Latest Catch Pics Thread

[T-Billy]

20 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

You nailed it at least when it comes to me.....POSITIVE ATTITUDE is the most important thing to load on the boat before I fish.      It's a constant fight some days with yourself....."I suck", "you're just wasting your time" thoughts start to creep in, and once that happens it's like manifested destiny in terms of bad luck, and poor results.    

 

One thing that helps me to stay positive and focused on a tough day is, when/if I get bit, there's a good chance it'll be a good one. Seems to me, the average size is generally bigger on tough days.

[Team9nine]

Everything I checked yesterday was frozen. Today, one partly thawed and one completely thawed. Just 39 deg., breezy with rain and misty rain all day, but wanted to test out a float and fly setup I put together for winter…and what do you know, I scored a little one on my first attempt. About 45 minutes was all I was dressed to handle - lol. Partly sunny and breezy tomorrow, so hoping to have a little nicer conditions to keep experimenting with it.

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

3 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

Man, I had a good morning!

 

Second outing of 2023 and the first time I’ve taken the boat out in probably two months or so. Forecast was a high of 75° and overcast. Got on the water about 7:30 and started with a Zara Spook. No takers. Switched to a chatterbait (which I’ve never caught a bass on) and on the second cast it got walloped. Nice bass just under 2 lbs. Tried a Zoom Trick TR with no bites and then a jerkbait. Caught a bass as big as the lure lol. Then I switched to a 5” black Senko WR. That’s when all hell broke loose. 
 

In under 2.5 hours I caught 8 bass all between 2.0-2.5 lbs. Mostly while working the bait back to the boat but one actually jumped over a sunken branch and hammered it as it dove on it. That was pretty awesome. Had a dink throw the hook and had another that I’d say was 2.5-3.0 lbs. throw the hook as well (that one hit the bait immediately and I had some slack to reel in so I’m guessing the hookset wasn’t all that great. 
 

All of those bass really fought. Hard. They must have been in real attack mode. It made for a great few hours!

 

Awesome fish, keep throwing that Chatterbait!

[Woody B]

Speaking of birds.  I saw a goose fight yesterday.  I didn't get pictures.  It was still in the 20's.  My phone was buried under a bunch of layers of clothes.  There was a group of Geese, 10 or so on the bank.  Another group about the same size landing in the lake, near the bank.  The Geese on the bank started spreading their wings and squawking.   One of them went out into the water, it was flapping it's wings, squawking, and had it's neck/head stuck out almost horizontal.  One from the other group was doing the same thing.  They were swimming toward each other.  When they got pretty close the entire group that had just landed flew off.   The one from that group that was "flexing" flew off too.  I guess the ones on the bank won.   

[The Bassman]

3 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I was skunked today, for the 73rd day in a row!

 

 

Skunks only count if you get a bait in the water so you're still good. I would love to experience what Maine has to offer.

[Jmontgomery87]

I got a couple on a Keitech today. Extra slow rolled just over the bottom. Both were very subtle bites. I also found a KVD 1.0 square bill that I lost a month ago on a lay down. I managed to snag it with my swim bait and reel it in.

[Fishlegs]

15 hours ago, Jmontgomery87 said:

I also found a KVD 1.0 square bill that I lost a month ago on a lay down. I managed to snag it with my swim bait and reel it in.

Well done!

[Team9nine]

Lost our sunshine right as I got to the lake today. The 20 mph wind rotated to the NW as the clouds rolled in, and air temps dropped 7 degrees into the low 40s - it got cold out there quick. But, I was able to land one nice 16” fish on FnF, so I’m calling it a win. This spot was still partially frozen yesterday, so happy just to see totally open water again.

 

[Swamp Girl]

I love those 16" bass. I think of them as 16-year old boys, not much meat, but a lot of young muscle. 

[LrgmouthShad]

3 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

I love those 16" bass. I think of them as 16-year old boys, not much meat, but a lot of young muscle. 

And today on bassresource I listen to @ol'crickety describing 16 year old boys, especially their physique, comparing them to bass of a certain size, and likely daydreaming about sticking hooks through their faces. 

[A-Jay]

59 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

I love those 16" bass. I think of them as 16-year old boys, not much meat, but a lot of young muscle. 

Bad form.

Might need a mulligan right there.

