Swamp Girl

^I like this one.^ I also like the act of casting. Twice this summer, I could only catch three fish and when I told someone this, they said, "Oh, that's too bad." "No, it wasn't bad at all. It was wonderful." And it was. I can remember where I fished and what I saw and how I felt. I remember the loon song and light shifting and the islands and reeds. And I'm still grateful for all of that.

Thanks, Dwight. Then I'll go with 10 lb. test. I've been using 17 lb. mono on my main spinning reel and I had never had a bass break it this fishing season.

Thanks, Tim. I'm going to buy some Suffix 832 in low-vis green and spool a spinning reel or two.

I can't stop looking at the Bartram bass. It's stunning, like a Splake or a Tiger Musky are stunning!

I like this story, Tim. Dave reminds me of the quote: "The opposite of courage isn't cowardice. It's conformity." Dave excels because he doesn't conform.

Coincidentally, Tim, I was thinking about braid again when I awoke this morning. You don't use leaders, do you? Is there a color you prefer? Lastly, can I spool my spinning reels with braid?

Well fished, Alex, well fished!

Wisdom here: "Sometimes the fish wins. That's how they get big."

Plain jig heads. I did not know this. Thanks.

That is so kind of you to say, Tim. It's a shame more women don't fish. There's so much to love about fishing: the mystery, i.e. trying to puzzle through want they want at each moment, the power and aerobatics of bass, being rewarded for paying attention, like noticing a ripple here or a wake there, the beauty of the fish, the beauty of the places we fish, and the camaraderie of fellow fishers. Then there's the actual dance, when they nudge your lure ten yards away, but you know that that tiny tick isn't a weed or a rock, and you set the hook, and it's on! I'll still be on the board, though. I want to try some new things next season, so I'll be tapping on you guys' cyber-shoulders, asking for some mentorship. And I'll be cheering for those of you who fish on!

Way to go, Bob! I saw the same thing yesterday, i.e. bass tight to the shoreline, but mine were chasing minnows, as I saw their silver sides flashing, as they leapt to flee. I don't know if they were largemouth or smallmouth, as I caught both yesterday, and the bass were too focused on chasing minnows to hit my wake bait, but it was thrilling to see and surprising to see how shallow that water was. I'm thinking of using more straight braid next year. I lose too many fish to weeds and when I was using mono to frog fish, I couldn't even hook the fish. As far as fishing Sunday, go, Southern boy, go!

Next year, I'm going to start fishing Strike King Rage Tail swimmers in the 3.75", 4.75", and maybe 5.75" sizes. Can you suggest some swimming jig head sizes and brands?

That's great fishing, Mr. Chef!

I am amazed at the posters who don't lose big fish because big fish are stronger and smarter. I'm wondering if my technique is faulty or if I'm using the wrong equipment. Sometimes it's the bog itself that bests me. A bass will burrow into weeds and come free. However, I think it's also me. Sigh.

I didn't know that, but then, I've never caught a peacock bass. However, I sure wanna!

I fished my final session this morning, starting at a bog. I caught 23 fish, but only five were bass and the rest were pickerel. One pickerel, the one I photographed by the boat and in the canoe, drove a Strike King Wake Bait through my inner thigh. I actually appreciated the fish's thoroughness because that meant I didn't have to poke the hook through my muscle and skin a second time to snip the barb. Thanks to a bassresourcer, I had my baby bolt cutters and it was easy-peasy. The second spot was an open pond. I fished from a kayak this time and again, I caught 23 fish. 12 were largemouth, 9 were smallmouth, one was a chain pickerel, and one was my first Maine pike. Pike are rare here. I enjoyed watching bass chasing minnows in the shallows and saw eagles, like I did at the first spot too. The wake bait was my best lure today. I also caught fish on a Mepps and a jointed Rapala. I tried my Whopper Plopper, but could only muster one meager hit. I don't know if it's the size or the noise that doesn't appeal to the fall, but I'm eager to try my wake bait next summer to see if they like that smaller, quieter lure when it's hot. Isn't that second smallmouth super skinny? It better find the feed bag before winter hits. I included the first largemouth because I get a kick out of short, chunky bass. The skinny smallmouth should take feeding lessons from the short, chunky bass. Look at the eighth fish. It looks to me like a largie/smallie hybrid. What do you think?

Alex, I used to live on the Mississippi River flyway and spent more than a year in northwestern Ontario, so I've seen lots of eagles. I once saw seven eagles in one tree. However, Maine's eagles are the biggest I've ever seen, likely because they feast on Maine's thick bass. Owls are what I'd love to see. Sure, I've seen some, but not often. I hear them way more than I see them. I think of myself as a sneaky, snaky fisher. I can get within two to three feet of bass before they see me. Maine bass don't see a lot of lures, so they're quick to strike, but they also don't hear a lot of noise, so they're quick to spook. If I were to guide someone in Maine, my best advice would be this: "Shhh."

I had a wonderful morning. Trees are at peak color. I had multiple eagle sightings. I also fished a new lure, a Strike King Wake Bait and the bass LOVED it. I caught 48 fish. Six were pickerel and 42 were bass. I didn't catch any of my coveted 19-21 inch fish, but the ones I caught were thick fish, a number jumped, and it was so much fun to use a new lure. If I reeled it too fast, the wake bait went deeper and that's when the pickerel hit. So, it was slow reeling that triggered the bass. I did catch one fish on a Whopper Plopper before switching and when I switched back, the Whopper Plopper just didn't produce. I like the hooks on the Wake Bait: so sticky! I also like how it fouls less than a Whopper Plopper. Thanks to the bassresource poster who suggested I try it! I also photographed the Wake Bait. I think it's a shad pattern. The trees, bass, and eagles were great, but I really loved fishing well. In the photos, this bog looks like a pond, but that's an illusion. The water is high, so the weeds are inches under the surface. It requires accurate casting and playing the fish well to avoid weeds and trees and for this morning, at least, I fished well. Tomorrow is my last day to fish due to the water chilling and posing a danger if I were to tip. I'm fishing my two best big bass ponds tomorrow. Well, one's a bog and the other is a pond, so if I land a big one, I'll finally use my scale to weigh one of the Maine hogs.

Here you go, Hayden. The 19 inch fish is under the 17 inch fish and then there's the 19 incher out of the net.

Me too! A bass is drowning when it's out of the water. To use them as a prop while you jabber grits my teeth. I want to say, "I know you just caught a big fish! I'm not senile. Your bona fides are in place. I'll listen."

A 48" pike is huge, the fish of three lifetimes. I've never seen one and I've landed a dozen or so pike over 40 inches. No wonder your snap straightened with all that weight.

Hayden, in decades of fishing prior to this past summer, I caught ONE double. This summer, I caught four. Inexplicable, huh? The biggest pairing was a 19-incher and a 17-incher. I'll find and post the photos tomorrow.

Mr. 11591, you are great at storytelling. That was riveting. You were sooooooooooooooooo close! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't be embarrassed. If we don't get excited, those special bass are wasted on us. I also smiled and nodded when your net caught on the boat. I've had that happen...more than once!

I laughed all the way through your video, Alex! You get bass-cited just like me!!!