AlabamaSpothunter

Interesting, was not the case years ago, but it makes sense for sure. I was telling a story on here the other day about a couple of rookies in a nice center console catching a big 100+ Tarpon, these guys thought it was a good idea to bring the fish on board for selfies.....long story short the entire center console was destroyed, and both men sustained significant injuries trying to get the fish free from the boat. Saltwater fishing is just totally different. The vast majority of fish you intend to release never come on the boat, and leaders are usually cut rather than removing hooks.

Grandpa lived to be 97, his main saying it life....."everything is okay in moderation" He smoked a few cigs a day, had a slice of bacon or two a day....did that for 80+ years at least. He truly lived by that saying, and it seemed to work out for him.

Ironically my two biggest LGM bass have come from the bank, including my biggest this year an 8lber. That's a real hawg there. You don't need a boat to catch big Bass that's for sure.

Never bought a Japanese hard bait that didn't impress me. My only problem is they are so nice, and beautiful to look at, it's hard to actually fish them. Appreciate the info, I'll have to dip my toe in the water slowly when the JDM reel monkey gets me again ?

I'm so glad I'm too ignorant to know which JDM lures are good. In time I'm sure I will no thanks to you posting solid intel like that ? I love the idea of using that one with bigger baits, especially stuff that requires more effort to retrieve. That handle is money on it, and the aesthetics are beautiful as well.

Very cool! Sometimes you just have to educate the public how special and unique a place is ecologically speaking for things to get done. The Little Cahaba River behind me was like that. Alabama has tremendous biodiversity and has been referred to as the Amazon of North America, but even most Alabamians don't know all the unique creatures that are only found here.

Beautiful area, and good luck. Texas has lots of unique, and special ecology. My favorite of recent times is learning about the last N. American population of Ocelots living there down south IIrc.

One of my best friends who lives in CO is a Trout guy, I was just joking around That's a wonderful thing to see that you are doing, it will certainly ensure future generations have these same fish to catch.

Way to go friend, really nice fish! Had the same conditions except it was gusting up to 15mph today.....little whitecaps on my lake. I knew it was going to be a banger of a bite though with this upcoming low pressure coming from Hurricane Ian. I expect this to continue until Friday at least, maybe even into Saturday. Tomorrow is going to be the same just with more wind I think. I couldn't catch the quality LGM I thought I was going to given how good the bite was, but I can't complain with a raw thumb day using a Crankbait, and this little Chatterback Flashback. Only used two setups, threw the Jackall Crankbait around points and flats, and then fished the Flashback with the 3" Armor Shad offshore around isolated large pods of shads. The Flashback with the 3" Armor Shad is a deadly looking bait, and really turns the bait into a dedicated Bass lure. Guess a bird got a hold of one of these chunky Spots, hopefully it makes it. Second pic was my biggest, a 2.2 Spot.

Guess who's going to drop another $15 bucks tomorrow to replace that pretty Jackall above.....this guy ? Fished that brand new bait for 3.5 hours today, it killed.....caught 11 fish on it. Then right at dark like an idiot I set the hook when it was bouncing into cover thinking it was a fish and it hung. Tried for 20mins to free it. Thankfully cranking season isn't very long the way I fish or I'd be broke. Dang, Japanese Monkey loved you really good ? Eyeing that bigger Zillion right now, can you tell me if the drag dial is plastic or metal? My only complaint on the SV TW

Trout people are nothing more than Karens with fishing poles......prove me wrong ?

I'm envisioning a scene from Point Break the movie, but instead of surfing a once in a lifetime wave, a nutjob Florida man is fishing 48hrs prior to a Hurricane making land fall ?

Just saw the new Sleeper Gills at my local tackle shop......OP you should give these a good look. Pricey but they looked fantastic, and the size seemed perfect on them to catch both big and regular fish.

I've been around Swans my whole life, and I can say without a doubt they are the biggest you know what's in the animal kingdom. At least my mentor lived Mute Swan Attacks and Kills Man on Kayak in Chicago Pond | Field & Stream (fieldandstream.com)

The TW monkey is having a 25% off select items Fall sale for those interested. Local monkey just got me. ETA: I was just looking at the TW stuff for sale, and go figure the one CB I buy today locally is on the list. Would have saved 5 bucks right there. At least my local store is charging the same price as TW before the sale.

