Latest Catch Pics Thread

[N Florida Mike]

Got a couple in a pond on the work route again. Caught em on a watermelon red yum dinger...

[jbsoonerfan]

I haven't been out much at all the last few weeks, seems the only days worth fishing I am at work. Tomorrow and Sunday look like junk as well so I was bound to hit the lake today after work even if for just an hour or so. Fished about 10 min and hooked into a good one, got it up to the boat and couldn't get it landed. After re-playing it in my head I realized it was just a poor hookset by me. About 15 min later I felt a tap and swung for the fences, came back with nothing, I mean nothing. I knew I should have either tied a fluoro leader on or checked my braid more often. Finally about 10 minutes before I was going to head in I was watching my line and it started to move sideways, swung hard and stuck this one. Only weighed 4-8 but he was a fat one. 

[TnRiver46]

For some reason when I woke up today I felt like I should target smallmouth instead of white bass or trout. I was driving upstream and passed the massive school of white bass without stopping.............. (rare for me) ..............  and then I saw an impressive sunrise and knew it would be a good day 

 

On my way upstream I saw some repeated splashing like something was busting a shad. I decided to cut the motor and investigate with the jerkbait (rattlin rogue). First cast and BLAM! 19” fat smallmouth. Decided to target smallies and that happens on first cast?? I nearly retired for the day but glad I didn’t. 

 

 

 

(^same fish in both those pics )

 

After taking pictures and measurements I motor back upstream to try that again and hook up, a 17-18” looking smallmouth jumps off. A few more drifts and no luck, my buddies say they are upriver a ways so I drive up there to listen to the basketball game with them. They start catching fish immediately while beached to let the dog run, dragging bottom baits. I figure I’ll try the jerkbait, nice fat 17.9999” smallmouth bites it. 
 

We floated down a ways, my buddies catching some smaller fish and I hooked up a big one on a jointed swimbait that pulled off. Picked the rogue back up and got dinner ! 

 

my buddies took off and I tried dragging one more spot with one of @Bluebasser86shakey heads and hooked up another 19” 

 

 

 

(^same fish in the last two pics )

 

got soaked With rain on the way back to the ramp but it was worth it 

 

[bassh8er]

Are those hush puppies?  Care to share the recipe?

[Bluebasser86]

I entered a free, month long kayak fishing tournament open to anyone around the country that runs all month. Figured it would be good practice for me and no risk since it's free. First place is already almost 100" and the only place that gets a prize, but there's a drawing for prizes for those that get a 5 fish limit also, so that was my main goal. Didn't get a limit my first time out at the lake by my house, but even the 4 little ones I got put me in 10th place. I feel like I'm starting to somewhat get the hang of the blade bait thing. Caught several fish with it last week and a few more this week. Turns out you have to actually fish them to catch fish ?

Got a real quality clam shell with it also, which felt a lot like a fish on the initial lift.

Friday I went back to the same lake I fished with my buddy last week. It was not nearly as nice as the week before. I was harassed by big trout all day. Every time I'd think I had a big bass, it would come up and start thrashing around on the surface. Fun fights, until they got into the kayak, then I just wanted them to come off. I caught 7 or 8, every one was way bigger than the biggest bass I caught on the day (15"), and every one ate a 6th Sense Provoke 106.

 

[NorcalBassin]

On a major downer my dad lost two buddies to covid this past week that sure seemed to have a lot of good and productive years ahead of them, so it was great getting the opportunity to head out for some lighthearted fun and escape from things. On cue the fish cooperated and he probably outcaught me at a 2:1 pace... I couldn't have been happier with the way the day turned out.

 

First of many for the day.

 

 

Even picked up a few trout.

 

Longarming like a boss

 

Ned delivered time and time again.

 

Only cookie cutters for me but it didn't even matter.

[DitchPanda]

Sorry to hear about your dads loss. Glad you got to take him out and distract him from this deal for a while. Also I'm sure he out fished you...he looks just like Tom Monsoor.

[long island basser]

Got out for a few hours today, boating four bass and a few perch.

Water temp at 41* with all fish caught on hair jig and blade bait. Here’s a few of them.

 

 

[TnRiver46]

20 hours ago, bassh8er said:

Are those hush puppies?  Care to share the recipe?

They were frozen and we baked them. Surprisingly tasty 

[NorcalBassin]

Fishing is still pretty tough but any time on the water in December beats sitting inside at home. Water temp is down to 55* and we finally have water running into the creeks again after some recent rain and snowmelt from the mountains. Every time we go we think it's going to be the day the hot winter bite develops... definitely hasn't happened yet.

 

Started the day on quite a wonderful note throwing a swimbait around the ramp area while waiting for my dad to arrive. After a couple casts I went to secure the bait and switch rods, and Sneaky Pete snuck his 1/0 right into my hand. Good times getting the split ring off with one hand and then doing the good ol' jerk technique when my dad arrived so we could get back to fishing.

 

First fish was a surprise- trout on a tube dragging bottom in 35-40 FOW

 

No action or followers with swimbaits or reaction baits, but Ned saved the day like it oftentimes does this time of year.

 

No fish to get too excited about but we mixed in a few of the 2# variety.

