Latest Catch Pics Thread

[AlabamaSpothunter]

  On 2/5/2023 at 2:57 AM, ol'crickety said:

I bought three Damiki Axe Blades. 

 

 

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 Dang Katie, you own two more than me now......Luckeeeee ?

 

I will 1000% be ordering at least a few more after today.   In the last 48 hours this bait has caught over 75 fish.    After going through the files on the GoPro, I got 46 fish alone on film, "quick released" another 3.....that's almost 50 fish in 7 hours.   A single bait, 75+ fish with the caveat that the stock treble sucks big time!!!   Same goes for the ones they put on the Vaults.   Two broken hooks over the last 48 hours but thankfully no cost fish because of it.   The big lost fish at dusk yesterday just straightened one side of the small stinger hook which is an ingenious design regardless.   

 

The second best angler on the lake who has been fishing it 25yrs, and certainly a better Bass angler than myself, has his own nice Bass boat, has fished some tourneys......caught 6 fish today.    I'd like to take credit, but the reality is that I lucked into one of those rare occasions when you find the absolute perfect bait they want.

 

     

My thumb actually died at 4:46pm, it was an amazing soldier.....pour one out for my homie if you can ?

[AlabamaSpothunter]

40gb of catch footage is a bit much to go through tonight, but hopefully tom goes well and I'll roll only the big girls from the two days into one.   If not I'll just make a video of one of the most wide open bites I've ever had.   

 

All these fish are suspending over and around huge carpets of what I believe are mostly very small, like the smallest size I ever see Threadfins.    I think it's extremely key to why this bait is producing so spectacularly.     I consciously fished several other baits to check, and while the Damaki Vault produced a fish relatively fast, only two other fish were caught on a downsized A-Rig, and then nothing again for the two dozenth time on that stupid Tactical Crank.    Matt Allen got me on that zero of a bait ?

 

Truly Garmin's and Damaki's fish.   It was a pleasure to be a witness to their incredible day though.  

 

Unlike yesterday where I knew lots of big fish were present, today lots more fish were seemingly present in a larger area, and oddly enough LOTs more quality and big Spots showed up today.

 

Still the best 5 LGMs would have gone close to 20lbs.  A couple of 5lb class fish.   Several 4lb class fish as well.  

 

 

Best 5 Spots would have gone 12-15lbs.   Several at or slightly over 3lbs. 

  

[AlabamaSpothunter]

 

Finally 2/3 ingredients for creating two of the most memorable days I've ever had fishing.    I've never had a bait match so perfectly outside of maybe a big swimbait and the common sized 6-8" Gizzards on the lake.

[T-Billy]

  On 2/5/2023 at 1:14 AM, TnRiver46 said:

Thanks buddy, here’s a look at the area I scouted earlier this week. I think it’s better in the spring but I’m going to make sure, never been there. It was 22 degrees this morning so that swift water was cold but it’s warming quickly with 50 degree sunny afternoons 

 

Yes sir

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That's a sweet looking stretch of river. Good luck.

[Jar11591]

@AlabamaSpothunter still crushing it. I’m waiting for the day I check this thread to see that you got a whole 5 fish limit on one cast of the A-rig. 
 

You and @TnRiver46 are keeping this thread going. I can’t wait to be able to contribute again. The cabin fever has been BAD the last 2 weeks. I could potentially be wetting a line in less than 8 weeks, but it all depends on how much of a lion March is. So until then I’ll keep living through you guys!

[Dwight Hottle]

Had to post this one up as it was ridiculously fat but only weighed in as a low 5lber. She still had the remnants of something in her throat when I unhooked her.  

 

 

[Swamp Girl]

I'm with ya, Jar, pining for bass, but grateful for the guys who are still catching and not just catching any old bass, but one fat bass after another. If @AlabamaSpothunter suddenly decided to keep his fish like the old timey guys who'd keep a hundred bass, his little boat would sink. The headline?

