Latest Catch Pics Thread

[Swamp Girl]

2 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Beautifully written Bob, Katie puts in more work before she even launches than I do all day fishing.   She works hard for those beautiful fish of hers.   

 

You guys are too kind. I'm going fishing tomorrow morning, as much to be on the water as to fish. My beloved dog died in my arms yesterday. He was my shadow even at the end of his life, when he had cancer and a failing heart and was deaf. Still, if I left the room, he'd rise and follow me. I buried him in the Japanese garden and in a week or two, I'll plant a flowering ground cover on the mound. 

 

When I taught tough boys, each spring, I'd read them "Where the Red Fern Grows." Those hardened boys, all quick and ready to fight, softened and leaked at the book's ending. It hurts and hurts to say good-bye to a good dog. They're better than us, more loyal and loving than we can ever be. 

[Jar11591]

@ol'crickety so sorry to hear that. Heartbreaking. I have a senior dog myself, and she never let’s me out of here sight. I cherish every moment with her because I know we’re in the 4th quarter. You deserve a PB or 2 tomorrow morning. Good luck. 

[GaryH]

17 hours ago, Mbirdsley said:

As far as being able to pattern, find, stay on and catching numbers of bass this year has been my best to date.  I’ve had better years as far as big fish but, I’d go trips between fish.  
 

The air temp dropped 30 degrees since last Friday.  Which, dropped the water temp back down to 49 degrees. Which, pushed fish out to 6-8 feet instead of 2-4 of last Friday.  I caught 12-15 bass ranging from 12-14 inches.  I also caught ten northern pike between 18-24 inches.  

 

jerk baits we’re hot again as the majority of the fish came on that same lucky craft blue gill pointer. I tried going out to deeper water on the drop offs for bigger fish but, basically caught a bunch of pike and 3-4 bass that came on a kvd 300 clear ayu jerk bait.  The biggest pike came on a lucky craft 3/4 oz 500 Lv lipless crank.
 

 Supposed to be 80 again tommrow    And then 50’s this weekend and consistent 60’s next week.  Who knows how the fish respond.  I’ve spent a lot of time studying bass patterns and behavior in the last couple months. 

below are the highlights 

 

Nice job….

[hokiehunter373]

50 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

You guys are too kind. I'm going fishing tomorrow morning, as much to be on the water as to fish. My beloved dog died in my arms yesterday. He was my shadow even at the end of his life, when he had cancer and a failing heart and was deaf. Still, if I left the room, he'd rise and follow me. I buried him in the Japanese garden and in a week or two, I'll plant a flowering ground cover on the mound. 

 

When I taught tough boys, each spring, I'd read them "Where the Red Fern Grows." Those hardened boys, all quick and ready to fight, softened and leaked at the book's ending. It hurts and hurts to say good-bye to a good dog. They're better than us, more loyal and loving than we can ever be. 

Been there and it doesn't get much worse.  No words really help so I'll just say I'm sorry you lost him and I hope you can remember all the amazing times that make the loss so difficult.  Enjoy your morning tomorrow.

[Mbirdsley]

10 hours ago, gimruis said:

Most of the state here in MN is almost exactly like that.  The daily bag limit is 10 and 9 of them have to be under the 22-26 inch protected slot.  There's just so many of the danged small aggressive ones that are lure wreckers.  Hence the nick name snot rockets.  The bigger ones are very beneficial to the ecosystem, as they help keep stunted panfish and smaller pike populations in check.

 

Do you ever keep any of them?  The slime is kind of nasty but in colder water and fileted properly, they aren't bad eating.  There is a line of y-bones in their filet that should be removed.  I'm not very proficient at doing that.

I’ve actually been thinking about keeping a few. You catch a lot on this particular lake that are chunky for bring 20-22 inches.  I caught some ice fishing 2 winters ago before I found out the lake had special pike regs on it and threw them back. I wouldn’t keep the straight hammer handles though.

 

 Catch and keep for pike and walleye dosent start untill the last Saturday in April.  I actually think pike is one of the better tasting inland fish 

10 hours ago, gimruis said:

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

2 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

 

You guys are too kind. I'm going fishing tomorrow morning, as much to be on the water as to fish. My beloved dog died in my arms yesterday. He was my shadow even at the end of his life, when he had cancer and a failing heart and was deaf. Still, if I left the room, he'd rise and follow me. I buried him in the Japanese garden and in a week or two, I'll plant a flowering ground cover on the mound. 

 

When I taught tough boys, each spring, I'd read them "Where the Red Fern Grows." Those hardened boys, all quick and ready to fight, softened and leaked at the book's ending. It hurts and hurts to say good-bye to a good dog. They're better than us, more loyal and loving than we can ever be. 

Dang Katie, my heart breaks for you, and I'm so sorry that you lost your pupper.   

 

I loved that book, and surely cried at the end.   Really hope you have a great day on the water tomorrow!  

