Latest Catch Pics Thread

[TnRiver46]

7 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

Fished today from 7am - 6pm and boated 39 fish. A mixture of LM, Spots, Stripers, and Hybrids. 

Nice! Do you always use the keel weight hook on fluke? 

[N Florida Mike]

On 4/13/2022 at 9:10 PM, Aaron_H said:

The past few weeks have been miserable. I've mentioned that I lost a couple of big fish, Saturday was no different. Threw the lipless on the second jump, easy 6-7lber. I ended up cutting the day short because I was so frustrated and didn't want to force it if I wasn't having fun. It was the first day I ever felt genuinely mad while fishing, which to me was a sign to cut my losses and clear my head.

 

Then today was a day of ups and downs. Lines in at 3:15, started off breaking off a brand new lipless crankbait 30 minutes in after catching 0 bass on it (but did get two tilapia). My 5th or 6th lipless into the drink for 2022 so far, more than I typically lose in a couple of years. Then had a break, finally landed one of the bigger bites. Just before 4:30 had a nice one smash the whopper plopper 110 while working it through some flowing water. Came in right at 6lb even.

 

Got a few more on topwater, and some on the lipless. Then got to the same pond that I caught my two DDs out of this year, working my way around and....hooked into an enormous bass on the lipless. She ate it on the fall while yo-yoing it, came up and jumped and she was just humongous. She did that big lazy backflip the giants do, could see the lipless in the inside corner of her mouth. Everything looked good, both trebles down her mouth, rod loaded, she went back under and started peeling line. Then she came up again for backflip #2 and *poof*, threw the lipless. I know everyone who loses a big fish is always like "it was a frickin ten pounder bro!!!" but I'd like to think I have enough credibility when I say this fish was for sure a DD.

 

I don't get it. I feel like I've got the yips lately with losing these big fish. I'm not doing anything different and it's typically very uncommon for me to lose fish on a lipless, let alone big ones that can really load that rod deep. The lipless is my all-time confidence bait and I have spent a lot of time getting my setup dialed in for how I like to fish them, now I feel like I'm losing d**n near half the fish I hook into.

 

It might just be a bad luck streak, it happens. 2022 has already been a very fortunate year for me bass fishing, and I know I'm doing something right to be finding and triggering big fish like this so consistently this year. I'm trying not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but losing these big ones lately has got me feeling like Charles Barkley's golf swing.

 

I did end up getting another decent fish on topwater to close out the evening, 3lb 8oz, but it was a poor consolation for the one I lost.

I’m on a big fish slump too. Something always happens every time I hook a big fish lately. 

[Aaron_H]

15 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

I’m on a big fish slump too. Something always happens every time I hook a big fish lately. 

 

Fingers crossed it ends soon for both of us. I always lose a few really good ones a year and I try not to let it get to me too much, but losing them this close together is what's getting me frustrated I think. That 6-0 I got yesterday was a beautiful fish and it was nice to win one, trying not to let the sour memory of losing that giant overshadow it.

[N Florida Mike]

The one I lost today was 4-5 , so I didn’t have too much of a meltdown over it …

[BassSteve]

Well my humble catch this evening, nice couple of peacock bass on inline spinners? I think one with the bump is male and the other is female..? will do better next time 

[thediscochef]

Well, we went back to Lake Whitney. Unfortunately the weather was not cooperating with us, it was a pretty day but we had a cold front buzz through about noon which changed up the bite patterns. I still managed 3 wipers and these two stripers, but it was disappointing considering the prior successes in that spot. I continue to blame weather. I lost two baits, both on casts. One was a weakened leader, the other was a point in the braid giving way. First time I've snapped braid in a while, sufix too. I caught just enough fish to not be upset about it.

 

I also saw a dead gizzard shad on the shore that was easily bigger than either of the three wipers I pulled in. So that lake has monster gizzard in it I guess.

 

Off to Ray Roberts this morning in hopes of catching a big stinky black bass.