 

Local Man Drowns due to TOO Successful Fishing

 

Alex, that thumb is:

 

A. Nasty

 

B. Whoa!

 

C. Impressive

 

D. All of the above.

 

Of course, the answer is D. I did that to my thumb a couple times and went through three gloves before I found one I liked. Now I use that glove all the time. 

 

Thanks for the heads-up, Alex, on the lousy hook. I've been ordering new hooks all spring. I lost too many fish last year and hope to do better in 2023. 

 

My prayer for 2023 is this: Dear Bass Resource Group Overall Director, aka Glenn, please let me catch as many big bass as Alex in 2023. I have watched the videos and read the articles and fed the Bait Monkey, month after snowy month. The Bait Monkey is now so fat he can barely cling to my back. All I ask is for some Alex-sized bass. Amen. 

 

 

[Dwight Hottle]

For comparison who has the bigger gut? 

 

 

[Swamp Girl]

Too funny, Dwight!

[T-Billy]

  On 2/5/2023 at 5:39 PM, Dwight Hottle said:

For comparison who has the bigger gut? 

 

 

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Hmm... It would seem that bluegill, shad, and crawfish are similar in calories to bacon, donuts, and beer. ?

[TnRiver46]

  On 2/5/2023 at 7:33 AM, T-Billy said:

That's a sweet looking stretch of river. Good luck.

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Skunk, got tossed around like gilligan. Went by stumps at Mach 3 slinging a spinnerbait 

[T-Billy]

  On 2/5/2023 at 11:55 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Skunk, got tossed around like gilligan. Went by stumps at Mach 3 slinging a spinnerbait 

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10-4 been there. Give it a go later in the year once the water level comes down and clears up. Lots of good looking stuff there. Fast channel lined with stumps at the current seams, adjacent shallow slackwater flats with wood. Can't imagine that place not holding fish.

[Woody B]

I was busy yesterday and this morning, but I made it out for 2 1/2 hours this afternoon.   I caught 4, all spots all between 14 and 16 inches.   Water temp was 49.  Last Saturday is was 49 in the morning, but warmer later.  I saw something that really surprised me considering water temp.  I saw 2 people water skiing.   

 

So, what are the fish in the sonar screen pictures?   I wanted them to be bass.  I thought perhaps Striped bass, or Crappie.  They weren't interested in anything I had.   A-rig, spinner bait, lipless crank, DT16, Money minnow, jigging spoon, shakey head, or a crappie jig.     They didn't follow, or respond in any way beyond moving out of the way.   Crappie will sometimes hit a money minnow, but they usually follow anything.   I would think I would have gotten a reaction strike if they were cats.   I spent an hour pestering them.  I went further up the river to catch the 4 I caught.  

[Bluebasser86]

Got out on a really nice day today, too nice for my liking. Took the boat so I wouldn't get run over because I was sure it would be a zoo and I wasn't wrong unfortunately. First bass of the morning was also my biggest of the year so far at just over 19" and 5 3/4 pounds on a 6th Sense 75x in Brown Eye color, only bite I got on a crankbait all day. Fishing until 2 pm and only caught 6 more, 5 on a Ned rig and 1 on a shakyhead.

 

[TnRiver46]

  On 2/6/2023 at 12:16 AM, Woody B said:

I was busy yesterday and this morning, but I made it out for 2 1/2 hours this afternoon.   I caught 4, all spots all between 14 and 16 inches.   Water temp was 49.  Last Saturday is was 49 in the morning, but warmer later.  I saw something that really surprised me considering water temp.  I saw 2 people water skiing.   

 

So, what are the fish in the sonar screen pictures?   I wanted them to be bass.  I thought perhaps Striped bass, or Crappie.  They weren't interested in anything I had.   A-rig, spinner bait, lipless crank, DT16, Money minnow, jigging spoon, shakey head, or a crappie jig.     They didn't follow, or respond in any way beyond moving out of the way.   Crappie will sometimes hit a money minnow, but they usually follow anything.   I would think I would have gotten a reaction strike if they were cats.   I spent an hour pestering them.  I went further up the river to catch the 4 I caught.  

