lunkerboss923 Posted January 8 Posted January 8 After work, some people take the edge off with an adult beverage...me? I spent evening with the Dobyns Champion XP 735CB Glass. This is a rod you love or hate. The vibration from the chatterbait is somewhat muted with a glass rod, but for me it's just enough feel to be effective. That glass taper pins that fish. The strike feels like you caught a wet sock. It's truly a unique bite. Today was awesome! This pond I fish has a been called The Dink Factory, because the fish are tiny. I go there to finesse fish with dropshots, Neds and finesse shakyheads. There is something fun about a 10 inch bass on 8lb braid with a 6lb leader, peelin' drag! I caught most of my fish like that today. However, this setup I have is killer. Dobyns 735CB Glass paired with an SLX DC. Today on my first cast with this combo, I caught this beautiful girl. Caught her on a red Mini Max. I knew it was a different kind of fish when I heard the splash, you can a tell what a little fish from a larger fish. I knew it was much better than what I have been catching. She was right at 13". Fun catch after work!!! 15 Quote
Super User Swamp Girl Posted January 8 Super User Posted January 8 8 hours ago, lunkerboss923 said: Dobyns Champion XP 735CB Glass LB, you and so many others at Bass Resource are able to rattle off the names and specifics of your fishing gear, which always impresses me and humbles me too, since I can't name a single rod I own. Do you carry "XP 735CB" in your head or did you have to read it off your rod first? Either way, congrats on the bigger bass! Quote
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted January 10 Super User Posted January 10 @Bluebasser86 and @T-Billy That's brutal guys, really hate hearing those stories. We're in a club that nobody should ever have to be in. I won't forget your story Clayton especially since you still have the card and recovery might be possible. Prices go down, new tech comes out, I don't blame you for not spending that much. If mine is successful, might be worth getting a quote from them. Few lessons I want to share with anybody who needs to hear it. 1. Going forward I will always re format the card a new each time out. 2. I will always make sure I safely remove hardware or eject media on my PC before pulling the card out 3. I will pay attention to the warning signs before the mega disaster strikes, when I insert a card into a drive and it says something is wrong it wants to scan and I x it out because I've done so without consequences 1000x before, don't do it. Enough of that, had a great day which was about the only thing that was going to put me in a better head shape over the data deal. Didn't catch but 11 Bass but managed a 21lb on the dot bag. The two prizes were a 7lb 11oz fish, and a 5lb 2oz one. The 7.11 ate the red vault, the 5.2 ate the shad vault. @Blue Raider Bob What a fantastic reply brother! A big girl awaits you in the New Year! 😎 17 Quote
Super User Swamp Girl Posted January 10 Super User Posted January 10 @AlabamaSpothunter: I love those big bags! And a 7-11 is a heckuva, BIG bass. 1 Quote
The Baron Posted January 10 Posted January 10 10 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: Didn't catch but 11 Bass but managed a 21lb on the dot bag. The two prizes were a 7lb 11oz fish, and a 5lb 2oz one. Wow, that’s pretty awesome fishing for anytime of year.😎 We’re in a cold snap here, and it feels like it’ll be forever until I’m fishing again. When I do get fishing again, I sure hope to catch one over 5#. I couldn’t crack that nut last year, several 4’s but the magic 5 never bit. 6’s can happen up here too, but they’re rare. A 7 is a once in a lifetime bass and could happen with a smallmouth just as easily as a largemouth, although my boat’s too wee to spend much time on Lake Ontario where the really big smallies live. It gives my hope to have the little boat ready to unwrap in April and go after some shallow water pike, to get warmed up. Hopeful a warm spring.🤞🏻 2 1 Quote
Pat Brown Posted January 10 Posted January 10 Nice recovery bag @AlabamaSpothunter - see - I told ya it ain't even but just getting started 🙂 Unfortunately - 3 days straight of night temps below 20° = we froze up here. I am sad a little but this is the third winter I've fished where this has happened in NC and it seems to be the event that typically is the catalyst for the big fish to move up as soon as it's back to somewhat normal surface temps. I went to the pond for 30 minutes last night and there was a small portion of open water remaining (surely frozen as of this morning) and couldn't get my guides to stop freezing. The cool thing - even with over 75% ice coverage on the pond and freezing guides - right at sunset - I could literally see bass eating over the deeper water! The surface activity looked like not winter! 🙂😂 Couldn't quite get my bait to that spot but it gave me a smile and some hope to hang onto while we wait out the ice vortex this next two weeks. 1 1 Quote