[B-Gee]

16 hours ago, BassSteve said:

Well my humble catch this evening, nice couple of peacock bass on inline spinners? I think one with the bump is male and the other is female..? will do better next time 

 

I know there are Peacock Bass in the pond I fish but I seldom catch one. Would you mind telling me more about the brand and size of those inline spinners you used so successfully?

[thediscochef]

Any holiday means a crowd and yours truly forgot it's Easter weekend. The state park I usually fish at had a ton of shore anglers, I had to really work to get a spot. Winds S20G30 limits the shore further. I managed this little guy before the combined crowd and wind was just too much for me. I fish to get away from other people most of the time, this holiday stuff is not my scene. 

[TnRiver46]

57 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

Any holiday means a crowd and yours truly forgot it's Easter weekend. The state park I usually fish at had a ton of shore anglers, I had to really work to get a spot. Winds S20G30 limits the shore further. I managed this little guy before the combined crowd and wind was just too much for me. I fish to get away from other people most of the time, this holiday stuff is not my scene. 

All the ramps I drove by while working today looked like grand central station 

[BassSteve]

1 hour ago, Robert C. Gates said:

 

I know there are Peacock Bass in the pond I fish but I seldom catch one. Would you mind telling me more about the brand and size of those inline spinners you used so successfully?

Oh they are nothing special really. They are "rooster tails" by Worden's/Yakima and sometimes Panther Martin. Truth is I have way too many of these lol. I must have close to 100 different colors and sizes, half of which I never touch! My favorite size is 1/4 though, and while I catch fish on silver and metallic finishes, the dark blue, purple, and solid black are producers, mainly because the waters I fish are pretty dark. Sometimes I repaint them my own colors using enamel paint, that way you don't need to buy tons of different colors.

 

See, I have a long strip of underwater rocks that they love to hang out in, and I nail them burning it right past their little rock caves and lairs. when it bumps against the rocks and starts up again sometimes that is when they hit it, and they hit it hard. I replace all the treble hooks with single hooks and crimp down the barb, so release is very easy but you need to keep the tension on the line and land them quick or they might throw it.

 

  ? Just stay positive you will get one eventually, happy fishing! 

[TnRiver46]

My niece didn’t want to fish any today but she liked releasing them 

[scaleface]

First bass outing of the year . Caught 29 with a dozen over 15 inches . All on spinnerbait . This fat bottomed girl wasnt very long but ready to burst . Weighed 4 . 7 lbs .

[Eric 26]

Went out for an hour after work. I’m pretty sure this fish hit my $1.00 Wal Mart spinner bait twice but hey I’ll take it as my fingers were numb when I left.

[B-Gee]

4 hours ago, BassSteve said:

Oh they are nothing special really. They are "rooster tails" by Worden's/Yakima and sometimes Panther Martin. Truth is I have way too many of these lol. I must have close to 100 different colors and sizes, half of which I never touch! My favorite size is 1/4 though, and while I catch fish on silver and metallic finishes, the dark blue, purple, and solid black are producers, mainly because the waters I fish are pretty dark. Sometimes I repaint them my own colors using enamel paint, that way you don't need to buy tons of different colors.

 

See, I have a long strip of underwater rocks that they love to hang out in, and I nail them burning it right past their little rock caves and lairs. when it bumps against the rocks and starts up again sometimes that is when they hit it, and they hit it hard. I replace all the treble hooks with single hooks and crimp down the barb, so release is very easy but you need to keep the tension on the line and land them quick or they might throw it.

 

  ? Just stay positive you will get one eventually, happy fishing! 

Thank you for this information. I usually fish at dawn for an hour or two. I wonder what time of day you find best for catching those Peacocks?

[BassSteve]

9 minutes ago, Robert C. Gates said:

Thank you for this information. I usually fish at dawn for an hour or two. I wonder what time of day you find best for catching those Peacocks?