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I’d guess those are shad 

[Woody B]

  On 2/6/2023 at 12:54 AM, TnRiver46 said:

I’d guess those are shad 

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On the bottom, below the ball of shad?

[TnRiver46]

  On 2/6/2023 at 12:28 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Got out on a really nice day today, too nice for my liking. Took the boat so I wouldn't get run over because I was sure it would be a zoo and I wasn't wrong unfortunately. First bass of the morning was also my biggest of the year so far at just over 19" and 5 3/4 pounds on a 6th Sense 75x in Brown Eye color, only bite I got on a crankbait all day. Fishing until 2 pm and only caught 6 more, 5 on a Ned rig and 1 on a shakyhead.

 

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Nice! 19” fish are about 2.75-3 lbs in my water haha. They smoke cigarettes and drink mtn dew instead of eating shad

  On 2/6/2023 at 1:00 AM, Woody B said:

On the bottom, below the ball of shad?

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It sure looks like it in the top picture, the bottom, one may be some white bass, but they usually bite. gizzard and threadfin alike will blanket the bottom sometimes and gizzard are big enough to look like stacks of crappie on electronics 

[TnRiver46]

  On 2/6/2023 at 12:08 AM, T-Billy said:

10-4 been there. Give it a go later in the year once the water level comes down and clears up. Lots of good looking stuff there. Fast channel lined with stumps at the current seams, adjacent shallow slackwater flats with wood. Can't imagine that place not holding fish.

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Oh it definitely holds fish, just my first time up there. That’s actually part of a reservoir so it will come up 5-6 feet starting in mid April. I took that little boat because I thought it was too shallow for my 18 foot flat bottom, got passed by a massive Lund and saw other boats with walk thru windshields hahah. Doh ! Some kind of mountain wind tunnel thing, go around different bends to hide from wind and no change 

[Swamp Girl]

  On 2/5/2023 at 11:55 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Skunk, got tossed around like gilligan. Went by stumps at Mach 3 slinging a spinnerbait 

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You are funny, Mr. 46!

 

Love that fat bass, Mr. 86.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

  On 2/5/2023 at 1:39 PM, Dwight Hottle said:

Had to post this one up as it was ridiculously fat but only weighed in as a low 5lber. She still had the remnants of something in her throat when I unhooked her.  

 

 

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Man what a beautiful fish Dwight!   You're on some big girls right now!  

  On 2/5/2023 at 10:15 AM, Jar11591 said:

@AlabamaSpothunter still crushing it. I’m waiting for the day I check this thread to see that you got a whole 5 fish limit on one cast of the A-rig. 
 

You and @TnRiver46 are keeping this thread going. I can’t wait to be able to contribute again. The cabin fever has been BAD the last 2 weeks. I could potentially be wetting a line in less than 8 weeks, but it all depends on how much of a lion March is. So until then I’ll keep living through you guys!

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Thanks Jar!  I can't wait until you guys AND GAL make that first report in this thread ?

  On 2/5/2023 at 1:40 PM, ol'crickety said:

I'm with ya, Jar, pining for bass, but grateful for the guys who are still catching and not just catching any old bass, but one fat bass after another. If @AlabamaSpothunter suddenly decided to keep his fish like the old timey guys who'd keep a hundred bass, his little boat would sink. The headline?

 

Local Man Drowns due to TOO Successful Fishing

 

Alex, that thumb is:

 

A. Nasty

 

B. Whoa!

 

C. Impressive

 

D. All of the above.

 

Of course, the answer is D. I did that to my thumb a couple times and went through three gloves before I found one I liked. Now I use that glove all the time. 

 

Thanks for the heads-up, Alex, on the lousy hook. I've been ordering new hooks all spring. I lost too many fish last year and hope to do better in 2023. 

 

My prayer for 2023 is this: Dear Bass Resource Group Overall Director, aka Glenn, please let me catch as many big bass as Alex in 2023. I have watched the videos and read the articles and fed the Bait Monkey, month after snowy month. The Bait Monkey is now so fat he can barely cling to my back. All I ask is for some Alex-sized bass. Amen. 

