Latest Catch Pics Thread

[Choporoz]

On 4/5/2024 at 7:06 AM, ol'crickety said:

 

They look big, but it's hard (for me) to guess their weights with those perspectives, I.e. not much more than a head. I also get muddled when bass are thrust at the camera so that they're as big or bigger than the angler's torso. Whatever their weights, they're impressive and even more so caught from a dock in 20 minutes. 

Was not trying to be a smart donkey.  I just know how it is when people claim scale-less weights on the interwebs. It has been years since my estimate was off by more than a half pound, so I am confident saying those second two pics were 6+.  I caught a 6.4 yesterday that was comparable.  (My friend was struggling in the back, so I tried to tamper my excitement a bit and didn't have him take a pic 🙃. )

[Swamp Girl]

@Choporoz: You rack up those six-pounders like Pat and Alex!

[JayMac89]

Best day of fishing in my short fishing life. This is only my third season being dedicated. Only caught 1 bass so far this year. Until today. Also made a commitment to get better at jig fishing. Bought a dedicated jig rod and its had a jig tied on at all times. Also got a new old town pdl 106. Well, this was the first fish in that kayak. 

 

Weather's been in the 40s, but windy. Went out this morning. With the wind chill out was low 30s out. I had a wacky worm, a jerkbait, and a bitsy bug jig tied on. Wasn't having any luck. I'd hit the north bank, targeting bushes and lay downs. Then as the wind blew me away I'd start with the jerkbait. Just trying to figure out the pattern. 

 

After being blown far enough i started the pedal back to the north bank. As i approached i saw a gnarly looking laydown. Came in slow and stealth. Didn't like my angle. Adjusted. Was about to just make a few pitches to the outside of the laydown, fearing getting hung up. Then remembered all of learned here. Pitched the bitsy bug right in the thick of it. Immediately felt the weight and set the hook. As i did i see the branch i pitched next to move. Dang, I'm hung up. Then i saw the fish, still submerged. She had me wrapped around this branch of the laydown. Long story short, i had to keep the fish pinned while moving the kayak in a better position to get unstuck. Finally did. Kayak got pulled into the laydown. Reeling the fish in when i saw its size. Just started yelling. I couldn't belive it. Got the fish into the net, ny the way i need a bigger net, this thing barley fit. 5LB even. Jig right in the upper lip. Beautiful fish. I know 5 isn't a big deal for some guys. But iv never seen a fish this size in my area. My old PB was on the upper 3s. 

 

I was shaking with excitement. It's just awesome. Yes the fish is great. But everything together. The things i learned. First fish in the new kayak, on a bait i wanted to get better at, in a location i normally would of passed on (or at least not got as deep into), in a time of year i struggled in the past, the fight and dealing with getting wrapped up.... all of it. Stoked. And just want to thank this forum. Learned a ton here and multiple things iv picked up on here came into play on this fish. So thank you everyone. 

[T-Billy]

Congrats @JayMac89!!! Nice fish, and a good learning experience.

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, JayMac89 said:

Beautiful fish. I know 5 isn't a big deal for some guys.

 

5 is a big deal for me and you're right, it is a beautiful fish, made even more so by your being new to angling, the wind, the cold, the lay down, and your first time in your kayak. It was T-Billy who taught me to toss my lures into the nastiest thickets. Getting them out of those thickets is such a challenge, but it's soooo exciting too. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

@JayMac89  Congrats brother on such an awesome day, and fish......that's truly what's it's all about for me, the full Jimmy V experience. 

 

“To me there are three things everyone should do every day. Number one is laugh. Number two is think -- spend some time time in thought. Number three, you should have your emotions move you to tears. If you laugh, think and cry, that's a heck of a day.” ― Jim Valvano

 

A 5lb fish is a fantastic fish for everyone, whether you live in Mexico or in Canada....a 5lber is a 5lber.    It's the universal measuring stick for a big "Bass".    

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, JayMac89 said:

Reeling the fish in when i saw its size. Just started yelling. I couldn't believe it. Got the fish into the net, ny the way i need a bigger net, this thing barley fit. 5LB even.

Nice!👊

That girl will be a 6+ in a month.

 

P.S. I know that laydown😉

[Swamp Girl]

18 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Nice!👊

That girl will be a 6+ in a month.

 

P.S. I know that laydown😉

 

With that head, for sure. As Alex(ander the Great) once semi-said, the fish with the biggest mouth rules the tank and wins the day. 

[Swamp Girl]

3 hours ago, JayMac89 said:

As i approached i saw a gnarly looking laydown. Came in slow and stealth. Didn't like my angle. Adjusted.

 

You are wise beyond your fishing years. Boat control's a big deal. 

 

One of my satisfying moments in fishing is when I paddling crooked open water through weeds. I've paddled so many thousands of miles that I don't have to think, "I have to execute a 30-degree turn to the right in ten feet." My canoe just makes that exact adjustment, as I shift my weight and paddle without thinking. Now, that's just navigating a swamp, but boat positioning is key at many moments in a fishing trip. You need to be in THE best spot to reach the opening in a lay down to then wrangle a big bass from it. 

