Mainebass1984

Heck yeah ! Nice fish ! You will want to see her on tournament day and a couple of her friends too. Yesterday I fished an evening tournament on Lake Dunmore. My partner and I caught over 30 bass finished in 1st place and got lunker. It was a blast. We caught most of our fish in 10-20 feet of water on rattle traps and weightless worms. With this 3rd win in a row I do believe that I have Angler of the Year all locked up for my bass club here in VT.

This has been a very interesting topic. I have been following it since it started. I target big bass in Maine and Vermont. Sure they aren't 15lbers like in CA but the are a still a challenge to catch. Not very often do you hook into 6 plus pounders up here in New England. They are true trophies out here. A lot of bass fisherman I know would argue a 5 lber is a trophy out here. It takes a long time for a New England bass to attain 5 lbs. By that time they are wary, probably have been caught before and have seen there fair share of lures. It is interesting to see and hear the opinions on targeting bigger bass. A lot of has ben covered on the topic, putting the odds in your favor, fishing bigger baits, swim baits, jigs, location, etc. Everything mentioned definitely helps and will catch big bass. IN my own opinion location is a big factor. On every body of water all across the country there are specific locations that will time and again hold big fish. Attention to detail is very beneficial in my own opinion when it comes to targeting big trophy class bass. It can be the smallest detail in the lure your throwing or a subtle change in bottom contour, or a small tree branch in 15 feet of water. One thing is for sure you cant consistently catch trophy class fish if your not on the water targeting them. I live to fish for big bass. It is what I have a passion for.

Major League fishing went to a bunch of lakes around the Belgrade Lakes. They went to China Lake, Messalonskee, Great Pond and Long Pond. I was not aware they went to Sebago. A couple of my friends followed them around. It is only a matter of time before there are more big tournaments in New England. The state of Maine department of inland fisheries and wildlife will not allow a tourney on Moosehead Lake. Its there policy. They want to keep bass fisherman off of Moosehead. Here is an article about major league fishing in Maine http://www.centralmaine.com/2014/08/30/central-maine-lakes-draw-major-league-fishing-anglers-for-tournament/

Earlier in the day I lost a crank bait on this particular tree. When I hooked the fish on the jig it wrapped on that tree getting caught on my crank bait as well. Pulled the fish out of the water and the crank bait was in its side. Here is a pic of it.

Well done ! Its a great feeling isn't it ?

This past weekend was good for me size wise but a bit slow on numbers. Landed some quality fish on a jig. I was fishing deep off shore trees. I had already fished one particular tree earlier in the day with no luck. I had actually broke off a crank bait in the tree which is always a bummer. A couple hours had passed and I decided I wanted to fish the tree again. I pull up to the tree and took a cast with my jig. After it hit bottom I go to inch it forward. I feel a tree branch and hop it over it. Before the jig hit bottom I felt a bite. I set the hook into what felt like a tree. The fight was on. Even with 50 lb braid the fish was kicking my butt and got wrapped into the tree. I had to go in and try to get it out. After a minute or two of trying to get it unwrapped I some how managed to get it free. Once I had it in the boat I noticed my crankbait that I had lost in the tree earlier in the day sticking out from its side. The fish measured 23 inches and weighed in at 7 lbs 4 oz. My biggest so far this year. 7 lbs 4 oz I got a couple more good fish this weekend. 6 lbs 3 oz 5 lbs 4 oz

