Latest Catch Pics Thread

[killobet]

On 4/6/2023 at 11:42 AM, ol'crickety said:

@killobet, the bass you catch are perfect. Perfect color and size. Big too! 

Yep!! Thank you . Very nice healthy looking fish. Meanwhile heres one a little earlier today. A bit bigger than the last one? Water is getting warmer and lots of active fish chasing minnows? Anyway good luck out there. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Poor Katie, we're always assuming she's a dude ?

 

 

[roadwarrior]

Hey Clayton!

 

                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

[killobet]

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Poor Katie, we're always assuming she's a dude ?

 

 

dang!!!??

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Poor Katie, we're always assuming she's a dude ?

 

 

 

Well, the name "Ol' Crickety" doesn't help. It makes me sound like I'm 92, grizzled, and smoking a corn cob pipe. 

 

25 minutes ago, killobet said:

!!!??

 

Hey, what really matters is that you caught another gorgeous fish! Plus, what bass fisher hasn't called a boy bass a she and a girl bass a he? 

[thediscochef]

A small consolation prize for the two good ones I missed on either side of it. Went deep hiking into some public hunting lands around Ray roberts. Gonna go back again real soon ?

[Woody B]

I took a day off work today and went to a new to me lake.  Monticello Reservoir near Jenkinsville SC.   It's a "different" lake.  It doesn't dam in major rivers or streams.  It's a "pumped storage facility" for nuke cooling and hydro.  The surface area is 6700 acres.   It's alongside the Broad river.   There's 1 thing that I really like about it.   No water skiiing, no Jet skis, no wake boarding ect.    I caught 7 Largemouth and 3 Smallmouth including an 18 inch smallie.  Smallest was 14 inches.  The lake "boats" like a much bigger lake.  It's only ~5 1/2 miles long, but it's almost 3 miles wide.  There's a few islands scattered in it, but the 15 mph winds (according the the NWS) were strong in the main lake.   All 3 smallies and 2 LM's came on a Siebert bladed jig with a manns spinnerbait trailer.  3 LM's came on a shakey head.  The other 2 on a DT6.   I was really pleased with 10 bass in a lake that doesn't have spots.   It's ~75 miles,  twice as far as the lake I normally go to.  I will be back, especially this Summer after the wake boats and jet skis take over Lake Wylie.   Most of the bass I've been catching at Wylie have been really shallow, right at the bank.  The internet says the level of Monticello fluctuates daily.  The shallowest bass were ~6 feet deep on stumpy flats.  A few were out points as deep as 20 feet.   I suppose they keep a depth "buffer" due to fluctuating levels.   I saw a depth of 103 feet on my sonar but it was a mile or more from shore.  

[AlabamaSpothunter]

4 hours ago, killobet said:

dang!!!??

I did it several times so don't feel bad.   She's a unicorn around these parts ?

 

She's a true hammer, and her style is hardcore.   The only thing that can tame her is Maine's blustery winters.  

3 minutes ago, Woody B said:

I took a day off work today and went to a new to me lake.  Monticello Reservoir near Jenkinsville SC.   It's a "different" lake.  It doesn't dam in major rivers or streams.  It's a "pumped storage facility" for nuke cooling and hydro.  The surface area is 6700 acres.   It's alongside the Broad river.   There's 1 thing that I really like about it.   No water skiiing, no Jet skis, no wake boarding ect.    I caught 7 Largemouth and 3 Smallmouth including an 18 inch smallie.  Smallest was 14 inches.  The lake "boats" like a much bigger lake.  It's only ~5 1/2 miles long, but it's almost 3 miles wide.  There's a few islands scattered in it, but the 15 mph winds (according the the NWS) were strong in the main lake.   All 3 smallies and 2 LM's came on a Siebert bladed jig with a manns spinnerbait trailer.  3 LM's came on a shakey head.  The other 2 on a DT6.   I was really pleased with 10 bass in a lake that doesn't have spots.   It's ~75 miles,  twice as far as the lake I normally go to.  I will be back, especially this Summer after the wake boats and jet skis take over Lake Wylie.   Most of the bass I've been catching at Wylie have been really shallow, right at the bank.  The internet says the level of Monticello fluctuates daily.  The shallowest bass were ~6 feet deep on stumpy flats.  A few were out points as deep as 20 feet.   I suppose they keep a depth "buffer" due to fluctuating levels.   I saw a depth of 103 feet on my sonar but it was a mile or more from shore.  

Awesome, first Smallie I've seen you post.   Wish I had SMs closer.  

[LrgmouthShad]

Only thing I caught today is feelings. For some more tackle. Dinner for two, me and bait monkey

[T-Billy]

Congrats @Bluebasser86!!! Heckuva Day!!!

[N Florida Mike]

On 3/28/2023 at 9:40 PM, PhishLI said:

I wasn't freeballin', bro. No women or children were horrified during the making of this...

That’s reassuring…

Got this one on a shiner.

No, the fish was not gut hooked.