[GaryH]

@ol'crickety I’m truly sorry for your loss. The most loyal and loving companion someone can have. He was fortunate to have you as a friend. 

[T-Billy]

5 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

The line wraps in between the wire leads into the head, and it weakens it enough to when you bomb cast or set the hook it just pops ?

 

I solved that on the rigs I make by building them with a 70# single strand titanium leader. Very seldom wraps, and if it does, no damage. The heat shrink keeps it pointed straight to the front. Dunno if you could get it to work with the yumbrella or not. A heavy mono leader, say 65# or more may work for you. Tie one end direct to the rig and the other to a crane swivel.

 

 

2 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

 

You guys are too kind. I'm going fishing tomorrow morning, as much to be on the water as to fish. My beloved dog died in my arms yesterday. He was my shadow even at the end of his life, when he had cancer and a failing heart and was deaf. Still, if I left the room, he'd rise and follow me. I buried him in the Japanese garden and in a week or two, I'll plant a flowering ground cover on the mound. 

 

When I taught tough boys, each spring, I'd read them "Where the Red Fern Grows." Those hardened boys, all quick and ready to fight, softened and leaked at the book's ending. It hurts and hurts to say good-bye to a good dog. They're better than us, more loyal and loving than we can ever be. 

Sorry to hear Katie. I'll keep you in my prayers. That's one of my favorite books. I should buy a copy. I haven't read it in many years.

[Dwight Hottle]

@ol'crickety Sorry to hear about the loss of your dog. They really do have a place in our hearts.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

14 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

I solved that on the rigs I make by building them with a 70# single strand titanium leader. Very seldom wraps, and if it does, no damage. The heat shrink keeps it pointed straight to the front. Dunno if you could get it to work with the yumbrella or not. A heavy mono leader, say 65# or more may work for you. Tie one end direct to the rig and the other to a crane swivel.

 

 

Sorry to hear Katie. I'll keep you in my prayers. That's one of my favorite books. I should buy a copy. I haven't read it in many years.

Awesome job, beats losing $50 worth of A-Rigs ?

[T-Billy]

10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Awesome job, beats losing $50 worth of A-Rigs ?

Thowing them on 50# braid also helps with that. You're dragging a chandelier through the water, and they try to eat it. Fish don't give a crap about seeing that line. ?

[AlabamaSpothunter]

4 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Thowing them on 50# braid also helps with that. You're dragging a chandelier through the water, and they try to eat it. Fish don't give a crap about seeing that line. ?

You do make a solid point about the Chandelier ?

 

By next A-Rig season I should have a dedicated setup so I don't have to throw it on my big swimbait setup.  

[Team9nine]

Last nice day before the rain and cooler weather arrives. Partly cloudy, high in the low 80s, and steady winds at 25 mph gusting 35-40 mph - prefrontal. Figured my best bet was returning to the “hot” bank from yesterday, hoping the higher winds would keep things moving and aggressive. Turned out to be the correct call. Picked off 37 bass mostly hiding in and around the growing small pondweed patches and weedline.

 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

I’m sorry to hear about your dog @ol'crickety

[Eric 26]

@ol'crickety Truly sorry for your loss. It sounds like he went peacefully over the rainbow bridge and it’s nice you have a special place so he will always be with you at home.

[Woody B]

@ol'crickety  remember, dogs don't die, they just run ahead to heaven and wait.  

[hokiehunter373]

Hope you're rippin some lips, @ol'crickety!

[Swamp Girl]

You guys made me cry and cry. Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

 

Thanks too to @PhishLI who's been coaching me in private messages. PhishLI lives on Long Island, which is basically Manhattan's lawn. When he talks, I listen because he's catching the world's most pressured bass. He told me to focus on wood with soft plastics and I did just that to catch the big girl below. She ran three times, including once beside the boat. 

 

And another special thanks to @AlabamaSpothunter, who encouraged me to buy a scale, which I used to weigh her. She weighs 5.49 pounds and that's her in the second photo too. Maine bass don't grow as long as southern bass. Our winters are simply too long and our growing season too short, but they do grow up and down, as you can see. She looks a little like a bluegill, edging toward that saucer bluegill shape.

 

I included the third photo so you can see how it still looks like winter up here. We had one day that reached a high of 70 degrees and another day where the high was 64. Other that that, it's been in the fifties and a few forties with many nights in the thirties, which is why the shoreline is still brown. 

 

I fished two water bodies this morning, a swamp that holds big fish, where I caught two bass, including the fat gal, and two pickerel. 

 

Then, on the way home, I stopped to fish a pond and caught another ten, with most having that fine football shape. Gosh, it was wonderful to be on the water and I finished with 14, my first double digit day of the year. 

 

 

[hokiehunter373]

14 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

You guys made me cry and cry. Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

 

Thanks too to @PhishLI who's been coaching me in private messages. PhishLI lives on Long Island, which is basically Manhattan's lawn. When he talks, I listen because he's catching the world's most pressured bass. He told me to focus on wood with soft plastics and I did just that to catch the big girl below. She ran three times, including once beside the boat. 

