schplurg Posted April 2, 2022 Posted April 2, 2022 On 3/24/2022 at 4:05 PM, thediscochef said: I had a real lucky day today all around - found out I WAY overestimated how much I needed to save for my self employment taxes. My investments jumped. A piece of audio gear I ordered in November finally showed up. So naturally I went and got a new baitcaster combo, and another vision 110. And given the rest of the day, I had to get by some water. I spent about two hours casting in various areas, with 10 minutes left I landed this nice spotted bass. Weighed in at 2.4lbs, which is technically a PB, though only by a quarter pound. It's definitely a larger fish than the last one. Now I'm going to go play bass in my band. It's a beautiful day Now that is a beer belly! 1 1 Quote
Super User T-Billy Posted April 2, 2022 Super User Posted April 2, 2022 On 4/1/2022 at 1:44 AM, Bass_Fishing_Socal said: Having fun with some small fish for the past few day with pixy, 4” Senko and 6lb line. Most of them small less than 2lb and the bite pretty aggressive 3-4 fish almost gutted hook. Not sure if this 20” late spawner or come in for second or third round. Nice one. That pic is a great example of why I quit using EWG hooks. Too many lost because they were only skin hooked or hooked through the membrane. Not knocking those who like them, just found straight shanks and offsets to hook'em better for me. Quote
Fishlegs Posted April 2, 2022 Posted April 2, 2022 11 hours ago, TnRiver46 said: First ever time seeing dale hollow, wow. Beautiful lake, tons of loons. We fished from 2:30 til dark, almost got a 3 person skunk. Luckily ran into some fish on the way back to the marina/cabin, one of which was 4 lb and 19.5” Dale yeah! That looks like a mighty fine way to knock the skunk out of the boat. 2 1 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted April 2, 2022 Global Moderator Posted April 2, 2022 4 hours ago, Fishlegs said: That looks like a mighty fine way to knock the skunk out of the boat. I didn’t mind it! Got 3 this morning, 17” smallie and two largemouth 16” and 14.999999” (keeper is 15”). Going back out shortly 3 Quote
Holetail Posted April 2, 2022 Posted April 2, 2022 Been stuck on the bank with only some short sessions for the last two weeks. Trying to cross off some “honey dos” and keep the wife happy. Finally got out on the kayak this morning. Had a cold front come through so it was a chilly 45 when I started. Wasn’t expecting much and wasn’t surprised the bite wasn’t great. Did manage to catch one on a speed worm and my first fish on the Fogyneither had much size to them. I lost three more on the Fogy due to weak hooksets. Out of practice I guess. Spawn is definitely on here. Lots of beds and even got to watch a fish fanning out a bed which was really cool. Had one spot nearby that I counted around 10 bass all staging together on one piece of cover. Hoping to get back out sooner than later. 18 Quote
bigspirit Posted April 2, 2022 Posted April 2, 2022 Slow day but got these 2 that were nearly identical on back to back casts. Beautiful spring day though 17 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted April 3, 2022 Global Moderator Posted April 3, 2022 Fished a little tournament today, a tiny boat tournament open to any kind of boat up to a 16' johnboat with a 15hp motor but only 1 person per vessel. I was in my kayak. Not much experience on the lake and none of what I had was good but I wanted to knock some of the rust off before tournament season starts next weekend. I ran to the shallow end of the lake hoping there would be warmer water and fish feeding up getting ready to spawn. The lake that is normally very clear had less than 6" of visibility. Still, the water was 51* and big shad were flipping, I was hopeful. Almost 2 hours later with no bites, I was no longer hopeful. I didn't know much about the lake, but I know dams of small impoundments hold bass, especially early in the year, so I peddled back to the other end. Working a Biospawn ExoNed, I snagged on the water willows and attempted to work it loose when it suddenly took off. Not sure if it popped loose and the fish ate it or if it ate it off the weeds but I finally had a 15" fish on the board. Maybe 10 minutes later, I got a little tick, set the hook and started fighting the fish, just for it to come off. Major heartbreak on a day that I knew was going to be so difficult. I fished the rest of the dam and was just about to the end and was finishing