No problem guy...I would say in the morning around 7am and evening around 6 or 7pm would be a good guess 

[DitchPanda]

2 hours ago, scaleface said:

First bass outing of the year . Caught 29 with a dozen over 15 inches . All on spinnerbait . This fat bottomed girl wasnt very long but ready to burst . Weighed 4 . 7 lbs .

Well sir nice work. You've caught more in 1 outing than I have in 6 or 7.

[scaleface]

8 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

Well sir nice work. You've caught more in 1 outing than I have in 6 or 7.

I would have caught more but my battery pooped put .There was still  two hours of fishing time remaining .I had to  oar back in against the wind . 

[SWVABass]

9 hours ago, Robert C. Gates said:

Thank you for this information. I usually fish at dawn for an hour or two. I wonder what time of day you find best for catching those Peacocks?

I’ve fished for them in homestead. Make long cast at your targets. They are super spooked because the amount of pressure in S FL. Seems like they are constantly been casted at so if they see you they are gone. I had my best luck fishing dusk to a couple hours after dark.

[B-Gee]

1 hour ago, SWVABass said:

I’ve fished for them in homestead. Make long cast at your targets. They are super spooked because the amount of pressure in S FL. Seems like they are constantly been casted at so if they see you they are gone. I had my best luck fishing dusk to a couple hours after dark.

Thanks for this advice. What lures would you recommend for Peacocks. I would like to catch some.

[B-Gee]

15 hours ago, BassSteve said:

Oh they are nothing special really. They are "rooster tails" by Worden's/Yakima and sometimes Panther Martin. Truth is I have way too many of these lol. I must have close to 100 different colors and sizes, half of which I never touch! My favorite size is 1/4 though, and while I catch fish on silver and metallic finishes, the dark blue, purple, and solid black are producers, mainly because the waters I fish are pretty dark. Sometimes I repaint them my own colors using enamel paint, that way you don't need to buy tons of different colors.

 

See, I have a long strip of underwater rocks that they love to hang out in, and I nail them burning it right past their little rock caves and lairs. when it bumps against the rocks and starts up again sometimes that is when they hit it, and they hit it hard. I replace all the treble hooks with single hooks and crimp down the barb, so release is very easy but you need to keep the tension on the line and land them quick or they might throw it.

 

  ? Just stay positive you will get one eventually, happy fishing! 

Thanks again Steve. Can you tell me what single hooks you use to replace the trebles on the Rooster Tails?

[JWall14]

18 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Darn so close to my PB at 8.5lb.

Dont have scale but I guess she might not get over 9lb. Caught a 4-5lb catfish about 30 mins before and the fight was so much different, almost got heart attack every time she jumped. I knew she is a big one since the first jumped from 30 yards away.

Good lord! Nice fish!

[BassSteve]

1 hour ago, Robert C. Gates said:

Thanks again Steve. Can you tell me what single hooks you use to replace the trebles on the Rooster Tails?

Sure, I use gamakatsu open eye siwash hooks ?

[B-Gee]

5 minutes ago, BassSteve said:

Sure, I use gamakatsu open eye siwash hooks ?

Thanks again! What size would you use for a 1/4 ounce Rooster Tail or similar bait?

6 minutes ago, BassSteve said:

Sure, I use gamakatsu open eye siwash hooks ?

 

[BassSteve]

1 hour ago, Robert C. Gates said:

Thanks again! What size would you use for a 1/4 ounce Rooster Tail or similar bait?

 

Oh shoot, I don't exactly remember sizes, but the rule of thumb i follow is to pick a hook that is about the size/length of the spinner blade. So far that has worked out for me. If I had to guess, a lot of #1 and #2 hooks..some smaller ones i have on #4. 

[SWVABass]

1 hour ago, Robert C. Gates said:

Thanks for this advice. What lures would you recommend for Peacocks. I would like to catch some.

I was catching them on a hollow body frog, in Dec. so I would be fishing top water year round at dark. Pop r’s, frog, buzzbait