December 2013 Bragging Rights Finale

[BassinLou]

You don't set on cranks, there's 6 hooks there. Stay with constant steady pressure and let the rod do its job. You don't have to horse or over power the fish. 

[dsidle61]

Man were the fish on for me today.  I only got out for about 30 min in the steady but barely light enough rain here in Jax.  Was throwing the crank at my spot and caught 5 FISH in that 30 min.  I got one 18 (to cull my last 16) which will put me at 92" for the month I need to hook into a few good ones Monday and Tuesday bc after that im probably done for the month.  Also pulled in a 17, 15ish and maybe 13ish and also a bluegill/bream whatever you guys call it down here lol.  Ive just spent the past hour and a half putting together my new H2O tackle bag so im gonna try to post the picture tomorrow evening when I get home. 

[BassinLou]

Man were the fish on for me today.  I only got out for about 30 min in the steady but barely light enough rain here in Jax.  Was throwing the crank at my spot and caught 5 FISH in that 30 min.  I got one 18 (to cull my last 16) which will put me at 92" for the month I need to hook into a few good ones Monday and Tuesday bc after that im probably done for the month.  Also pulled in a 17, 15ish and maybe 13ish and also a bluegill/bream whatever you guys call it down here lol.  Ive just spent the past hour and a half putting together my new H2O tackle bag so im gonna try to post the picture tomorrow evening when I get home. 

 

These crankbaits you guys are using, are they shallow diving square bills? 

[FD.]

I was talking to a guy at Dicks last night and he was telling me when a fish slams the crank not to set the hook let it set itself. He said because when you set the hook it causes a tear so the tear is much bigger than after you set it oppose to if you let it happen naturally. He says that he increases his hook ups that way.

Seems like that would make sense. I got a few packs of trebles to change out the standard ones though just to be safe

 

A sweep set is all you need, just sweep to the side and maintain constant pressure with the reel.  You should also be fishing on a medium power rod with mono line.  The rod and line combo act like a shock. This will keep constant pressure on the hooks without tearing a hole in the fishes mouth allowing the hook to come out.  Most fish are lost by trying to land them to fast.

[fishingator]

Lol AK. I just screenshot that whole story and sent it to my SO . Very cool!

[AK-Jax86]

A sweep set is all you need, just sweep to the side and maintain constant pressure with the reel. You should also be fishing on a medium power rod with mono line. The rod and line combo act like a shock. This will keep constant pressure on the hooks without tearing a hole in the fishes mouth allowing the hook to come out. Most fish are lost by trying to land them to fast.

Yea I do everything you said... Sweep, constant pressure, medium power rod, mono, AND LOSING FISH trying to land them too fast. That's my biggest problem with the big ones trying to get them to shore too fast which would support the ripping a hole in their mouth so the hook comes out theory.

I'm still weary of mono line. I was using my favorite crank (I have multiple of them now) and I was hung up on a small branch in the water I pull it out and it flies back cutting my line luckily the crank flew behind me and was still attached to a piece of the branch with a few feet of line stuck to it, so it wasn't my knot. Branch must have cut the line when I flung it back or there must have been a weak spot in the line idk. But I would hate for that to happened when trying to bring a fish in have it cut on something under water or IN PADS... To this day that fish still haunts me which is why I made the switch to braid (but that's also cuz Lou got me addicted to frogs)

When I am using cranks or soft plastic I always throw it on mono I just have had a traumatic experience which won't leave my head so everytime I get a nice size fish I think my lines gonna snap again lol

[AK-Jax86]

Lol AK. I just screenshot that whole story and sent it to my SO . Very cool!

Yea it was a good day I felt like I was a pro at the bass masters classic for that hour or so of glory at the golf course lol.

It's funny because of few people walked by and we did the standard good mornings to each other. I was at the point that I would see people walking towards me and in my head I was like please ask me if I am having any luck so I can catch a fish this cast or next lol. I'm te superstitious type in a way. I wear like the same 3 or 4 shirts when I fish and saw I catch a nice one on a Wednesday evening when I can fish for a hour I will wear that same shirt, washed if course, on Saturday when I go out in the AM. Then if I repeat on Saturday it gets washed again and I wear it Sunday lol. Czar and DS probably think I am poor and have no close cuz I wear the same outfits lmao

[FD.]