a long cast when I felt a light bump right under the boat. I pretty much set and swung in a 13.5" fish, #2 but really wishing I had the fish I lost at that point. I fished back across the dam, alternating baits, with nothing to show for it. I'd seen 1 fish get caught on a trap and then saw another on a crank. They were obviously eating moving baits too, I just needed to commit. Started flinging around a SPRO Essential Series Hunter 65 squarebill in the Fire Craw color. Really loud and hard wobbling bait, had my new St. Croix LTB glass rod just a dancing. Cranked it down the side of a rock fishing jetty lined with wood and got whacked. Fish was hooked funny and dove into a new cedar tree, had me in trouble for a second but swung another 15" fish into the boat. Things were getting interesting but I only had about 1.5 hours left since we were only fishing until noon. I popped into the back of the cut that pier was in and fan cast a bladed jig. Had one knock about a foot of slack in my line and not even touch the hook, how do they do that? Went back down the fishing piers where I'd caught my last one and as I was rounding out the last one, another fish just kind of mushed onto my bait. A brief fight and I had the net under a 16.25" fish, again on the SPRO squarebill. 45 minutes left, I needed another bite. Kicked over to the dam again and switched to a Junebug TRD. I'd fished almost the whole dam, made a long cast and had given up on it, but as soon as I went to reel in a fish grabbed it. #5 was only 14.5" but it was a big fish on a day this tough, it was 11:30 when I looked at my phone after the pictures. I tried for a cull the last 30 minutes but no more bites were to be found. At the ramp, I found out that I had the only 5 fish limit on the day. Only 1 other person had 4, 1 had 3, a couple had 2, a few had 1, and several blanked. Just a brutally tough day, but those are usually the days that I shine on. My buddy Neil had big bass on the day. Since we got done early than normal, I stopped by another lake on the way home and caught a nice spotted bass just for good measure ? 23 1 Quote
thediscochef Posted April 3, 2022 Posted April 3, 2022 48 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said: Fished a little tournament today, a tiny boat tournament open to any kind of boat up to a 16' johnboat with a 15hp motor but only 1 person per vessel. I was in my kayak. Not much experience on the lake and none of what I had was good but I wanted to knock some of the rust off before tournament season starts next weekend. I ran to the shallow end of the lake hoping there would be warmer water and fish feeding up getting ready to spawn. The lake that is normally very clear had less than 6" of visibility. Still, the water was 51* and big shad were flipping, I was hopeful. Almost 2 hours later with no bites, I was no longer hopeful. I didn't know much about the lake, but I know dams of small impoundments hold bass, especially early in the year, so I peddled back to the other end. Working a Biospawn ExoNed, I snagged on the water willows and attempted to work it loose when it suddenly took off. Not sure if it popped loose and the fish ate it or if it ate it off the weeds but I finally had a 15" fish on the board. Maybe 10 minutes later, I got a little tick, set the hook and started fighting the fish, just for it to come off. Major heartbreak on a day that I knew was going to be so difficult. I fished the rest of the dam and was just about to the end and was finishing a long cast when I felt a light bump right under the boat. I pretty much set and swung in a 13.5" fish, #2 but really wishing I had the fish I lost at that point. I fished back across the dam, alternating baits, with nothing to show for it. I'd seen 1 fish get caught on a trap and then saw another on a crank. They were obviously eating moving baits too, I just needed to commit. Started flinging around a SPRO Essential Series Hunter 65 squarebill in the Fire Craw color. Really loud and hard wobbling bait, had my new St. Croix LTB glass rod just a dancing. Cranked it down the side of a rock fishing jetty lined with wood and got whacked. Fish was hooked funny and dove into a new cedar tree, had me in trouble for a second but swung another 15" fish into the boat. Things were getting interesting but I only had about 1.5 hours left since we were only fishing until noon. I popped into the back of the cut that pier was in and fan cast a bladed jig. Had one knock about a foot of slack in my line and not even touch the hook, how do they do that? Went back down the fishing piers where I'd caught my last one and as I was rounding out the last one, another fish just kind of mushed onto my bait. A brief fight and I had the net under a 16.25" fish, again on the SPRO squarebill. 