A-Jay

[thediscochef]

Well I finally got my first of the year, technically. 14 of 17 days spent fishing this year, this is what I've caught. Four hours skunk today and snapped off a megabass ito shiner. Feeling pretty ridiculous carrying around a curado dc for what amounts to casting practice. My buddy caught a 3.5 at my usual spot yesterday, using the same stuff I do. I just don't get it. I can't figure it out. I've tried everything I own. Other spots, other lures, stuff I don't normally use. I haven't had this much trouble catching since I started fishing two years ago and it's pretty dumb. 2023 better pick up the pace, this is unacceptable 

[TnRiver46]

49 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

Well I finally got my first of the year, technically. 14 of 17 days spent fishing this year, this is what I've caught. Four hours skunk today and snapped off a megabass ito shiner. Feeling pretty ridiculous carrying around a curado dc for what amounts to casting practice. My buddy caught a 3.5 at my usual spot yesterday, using the same stuff I do. I just don't get it. I can't figure it out. I've tried everything I own. Other spots, other lures, stuff I don't normally use. I haven't had this much trouble catching since I started fishing two years ago and it's pretty dumb. 2023 better pick up the pace, this is unacceptable 

Bout time for some spinning gear! 

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Bad form.

Might need a mulligan right there.

A-Jay

 

Ah, I see what you mean. You guys weren't reading that literally. Well, I wrote it literally. Gotta remember I'm in a room full of dudes!

 

2 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I love those 16" bass. I think of them as 16-year old boys, not much meat, but a lot of young muscle. 

 

Here's the mulligan: I love those 16" bass. They've got that youthful vigor. 

[Eric 26]

6 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Ah, I see what you mean. You guys weren't reading that literally. Well, I wrote it literally. Gotta remember I'm in a room full of dudes!

 

 

Here's the mulligan: I love those 16" bass. They've got that youthful vigor. 

I read it I laughed my butt off and d**n girl you remind me of my maternal grandmother who I absolutely adored and it was her husband my maternal grandfather who was the avid fisherman who’s genes were passed on so I say write what you think ?

[LrgmouthShad]

2 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Ah, I see what you mean. You guys weren't reading that literally. Well, I wrote it literally. Gotta remember I'm in a room full of dudes!

 

 

Here's the mulligan: I love those 16" bass. They've got that youthful vigor. 

How on earth did you quote something you said under my name? That’s freaking me out. I hope no one screenshots that ?

 

@ol'crickety if you did not understand how that could have been taken, you might be Jesus. If you are Jesus, just in a female form, please let us know immediately. I’ve got some things to repent for, and also, I’m a big fan of your Dad

[gim]

On 1/16/2023 at 5:40 PM, Woody B said:

I saw a goose fight yesterday

I see that quite a bit in the spring time when a pair of Canada geese has claimed an area for their nest, and other geese show up. Those things can get nasty. They are mean sons of *******. They will not back down when they are protecting a territory, nest, or goslings.

 

Years ago, when I used to hunt them, if we had a wounded one, even a full grown male lab had trouble retrieving it. We would often just have to dispatch it with another load of BB.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

You guys better be nice to Katie, she'll be back to embarrassing us all in a few short months ?

 

Fished in schizo weather, misting rain, sunshine at times, cloudy, weird conditions.   Once that sun started peaking I out though, and after being skunked for about 1.5hrs, I headed to the north end of the lake where it's much more shallow, and an untold amount of more recently spawned Shads get herded against structure where wolf packs of Bass turn the water into a volcano.    

This happens quite often, and usually ends it terrific amounts of frustration.  You could net the fish going crazy easier than getting them to bite a bait 90% of them time.    I threw 6-7 baits at them, and then started to throw the A-Rig, and it was producing quite well.   Caught 5-6 fish in about an hour, but eventually I realized the size class fish that were there weren't worth risking maiming by this very harmful A-Rig.    First time I can remember driving away from dozens of fish blowing up in the background.    I made the right call I think, these fish were getting SO FAT and I want big fish agressive fish next year, and the year after so it's not completely altruistic.   I love the A-Rig for big fish, but these smaller fish can hook themselves with the other free hooks in some bad ways.   Just didn't feel ethical to me.    

 

Caught a tank of a Spot, and these were the 1-2lb uber belly LGMs.

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

Went out for awhile Sunday until the wind got too strong for us to deal with in the kayaks. It was tough for me, couldn't get them to eat anything but a Ned really. Stony was getting them on a Frittside 5 and 7 and did pretty well including the big one of the day.

All mine were babies.