Yea I do everything you said... Sweep, constant pressure, medium power rod, mono, AND LOSING FISH trying to land them too fast. That's my biggest problem with the big ones trying to get them to shore too fast which would support the ripping a hole in their mouth so the hook comes out theory.

I'm still weary of mono line. I was using my favorite crank (I have multiple of them now) and I was hung up on a small branch in the water I pull it out and it flies back cutting my line luckily the crank flew behind me and was still attached to a piece of the branch with a few feet of line stuck to it, so it wasn't my knot. Branch must have cut the line when I flung it back or there must have been a weak spot in the line idk. But I would hate for that to happened when trying to bring a fish in have it cut on something under water or IN PADS... To this day that fish still haunts me which is why I made the switch to braid (but that's also cuz Lou got me addicted to frogs)

When I am using cranks or soft plastic I always throw it on mono I just have had a traumatic experience which won't leave my head so everytime I get a nice size fish I think my lines gonna snap again lol

 

 

Berkley Big Game 12 lb it has never let me down. It is very abrasion resistant and I use a 30 lb snap for quick changes.  I boated 3-8 pounders back to back to back on the same clinch knot.

[BassinLou]

I was able to go out to my local canal for 1.5 hrs. I decided to deadstick for fun and I did pretty good. Caught several 13" fish but this 16" decided to play. It reached my minimum criteria so I said what the heck. Caught it on a BPS stick worm using 2/0 Gami's on 10lb yozuri line. 

 

[fishingator]

Well, we haven't been fishing much this month. I went for 45 min the other morning and not a single bite. Today SO missed three. Two on frogs and one on a worm. I tried my kvd 1.0 for a while and got nothing. I was actually ready to leave when I started messing around with a wacky rigged worm and I got a 12". I was so bored this morning and disappointed with the fishing I was taking pics of the Tahoe instead lol.

[Jacob044]

These crankbaits you guys are using, are they shallow diving square bills? 

Ya, a shallow diving. In the river in back of my house the bass break water often in a frenzy. Just throw anything to them and they suck it up.

[dsidle61]

These crankbaits you guys are using, are they shallow diving square bills? 

 

yes the KVD 1.5 square bill.  I believe the diving depth is 4-6 feet.  This is my first month or so using them or any crank for that matter thanks to AK's advice.  And they are working out pretty well for me.  Ive had my best luck on overcast/rainy days. 

[dsidle61]

Ok here is the pic of my 18" from yesterday.  Was caught on the kvd 1.5 in craw color in the rain.  For laughs im posting my first catch of yesterday which is slightly smaller. I apologize again for the bad picture, I fixed my measuring device last night after this pic so I should be good from here on out.   

 

Lunker

 

Puts me at 92 for the month.  Going to head out tomorrow afternoon with AK possibly and definitely on Tuesday hopefully both days produce. 

[bostonsox2904]

Here's a 17" I caught this weekend on a baby brush hog. Interestingly I was killing the peacock bass on them too

[LgMouthGambler]

I was able to go out today for about 2.5 hours. It was nice to get out after a hectic and stressful week. I caught several fish but none that I deem contest worthy. The coolest part is, I caught all of these fish on my new Lews reel. I swapped my MG from my Avid for the TT Pro. I have been itching to use this reel and I couldn't wait for the following week til I went to glades. LOL.  Here is my mini review in case someone is interested.

 

The TT Pro compared to MG are identical in size and the paddle knobs are the same. After that the differences begin. The TT Pro imo is a nicely refined MG. For example: the TT Pro has a nice carbon fiber handle that's really accentuates the reel, plus making it a little lighter. The TT also has a dual braking system which really helps dial the reel in nicely. The retrieve is nice and smooth and plus I got the High speed model in 7:1 so the IPT is higher. I couldn't test the drag today because the fish weren't big enough to challenge this reel. Casting was effortless and it covered great distances with ease.. I was able to cast a 4 inch stick bait to the other side of a bigger than avg canal with a flick of the wrist. Overall I am very happy I was able to get this reel. I can't wait to use this reel in the glades when the big girls decide to come out and play. Hope this helps someone. 