45 minutes left, I needed another bite. Kicked over to the dam again and switched to a Junebug TRD. I'd fished almost the whole dam, made a long cast and had given up on it, but as soon as I went to reel in a fish grabbed it. #5 was only 14.5" but it was a big fish on a day this tough, it was 11:30 when I looked at my phone after the pictures. I tried for a cull the last 30 minutes but no more bites were to be found. At the ramp, I found out that I had the only 5 fish limit on the day. Only 1 other person had 4, 1 had 3, a couple had 2, a few had 1, and several blanked. Just a brutally tough day, but those are usually the days that I shine on. My buddy Neil had big bass on the day. Since we got done early than normal, I stopped by another lake on the way home and caught a nice spotted bass just for good measure ? Footballs ??? Congratulations and well done on your victory! You love to see it ? 1 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted April 3, 2022 Global Moderator Posted April 3, 2022 Day 2 on the dale. Slow fishing but no skunks. Luckily we had some taters and onions to go with the 2 bass we were able to keep, a 16” largemouth and a little spot 18 Quote
thediscochef Posted April 3, 2022 Posted April 3, 2022 8 hours ago, TnRiver46 said: Day 2 on the dale. Slow fishing but no skunks. Luckily we had some taters and onions to go with the 2 bass we were able to keep, a 16” largemouth and a little spot Y'all catch smallies that I dream about up there. Pretty fish, looks tasty! 1 Quote
Super User GreenPig Posted April 3, 2022 Super User Posted April 3, 2022 Caught 16 Bass and 14 Hybrids yesterday on Super Fluke Jr.s and 3" Bass Assassins. The biggest LM was 4lb 13 oz and Spot was a 3lber. Air temp low 39 high 65. Water temp 61.9 up to 65.3 in shallow pockets. 18 Quote
lunkerboss923 Posted April 3, 2022 Posted April 3, 2022 No pictures but I had to put down the finesse spinning rods and the focus was on moving baits...it's officially moving bait season in Southeast Texas...if you have chatterbaits and squarebills get them out and hold on to your seat!!! Red got them fired up and I was extremely happy to finally catch a fish on a crankbait. There is nothing like catching fish on cranks such a fun bite! 3 Quote
Super User PhishLI Posted April 3, 2022 Super User Posted April 3, 2022 Starting about 2 1/2 weeks ago things started to happen around here. Temps were somewhat stable then, but last weekend the Arctic Circle dropped on us. We had an over night in the teens, then several straight nights in the 20s. High winds put the reel feel down to high 20s or 30s during some days. Fishing was impossible. Things turned around by the end of the week. My brother and I were hoping to get in a quick boat trip on Friday, but by the time we'd be able to start the winds would be cranking. There was no point in even trying. Getting blown around all night in a flat bottomed Jon boat is no fun at all. Between the weather here, his schedule, and me sending him fish pics, he really needed to get out somehow and get his 1st bass of the year. He went local, and I stayed in my county. By the time I got there I should've just turned around. It felt like a mini hurricane out there with winds whipping and swirling. Water temp at this spot dropped 7 degrees from the previous week, and the nice stain it had then was shocked to crystal clear by the cold and wind. My brother smartly started earlier than I did and stopped up at a little pond near him that's set low and well protected from wind. I was still walking through the woods up to my spot when I received his text. He should've long-armed this one, but a bass is a bass?. About an hour after his tanker text, and while wading in white caps, I got my munchkin on a chatterbait. With occasional branches cracking around me I called it quits. No point in getting clobbered. Next week... 12 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted April 4, 2022 Global Moderator Posted April 4, 2022 8 hours ago, GreenPig said: Caught 16 Bass and 14 Hybrids yesterday on Super Fluke Jr.s and 3" Bass Assassins. The biggest LM was 4lb 13 oz and Spot was a 3lber. Air temp low 39 high 65. Water temp 61.9 up to 65.3 in shallow pockets. Well well well! 1 Quote