[NoShoes]

This is my first winter I’ve fished and after doing well June-Sept I’ve been on the struggle bus. I’ve been skunked past few outings at my go to place, and tried the river instead. Only fish of the day, but got the skunk smell out of my boat. 
 

Still have a lot to learn to adjust seasonal from the warmer months. 
 

 

[scaleface]

57 minutes ago, NoShoes said:

Only fish of the day, but got the skunk smell out of my boat. 

How did you catch it and what part of the country ?

[NoShoes]

12 minutes ago, scaleface said:

How did you catch it and what part of the country ?

Texas rigged trick worm, literally was in a hollowed out cypress stump. 
 

Southeast GA. Water temp around 50. 

[roadwarrior]

Nice fish!

 

[TnRiver46]

38 minutes ago, NoShoes said:

Texas rigged trick worm, literally was in a hollowed out cypress stump. 
 

Southeast GA. Water temp around 50. 

Trick worm is always good in a swamp! 

[Bluebasser86]

Went out Friday looking for some upgrades in the month long kayak tournament I'm in. Wind forecast were way higher than I'd hoped for, too strong to do much and I was going to have to pedal the long route if I wanted to fish at all. So I launched in the river and pedaled all the way out of the river to the bluff walls so I could hide out of the wind and fish them until it really started howling (forecast 30-40 mph gust and 20-25 straight winds after noon).

 

Right at the mouth of the river there was a big tree that has washed out and is set right on the edge of the creek channel, couldn't pass it up. My second flip into I got a bump and put my first fish on the board, a 17" fish, a 2.25" upgrade.

Got to the bluff and got to work. A jerkbait did most all the work, either a 6th Sense Provoke or Strike King 300. I got another 16.5", 18", and 19.5", with the biggest one weighing in at 5.40lbs, my new PB from the new kayak. My upgrades bumped me up into 6th place overall out of over 100 anglers. Don't think I'll get out again before the end of the year and the tournament, so hopefully I can hold onto the top 10.

 

[NoShoes]

10 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Went out Friday looking for some upgrades in the month long kayak tournament I'm in. Wind forecast were way higher than I'd hoped for, too strong to do much and I was going to have to pedal the long route if I wanted to fish at all. So I launched in the river and pedaled all the way out of the river to the bluff walls so I could hide out of the wind and fish them until it really started howling (forecast 30-40 mph gust and 20-25 straight winds after noon).

 

Right at the mouth of the river there was a big tree that has washed out and is set right on the edge of the creek channel, couldn't pass it up. My second flip into I got a bump and put my first fish on the board, a 17" fish, a 2.25" upgrade.

Got to the bluff and got to work. A jerkbait did most all the work, either a 6th Sense Provoke or Strike King 300. I got another 16.5", 18", and 19.5", with the biggest one weighing in at 5.40lbs, my new PB from the new kayak. My upgrades bumped me up into 6th place overall out of over 100 anglers. Don't think I'll get out again before the end of the year and the tournament, so hopefully I can hold onto the top 10.

 

dude you stay on them!

[Team9nine]

Ponds have been skim icing, but decided to take a break from the crappie and go chase bass one more time since we got a slight weather break. We briefly touched 42 degrees today, but took the boat out anyway. Water temps 39.5 everywhere I checked. Wasted the first couple hours doing the wrong thing on the wrong end of the lake. Figured it out somewhat the second half of the afternoon and ended up boating 28 fish. Might be able to squeeze in one more trip yet before the polar blast hits us Thursday. Only question is, bass or crappie if I go?  Blade bait for everything today.

 

[DitchPanda]

Depending on how long you have you should do both! That way if its a while before you get back out you scratched both itches.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

@Team9nine @Bluebasser86 are yall vertically fishing those blade baits? 

 

Never fished them, genuinely curious.

[Bluebasser86]

I'm just learning the bait. Making short to medium cast and then just lifting it fast enough to make the bait vibrate a few times and letting it hit bottom again. I've been letting it sit for a half second to a couple seconds and a lot of fish are just there when I lift it again, so I assume they're pinning it against the bottom and eating it off the bottom. I've caught some vertical when I mark them though. I usually give it a lift or three directly under the boat in case a fish is having indecision on eating the bait.

[Team9nine]

Very similar to Bluebasser above, but I keep a couple rigged up with different hole positions. I frequently drop on them vertically if I go over a group that looks like bass. Otherwise, pitches or casts, often bomb casts to cover water. Just depends on location. Play with lifts - aggressive or less so; same with pauses between lifts. On flats and near shore, you can cast and retrieve just like a Trap.

[NoShoes]

Tried a new place today and they were on the jig. Nice 5 lb chunk bringing my best 5 for the year right under 30 lb. 

 

Only had one other bass and a couple of big pickerel, but a big one makes it worth it. 

[roadwarrior]

[The Bassman]

I've been able to fish on Christmas day the past two years. This is as close as I'll get this go around. Cold front's gonna bring temps in the teens after tomorrow. Today was 50ish and windy with rain moving in. Seemed perfect for a jerkbait.  #8 Husky Jerk got me on a good bite with several 2-3 pounders, one 4 and this big one. Really a memorable afternoon.