Water temps were 39-42*

[Jar11591]

@AlabamaSpothunter those largemouth looked like they’ve eaten a softball 

[Blue Raider Bob]

On 1/16/2023 at 5:40 PM, Woody B said:

Speaking of birds.  I saw a goose fight yesterday.  I didn't get pictures.  It was still in the 20's.  My phone was buried under a bunch of layers of clothes.  There was a group of Geese, 10 or so on the bank.  Another group about the same size landing in the lake, near the bank.  The Geese on the bank started spreading their wings and squawking.   One of them went out into the water, it was flapping it's wings, squawking, and had it's neck/head stuck out almost horizontal.  One from the other group was doing the same thing.  They were swimming toward each other.  When they got pretty close the entire group that had just landed flew off.   The one from that group that was "flexing" flew off too.  I guess the ones on the bank won.   

They travel in family groups and as you have seen, are very territorial. I have had a family group claim my pond in the past and any intruder was not welcome. Don't know how they ever group into the larger size flocks that we see travelling since they can be so touchy.

12 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

You guys better be nice to Katie, she'll be back to embarrassing us all in a few short months ?

 

Fished in schizo weather, misting rain, sunshine at times, cloudy, weird conditions.   Once that sun started peaking I out though, and after being skunked for about 1.5hrs, I headed to the north end of the lake where it's much more shallow, and an untold amount of more recently spawned Shads get herded against structure where wolf packs of Bass turn the water into a volcano.    

This happens quite often, and usually ends it terrific amounts of frustration.  You could net the fish going crazy easier than getting them to bite a bait 90% of them time.    I threw 6-7 baits at them, and then started to throw the A-Rig, and it was producing quite well.   Caught 5-6 fish in about an hour, but eventually I realized the size class fish that were there weren't worth risking maiming by this very harmful A-Rig.    First time I can remember driving away from dozens of fish blowing up in the background.    I made the right call I think, these fish were getting SO FAT and I want big fish agressive fish next year, and the year after so it's not completely altruistic.   I love the A-Rig for big fish, but these smaller fish can hook themselves with the other free hooks in some bad ways.   Just didn't feel ethical to me.    

 

Caught a tank of a Spot, and these were the 1-2lb uber belly LGMs.

 

 

Alex this touches right on my point about fishing the northernmost areas in a lake. In my pond the southern areas are fishless this time of year but the northern coves have them stacked up. Epic Spot with a very full belly!

[Swamp Girl]

8 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

@AlabamaSpothunter those largemouth looked like they’ve eaten a softball 

 

Heck, yeah, they do! I love fat bass. It tells me the lake and fish are healthy. Likewise, skinny fish worry me. I actually feel bad when I catch a skinny bass because I used some of their energy and they don't have any to spare. You could catch Alex's bass above ten times in a row and they'd still be plump.

 

@Bluebasser86 You took a great photo of your friend.

 

12 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

You guys better be nice to Katie, she'll be back to embarrassing us all in a few short months ?

 

I don't know if many of you are nerds (I know Bob is, thank goodness. Nerds are my people!), but in "a few short months," all your bases will belong to me!

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

6 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Heck, yeah, they do! I love fat bass. It tells me the lake and fish are healthy. Likewise, skinny fish worry me. I actually feel bad when I catch a skinny bass because I used some of their energy and they don't have any to spare. You could catch Alex's bass above ten times in a row and they'd still be plump.

 

@Bluebasser86 You took a great photo of your friend.

 

 

I don't know if many of you are nerds (I know Bob is, thank goodness. Nerds are my people!), but in "a few short months," all your bases will belong to me!

 

Katie I'm the same way on skinny fish for the same reason.   I also hate when a fish I catch spits up a shad.    Great part about this place is that I know the membership by in large cares more about the fish's health than catching the fish.   

 

Use the trash talk as fuel, let the hate run through your fishing pole ?

[Jar11591]

12 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Likewise, skinny fish worry me. I actually feel bad when I catch a skinny bass because I used some of their energy and they don't have any to spare.

I feel the same when I catch a skinny fish. I would rather a skinny bass ignore my lure and eat a real meal.

[Swamp Girl]

59 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

I feel the same when I catch a skinny fish. I would rather a skinny bass ignore my lure and eat a real meal.

 

I'm with ya, Jar. I wish I could open my tackle box when I catch a skinny fish, show that hungry dude all my lures, and say, "Don't try to eat any of these until you're fat!" 

 

And I also wish I had shad on my boat that I could feed a skinny bass before releasing it.

 

Alex, regarding bass regurgitating shad, I'm exactly the same way. I'm even tempted to carry a mini-plunger and stuff the shad back into the bass.