BassSteve Posted April 4, 2022 Posted April 4, 2022 Fished in the pond for a couple hours today. Caught a nice Mayan cichlid(sorry no pic), decent bass, and a fish I rarely encounter in this pond...black crappie. I lost a couple too, but I did have an alligator for an audience to entertain ? 15 Quote
Mbirdsley Posted April 4, 2022 Posted April 4, 2022 Well, kicked off the 2022 bass season. Took the L but, felt good to get out. Water was only 38 degrees. Should have picked a smaller lake. Buddy and I Went on crystal lake in Montcalm county. Only action I had was 2 big large mouth at the same time follow my lucky craft 78 sp. couldn’t get them to commit though. Than proceeded to get the same lucky craft jerk bait caught in the trolling motor which, it suspends and couldn’t get it back. Luckily I bought it in a 2 pack 8 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted April 4, 2022 Global Moderator Posted April 4, 2022 13 minutes ago, Mbirdsley said: Well, kicked off the 2022 bass season. Took the L but, felt good to get out. Water was only 38 degrees. Should have picked a smaller lake. Buddy and I Went on crystal lake in Montcalm county. Only action I had was 2 big large mouth at the same time follow my lucky craft 78 sp. couldn’t get them to commit though. Than proceeded to get the same lucky craft jerk bait caught in the trolling motor which, it suspend and couldn’t get it back. Luckily I bought it in a 2 pack We call those motors the tower of power, used to see bullet boats scream by like a meteor with those on the back . 1 Quote
Mbirdsley Posted April 4, 2022 Posted April 4, 2022 19 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said: We call those motors the tower of power, used to see bullet boats scream by like a meteor with those on the back . Yes it is the tower of power. I fired it up yesterday while on muffs at home. I’ve got a video and the video does not do the sound justice. The motor is extremely loud when out of water and on muffs. my 17 footer will do 32 mph. It is a 90 hp 1985 merc . Motor runs great for being 37 yrs old 3 Quote
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted April 4, 2022 BassResource.com Administrator Posted April 4, 2022 1 hour ago, Mbirdsley said: Yes it is the tower of power. When I think of Tower of Power, I think of this: 2 5 Quote
Jmilburn76 Posted April 4, 2022 Posted April 4, 2022 I was able to take the kayak out for a few hours yesterday and this is all I caught. It seemed like I threw everything I had and caught this one on a crappie jig of all things. I havent seen one that the lateral line marking only covered half the fish. I think the weather dipping back to freezing has kept the water a little too cold for the spawn just yet and I was banking on them being shallow. 13 Quote
The Bassman Posted April 4, 2022 Posted April 4, 2022 2 hours ago, Jmilburn76 said: I was able to take the kayak out for a few hours yesterday and this is all I caught. It seemed like I threw everything I had and caught this one on a crappie jig of all things. I havent seen one that the lateral line marking only covered half the fish. I think the weather dipping back to freezing has kept the water a little too cold for the spawn just yet and I was banking on them being shallow. Healthy fish, though. What it lacks in length it certainly makes up for it in girth. 1 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted April 4, 2022 Global Moderator Posted April 4, 2022 My buddy’s dad put the skunk on us both last morning on dale hollow, the fish ate a shad rap. 18 Quote
Chris Catignani Posted April 4, 2022 Posted April 4, 2022 1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said: My buddy’s dad put the skunk on us both last morning on dale hollow, the fish ate a shad rap. I was also at the Hollow yesterday...Star Point and caught these two largejaws....what makes these a little more special is I caught them on a hand made glide-bait. 20 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted April 4, 2022 Global Moderator Posted April 4, 2022 1 hour ago, Chris Catignani said: I was also at the Hollow yesterday...Star Point and caught these two largejaws....what makes these a little more special is I caught them on a hand made glide-bait. Nice! The Toyota series boys really caught em there this weekend, including an 8-2 2 Quote
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