Super User Swamp Girl Posted January 10 Super User Posted January 10 8 minutes ago, Pat Brown said: we froze up here Whoa! I didn't know that NC could freeze...and three winters in a row. I'm assuming your ice isn't thick enough to fish. Am I right? 9 minutes ago, Pat Brown said: The cool thing - even with over 75% ice coverage on the pond and freezing guides - right at sunset - I could literally see bass eating over the deeper water! The surface activity looked like not winter! 🙂😂 How exciting! I would have loved that almost as much as catching bass. 10 minutes ago, Pat Brown said: Nice recovery bag @AlabamaSpothunter - see - I told ya it ain't even but just getting started 🙂 I agree. I'm assuming Alex is going to catch some big bass and bags in the next couple months. Mid-winter is Alex's happy place. 2 hours ago, The Baron said: When I do get fishing again, I sure hope to catch one over 5#. I couldn’t crack that nut last year, several 4’s but the magic 5 never bit. 6’s can happen up here too, but they’re rare. A 7 is a once in a lifetime bass I'm a little farther north than you, so I feel really lucky to catch the bass that I do. I think it's a combination of being coastal, which moderates temps a bit, and fishing water that's harder to reach with boats even smaller than yours. However, your proximity to Lake Ontario should moderate temps a bit too, since it's really an inland, freshwater sea. 2 1 Quote
Pat Brown Posted January 10 Posted January 10 @Swamp Girl - been chatting with my fishing buddies and we think that basically it kind of has a similar effect as a controlled burn does above land. It kind of kills off the weak fish and a lot of the bacteria and fungus and parasites and infections and sort of has a purifying effect on the shallow water on the lakes we fish. I definitely think it leads to much healthier and much fatter fish in the spring with less parasites and infections and signs of stress. And much fatter fish because of all the Shad dying that they get to eat without having to chase. Overall it's a very good thing and I'm trying to be thankful for it and look forward to the goodness that is sure to come! 5 Quote
Super User Swamp Girl Posted January 10 Super User Posted January 10 12 minutes ago, Pat Brown said: Overall it's a very good thing and I'm trying to be thankful for it and look forward to the goodness that is sure to come! Pat, you have a great attitude. I wish you lived down the road so we could fish together. 1 1 Quote
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted January 10 Super User Posted January 10 Thanks, guys, for the especially the kind words! That 7lb fish was the best medicine/gift I could have received. I never fully realized how special the Green Fish was until I joined here and become buddies with folks like @Swamp Girl and @The Baron who taught me that people up north are every bit as passionate and talented at chasing LMB as any angler who gets to fish for them year round in Alabama. I'm a much better angler today because of all the things I've learned from you Yanks since joining. @Pat Brown I really like your thoughts on the whole 'controlled burn' aspect of what's happening in your area. One thing I know for certain is that one of the best recipes for creating the conditions for an epic winter big fish day is a hard freeze down here in the South. O.H. Ivie as we know it today was discovered after a historic hard freeze/winter storm several years ago, when Milliken and a few others set the internet on fire with a 50lb bag. The incredible winter fishing that I've come to love over the last three years doesn't start until consistent freezing morning temps happen. I'm a betting man, and I'd say within TWO WEEKS, Pat will be posting a 7-10lb fish (I'm being modest not to jynx you 😁). ETA: It looks like Canada or Maine in Alabama today......we got a couple of inches of snow last night. It can't melt fast enough 🤣 1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said: Pat, you have a great attitude. I wish you lived down the road so we could fish together. As we've talked about a bunch before.......I feel like attitude is the second most important attribute to have to become a great Bass angler. The first is confidence. Every day out I try to work on my attitude, and I use many people on this forum and especially in this thread for motivation and example. Pat no doubt has the right attitude, and I've never met anyone who has a better fishing attitude than you Katie! 2 Quote
