Latest Catch Pics Thread

[Swamp Girl]

Those are excellent photos, GreenPig. I wish I'd been beside you, catching bass too!

[AlabamaSpothunter]

It's always a good day when thread regulars like @Greenpig are posting fish pics!

 

Found a separate group of schoolers yesterday and tried some of the things suggested like the Spoon and Fluke.    Couldn't get any bites but then again, I'm not a spoon or fluke guy.   Fish in this school were bigger on average and a little more aggressive than first school but still couldn't catch any fish bigger than about 3.5-4lbs. 

 

I did however find a bait that the fish seemed to be totally uneducated on, a bait just the night before I remembered to grab out of my childhood tackle box because of its legendary wintertime prowess.    The bait I grabbed was a Made in Ireland Shad Rap 6 in Crawdad.  If you Bass fished in the 90s, you almost certainly owned this bait.   The Crawfish colored Shad patterned bait is one of the most iconic lures of all time imho.    

 

So, at dawn I'm back at the location of the first group of schooling fish that frustrated me so much armed with a 30+ year old Rapala with OEM hardware taken straight out of the tackle box I fished with as a kid.

 

I spent the first 6 hours stripping my thumb of all the skin with 1-3lb class fish.   At least they're biting more consistently on the new bait, but at that point after 3 days on heavily schooling fish and not catching a single fish over 5lbs.......I'm starting to question the nature of the universe.

 

Long story short, this majestic creature gave me a memory that will last forever.  She was 8.7lbs, and about as short and fat as they come around here.  

 

 

 

 

 

[Swamp Girl]

So, let me get this straight. You were fishing in Alabama and shredding your thumb. Then you somehow cast all the way to Kansas, hooked one of Clayton's preposterous bass, and reeled it across the country, presumably by rivers and lakes. 

 

Seriously, you've caught so many big bass this winter, but I think this latest one is my favorite even though it's not the biggest. I just love when they look like they're about to burst. 

[N Florida Mike]

Got out today for app. 1.5 hours. Temps in the low 70s, cloudy, light breeze. Got 3 in the boat, and missed 2. Caught 2 on the 10 inch Red shad culpit , including this one, and 1 one on a 10 inch mister twister worm. Fish are up shallow, and I’m seeing a bed by my dock. 
It’s that time of year again!

[Swamp Girl]

3 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

Fish are up shallow, and I’m seeing a bed by my dock. 
It’s that time of year again!

 

Just imagine that he's singing "Love is in the water...."

 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Lol Katie, great minds think alike, I remember holding that fish and thinking this reminds me of Clayton's recent fish, albeit not as fat.   I can't wait to see what an 8lb fish from his lake looks like, just a matter of time until he posts one.    As you know I'm an OCD numbers nerd, and I'd love to have all the lengths and girths to go with 7lb+ fish.  

Aesthetically speaking, I'd have to agree with you.   I had trouble letting her go, I just kept wanting to admire her.       

 

@N Florida Mike  Nice one brother!   Hopefully a big ole' DD rolls up on that bed 😎

[N Florida Mike]

@AlabamaSpothunter Yours  is a beautiful fish man ! Did you measure her ? 

[Swamp Girl]

10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Aesthetically speaking, I'd have to agree with you.   I had trouble letting her go, I just kept wanting to admire her.     

 

In a way, she's still with you. That photo of her in the water is stunning and you'll always have it. We really should photograph them in their homes more. Not always easy to do, of course. I've returned more than one bass to the water that immediately went berserk as soon as she reached H2O. It's almost as if they get a kick out of splashing me. 

 

Regarding Clayton's bass, I've since gone back and looked at my fattest bass. As you know, I catch some thick fish, but NOTHING like Clayton's or your recent whale. 

 

P. S. - I never tire of seeing your little, old boat.  You and I both fish from small, cheap platforms. I paid $1,000, $600, and $500 for my three canoes. Our measly boats should encourage others to go catch bass without dropping five or even six figures on a bass boat.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I disagree Katie, your PB fish last year was ridiculously fat.  The reason why I estimated her to be 8+ was the girth.     

 

You're the queen of fat Bass.........and yes I added a B in there 🤣

 

@N Florida Mike  Appreciate it brother! 

[Swamp Girl]

6 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I disagree Katie, your PB fish last year was ridiculously fat. 

 

Yeah, she was a Clayton-grade/Alex-sized bass.

[Blue Raider Bob]

11 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

It's always a good day when thread regulars like @Greenpig are posting fish pics!

 

Found a separate group of schoolers yesterday and tried some of the things suggested like the Spoon and Fluke.    Couldn't get any bites but then again, I'm not a spoon or fluke guy.   Fish in this school were bigger on average and a little more aggressive than first school but still couldn't catch any fish bigger than about 3.5-4lbs. 

 

I did however find a bait that the fish seemed to be totally uneducated on, a bait just the night before I remembered to grab out of my childhood tackle box because of its legendary wintertime prowess.    The bait I grabbed was a Made in Ireland Shad Rap 6 in Crawdad.  If you Bass fished in the 90s, you almost certainly owned this bait.   The Crawfish colored Shad patterned bait is one of the most iconic lures of all time imho.    