 

And another special thanks to @AlabamaSpothunter, who encouraged me to buy a scale, which I used to weigh her. She weighs 5.49 pounds and that's her in the second photo too. Maine bass don't grow as long as southern bass. Our winters are simply too long and our growing season too short, but they do grow up and down, as you can see. She looks a little like a bluegill, edging toward that saucer bluegill shape.

 

I fished two water bodies this morning, a swamp that holds big fish, where I caught two bass, including the fat gal, and two pickerel. 

 

Then, on the way home, I stopped to fish a pond and caught another ten, with most having that fine football shape. Gosh, it was wonderful to be on the water and I finished with 14, my first double digit day of the year. 

 

I just knew you were gonna crush it today.  Fantastic!  Congrats on all those wonderful looking fish

[AlabamaSpothunter]

14 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

You guys made me cry and cry. Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

 

Thanks too to @PhishLI who's been coaching me in private messages. PhishLI lives on Long Island, which is basically Manhattan's lawn. When he talks, I listen because he's catching the world's most pressured bass. He told me to focus on wood with soft plastics and I did just that to catch the big girl below. She ran three times, including once beside the boat. 

 

And another special thanks to @AlabamaSpothunter, who encouraged me to buy a scale, which I used to weigh her. She weighs 5.49 pounds and that's her in the second photo too. Maine bass don't grow as long as southern bass. Our winters are simply too long and our growing season too short, but they do grow up and down, as you can see. She looks a little like a bluegill, edging toward that saucer bluegill shape.

 

I fished two water bodies this morning, a swamp that holds big fish, where I caught two bass, including the fat gal, and two pickerel. 

 

Then, on the way home, I stopped to fish a pond and caught another ten, with most having that fine football shape. Gosh, it was wonderful to be on the water and I finished with 14, my first double digit day of the year. 

 

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Katie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Way to go Katie, what a spectacular day you had, and I'm just thrilled to see that big girl!   What a special fish that is likely quite old!   

 

You just made my day Katie, I just knew you'd catch a toad once you got back on the water, this quickly isn't even a surprise.    Me and Phishli have talked about it in PMs......big girls are coming your way, and it started today.   

 

You just love to see somebody get rewarded for working as hard, and studying as much as you do.   

2 minutes ago, hokiehunter373 said:

I just knew you were gonna crush it today.  Fantastic!  Congrats on all those wonderful looking fish

The universe occasionally seems to work on the karma system, and when it does it's a beautiful thing to witness.

 

Katie earned and deserved that fish, and the universe blessed her with one.    What a great story.

[Jar11591]

@ol'crickety awesome!!

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

She weighs 5.49 pounds

There you go!

2 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

Maine bass don't grow as long as southern bass.

Any Elite Pro currently fishing at the Lake Murray SC Bassmaster event would be fist pumping while thanking God and their mama for that fish! We knew you could do it!

[GaryH]

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

You guys made me cry and cry. Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

 

Thanks too to @PhishLI who's been coaching me in private messages. PhishLI lives on Long Island, which is basically Manhattan's lawn. When he talks, I listen because he's catching the world's most pressured bass. He told me to focus on wood with soft plastics and I did just that to catch the big girl below. She ran three times, including once beside the boat. 

 

And another special thanks to @AlabamaSpothunter, who encouraged me to buy a scale, which I used to weigh her. She weighs 5.49 pounds and that's her in the second photo too. Maine bass don't grow as long as southern bass. Our winters are simply too long and our growing season too short, but they do grow up and down, as you can see. She looks a little like a bluegill, edging toward that saucer bluegill shape.

 

I included the third photo so you can see how it still looks like winter up here. We had one day that reached a high of 70 degrees and another day where the high was 64. Other that that, it's been in the fifties and a few forties with many nights in the thirties, which is why the shoreline is still brown. 

 

I fished two water bodies this morning, a swamp that holds big fish, where I caught two bass, including the fat gal, and two pickerel. 

 

Then, on the way home, I stopped to fish a pond and caught another ten, with most having that fine football shape. Gosh, it was wonderful to be on the water and I finished with 14, my first double digit day of the year. 

 

 

??????????????

[T-Billy]

Katie!!! 5.49!!! What a Maine TOAD!!! So dark this early in the season too. Looks like a florida bass. What a gorgeous fish. Congratulations!!! 

[T-Billy]

It was no ol'crickety day, but I did alright yesterday given the conditions. Caught 9, with 5 over 2#. The best was this 3.48#. Post frontal, sunny, and calm. Surface temps are creeping into the upper 50's. Lots of fish shallow. Bass were SUPER spooky. Several times I pitched into a laydown, only to have multiple bass come rocketing out of it like the boogyman kicked in the door. Pine boughs were good to me. Fish were suspending under them and catching my Sweet Craw on the fall. Most of those I caught came from fallen pines.