The fishing this weekend was good size wise but the number were lower then usual. Friday was much windier then they forecast. I was out on the water at 8 am until 8 pm. It was hot almost 90 degrees and the fish really weren't biting well. I caught a few fish early on the jig. Biggest fish of the morning was a 3 lb 9 oz on a jig. The jig was producing well. I did try a texas and wacky rigged worm, a hollow body frog and crankbait with not much luck. The mid day hours were really tough. I didn't get a bite for several hours. I was fishing my best spots and wasn't catching anything. I did get one of my favorite crank baits stuck on a log and busted it off. That's always a bummer. I switched tactics from deep wood to 3-8 ft and weeds. That wasn't producing well either. I did manage one fish on a frog, a 2 lber. A couple hours had past and it was about 3 pm now. I went back out to the deep trees. First tree I stop at a 2 3/4 smallie, cool. It was nice to catch a fish again. The second tree I caught a 2 lber on a crankbait. Pull up to the 3rd tree. First cast a big fish slams my jig. The fight was on. Using 50 lb braid this fish was still kicking my butt. It got wrapped in the tree really bad. I had to go in and get it. Even then it wasn't coming out easily. I tried for a couple minutes before finally getting it free. It was a big fish, biggest of the year so far. Once I had it in the boat I noticed my crankbait sticking in the side of the fish. It must have caught it on the log when it was wrapped around it. I was glad to get my crankbait back. Crankbait stuck in the fishes side. I caught the fish on a jig. 7 lbs 4 oz 23 inches long I continues fishing the deep logs with not much luck. It was getting a bit later now and with the sun setting so early now I decided to head back. Of course I had some places I wanted to fish before leaving. The same places that I was getting jig bites in the morning weren't producing. I switched to a texas rigged rubber worm and started getting bites again. I was fishing thick shallow wood. Most of the fish I was catching were 2-2 1/2 lbs. I did mange one better fish. It slammed my worm. 5 lbs 4 oz I ended the day at about 8 pm and it was dark by then. I packed up all my stuff with a head lamp. Even though it was a much windier day then they had forecast I was able to deal with it. Big open lakes in a small square boat usually isn't ideal. I had to anchor at spots so I would be able to fish. I couldn't hold with the trolling motor. It was a good day fishing. 12 hours on the water 17 largemouth and 3 smallmouth. Biggest bass of the year so far a 7 lb 4 oz. Saturday I did not have much time to fish. I launched the boat at 3pm. I figured 4 hours our so would be better then nothing. It was another super windy day. The fishing started out slow again. Then the wind picked up even more pushing 25 mph and that just plain sucked. Then the rain started. It was a torrential down pour fro about an hour. I had to bail out my boat, a couple inches of water had accumulated. After the storms had passed through the air temp went from hot humid 87 degrees to 65 cool and crisp. The fish bit much better after the front passed through. I got one big fish bite off of a deep tree. Before leaving I boated a 3 lb 3 oz and a 3 lb 2 oz on jigs. I ended the day with 10 largemouth, not bad given the time restriction and the weather. Lunker for the day was a 6 lb 3 oz on a jig. I am really looking forward to a couple weeks vacation starting at the end of the month.

Nice Smallmouth Nev. What did she weigh ?

I absolutely love fishing jigs. They catch big fish. I like to fish a black jig with a black # 11 pork but switch to a size # 1 pork later in the summer. I also have very good luck on a brown/orange jig with a crawdad # 11 pork. At time I have better luck with a plastic trailer. If that is the case I use a rage craw as my trailer or a pit boss. I like Stanley casting jigs and chompers brush jig from 3/16- 3/4 ounce but most of the time I am fishing a 1/2 ounce. Seems from my experience that jig trailers with more action work better during warmer months of the year and the pork frogs when it is colder.

Attention to detail is also very important when targeting big fish. Even the most subtle detail can make the difference between catching one big bass or 10.

China Lake has got ginormous bass. If it isn't too far you should definitely check that place out.

http://www.centralmaine.com/2014/08/30/central-maine-lakes-draw-major-league-fishing-anglers-for-tournament/ Central Maine can get all the press AND get all the added fishing pressure

The guy in the front certainly has an advantage. He is in control of everything. It is also his boat so he should have an advantage. That doesn't mean you back boat your buddy all day though. That also doesn't mean the guy in the back cant catch more fish or win the tourney. Some times it is very smart and rewarding for the guy in the back to fish a different lure then the guy in the front.

NICE !

Last November in Maine 9 lbs 1 oz JIG Released

Usually 1/8 to 1/4 ounce

They catch big fish. Keep at it you will get the hang of it. I have got some big fish without walking it. Sometimes all you need is a steady plop plop stop or to just cast it out there.

As it turns out they fished Cobbe, Long Pond yesterday and China today for the show. They also fished Great Pond and East Pond with sponsors fun fishing. I saw a pic of a 7 lber Timmy Horton got out of Cobbe. Its a bummer we got to wait so long to see the footage.

It is usually pretty d**n tough in September after they draw down the water. In the spring though it is all together different place.

I have been using it on my spinning rod. I was told to use it on a baitcaster by another fisherman and wanted to hear everybodies input.

When drop shotting 6 or 8 lb flouro should I be using a spinning rod or baitcaster.. and why ?

I go night fishing pretty often from June - Oct. I have my best luck using spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and buzzbaits. I tend to fish in water less then 10 feet, usually 6 or less. The thickest weeds beds, inlets, and outlets produce well for me. A buzzbait reeled over the thickest weed beds produces some jarring strikes. Personally I like to use a plastic four bladed buzzbait with a twin grub trailer. Use a trailer hook on every thing.

I am seriously looking into buying a bass boat. I don't want to break the bank with a 45,000 - 60,000 dollar boat. I am looking into boats with a single axle trailer and 150-200 hp. I would very much prefer a brand new boat not a used one. I was thinking about getting a skeeter but I am undecided. I would like to hear everybodies recommendation and opinions on what brand of bass boat to get and why.

Who is fishing this weekend ??

Is anyone fishing the Northern Bass Open on Sebago Lake in Sept ?