Yes, it was released…

 

 

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Woody B said:

I took a day off work today and went to a new to me lake.  Monticello Reservoir near Jenkinsville SC.   It's a "different" lake.  It doesn't dam in major rivers or streams.  It's a "pumped storage facility" for nuke cooling and hydro.  The surface area is 6700 acres.   It's alongside the Broad river.   There's 1 thing that I really like about it.   No water skiiing, no Jet skis, no wake boarding ect.    I caught 7 Largemouth and 3 Smallmouth including an 18 inch smallie.  Smallest was 14 inches.  The lake "boats" like a much bigger lake.  It's only ~5 1/2 miles long, but it's almost 3 miles wide.  There's a few islands scattered in it, but the 15 mph winds (according the the NWS) were strong in the main lake.   All 3 smallies and 2 LM's came on a Siebert bladed jig with a manns spinnerbait trailer.  3 LM's came on a shakey head.  The other 2 on a DT6.   I was really pleased with 10 bass in a lake that doesn't have spots.   It's ~75 miles,  twice as far as the lake I normally go to.  I will be back, especially this Summer after the wake boats and jet skis take over Lake Wylie.   Most of the bass I've been catching at Wylie have been really shallow, right at the bank.  The internet says the level of Monticello fluctuates daily.  The shallowest bass were ~6 feet deep on stumpy flats.  A few were out points as deep as 20 feet.   I suppose they keep a depth "buffer" due to fluctuating levels.   I saw a depth of 103 feet on my sonar but it was a mile or more from shore.  

Bigs!

[928JLH]

Some of my better ones on Easter. Bizarre weather patterns. Lots staged up ready to move in but also a few post spawn. Munching the kietech in about 6'-8' with rocky bottom.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Well today the music stopped in terms of a 7 month binge on moving baits.   I can count on one hand the fish I caught since about the beginning of Sept. on a soft plastic bottom contact bait.   I've had 7/7 rods rigged with moving baits for months on end, but I knew this day was coming, and I should have done it a month ago at least.     Caught more today off a T-Rig than all those combined in 7 months.  

  

Caught about 10, two quality Spots, then just little LGMs.  One fish came off the Shimano big bait and then I recommitted to throwing a T-Rig Missile Baits D-Bomb.   Broke what I think was a nice one off on hookset with 12lb CXX, must have had a stupid nik.    I spooled every reel I had with moving baits in mind lol.  

 

[LrgmouthShad]

11 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Well today the music stopped in terms of a 7 month binge on moving baits.   I can count on one hand the fish I caught since about the beginning of Sept. on a soft plastic bottom contact bait.   I've had 7/7 rods rigged with moving baits for months on end, but I knew this day was coming, and I should have done it a month ago at least.     Caught more today off a T-Rig than all those combined in 7 months.  

  

Caught about 10, two quality Spots, then just little LGMs.  One fish came off the Shimano big bait and then I recommitted to throwing a T-Rig Missile Baits D-Bomb.   Broke what I think was a nice one off on hookset with 12lb CXX, must have had a stupid nik.    I spooled every reel I had with moving baits in mind lol.  

 

I made the mistake yesterday of only bringing bottom contact lures. I mean seriously, I had no moving lures in the boat. No bites on bottom contact, but I had three strikes that I couldn’t hook when I started to reel my jig or t-rig off the bottom. That’s when I knew I messed up. 

[TnRiver46]

47 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I made the mistake yesterday of only bringing bottom contact lures. I mean seriously, I had no moving lures in the boat. No bites on bottom contact, but I had three strikes that I couldn’t hook when I started to reel my jig or t-rig off the bottom. That’s when I knew I messed up. 

Swimmin a worm of jig is good stuff!!

[LrgmouthShad]

21 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Swimmin a worm of jig is good stuff!!

I did try it some, but admittedly not a lot. I kept telling myself that it was location that was my problem. And it probably still was. I didn’t react to the lake changing. A week ago, bottom contact offshore could be good. Remember I mentioned prespawn ers? I think they were waiting for the water level to come up. Well it did, and as a result, I think those fish left me

[T-Billy]

15 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Broke what I think was a nice one off on hookset with 12lb CXX,

??#STRAIGHTBRAIDBRIGADE!!!

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Just now, T-Billy said:

??#STRAIGHTBRAIDBRIGADE!!!

Hahahhahaha......I was gonna blame it on not being straightfluorobrigade, but maybe I need to rethink the braid deal ?

[LrgmouthShad]

4 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Hahahhahaha......I was gonna blame it on not being straightfluorobrigade, but maybe I need to rethink the braid deal ?