 

 

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God love you Katie, he surely must laugh as much as me while reading your incredibly well written and always funny replies ?

 

I can't even imagine how giddy you guys are gearing up.....getting much closer now

  On 2/6/2023 at 12:28 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Got out on a really nice day today, too nice for my liking. Took the boat so I wouldn't get run over because I was sure it would be a zoo and I wasn't wrong unfortunately. First bass of the morning was also my biggest of the year so far at just over 19" and 5 3/4 pounds on a 6th Sense 75x in Brown Eye color, only bite I got on a crankbait all day. Fishing until 2 pm and only caught 6 more, 5 on a Ned rig and 1 on a shakyhead.

 

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HAHAHA....look at that 4th pic, all of them are uber fat.   Fantastic fish!

[Pat Brown]

Alabama Spot Hunter, might need to buy a bigger boat and start guiding buddy!  You're a hammer!  You might have also just sold me a Damiki Blade ?

 

So awesome to see those big offshore fish hats off!  One of these days I'll learn how to make one note.

 

Got out on the Jon boat for a little while yesterday and got skunked.

 

All I could find was shad carpets at 17 ft off the main lake points.  Couldn't seem to find an active bass.  Surface temps were 42° which usually makes the shallow bite really tough here.

 

Oh well!  Here's hoping the string of 55° days we got going this week gets those ST moving back towards 50° again.

 

That was a lot of fun there for a little while!  ?

[Deleted account]

  On 2/6/2023 at 12:16 AM, Woody B said:

So, what are the fish in the sonar screen pictures?   I wanted them to be bass.  I thought perhaps Striped bass, or Crappie.  They weren't interested in anything I had. 

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I speak Furuno and Garmin more fluently than Lowrance, but those sure look like striped bass to me.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

  On 2/6/2023 at 12:55 PM, Pat Brown said:

Alabama Spot Hunter, might need to buy a bigger boat and start guiding buddy!  You're a hammer!  You might have also just sold me a Damiki Blade ?

 

So awesome to see those big offshore fish hats off!  One of these days I'll learn how to make one note.

 

Got out on the Jon boat for a little while yesterday and got skunked.

 

All I could find was shad carpets at 17 ft off the main lake points.  Couldn't seem to find an active bass.  Surface temps were 42° which usually makes the shallow bite really tough here.

 

Oh well!  Here's hoping the string of 55° days we got going this week gets those ST moving back towards 50° again.

 

That was a lot of fun there for a little while!  ?

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Thanks for such kind words Pat!   Don't give up on those offshore fish brother, you'll have that breakthrough soon enough offshore if you keep studying them on sonar.    With your water temps and being a bit north of me, you might just be a few weeks behind me.   

 

The fun always returns, that's why we're junkies ??

[Woody B]

  On 2/6/2023 at 1:25 PM, Deleted account said:

 

I speak Furuno and Garmin more fluently than Lowrance, but those sure look like striped bass to me.

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My Son in law is an avid striped bass fisherman.  He has the same Lowrance unit I have.  He said it was Stripers.  I can't believe at least 1 didn't want.....my tackle box.  He uses some type of live bait fishing for them,  but I've accidently caught a few bass fishing before including a 21 pounder on a spinner bait.   He said people use A-rigs for them all the time.  

[Deleted account]

  On 2/6/2023 at 11:08 PM, Woody B said:

My Son in law is an avid striped bass fisherman.  He has the same Lowrance unit I have.  He said it was Stripers.  I can't believe at least 1 didn't want.....my tackle box.  He uses some type of live bait fishing for them,  but I've accidently caught a few bass fishing before including a 21 pounder on a spinner bait.   He said people use A-rigs for them all the time.  

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When they stack like cordwood like that on the bottom, specially with bait above them like on that shot, they aren't looking to eat. You'll temp one on live bait, or what amounts to a large dropshot with some gulp or other attractant held motionless, but it will be few and far in between. They will turn on at some point though based on current or light level, you'll see the upper ones start to head towards the mid column and spread out some, then it's on, and then like a light switch, it will be off.