one, so be it. Both my parents are avid anglers and they rarely wear one unless it’s required in their walleye tournaments. I have asked them to reconsider their decision and they tell me to watch my own bobber. It is not my place or duty to tell people (particularly, grown adults) how to operate when a choice is available. It is on them, even if safety data or my own personal belief does not agree with it. I try to set a good example for my 6 year old son on this issue even though he is required to wear one anyways. I hope that when he is old enough to make his own decisions that he makes the safe one based on what he sees me doing.

Kistler Helium HE7045HMH 7'0" Heavy Medium Heavy X-Fast

That in my opinion was mistake # 1 Exactly right. Particularly those who profit from fishing and could be classified as ambassadors to our sport.

Back when I had a couple columns for the now-defunct "Canoe & Kayak" magazine and was their travel writer too, I happened upon a guy who was doing some amazing moves without a paddle in a roaring reverse falls, where the extreme tides we have in Maine create whitewater in a strait. He was showboating directly below a bridge, so I got some great shots being above him. Then I interviewed him, confident that my editor would make space for him, but the editor immediately declined because the guy wasn't wearing a life jacket. "We won't put that bad example out there for our readership," he said. We all should be good examples.

My biggest catch this year was a 4_8 LMB I pulled out of a tree in about 2' of water on December 3rd with a 3/8 oz @Siebert Outdoors jig in 40+ degree water. It was a textbook catch. Toss jig into tree, let cook, feel tick, set hook, and pull bass out of tree.

@Swamp Girl, what a write-up! That was quite a trek to reach your destination. And in the end it was all worth it! She was a 10. Congrats you deserved it. @thediscochef, oinkers for sure! @TnRiver46 that there is a beautiful striper!

My goal with hook sets is the hook goes through the mouth tissues past the barb and it’s not coming out! Very sharp hook with forged hook bend that doesn’t flex as the hook penetrates isn’t backing out. I use a hook set very different then most jig fisherman; a reel set with firm rod sweep never fails me. Tom

Makers 46…47…whatever it takes…

For any single mostly stout gauge hook presentation such as jig, spinnerbait, Vibrating jigs and even some of the meatier single top hook swim baits, I totally prefer a MH or even H moderate fast stick, and it's often some combination of graphite & Glass. Especially when I'm launching casts well away from my rig. Having the benefit of video replay allows me to see exactly what's going on with the gear I'm using. I want my stick to look just like this on long distance hooksets and then as long as I am able to keep reasonably tight on the fish, maintain that bend to put the fish in the Frabil. btw, I use FC 95% of the time, sensitivity has never been an issue and I get a few. A-Jay

I’m in the moderate fast camp - goes back to the days of Klein/Nixon/Stanley and those guys preferring/recommending them.

You can put a fork in my favorite jig trailers because they are done! Winter use as version* of UJ 2 1/2”pork frog. Pre Spawn my Super Pork* 4” x 3/4” L4 split tail pork. Year around Super Pork* 3” x 3/4” L3 split tail pork. Soft plastics; Yamamoto 4” twin tail grub and 4” Hula grub. Berkley 3” and 4” Chigger Craw. * home made Tom

Hope all you guys and gal have a very merry Christmas, and happy New Years! Please stay safe and enjoy your families!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MY SECOND FAMILY........EVERYONE HERE.......

I have never understood people who don’t wear a PFD, especially on a kayak. I always keep mine on.

I understand the sentiment, but our choices can ripple outward. As others noted above, if you die because you didn't don a PFD, the searchers now have to find your corpse...and it won't be pretty. If you chose other reckless behaviors that move you from the workforce to someone who's medically dependent, that ripples through insurance premiums and your family until you draw your final breath. I worked on a spinal injury ward. Our patients were predominately young men. I haven't tipped a canoe since I was a kid until 2023 when I was in the water so suddenly that I have no memory of tipping nor even striking the water. I was in the air and then I was underwater, stunned. So, I experienced how quickly one can go under. I had no time to formulate a plan. The only plan I had in play was to already be wearing my PFD.

I learned the importance of PFDs when I did canoe trips in Alabama when I was in grad school at Auburn floating some class 2 and 3 rapids. The buddies I hung out with stressed it as my informal "mentors". When I got into tournament kayak fishing, it was required, and it quickly became part of "me"- plus a spot for my camera and other incidentals (NRS Chinook model). I used to push and fight hard for the importance of a PFD on kayaks, but I've run across too many people who think that is an integral part of what "freedom" means to them. I have since become cynical and remorseless for those "excellent swimmers" who die thinking they know better. It also makes it easier to spot the kayaker noobs on the water- they invariably aren't wearing a PFD. All kayak sales should come with a PFD as a condition of sale.

Merry Christmas to my fishing family! Appreciate every one of you.

Largemouth and smallies fight quite differently; boat fishing deep lakes and wade fishing shallow rivers/creeks will also affect where the jig hooks penetrate, upper jaws or sideways. So, for jig fishing smallies in shallow rivers/creeks, I definitely find moderate fast action more suitable. I have a few extra fast rods that are very sensitive, but they lost me some feisty big smallies.

I like MH/Fast for water more open, I use a H/Fast for the thick stuff.

I've been drinking. Carry on.

A great many people mistakenly believe that: 1. They are immortal 2. They are exempt from the laws of classical physics. 3. Accidents always happen to "the other guy". 4. They are incapable of making errors. 5. They mistakenly believe they'll be able to put one on in the event of an emergency. 6. They are too uncomfortable. 7. They are really good swimmers. 8. It makes them look fat. 9. It doesn't look cool. Those are some of the basic lame excuses for not wearing a PFD. I'm sure plenty more could be added to this list. All are without merit.

I don't feel comfortable without it.

I did that a couple years ago. I'm at 2 Calcutta Conquests, 4 small Ambassadeurs, and 3 Millionaires.

Best. Fishing. Platform. Ever.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all BR members!!!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Merry Christmas to all the BR family and here’s to a prosperous and safe New Year’s.

I’m in Tom’s camp. The 5/6 powers in a fast action. I do have a dedicated football jig rod for dragging that is a bit lighter.

I feel like action of rods varies so for discussion fast action as illustrated is my preferred

Twin tail grubs (4”) that I pour to match or contrast to the jig.

I’m thinking about selling off all my low profiles to get more round reels, the only two I think I’ll keep are the OG zillion and the core 51

Rage Craw for full size jigs Missile Mini D chunk for smaller jigs

I use a fast action and very seldom lose any fish.

Merry Christmas to all. I hope everyone, everywhere has a great holiday!!