CXX is super strong stuff. I just don’t like how thick it is or how much memory it has

 

#StraightMonoBrigade

[Swamp Girl]

Skunked. I fished three SMALL bodies of water right on Maine's Hwy 1 for about half an hour. In my defense, I don't know if I was actually casting to bass, as the pools were too small to even have names and the water was shallow as a bimbo. Still, it was great to cast again. I'll launch my canoe on Thursday and fish water that I know holds fish. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Just now, ol'crickety said:

Skunked. I fished three SMALL bodies of water right on Maine's Hwy 1 for about half an hour. In my defense, I don't know if I was actually casting to bass, as the pools were too small to even have names and the water was shallow as a bimbo. Still, it was great to cast again. I'll launch my canoe on Thursday and fish water that I know holds fish. 

LOL, sorry to laugh but you have such a fantastic way with words, shallow like a bimbo ?

 

When you gonna fish the potential camp out dream looking lake?

[thediscochef]

Went exploring again today, hiked about a mile and a half each way to find boats in both places. Rough. Still, there's surely enough lake. Of course it's the place where my car is within casting range that I pull up a pair of nice fish and a couple of their smaller friends. That fluke as was also getting run by some sort of panfish that was up spawning Made a lot of eye contact with those little dudes. I think we were both confused at what we were looking at. Back out at the hunting lands with Country Time tomorrow to go get stabbed by briars and lose good fish ?

[Jar11591]

Had this day marked for over a week. Open water and an open schedule. Could barely sleep. Had the boat all loaded last night for a mid morning trip to my favorite lake, because the weather called for a high of 67° and 10-15mph wind. Perfect spring weather. So I hit the road about 9:30 for the 45 minute ride north. This lake is a much higher altitude than where I live despite it being only 45 minutes north, so I was getting nervous as the closer I got the more snow on the ground I saw. My anxieties were alleviated when I pulled into the launch; a lake 80% ice-free, and the big snow bank on the launch had melted away. 
 

Main lake temps were between 46-48°, and all the coves were still iced in. I started by flipping a jig to a couple of my favorite lay downs, but no takers. I made my way to my favorite spot of any of the lakes I fish. It’s a gradually tapering point surround by steep drop offs on all 3 sides. When I got there, the water was 2 degrees colder than the water where the timber I was fishing was. Had to decide if I wanted to go back to warmer water, or fish the cooler spot that I know has excellent structure. Decided to stay, as I’m confident this spot holds fish 365 days a year, under any condition. I was immediately proved right while I was slinging a 3/4oz spinnerbait in about 15’ of water on the front drop off of the point. A nicely colored 2 pounder lazily ate the spinnerbait with rage swimmer trailer:

Frozen coves: 

 

The 10-15mph wind they called for turned into 25mph+ gusts and made fishing pretty difficult as my anchors refused to hold. Decided to call it a day after a while of fighting the wind and no more strikes. 
 

Should be back at it a few more times this week as the weather is supposed to perfect. The water temps will be rising rapidly and when I return in a couple days the entire lake should be ice free. I look forward to getting on the good shallow timber jig bite that I do every year in the spring. 
 

But man it felt good to get out there after such a long winter. Finally feeling that tug, whose absence caused me so much withdrawal the last few months was too good to be true. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

2 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

Had this day marked for over a week. Open water and an open schedule. Could barely sleep. Had the boat all loaded last night for a mid morning trip to my favorite lake, because the weather called for a high of 67° and 10-15mph wind. Perfect spring weather. So I hit the road about 9:30 for the 45 minute ride north. This lake is a much higher altitude than where I live despite it being only 45 minutes north, so I was getting nervous as the closer I got the more snow on the ground I saw. My anxieties were alleviated when I pulled into the launch; a lake 80% ice-free, and the big snow bank on the launch had melted away. 
 

Main lake temps were between 46-48°, and all the coves were still iced in. I started by flipping a jig to a couple of my favorite lay downs, but no takers. I made my way to my favorite spot of any of the lakes I fish. It’s a gradually tapering point surround by steep drop offs on all 3 sides. When I got there, the water was 2 degrees colder than the water where the timber I was fishing was. Had to decide if I wanted to go back to warmer water, or fish the cooler spot that I know has excellent structure. Decided to stay, as I’m confident this spot holds fish 365 days a year, under any condition. I was immediately proved right while I was slinging a 3/4oz spinnerbait in about 15’ of water on the front drop off of the point. A nicely colored 2 pounder lazily ate the spinnerbait with rage swimmer trailer:

Frozen coves: 

 

The 10-15mph wind they called for turned into 25mph+ gusts and made fishing pretty difficult as my anchors refused to hold. Decided to call it a day after a while of fighting the wind and no more strikes. 
 

Should be back at it a few more times this week as the weather is supposed to perfect. The water temps will be rising rapidly and when I return in a couple days the entire lake should be ice free. I look forward to getting on the good shallow timber jig bite that I do every year in the spring. 
 

But man it felt good to get out there after such a long winter. Finally feeling that tug, whose absence caused me so much withdrawal the last few months was too good to be true. 

Outstanding report brother, and fitting you'd catch the first one of the year on a spinnerbait.

 

Looking forward to the regular reports, with you and Katie both casting for fish in the same day, Spring has officially sprung ?