Latest Catch Pics Thread

[Bankbeater]

My first largemouth of the year.  I caught her fishing a Texas rig in some dead lily pads.  I never felt a bite, the rod just loaded up with weight.  I pulled back on the rod thinking I was pulling the bait free and that's when I knew it was a fish. 

[Swamp Girl]

@Bankbeater What a first fish!

 

 

[Woody B]

Super nice Hawg @Pat Brown  Nice first bass too @Bankbeater

 

I went today after yesterdays rain.  I managed to get 7 in the boat.  No big ones.  6 spots between 14 and 17 inches and a 12 inch LM.   It was windy and mostly muddy.  People were fishing up creeks and secondary points, but the ones I talked to didn't catch any.  I caught all 7 on or near primary points.  I think it's still too early for the secondary points, and up the creeks.  I should be able to make it out tomorrow too.  In that past I've normally caught more on Saturdays than Sundays.  I've also fished "up the river" on Saturdays, and down on Sundays.  I fished the lower 1/3 of the lake today.  I'll try the upper part tomorrow.  

 

 

Added: I've notices @AlabamaSpothunter's absence.  I hope everything is OK with him.   

 

 

[ScottW]

Caught a beautiful snag yesterday at the pond. No pics as I left my phone in the cart while I paddled out to ‘collect’ my bigun. I dropped a hook retriever down the line and hauled my catch to the surface with sheer glee in my eyes. ? Beautiful specimen of a lipless crank bait! I was so proud that I immediately casted the little devil out to see what other snags awaited me. ?

 

Instead I caught a LM about 15 inches long. I glanced at my phone over in yon fishing cart and sighed. No pixel-proof and more snags awaited me so I returned my unexpected gift to the watery depths and began my snag hunt anew. ?

[Swamp Girl]

@Scott W Ha! This morning, I considered adding a pond called Snag Pond to my list of ponds to fish this summer. Snag Pond's other name is Stump Pond. No lie. 

[N Florida Mike]

On 2/17/2023 at 8:01 AM, Pat Brown said:

NEW PB!  Happy Pre Spawn from muddy, rainy NC!

 

9.1 lber on the 1/4 oz Siebert Outdoors Bluegill Flash swim jig with a 4.5" Yum Scottsboro swimbait trailer.  7'6 medium heavy moderate veritas/daiwa Fuego /20 lb seagaur red label/san Diego Jam knot.

 

She was taken out of 1 FOW in the NW corner of my local pond when drizzle turned to rain.  Released shortly after a little DIY photo shoot and she swam away happy as a clam.

 

The most incredible fight of my life and the peak of my bass fishing adventure so far!

 

 

nice fish !

[Team9nine]

Winds 16-24 out of the SW gusting 33-37 mph, so you take whatever the lake will give you on these kind of days. That’s the price we pay for highs in the upper 50s in Feb. - not complaining. Took 14 bass, all on jerkbaits. Supposed to be a little lighter winds tomorrow. We’ll see.

 

 

 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

On 2/17/2023 at 7:01 AM, Pat Brown said:

NEW PB!  Happy Pre Spawn from muddy, rainy NC!

 

9.1 lber on the 1/4 oz Siebert Outdoors Bluegill Flash swim jig with a 4.5" Yum Scottsboro swimbait trailer.  7'6 medium heavy moderate veritas/daiwa Fuego /20 lb seagaur red label/san Diego Jam knot.

 

She was taken out of 1 FOW in the NW corner of my local pond when drizzle turned to rain.  Released shortly after a little DIY photo shoot and she swam away happy as a clam.

 

The most incredible fight of my life and the peak of my bass fishing adventure so far!

 

 

Wow Pat, that's a fish of a lifetime, but what makes that fish so special in my book is that it came from your pond!    

 

Huge congratulations! 

 

I've got some catching up to do, but this was the first thread I clicked after taking a break, and then I see this monster ?

[Pat Brown]

7 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Wow Pat, that's a fish of a lifetime, but what makes that fish so special in my book is that it came from your pond!    

 

Huge congratulations! 

 

I've got some catching up to do, but this was the first thread I clicked after taking a break, and then I see this monster ?

 

 

If someone told me I'd be catching a 9 lb bass at 6:30 am in the rain in February on a jig from the bank in a foot of water from the local pressured public pond where experienced people struggle to catch any fish at all even with live bait and senkos, I'd say 'you just get right on out of town!!!'. ?

 

I'm BESIDE myself!  Grateful beyond words for that beautiful bass.  Thanks for the kind words and can't wait to see what we all catch this year. ?

