Latest Catch Pics Thread

[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 ?

[thediscochef]

37 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. 

Love to see it, hope you get to go again like that soon

[GaryH]

On 4/10/2023 at 11:17 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Had my first kayak tournament of the season Saturday on Big Hill Lake in Cherryvale, KS. It was a combination Kansas Kayak Anglers and Kansas Bass Nation tournament so it was quite a few fishermen on a not so big lake that was also 5' low, so even smaller than normal. Big Hill isn't a place I have fished much, and I haven't had much fun the times I've been there. 

I got the the lake Thursday evening an hour before dark and made a few cast before dark from the bank by the dam. Caught a couple largemouth, a smallmouth, and this thing.

 

That was a mistake because I ended up staying up past midnight chasing spawning walleye and catching nothing but spawning white bass. 

Friday I launched in the creek in the only small access point. I hurried dropping my stuff but there was still a kayak and a boat waiting for me even with me just throwing my stuff in a pile on the ground next to the kayak. Jumped back in my truck, dead battery ?. Thankfully I had cables and the other kayaker gave a quick jump. I helped him launch and let the boat launch before I finished putting my stuff together and started fishing. The bridge by the launch had spawning crappie on it, so it was crawling with bank fishermen, boats, even people hauling crappie 20' up to the bridge. I really wasn't sure what to start with, I thought it was going to be a prespawn bite but the low 60* water and full moon had me second guessing. I started with a spinnerbait and swimbait and quickly had a few short strikes but not hookups. It seemed way too early in the year still, but the little voice in my head was screaming at me that these fish are spawning. I cut off my jig and switched to a black and blue Zman Bang Stick with a very light 1/8oz tungsten weight and 4/0 Owner Cover Shot hook. The water was too dirty to sight fish, so I started super slowly dragging it around likely areas. I pulled it past 1 stump, them recast a foot to the right and caught a nice 16.5" fish when I was dragging it back, I knew then, they're spawning. I caught a couple more, it seemed every time I'd pick up that rod, I'd catch another. Not knowing how many there were to be caught, I went way up the creek and started catching spawning white bass and a few catfish.

Late in the afternoon, I pulled into a little pocket and caught a small one and a 19" fish real quick. There was big shad everywhere in there, I had my starting spot. I left the creek and caught a few small ones on the main lake and called it a day early.

Tournament morning, I wasn't surprised when a majority of the anglers were launching in the creek. I headed straight to my little pocket and 1 other angler joined me. It was a very small spot, but we talked, he was going to fish the south bank and I was going to fish the north. Lines in was 6:30, I sailed my cast into a tree on the shore, shook it loose, and there was a fish on it immediately. My first cast curse fish was 15.25" on the Bang Stick. 20 minutes later, I was dragging my bait back and it felt like it just hung in the trees, but it didn't feel quite right, so I swung on it. Turned out to be a 17.5" fish that looked like she was about to pop.

Maybe 5 minutes later, same bite, almost same results, but this fish looked like it had already spawned and it was 17.75"

I fished down my side and picked up my other rod that had a Strike King Rodent in Okeechobee Craw and a little 1/4oz weight and started dragging that. Right at the entrance to the pocket, I got a very light tap. It turned out to be a 19.50" fish and the hook fell out in the net.

My next cast, I caught a 14.5" (the male I assume), so I had a limit and it wasn't 8am. A few cast later, I caught a 15.50" to cull the 14.50". I fished that pocket for a long time, caught several more small fish, before I moved across the creek. I caught a small one immediately. 10 minutes later, I made a cast with the Bang Stick and got a small backlash. I cleared it and when I got my line tight, it was moving off the bank. That fish was 16.50 to cull the 15.25.

After that was a long dry spell. I caught a few dinks but nothing even close to helping. Around noon, I moved to a bank that leads up to the pocket I'd fished, between it and the bridge. I had missed a big one on a glide bait the day before on practice, so I knew they were there. I fished the Bang Stick super slow and I started getting bit way further off the bank, almost straight under the kayak, but they were still small. One cast I timed on the video at almost 50 seconds from splashdown to hookset, was finally the fish I was looking for. She streaked off and made it know she wasn't another dink like the rest. No this was a beautiful 18.25" fish that bumped me up to 89.50" on the day. 

I caught several more, but nothing that helped. I had terrible service, so I didn't have any idea how anyone had done except the guy fishing the pocket with me, he had around 75". Everyone at awards was grumbling about tough fishing, but there's always a couple that found them. Well it turned out, I was that guy this day.

I won both the tournaments, took home 2 cool plaques, enough money to cover my entry fees the rest of the year, and qualified for state the first tournament of the year!

 

 

 

Great job BB…. ?????

[Woody B]

Last day off work today.  I went back to Lake Wylie.  Well....... I didn't get skunked.  I caught 1 bass.  I guess I lost it around 11 o'clock yesterday.  I caught 10 yesterday.   (post on previous page)  he 9nth one was a 11:14.   The 10th was a 3:31.   I started around 8 today.   I lost one small one early, then nothing for hours.  The lake was muddy.  I went way down the lake to clearer water but no luck.   I decided to head back up the lake and fish a few muddy spots.   I like to catch a bass on my last cast.  At 3pm I told myself, I'm leaving when I catch a bass, or at 4pm,  so I had an hour to get rid of the skunk.   I caught the nice spot pictured at 3:09.   I also lost a rod and reel.   I had 4 combos on my deck.   At that time I was fishing a crank, a bladed jig, a ned rig and a shakey head.   I had sit the shakey head combo down and picked up the crank.   5 minutes or so later I went to pick up the shakey head and it was gone.  I guess I sit it too close to the edge of the deck and it slipped in.   It wasn't windy at all.   If there wound have been a splash I would have heard it.   I guess the bait monkey done it.  I've been considering another rod.  The one I lost was the one I was going to retire.   It also had my least favorite reel on it.   

[thediscochef]

21 minutes ago, Woody B said:

Last day off work today.  I went back to Lake Wylie.  Well....... I didn't get skunked.  I caught 1 bass.  I guess I lost it around 11 o'clock yesterday.  I caught 10 yesterday.   (post on previous page)  he 9nth one was a 11:14.   The 10th was a 3:31.   I started around 8 today.   I lost one small one early, then nothing for hours.  The lake was muddy.  I went way down the lake to clearer water but no luck.   I decided to head back up the lake and fish a few muddy spots.   I like to catch a bass on my last cast.  At 3pm I told myself, I'm leaving when I catch a bass, or at 4pm,  so I had an hour to get rid of the skunk.   I caught the nice spot pictured at 3:09.   I also lost a rod and reel.   I had 4 combos on my deck.   At that time I was fishing a crank, a bladed jig, a ned rig and a shakey head.   I had sit the shakey head combo down and picked up the crank.   5 minutes or so later I went to pick up the shakey head and it was gone.  I guess I sit it too close to the edge of the deck and it slipped in.   It wasn't windy at all.   If there wound have been a splash I would have heard it.   I guess the bait monkey done it.  I've been considering another rod.  The one I lost was the one I was going to retire.   It also had my least favorite reel on it.   

Losing a combo hurts, i have a daiwa fuego somewhere in lake ray roberts. Won't ever forget that combo. I hadn't even caught a fish on it. Buddy caught it on the backswing and it was gone forever