Super User Swamp Girl Posted January 10 Super User Posted January 10 10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: I'm a much better angler today because of all the things I've learned from you Yanks since joining. Alex, you are so kind and GENEROUS, but I don't even know the names of most of my lures. You teach me, not vice-versa. 10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: people up north are every bit as passionate 10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: That 7lb fish was the best medicine/gift I could have received. Way closer to eight than seven!!! 10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: I've never met anyone who has a better fishing attitude than you Katie! Thank you, Alex. I'm out of reactions, so that's why I didn't tag your post with a thank you. 1 1 Quote
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted January 10 Super User Posted January 10 When I first joined I had no idea what a Whopper Plopper was because they came out when I was taking a break from the sport. I just kept seeing fat Maine Bass after fat Maine Bass being caught on them, so obviously I had to get some Whopper Plopper love in my life. Long story short I own half a dozen now and caught a ton of fish on them late Spring last year thanks to you Katie. 2 Quote
Super User gim Posted January 10 Super User Posted January 10 1 minute ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: Long story short I own half a dozen now and caught a ton of fish on them That will be coming to a screeching halt very soon and they'll end up on your christmas tree as an ornament instead. 4 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 10 Global Moderator Posted January 10 @Swamp Girl, it can definitely freeze down this way. Not sure if @Pat Brown is on the same latitude as me but surely pretty close. I’ve seen people drive ATVs on Douglas lake, a massive 30,000 acre reservoir that is way less likely to freeze than a pond. And a couple years ago I saw people ice fishing in TX on the internet. I think @Catt posted photos of a cypress swamp frozen over in Louisiana 1 1 Quote
The Baron Posted January 10 Posted January 10 4 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: I never fully realized how special the Green Fish was until I joined here and become buddies with folks like @Swamp Girl and @The Baron who taught me that people up north are every bit as passionate and talented at chasing LMB as any angler who gets to fish for them year round in Alabama. I'm a much better angler today because of all the things I've learned from you Yanks since joining. Did @AlabamaSpothunter just call this Canuck a Yankee? 🧐🤔😝🙃 6 Quote
ScottW Posted January 10 Posted January 10 34 minutes ago, The Baron said: Did @AlabamaSpothunter just call this Canuck a Yankee? 🧐🤔😝🙃 Oh someone’s in the stuff now! 🤣 5 Quote
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted January 10 Super User Posted January 10 43 minutes ago, The Baron said: Did @AlabamaSpothunter just call this Canuck a Yankee? 🧐🤔😝🙃 Haha, for us simpletons everything above the Mason Dixon line is Yank territory 🤣 10 minutes ago, ScottW said: Oh someone’s in the stuff now! 🤣 Back me up fellow redneck 😁 Nice to see you posting again Scott! 6 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 10 Super User Posted January 10 1 hour ago, The Baron said: Did @AlabamaSpothunter just call this Canuck a Yankee? 🧐🤔😝🙃 That's a BIG compliment in my town ! Get over it. 🤪 A-Jay 5 Quote
ScottW Posted January 10 Posted January 10 2 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: Haha, for us simpletons everything above the Mason Dixon line is Yank territory 🤣 Back me up fellow redneck 😁 Nice to see you posting again Scott! Agreed! This coming from a former yankee too! Been a minute since I’ve posted hasn’t it? 3 Quote
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted January 10 Super User Posted January 10 4 minutes ago, ScottW said: Agreed! This coming from a former yankee too! Been a minute since I’ve posted hasn’t it? Sure has buddy, hopefully you're getting some fishing in! Quote
Pat Brown Posted January 10 Posted January 10 5 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: Thanks, guys, for the especially the kind words! That 7lb fish was the best medicine/gift I could have received. I never fully realized how special the Green Fish was until I joined here and become buddies with folks like @Swamp Girl and @The Baron who taught me that people up north are every bit as passionate and talented at chasing LMB as any angler who gets to fish for them year round in Alabama. I'm a much better angler today because of all the things I've learned from you Yanks since joining. @Pat Brown I really like your thoughts on the whole 'controlled burn' aspect of what's happening in your area. One thing I know for certain is that one of the best recipes for creating the conditions for an epic winter big fish day is a hard freeze down here in the South. O.H. Ivie as we know it today was discovered after a historic hard freeze/winter storm several years ago, when Milliken and a few