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Much like Pat I caught the definition of a big pre spawn female earlier.   One of those fish you know is at the height of her power, a pinnacle of health, and a true apex predating Largemouth.   Clearly full of eggs and heft for the soon to be Spawn.

 

Mine was bouncing around from 8.15-9.5 and locked twice briefly on 9.1, so that's what I'm calling her.  I was shaking like a leaf at that point as usual lol.   There was brief moment that I thought I accomplished a lifelong dream.    At the end of the brief video, I'm glad I forgot to end it as it captured perfectly the indescribable flood of emotions and adrenaline that overtake you and make you clutch for your knees once you see her swim away.   Most here I'm sure will know this feeling, Pat felt it for sure.  

 

Terrible day with chocolate milk colored water, caught 6 small fish from about 10-1pm........drove back to the dock, pondered quitting, took a 30min break and then went back out.    30mins from coming back out, I caught her.    

 

She moved up shallow from nearby deep water into about 8-10fow on a pinch point, and was holding on a fantastic piece of cover.    I ran a naked Chatterbait with a 3.5" Live Magic Shad right into the cover, it deflected, and wham she smoked it.      

 

 

 

 

 

4 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

 

 

If someone told me I'd be catching a 9 lb bass at 6:30 am in the rain in February on a jig from the bank in a foot of water from the local pressured public pond where experienced people struggle to catch any fish at all even with live bait and senkos, I'd say 'you just get right on out of town!!!'. ?

 

I'm BESIDE myself!  Grateful beyond words for that beautiful bass.  Thanks for the kind words and can't wait to see what we all catch this year. ?

You deserve it friend, love to see somebody catch such a magnificent fish that truly appreciates her.      

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

Winds 16-24 out of the SW gusting 33-37 mph, so you take whatever the lake will give you on these kind of days. That’s the price we pay for highs in the upper 50s in Feb. - not complaining. Took 14 bass, all on jerkbaits. Supposed to be a little lighter winds tomorrow. We’ll see.

 

 

 

 

The wind was howling here today too, I did the whole gilligan thing in the whitecaps again. Wind was predicted at 10-11 mph, my buddy that works in helicopters was fishing with me and he said it had to be pushing 20 mph haha

[Aaron_H]

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Much like Pat I caught the definition of a big pre spawn female earlier.   One of those fish you know is at the height of her power, a pinnacle of health, and a true apex predating Largemouth.   Clearly full of eggs and heft for the soon to be Spawn.

 

Mine was bouncing around from 8.15-9.5 and locked twice briefly on 9.1, so that's what I'm calling her.  I was shaking like a leaf at that point as usual lol.   There was brief moment that I thought I accomplished a lifelong dream.    At the end of the brief video, I'm glad I forgot to end it as it captured perfectly the indescribable flood of emotions and adrenaline that overtake you and make you clutch for your knees once you see her swim away.   Most here I'm sure will know this feeling, Pat felt it for sure.  

 

Terrible day with chocolate milk colored water, caught 6 small fish from about 10-1pm........drove back to the dock, pondered quitting, took a 30min break and then went back out.    30mins from coming back out, I caught her.    

 

She moved up shallow from nearby deep water into about 8-10fow on a pinch point, and was holding on a fantastic piece of cover.    I ran a naked Chatterbait with a 3.5" Live Magic Shad right into the cover, it deflected, and wham she smoked it.      

 

 

 

 

 

You deserve it friend, love to see somebody catch such a magnificent fish that truly appreciates her.      

 

Holy guacamole! Incredible bass, I'm so proud of you man. Hope the rest of the year continues to produce bigs for you!

[N Florida Mike]

Got after them again today after 5 .  Temps in low 70s, light wind, partly cloudy.  Managed 6.  5 were on watermelon seed shimmy sticks and dingers . Went back to the exact spot I lost the big fish last time  and got the first pictured fish. Got one after dark fishing a zoom ol monster…

I’m seeing beds also  but no fish on them…

[AlabamaSpothunter]

48 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

 

Holy guacamole! Incredible bass, I'm so proud of you man. Hope the rest of the year continues to produce bigs for you!

Just maybe it's the start of a run like you've been on.....who am I fooling ??

 

Seriously though Aaron, really appreciate the kind words!  

On 2/18/2023 at 4:40 PM, Bankbeater said:

My first largemouth of the year.  I caught her fishing a Texas rig in some dead lily pads.  I never felt a bite, the rod just loaded up with weight.  I pulled back on the rod thinking I was pulling the bait free and that's when I knew it was a fish. 