Heck yeah pal, a 3.5lb Spot is a fantastic fish. Bet it was super angry, and pulled really hard ?

Agreed on the JDM Zillion SV TW.......it just feels different than any other high end reel I've used. It's off the charts in terms of smoothness on retrieve. Over hundreds of casts with a chatterbait or crankbait, this makes a big difference alone on fatigue. I'm battling right now getting another one, I have a few holes in my lineup that need upgraded, but for the current price.....I find it hard to believe you can get more bang for your buck than a JDM Zillion. This reel gets 5 stars across the board wherever you look. I assume it's the "hyperdrive" part of the reel. that feels so unique and makes it so smooth. Clicking saltwater type drag is just brilliant as well. Sharp looking unit as well. My only complaint is the drag dial appears to be made out of a plastic. You know the monkey is going to chunk a few more reels off the boat, might as well get ahead of it ?

I'm willing to bet everyone who replies to this thread is guilty of mishandling Bass at one time, most being when they were kids, or first starting out. I know I'm not immune, I remember trying to drag a nice 5-6lb Bass behind the boat on a stringer to get a pic as a boy, and when I got to the dock, the fish was dead, I drown it? I don't think the 45 degree thing matters on dinks. I've heard it's bad to hold really big Bass vertically for a pic for that matter, and I still snap pics of 5lb+ fish vertically because it's just me, and not into selfies. Might have to change that policy the more I learn on this specific aspect of handling Bass. I say all that because I think we all are still learning the best way to ensure we release the fish in the healthiest manner possible. It's a really big priority for me the older I get.

People who leave tangled line behind are as low as it gets. It's almost a certainty seemingly that the line will end up on some animal, especially Ducks, Geese, and Swans. My fishing mentor had his arm broken trying to get fishing line off a swan's wing.

Way to go brother! I'll keep you in mind next time I'm complaining while fishing. Keep up the incredible fight, and I hope you get blessed with a new kidney!

Yes, but I'm not Karen enough to lecture people on it.

Limits, conservation, and protection of natural resources is a cultural deal, most of the world doesn't share our values especially on this subject. If you talk to any fish cop, this is a really big problem, and most people are petrified to discuss it.

Out of reactions, but seriously thanks to everyone for putting my mind at ease! Makes me feel much better. Hope that slimy sucker washes up and I can get my Lucky Craft back?

My state prohibits me from liking this post ?

When I was kid and would catch bigger Catfish, they'd "slime" the line by the way they fight, something about the tail thumping the line. I lost a $20 Lucky Craft BDS 3 to a really big fish this afternoon. Upon inspection right where the line broke cleanly (no curly cue tell tell of a failed knot), the first 12-18" had a thick coat of fish slime on it. I've broken off a few big fish over 5lbs, last being over the summer, but never had thick slime like that. Only time I've ever seen that is when I caught catfish as a kid. I just re spooled with Sunline 14lb mono a few days back because I didn't want to run further to a place that carries line I trust. Not all the blame goes on the sunline potentially though as the mystery fish blew up my CB right when it was bumping into brush, and I'd say the first 5-10 seconds the fish was lightly wrapped, but quickly it took straight off into deeper open water. Then about 30 seconds later that sickening feeling hit. The more I think about it, the stranger the fish pulled, or fought. Never once in that 30-45 seconds did I feel the fish was coming up, or I should be preparing for a jump. It's been decades since I caught a catfish so I can't recall the nuance to how they feel or fight. I just remember them fighting unique. Losing a $20 bait, losing potentially a really nice LGM, both not what really bothers me, it's the fact that a 3" long crankbait with big #2s on it could be stuck in a big LGM's mouth. Seems like it would be close to a slow death sentence. Nothing I can do about it anyways, but I let it ruin my fishing session like a petulant child. Kept hoping and half expecting to find the lure floating, but no bueno on that. I'm in central Alabama, I wish we had toothy long slender fish, but we don't. The only culprits here could be a Channel Catfish or a really large Bass. What says the hive: Channel Catfish or large LGM Bass?