Latest Catch Pics Thread

[Woody B]

1 minute ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

once you figure out the FFS stuff you should post some video.

 

I'm getting to where I can (sometimes) tell bass from other fish.  I never could do that with "regular" sonar.   I should capture some of the sonar.  (I think I can record it with the unit)  A turtle swam by near the transducer yesterday.  The turtle image was small but there was a HUGE turtle shadow moving on the bottom.   A short playback of the shadow with Jaws music would be cool.  I took this picture a couple weeks ago.  I caught 4 spots out of that tree top.   

[Jmurphy87]

A few tiny fish out of me, a 1/16 oz jig head with a zoom fat Albert in lavender shad. Definitely better than a skunk.

[TnRiver46]

Well, today turned out awesome. For those that don’t want to read all the details, I almost broke the ole “ PB” as the kids say with this fish, it was just over 5 lbs 

 

“ and now the rest of the story“ 

I fished this morning a while, maybe 8:30-11:30 and only caught one largemouth before breakfast, I posted him above somewhere. Then after breakfast my wife says let’s go for a drive. We took off into NC on the cherohala skyway and it was quite lovely.
  

 

on the way back we checked out Indian boundary lake, also lovely. I had actually never seen it in person, the only other time I tried a tree was across the road

 

well we get back home and it’s about 4:45 pm and I’ve got a couple hours to fish . Fishing has been pretty tough near the house, but I’ve gotta try it . My wife said she didn’t want to sit in the boat if nothing was biting. I said “well you have to be there in case they start to biting”

 

as I’m pulling away from the dock I see something blasting shad on the surface. I go try a few casts, nothing but there’s still bait balls. I remember I have a cast net in the livewell………. Got some shad and head out to the main channel. Not long into fishing with the threadfin on a 1/16 oz jig head with #4 hook, I get a 17”er as a pontoon goes by cheering me on. Then about 45 minutes later another 17” amongst a bunch of double decker yachts. 


 

Then, just as I’m thinking i better get back and eat dinner with the wife at sunset, I get a bite. When I set into the fish, it took off like a striper. I had already clicked to backreel thank goodness, it was off like a rocket. I figured it probably was a striper then it jumped straight up. Like way up. Time stopped…………. It was airborne for what seemed like forever. When it splashed down it took off again and here comes several yachts. The fish is dragging me all over, my trolling motor doesn’t even work so I’m just skiing behind a smallmouth toward dry land in massive waves. It jumped and dove over and over but I finally got it! The tiny hook held. I just knew it was my biggest ever when it launched the first time but I don’t think it was . Somewhere around 22” and just over 5 lbs. What a day. 

 

[Swamp Girl]

Thanks for the play-by-play, TriRiver. It was thrilling! I especially liked the moment when you were skiing in the pontoon chop. Great pics too! I also like how the bass got to bite you. They deserve to bite us from time to time. 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

6 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Well, today turned out awesome. For those that don’t want to read all the details, I almost broke the ole “ PB” as the kids say with this fish, it was just over 5 lbs 

 

“ and now the rest of the story“ 

I fished this morning a while, maybe 8:30-11:30 and only caught one largemouth before breakfast, I posted him above somewhere. Then after breakfast my wife says let’s go for a drive. We took off into NC on the cherohala skyway and it was quite lovely.
  

 

on the way back we checked out Indian boundary lake, also lovely. I had actually never seen it in person, only time I tired a tree was across the road

 

well we get back home and it’s about 4:45 pm and I’ve got a couple hours to fish . Fishing has been pretty tough near the house, but I’ve gotta try it . My wife said she didn’t want to sit in the boat if nothing was biting. I said “well you have to be there in case they start to biting”

 

as I’m pulling away from the dock I see something blasting shad on the surface. I go try a few casts, nothing but there’s still bait balls. I remember I have a cast net in the livewell………. Got some shad and head out to the main channel. Not long into fishing with the threadfin on a 1/16 oz jig head with #4 hook, I get a 17”er as a pontoon goes by cheering me on. Then about 45 minutes later another 17” amongst a bunch of double decker yachts. 


 

Then, just as I’m thinking i better get back and eat dinner with the wife at sunset, I get a bite. When I set into the fish, it took off like a striper. I had already clicked to backreel thank goodness, it was off like a rocket. I figured it probably was a striper then it jumped straight up. Like way up. Time stopped…………. It was airborne for what seemed like forever. When it splashed down it took off again and here comes several yachts. The fish is dragging me all over, my trolling motor doesn’t even work so I’m just skiing behind a smallmouth toward dry land in massive waves. It jumped and dove over and over but I finally got it! The tiny hook held. I just knew it was my biggest ever when it launched the first time but I don’t think it was . Somewhere around 22” and just over 5 lbs. What a day. 