What a toad friend, congrats!   If its gotta be your first of 23, might as well go big ?

On 2/11/2023 at 3:03 PM, Woody B said:

I made it out for 5 hours today.  I caught 11 including a fat largemouth that was 6 pounds even.  20 1/8 inches long 17 1/2 girth.  She's been eating good.   I also lost a ~2 pounder while boat flipping it.  The bill pulled out of a DT6.  I caught a couple on a chatter bait (my first chatterbait bass.)   a few on a DT6.  The 6 pounder came on a T-rig.   I also caught 1 on a Jig.   It was really windy today.  Temp was around 50 but I was cold.  Water temp is up to 52.  

 

Bought a new OG Tiny 4 three days ago, get home and the bill looks like it was glued on by a 5 year old......fool me once Rapala.

[Aaron_H]

35 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

Got after them again today after 5 .  Temps in low 70s, light wind, partly cloudy.  Managed 6.  5 were on watermelon seed shimmy sticks and dingers . Went back to the exact spot I lost the big fish last time  and got the first pictured fish. Got one after dark fishing a zoom ol monster…

I’m seeing beds also  but no fish on them…

 

Nice ones, Mike! I've still got tilapia on beds down here, haven't seen any bass beds yet.

 

26 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Just maybe it's the start of a run like you've been on.....who am I fooling ??

 

Seriously though Aaron, really appreciate the kind words!

 

I don't know about lately, my biggest of 2023 so far is a paltry 2lb 12oz, but hopefully soon! Lots of other guys here (you included now) crushing some big ones lately and it's got me super pumped.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

3 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

 

Nice ones, Mike! I've still got tilapia on beds down here, haven't seen any bass beds yet.

 

 

I don't know about lately, my biggest of 2023 so far is a paltry 2lb 12oz, but hopefully soon! Lots of other guys here (you included now) crushing some big ones lately and it's got me super pumped.

Yeah but I remember reading in a thread about the year you had last year......what was the best 5 of 2022?

[Aaron_H]

4 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Yeah but I remember reading in a thread about the year you had last year......what was the best 5 of 2022?

 

Admittedly I did have a really great season for 2022. My best five went 45lb 6oz. 10lb 9oz, 10lb 2oz, 8lb 10oz, 8lb 10oz, and a 7lb 7oz. Biggest four on that H2O jerkbait, number five on a chatterbait. Four of them were within a span of 3 weeks, from the middle of Feb to the first week of March, then the second 8lb 10oz was in first week of Dec.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

9 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

 

Admittedly I did have a really great season for 2022. My best five went 45lb 6oz. 10lb 9oz, 10lb 2oz, 8lb 10oz, 8lb 10oz, and a 7lb 7oz. Biggest four on that H2O jerkbait, number five on a chatterbait. Four of them were within a span of 3 weeks, from the middle of Feb to the first week of March, then the second 8lb 10oz was in first week of Dec.

My goodness that's an incredible year.    Two DDs is wild!

 

Three weeks ago I felt like my hand was on the pulse as good as I've ever had it, arrogantly even started to put a tripod in the boat for a selfie with the White Whale.......then something just happened these last two weeks where I couldn't get a single fish over 4lbs and was really working hard to find the fish each time out as they'd move so fast.     Today was much the same, then WHAM......I thought I was going to catch this fish three weeks ago no doubt, today at noon I honestly wasn't sure If I'd catch another 5lb fish again.   Fishing is a mind you know what, or at least sadly it is with me.    I take it too seriously because I love the black and white goal you can strive for within the sport.    You can focus so hard, you can pursue a fish so intensely, it will drive you a bit mad......and I'm well into that realm ?    

 

Once the pre spawn ends the FOMO will leave and I can relax hopefully.   That was the first big pre spawn fish I've ever caught, the FOMO is easily justified I see now, it's a cheat code with the right timing.   

 

I'm stoked to see what 2023 brings in for you, you don't have those results by chance.   You set a really high bar.

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, Aaron_H said:

don't know about lately, my biggest of 2023 so far is a paltry 2lb 12oz, but hopefully soon!

 

Sir, you are exactly two pounds and 12 ounces ahead of me in 2023. I drove again yesterday to scout three new ponds. Strangely, they buzzed with ice "fishermen," but they weren't exactly fishing. At all three ponds, the ice "fishermen" had formed little groups and were just hanging. It was disconcerting to see the water so hard that it supported coffee klatches. I also stopped at the Lincolnville General Store for pizza. Google it if you wanna see how cool our general stores are. 