others set the internet on fire with a 50lb bag. The incredible winter fishing that I've come to love over the last three years doesn't start until consistent freezing morning temps happen. I'm a betting man, and I'd say within TWO WEEKS, Pat will be posting a 7-10lb fish (I'm being modest not to jynx you 😁). ETA: It looks like Canada or Maine in Alabama today......we got a couple of inches of snow last night. It can't melt fast enough 🤣 As we've talked about a bunch before.......I feel like attitude is the second most important attribute to have to become a great Bass angler. The first is confidence. Every day out I try to work on my attitude, and I use many people on this forum and especially in this thread for motivation and example. Pat no doubt has the right attitude, and I've never met anyone who has a better fishing attitude than you Katie! Been looking back through some special spring time fish - 9.1 in early February, 9.3 on late January, lots of 8s in March and basically when that ice first comes off - there seems to be some REALLY big fish all up in them warm shallows all in a big old hurry. It's quite like a light switch. Those warm rains have that ice gone in a hurry and you *really* wanna be pitching things up to the bank - *the day* - that change happens IMHO. The big fish are really good at being there and gone before ya know it and after that lots of 6-8 lbers to be had but I think the 9-12 range are really in that very first day or two of warm rain following the thaw when it freezes. 3 Quote
Super User Swamp Girl Posted January 10 Super User Posted January 10 10 minutes ago, Pat Brown said: Been looking back through some special spring time fish - 9.1 in early February, 9.3 on late January, lots of 8s in March and basically when that ice first comes off - there seems to be some REALLY big fish all up in them warm shallows all in a big old hurry. It's quite like a light switch. Those warm rains have that ice gone in a hurry and you *really* wanna be pitching things up to the bank - *the day* - that change happens IMHO. The big fish are really good at being there and gone before ya know it and after that lots of 6-8 lbers to be had but I think the 9-12 range are really in that very first day or two of warm rain following the thaw when it freezes. And for Pat, it ain't over til the fat lady (makes his line) sing(s). 2 Quote
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted January 10 Super User Posted January 10 You target those big fish in quite the unique fashion Pat, if memory serves, many/most of your monsters come from shallow water, so your last reply makes perfect sense. Regardless of the time of year, the vast majority of my 7lb+ fish come from 10-25fow. They might bite a bait 3-6ft under the surface, but they'll be over 10-25fow. I think I've caught one 7lb fish in less than 3fow, and oddly enough that one came from an A-Rig two winters ago during a real big warm up in the middle of January. Amazing how unique and adaptable LMB are based on the incredible range of them. I love Spotted and SM Bass, but to me the LMB stands alone for no other reason than they can thrive in so many different habitats and locations. They're the one sub species that seems to connect us all, the one that we all can relate to. 2 Quote
Pat Brown Posted January 10 Posted January 10 1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: You target those big fish in quite the unique fashion Pat, if memory serves, many/most of your monsters come from shallow water, so your last reply makes perfect sense. Regardless of the time of year, the vast majority of my 7lb+ fish come from 10-25fow. They might bite a bait 3-6ft under the surface, but they'll be over 10-25fow. I think I've caught one 7lb fish in less than 3fow, and oddly enough that one came from an A-Rig two winters ago during a real big warm up in the middle of January. Amazing how unique and adaptable LMB are based on the incredible range of them. I love Spotted and SM Bass, but to me the LMB stands alone for no other reason than they can thrive in so many different habitats and locations. They're the one sub species that seems to connect us all, the one that we all can relate to. We don't have 25 feet down and basically water clarity and avian predators have fish buried in covered a lot of the winter - what truly does happen is you catch them on the bank with your boat over 10 feet of water on a lake where 17 feet is as deep as it gets. I generally catch my shallow fish on ponds and on lakes that are exceptional on shallow areas that drop off rather.....fast? 😎😎😎 1 Quote
ScottW Posted January 11 Posted January 11 22 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: Sure has buddy, hopefully you're getting some fishing in! As much as possible while we’ve been dragging this thing around 😎 5 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.