 

So we will both have our new toys to play with when we go out the 1st of the new year. What a way to start the year off. I hope we hook into some good ones.

[BassinLou]

So we will both have our new toys to play with when we go out the 1st of the new year. What a way to start the year off. I hope we hook into some good ones.

 

Fingers crossed. 

[BassinLou]

Here are the current standings.

 

1. Joe: 21" 20.5" 20.5" 16" 15.5" = 93.5"

2. Dsidle: 19.5" 18.5" 18" 18" 18" = 92"

3. Bostonsox: 19.5" 17" 16.5" 16" 16" = 85"

4. Jacob044: 21.5" 16.5" 15" 15" 15" = 83"

5. Lunkmaster: 19" 18.5" 17.5" 17" = 72"

 

6. Rovingmutt: 18.5" 18.5" 16" = 53"

7. FishinDaddy: 19" 18.5" = 37.5"

8. ZachD: 17.5" 13.5" = 31"

9. Bassinlou: 16" 14" = 30"

10. LMG: 21" = 21" 

 

There you have them. As the days continue and  X-mas approaches either some will fish more or none at all. We' ll see. Good luck this week. 

[LgMouthGambler]

Wahoo!!!!! Still in the top 10. I actually forgot that I caught 2 decent Bass yesterday. And where do you think my ruler was? Yup, left it in the back of the truck. De de de. Oh well, I used my deck as a reference for the picture to measure later. Then it hit me, why not just carve some notches or marker my own markings on the wood that I use to cover the batteries? Duh. Its painted so it wont suck the slime off the fish. That is the project for the week.

[LgMouthGambler]

P.S.

 

WAY TO GO JOE!!!!!

[BassinLou]

Wahoo!!!!! Still in the top 10. I actually forgot that I caught 2 decent Bass yesterday. And where do you think my ruler was? Yup, left it in the back of the truck. De de de. Oh well, I used my deck as a reference for the picture to measure later. Then it hit me, why not just carve some notches or marker my own markings on the wood that I use to cover the batteries? Duh. Its painted so it wont suck the slime off the fish. That is the project for the week.

 

The mind at work.....

[LgMouthGambler]

The mind at work.....

 

 

[Jacob044]

Lou, lets cull another one of the 15" with this 17" I got today.

[BassinLou]

Lou, lets cull another one of the 15" with this 17" I got today.

 

That fatty ties you for 3rd with 85". You seem to have found a rhythm Jacob. 

[dsidle61]

Went out this afternoon with AK to a spot on my side of town.  We ended up doing pretty well.  From about 4-545 we pulled in 6 fish between the 2 of us.  I had 2 decent fish, one was 18 and the other may have been greater than 18 but she swallowed the crank good and was bleeding all over the place so I got her back in the water as quick as possible.  My other 2 were probably in the 14-16 range.  AKs two were probably in the 15-17 range.  I caught 3 of mine on the crank in craw color and one on the senko.  I know ak was also using the crank but im not sure the color.  We are going to head out tomorrow morning/afternoon hopefully we have some more luck then. 

[AK-Jax86]

Went out this afternoon with AK to a spot on my side of town. We ended up doing pretty well. From about 4-545 we pulled in 6 fish between the 2 of us. I had 2 decent fish, one was 18 and the other may have been greater than 18 but she swallowed the crank good and was bleeding all over the place so I got her back in the water as quick as possible. My other 2 were probably in the 14-16 range. AKs two were probably in the 15-17 range. I caught 3 of mine on the crank in craw color and one on the senko. I know ak was also using the crank but im not sure the color. We are going to head out tomorrow morning/afternoon hopefully we have some more luck then.

Yea man we will prob have to go early morning because I have to go to Jacksonville Beach around 9:30/10 then off to Palm Coast to try to make some sales... If anyone was effected by the Tornado I feel bad for you Mother Nature can be a b*tch (any storm damage send me a PM). I have only been involved in a tornado warning once when I was probably 9 and that was back in NJ. Fortunately my neighborhood was not affected I couldn't imagine what the people in Palm Coast are going through, you have my prayers and I'm sure others from FL as well!