 

@AlabamaSpothunter Alex is back and back with a bang! A big bang. Like this:

 

 

Alex, I missed your posts. You can see that others did too. Congrats on boating your beluga. It's bigger than any bass I'll ever catch! However, I'm just happy you're posting here again and I loved how your video ended with your breathlessness. 

 

@Team9nine 14 bass from the shore at 33-37 mph is impressive.

 

Nice fish, @N Florida Mike!

 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

19 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Sir, you are exactly two pounds and 12 ounces ahead of me in 2023. I drove again yesterday to scout three new ponds. Strangely, they buzzed with ice "fishermen," but they weren't exactly fishing. At all three ponds, the ice "fishermen" had formed little groups and were just hanging. It was disconcerting to see the water so hard that it supported coffee klatches. I also stopped at the Lincolnville General Store for pizza. Google it if you wanna see how cool our general stores are. 

 

@AlabamaSpothunter Alex is back and back with a bang! A big bang. Like this:

 

 

Alex, I missed your posts. You can see that others did too. Congrats on boating your beluga. It's bigger than any bass I'll ever catch! However, I'm just happy you're posting here again and I loved how your video ended with your breathlessness. 

 

@Team9nine 14 bass from the shore at 33-37 mph is impressive.

 

Nice fish, @N Florida Mike!

 

 

Katie, I honestly wouldn't be shocked if you caught a bigger Bass than that in Maine.....yes I know, but I also know the places you fish, the work you put in, and those two combine for perhaps the most important factor......unpressured fish. 

 

Now that we got that squared away because the truth matters ??, I'm blushing by another reply of yours and I could never stay away too long given how many truly special human beings I've been fortunate enough to already meet here.   I'm not wanting to put any pressure on you now, but after learning you too recently started back hardcore Bassin, I couldn't miss when you fire up the paddles and most importantly that NEW SCALE.   I see you easily getting a new PB, how soon is the real question.    That's the great thing about PB, it's all relative, and it only really matters to you.   Fishing is a personal thing to me.   I'm not competing against anybody but myself, and my goals.     Josh Jones and Coons on Ivie would drive you crazy if it wasn't like this.    I see that recent 17lb fish, and I think the fish I caught today would almost have double in size.....WHATTTTTTT?

 

I'm ready for all my friends to be fishing though, it's not nearly as much fun posting when perhaps the majority of the thread are iced in.    

[Aaron_H]

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I'm stoked to see what 2023 brings in for you, you don't have those results by chance.   You set a really high bar.

 

Thank you, that's very kind of you! Some days I go out and catch a handful of dinks and question if I really know what I'm doing, it's definitely encouraging to hear something like that from another basshead.

[PhishLI]

4 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Mine was bouncing around from 8.15-9.5 and locked twice briefly on 9.1, so that's what I'm calling her.

Nice mama! Baddazz!?

[Swamp Girl]

Alex, I do think there are few 9.1 pounds bass in Maine, but they're one in 100,000. Maybe 500,000.

 

I'll be thrilled to catch a six-pounder. However, I'm also happy to go out and catch dozens of bass in a morning or evening. I like to stay busy in a boat.

 

At some point, I'll try the new scale, but I can't see myself lugging it everywhere, partly because it's more to carry and partly because it'll keep the fish I treasure out of the water even longer. I already measure my big fish on a bump board, photograph them with a thumb grip, and photograph them on the bump board too. All that time, they're not breathing. Some guys might think me silly, but those fish are in my care for a few secs and I want to return them to the water sooner rather than later.

 

In Canada, I'd spend a week on a lake, fishing 12 or so hours a day, and over decades, I only once saw a fish that I'd caught later floating on the surface. Luckily, an eagle ate it.

 

Still, I'll weigh a few fish to get an idea of what length equals what weight. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

25 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Nice mama! Baddazz!?

My man ? ?

 

Thanks friend!  

[Mbirdsley]

I’m so ready to bass fish I could cry.  We really haven't had any decent ice to ice fish this year. At least last year we had enough ice to keep myself entertained. I’ve been twice this year and had to go up north to find it.  Did catch a 12 inch perch that choked a sucker minnow in a tip up.  We have just enough to keep the launches clogged but, not safe enough to go out on the ice.

 

big fishing show in Grand Rapids 9-12 that a buddy and I excited to go to.  Last year they had a decent amount of bass tackle in stead of the normal big lake salmon/trout and walleye trolling gear.