 

So, at dawn I'm back at the location of the first group of schooling fish that frustrated me so much armed with a 30+ year old Rapala with OEM hardware taken straight out of the tackle box I fished with as a kid.

 

I spent the first 6 hours stripping my thumb of all the skin with 1-3lb class fish.   At least they're biting more consistently on the new bait, but at that point after 3 days on heavily schooling fish and not catching a single fish over 5lbs.......I'm starting to question the nature of the universe.

 

Long story short, this majestic creature gave me a memory that will last forever.  She was 8.7lbs, and about as short and fat as they come around here.  

 

 

 

 

 

OMG!

[TnRiver46]

@AlabamaSpothunter, monster bass!!

 

that shad rap is the ott Defoe special 

[Bluebasser86]

@AlabamaSpothunter I caught so many fish on that exact color shad rap in the #5 size when I was growing up. I trolled it from my 2 man and caught crappie and cast it for bass, but it caught everything. I still have probably 10 of them in that color and I'd guess 20 in assorted colors. They cast like a potato chip, but bass also eat them like we eat chips. I don't throw them often in favor of the Flicker Shad Shallow because it cast so much better, but I might have to break out the old shad rap on an upcoming trip. 

 

That's an awesome fish. They're just different when they get to that size. 

[Swamp Girl]

9 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

They cast like a potato chip, but bass also eat them like we eat chips.

 

Great writing, Clayton.

 

10 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

That's an awesome fish. They're just different when they get to that size. 

 

Amen. Don' cha love the in-the-water pic?

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Thanks a bunch guys!!!

 

Clayton, I loved reading that you had a similar experience as me on the Shad Raps growing up.   LOL at the potato chip part.   I think you're being too generous, it cast more life a leaf 🤣

 

I'll check out that Flicker Shad later today at the monkey shop.  I was looking at TW last night and was surprised at all the new Shad Rap type baits.   The finishes are so much better.   

 

Growing up it was one of the go to cold water finesse cranks.    @TnRiver46 brings up Ott Defoe, and I think some of his designs have become Rapala's new cold water finesse cranks like the OG Tiny 4 and 7.    I caught a couple on the Tiny 4, but the Shad Rap seemed to produce much better.    

[Eric 26]

@AlabamaSpothunter I couldn’t agree more with everyone else, that is one of the prettiest bass I’ve ever seen. Congratulations 🎉 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I surely appreciate it Eric!    Seems we have the same type......fat bottomed girls 🤣

[Swamp Girl]

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Thanks a bunch guys!!!

 

Clayton, I loved reading that you had a similar experience as me on the Shad Raps growing up.   LOL at the potato chip part.   I think you're being too generous, it cast more life a leaf 🤣

 

I'll check out that Flicker Shad later today at the monkey shop.  I was looking at TW last night and was surprised at all the new Shad Rap type baits.   The finishes are so much better.   

 

Growing up it was one of the go to cold water finesse cranks.    @TnRiver46 brings up Ott Defoe, and I think some of his designs have become Rapala's new cold water finesse cranks like the OG Tiny 4 and 7.    I caught a couple on the Tiny 4, but the Shad Rap seemed to produce much better.    

He still throws that exact plug you did, quite a bit. As does his son Parker 

[Fishlegs]

@AlabamaSpothunter has activated beast mode!

 

[Bluebasser86]

9 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I'll check out that Flicker Shad later today at the monkey shop.  I was looking at TW last night and was surprised at all the new Shad Rap type baits.   The finishes are so much better.    

TW doesn't seem to carry the standard colors of the shallow Flicker Shad, but they do have a couple of the HD colors that are currently on sale. 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Flicker_Shad_HD_Shallow_Crankbait/descpage-BFKS.html

 

DUO makes a little shad bait that I really like also, but TW doesn't carry them though unfortunately. 

[Rocky998]

Are the megabass jerkbaits really what they are hyped up to be?

 

Looking for solid preforming shallow jerkbaits 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Appreciate it Clayton!   Just got home from the tackle store, being a dummy, I thought Rapala made the flicker shad and now I know why I couldn't find it.

 

Turns out the one I was throwing yesterday was the Shad Rap 7 and not the 6. 

 

@Fishlegs  Thanks friend! 

 

@Rocky998  Lots of good threads on that exact subject, but yes the Vision 110, and 110Jr are the gold standard for shallow running colder water jerkbaits.    Shimano jerkbaits are right up there as well.   Lot of good jerkbaits, but those are the easy button.  

[Rocky998]

10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Lots of good threads on that exact subject, but yes the Vision 110, and 110Jr are the gold standard for shallow running colder water jerkbaits.    Shimano jerkbaits are right up there as well.   Lot of good jerkbaits, but those are the easy button

Thanks!! I'm looking at getting one sometime down the line. 

 

I'll also check out the Shimano ones too! 

 

I know you said they're for cold water (which is great), but do they also work for spring/summer if I was to work it faster?

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Absolutely they do, however the magic/cost of the Vision 110 is kind of wasted when you fish it fast.    It becomes just another jerkbait at that point.   Where it shines is when you need its less erratic action combined with excellent suspension.   Even Vision 110s require tuning for perfect suspension though.