 

You guys caught so many fish today I'm out of reactions but let me say how much I enjoyed reading ALL of this post, and seeing you create a lifelong memory.   What a fish dude, congrats!!!! 

 

My PB Smallie below Wheeler was on a threadfin.    I'm not sure I'd want to fish for big smallies below those dams any other way.      Only thing I hate about livebaiting is the potential to gut hook them, and I'm sure if I did it enough I'd figure out away to mitigate that.   Maybe with circle hooks or something.    I know I got my PB pretty good, we got the hook out, but it was bleeding when I released her.   

 

You said something I tell me myself every morning, "you never know when they are gonna be biting", I say that or....."right now somebody else is catching your lifelong dream fish".   

 

TIME ON WATER, best lure ever!

[T-Billy]

5 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

There was a beaver tail slapping, but this was too wide and high for a beaver

Those onry critters keep their distance during the day, but they'll come right beside you, within a couple feet of the boat and slap their tails in the dark. They haven't made me pee myself yet, but there's been a couple close calls!!! LOL. Other critters will walk right up on you in the dark too if they can't smell ya. I've had deer come within 15'. 

5 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

 

I sometimes look at the shore and wonder, "If I were to tip right now, could I reach the shore? And then could I reach warmth?

Don't wander too far from shore. Take a change of warm clothes in a bag that will keep them dry, and stay out there and enjoy the fall. Maybe spend some time on those more populated waters where help is easier to find? You'll have a lot less company there this time of year.

Congrats on an AWESOME morning of fishing!!! Those are some fat, healthy looking, absolutely beautiful bass you're catching.

[Swamp Girl]

In a pinch, we could replace the fishing articles and fishing shows and YouTube videos with this gem:

 

Quote

TIME ON WATER, best lure ever!

 

You are right about the quality of the fishing today, Alex.

 

You know how guys say, "You should have been here yesterday?"

 

"Yesterday" was today!

 

Tim, I'm thinking about buying a dry suit.*

 

*Correction: Make that a wetsuit. I just shopped dry suits and they are above my pay grade. 

[Jar11591]

38 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

A true NY Giant right there, grats! It took me more years than I care to admit to get one over 5 pounds out of my native waters.

Thanks! They don’t come often around here that’s for sure. 

[Alex Ball]

Not huge, but a good fighter. He jumped on me. 

[T-Billy]

20 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Tim, I'm thinking about buying a dry suit.*

 

*Correction: Make that a wetsuit. I just shopped dry suits and they are above my pay grade. 

Getting out of the water and dry QUICKLY is the essential part. However you want to go about it, the ability to do so is critical. I've been in low 40's water and it'll cramp you up in a hurry. I carry a pair of insulated coveralls in a taped shut hefty sack when fishing spring and fall. My boat also has a low transom and I have a hydrofoil on my outboard so getting back in is pretty easy. 

You don't need to spend a bunch of money, just make sure you can get out of the water and into some warm dry clothes within a few minutes. Good idea to keep your phone in a ziplock while on the water this time of year too. 

[Swamp Girl]

17 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Getting out of the water and dry QUICKLY is the essential part. However you want to go about it, the ability to do so is critical. I've been in low 40's water and it'll cramp you up in a hurry. I carry a pair of insulated coveralls in a taped shut hefty sack when fishing spring and fall. My boat also has a low transom and I have a hydrofoil on my outboard so getting back in is pretty easy. 

You don't need to spend a bunch of money, just make sure you can get out of the water and into some warm dry clothes within a few minutes. Good idea to keep your phone in a ziplock while on the water this time of year too. 

The problem, Tim, is getting back into a tipped canoe. It's possible, but difficult. 

[TnRiver46]

4 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

The problem, Tim, is getting back into a tipped canoe. It's possible, but difficult. 

I swim it to the bank and empty it, we flip a lot whitewater canoeing. 
 

my buddies still make fun of me for a time when I hollered “we’re swamped head to shore!” 

[Swamp Girl]

Mr. 46, I'm thinking about buying a wetsuit long-sleeved shirt, wetsuit booties, and wetsuit shorts. I don't think I'd try to pull my canoe to shore. I'd swim to shore and hopefully survive with the wet suit.

 

It's cool that you whitewater canoe. I did that in my youth. It's as exciting as bass fishing. 

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, ol'crickety said:

Mr. 46, I'm thinking about buying a wetsuit long-sleeved shirt, wetsuit booties, and wetsuit shorts. I don't think I'd try to pull my canoe to shore. I'd swim to shore and hopefully survive with the wet suit.

 

It's cool that you whitewater canoe. I did that in my youth. It's as exciting as bass fishing. 