[PhishLI]

The wind's been cranking lately, and it was cold this morning, but a man's gotta do...

 

Got in about an hour before my waders sprung a leak. Big fun walking about a mile with 45 degree lake water sloshing around in my boot and soaking up my pant leg. A few pads are up, finally, and that's where I got my bites. Lost a solid one banging it back through the stalks but got a few afterward which made up for the pain. For once I wasn't tortured by Pickeral, so that's a win in itself.

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Hardest working man in all of fishing......Mr @PhishLI 😎

 

 

[Woody B]

I only caught 5 today.........but the 2 biggest were 5.61 pounds and 5.88 pounds.   The smallest was a 14 inch Spot.  (all are pictured)  

 

[JayMac89]

Glad to see you got some PhishLI! The weathers been tough with so that wind. I was out yesterday morning as well, i swear it started hailing for a brief minute before it turned to rain. 

 

And thank you ol'crickety. But like i said, i really have to thank the people on this forum. I don't post a ton, but i read alot. And have learned alot. In the past i wouldnt of been as aware/cautious. But i had the voices in my head reminding me of things iv picked up here. That's what makes that one so special. I could go further into detail but I'll just leave it at this. Every part of that catch, from before i casted to the release, i was using things that iv picked up here. Lot of things clicked, great learning experience. 

[Swamp Girl]

We're all excited for you, @JayMac89. A PB is a big deal. It only happens a few times in our lives. Fingers crossed it happens one or two more times for you again in 2024. 

 

It will be warm enough for me to fish tomorrow, but I don't know if I want to tromp through the snow to launch. The snow is slush, really. It will be slippery and cold. Still,....

[thediscochef]

Tough day on the banks of Toledo Bend today. I hit four different areas around the south quarter of the lake. This thin dink spot ate my swim jig while I watched. Missed two better fish on the whopper plopper and chatterbait minimax. I could see a ton of following fish today but couldn't get any of them to commit. It's wild to be on the dam of a reservoir and see only water on part of the horizon. Don't get that at Roberts. Maybe one day I will have a more fun trip to Toledo, but it wasn't today. I want to love this lake, it has giants and it's beautiful. But it hasn't given me much.

[Jmilburn76]

@JayMac89 glad to see you already got the new yak slimed and with a nice one, congrats!

[IcatchDinks]

@JayMac89 beautiful fish!!! Stoked for you!

 

Everyone else, your fish are nice too. 

[N Florida Mike]

Leon is on the way !! He caught 5 today on a senko.  

[Swamp Girl]

Go, Leon. He should join BR. 

 

Beautiful bass, Woody!

[MIbassyaker]

8 hours ago, JayMac89 said:

I know 5 isn't a big deal for some guys.

 

Great fish!  The number of bass 4lb and up I catch each year (if any) can be counted on one hand, so in my book a 5 is big deal.  It's all about what waters you're fishing.

[IcatchDinks]

I went fishing today. That's all I did. No catching. Unless you count the catnap I caught on the little cement island I waded out to in the middle of the river. It was a beautiful day topping out around 60F, but the water is still icy cold. I was cramping up even through my waders. It's good to get outdoors again. 

[Bluebasser86]

Got my boat out for the first time in 6 months or so today. Doing the boat captain thing next weekend and the kids aren't going to get to prefish so I tried to go do it for them. Lake was super low and very muddy. I don't understand why they keep making these poor kids go back to this sorry excuse for a lake. I fished the marina for an hour without a bite. Tried to run to a different spot but got a constant beep warning when I did. Oil level was pretty low so I'm thinking that's what it was since it was peeing water just fine. Half-hearted tried the marina a little more before putting it right back on the trailer having had 1 bite from a big drum.

 

On the way home, I stopped by a lake that never has any tournaments because it's a "bad lake", so I could remember what it's like to get a bite.

 

 

 

[MIbassyaker]

24 minutes ago, IcatchDinks said:

I went fishing today. That's all I did. No catching. Unless you count the catnap I caught on the little cement island I waded out to in the middle of the river. It was a beautiful day topping out around 60F, but the water is still icy cold. I was cramping up even through my waders. It's good to get outdoors again. 

 

Any trout in your section of the Chippewa?  When it's cold, and I just wanna get some some bites...

 

10 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

On the way home, I stopped by a lake that never has any tournaments because it's a "bad lake", so I could remember what it's like to get a bite.

 

 

It's amazing how many places have "well-known" reputations --positive and negative-- that don't match the actual fishing experience I have when I just go try it myself. 

[IcatchDinks]

50 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

 

Any trout in your section of the Chippewa?  When it's cold, and I just wanna get some some bites...

 

Not that I've ever caught, but I've heard people say there are some in there. 

[Pat Brown]

 

Everyone caught something yesterday!  We caught many fish but none over 4 lbs.  Got my biggest of the day on a buzzbait which was extremely satisfying!  Got my fattest on a jig!  Caught a nice channel and a crappie and we are having a fish fry tonight after the eclipse/pond fishing!

 

Tight lines to everyone this week!  😎😎😎