Even better, our whitewater has bass in it! I have lost some rods though……..

[Swamp Girl]

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Even better, our whitewater has bass in it! I have lost some rods though……..

Whitewater + Bass = Heaven on Earth

 

I know the Yough has both. So does the Potomac. What's your river?

[PhishLI]

35 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Mr. 46, I'm thinking about buying a wetsuit long-sleeved shirt, wetsuit booties, and wetsuit shorts. I don't think I'd try to pull my canoe to shore. I'd swim to shore and hopefully survive with the wet suit.

Look into making a set of DIY outriggers. Slim chance of dumping.

[TnRiver46]

35 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Whitewater + Bass = Heaven on Earth

 

I know the Yough has both. So does the Potomac. What's your river?

Big south fork of the Cumberland, French broad, pigeon, or the hiwasse is about as white of water as I like. All great bass fishing. There are bigger rapids on the ocoee and nantahala but I’m a little chicken on the class 4 and 5 stuff. The ocoee, where they had the kayaking for the 96 Olympics, is loaded with spotted bass nowadays 

[Eric 26]

3 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Yeah that's a piggy Spot, love it.    Beautiful LGM as well.   Two high quality fish.   Great looking boat as well, once you figure out the FFS stuff you should post some video.   

Totally agree ??

[T-Billy]

4 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I'd swim to shore and hopefully survive with the wet suit.

That's what I had in mind when I suggested the dry change of clothing. It would be easier to swim to shore in a wetsuit than in wet clothing towing a dry bag though for sure.

 

[Swamp Girl]

6 hours ago, T-Billy said:

That's what I had in mind when I suggested the dry change of clothing. It would be easier to swim to shore in a wetsuit than in wet clothing towing a dry bag though for sure.

 

I'm ordering a wetsuit top, bottom, and boots, Tim. In the meantime, I'm going to limit my fishing to two ponds with solid shorelines, as the swamps would mean misery atop misery if I tipped, as there are reeds on the shorelines and mud beyond that. Both of the ponds I'll be fishing have a few houses too. Thanks for encouraging safety, Tim. 

[Blue Raider Bob]

Not the biggest fish ever but just look at that belly! She is not having a bit of trouble finding supper!

[Bluebasser86]

Got out for a short 1.5 hour trip Saturday morning before my youngest son's soccer game. Started slow, missing the first 5 or 6 bites before I caught a fat 3 pounder on a 6th Sense lipless that had a big shad in it's throat.

Once I saw that, I put the lipless down and started throwing a Clutch Glide. Had a 5ish pound fish eat it at the boat first cast and pull off. A short time later, I stuck one a little over 4lbs, it was so windy I didn't look if my pictures were good, sorry about the poor quality.

100 yards down the bank, I had another fish eat it and pull so hard I thought it was going to be a wiper. Turned out to be another fat 4.30lb fish.

Of course they were eating good on the morning I didn't bring my GoPro because I wasn't going to be out very long ?‍♂️

 

Sunday was super windy, 20-30mph sustained winds with gusts to 50-60 mph from the south. Most of our lakes face north/south with little wind break, so it's brutal. Tried to go to one lake that actually has a few coves, it was closed for the week because they just stocked trout... Went to another lake and fought the wind and a few dinks for 4 hours. Finally caught 1 decent fish on a 6th Sense trap.

Decided to cut my losses and head to the lake I'd fished the day before again, should have just gone there in the first place.

My dogs went with me and really enjoyed themselves.

The lure trees are starting to bloom with the leaves falling and all the wind too.

[gim]

12 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Look into making a set of DIY outriggers. Slim chance of dumping.

@MN Fisher did this with his previous canoe.  Maybe he still has photos.

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

@MN Fisher did this with his previous canoe.  Maybe he still has photos.

Ya - I can toss some pics via DM if @PhishLI would like.

 

I've archived the canoe pics, but I still have them all.

[Swamp Girl]

Bob, your bass made me laugh. What a belly! She looks like she's got biscuits in the oven way too early.

 

That's great fishing, Mr. 86. I'm going to buy a Clutch Glide. I've never fished a lure like that. The fish sure love it, huh?

 

I'm going fishing again tomorrow morning. Conditions will be perfect. It's raining all day today and tonight. It'll stop early tomorrow morning, be foggy, and warm (56 degrees) at 6:00 a.m. I'm going to hug the shoreline to stay safe.. 

7 minutes ago, gimruis said:

@MN Fisher did this with his previous canoe.  Maybe he still has photos.

I appreciate the suggestion, but I can't imagine carrying a canoe with outriggers through the woods. The canoe is hard enough. Still, I'd like to see the photos. I was a writer for Canoe & Kayak magazine, so everything about canoes turns my head.