Latest Catch Pics Thread

[Swamp Girl]

32 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Its inevitably coming here too.  Just part of doing business in the northern sector.

 

It looks very unseasonably warm here until mid-October though so winter isn't knocking on this door just yet.

 

Then we'll have to fish vicariously through @AlabamaSpothunter, @thediscochef, and the other talented Southern fishers. 

 

Gimruis, I lived in Eau Claire, which as you know, is right at the Twin Cities latitude, so I know what your winters are like and whereas inland Maine is just as cold, coastal Maine isn't. December can be pretty pleasant here, but still too cold for canoe fishing. I plan to quit in about three weeks. I fished too late into the cold last year and it wasn't safe. I also fished too early last spring. It's hard to not fish when seeing the Southern boys boat their beauties!

[thediscochef]

2 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Then we'll have to fish vicariously through @AlabamaSpothunter, @thediscochef, and the other talented Southern fishers. 

 

Gimruis, I lived in Eau Claire, which as you know, is right at the Twin Cities latitude, so I know what your winters are like and whereas inland Maine is just as cold, coastal Maine isn't. December can be pretty pleasant here, but still too cold for canoe fishing. I plan to quit in about three weeks. I fished too late into the cold last year and it wasn't safe. I also fished too early last spring. It's hard to not fish when seeing the Southern boys boat their beauties!

I'm ready for it to not be 95 degrees here. We're running 5-15 degrees above normal here and I'm over it. I'm mostly curious to see how much it actually cools off this winter. This morning was in the 60s which was nice. I didn't make it out this morning, I blanked last night and just wasn't feeling great when I woke up. 
Found a rod repair guy, gonna get some of my old pieces back in service. Gonna do one of them myself because I have the parts, but the more expensive rods are gonna go to him. And shoutout to Lew's customer service - they're replacing the spool with the blown brake shoe on my tournament pro even though it's like three months out of warranty. 100% customer satisfaction. Hoping I can post something nice in here soon 

[GreenPig]

Yesterday, caught 4 roughly the same as pictured below. Lost a very big girl that likely was a DD within inches of my net. She hit a 9" 5.3 oz Bull Shad as I was slow rolling it in 8 FOW. 

[TnRiver46]

@GreenPig, oh no!!!!! 

[The Baron]

@GreenPig Yeah, that’s gotta hurt. ?

 

@ol'crickety @gimruis  I hear you about winter.  Fall is such a wonderful time here in SE Ontario, but I know it can’t last.  We’re supposed to be unseasonably warm here for a couple weeks.  By early November, it will be time to winterized and store the boat. ?

 

I had a lazy morning today, only fished a couple of hours because I have to pick my daughter up early from school.  Wasn’t going to go but thought I’m crazy not to and can use the time to explore one of the lakes I’m focusing on.  I went to the far end where I’ve never been before, so was like being on a whole new lake.  Only a handful of bites but the first was a 4.43# that gave me a good tussle keeping her out of the tree she was hiding in.
 

I’m catching so many good fish on the underspin paddletail setup, I’m actually worried I may be getting addicted to one presentation. For now, I’m just telling myself I’m still building confidence in it.  lol

[Swamp Girl]

@The Baron, that underspin paddletail is always rigged and ready in my boat. You've been posting some big bass, buddy. Well done!

 

1 hour ago, GreenPig said:

Lost a very big girl that likely was a DD within inches of my net.

 

I've never met @GreenPig, but man, oh, man, I grieve with him. LIkewise, I've never seen a DD and likely never will. If it doesn't hurt too much to tell the story, GP, I'd like to hear it. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

1 hour ago, GreenPig said:

Yesterday, caught 4 roughly the same as pictured below. Lost a very big girl that likely was a DD within inches of my net. She hit a 9" 5.3 oz Bull Shad as I was slow rolling it in 8 FOW. 

PB Spot, or you mean you almost caught another teener LGM?  Either way, sorry to hear about that.....that pain is real for sure. 

 

I really need to find some better fishing spots ? 

[Blue Raider Bob]

2 hours ago, The Baron said:

@GreenPig Yeah, that’s gotta hurt. ?

 

@ol'crickety @gimruis  I hear you about winter.  Fall is such a wonderful time here in SE Ontario, but I know it can’t last.  We’re supposed to be unseasonably warm here for a couple weeks.  By early November, it will be time to winterized and store the boat. ?

 

I had a lazy morning today, only fished a couple of hours because I have to pick my daughter up early from school.  Wasn’t going to go but thought I’m crazy not to and can use the time to explore one of the lakes I’m focusing on.  I went to the far end where I’ve never been before, so was like being on a whole new lake.  Only a handful of bites but the first was a 4.43# that gave me a good tussle keeping her out of the tree she was hiding in.
 

I’m catching so many good fish on the underspin paddletail setup, I’m actually worried I may be getting addicted to one presentation. For now, I’m just telling myself I’m still building confidence in it.  lol

I'm going to have to break down and try the underspin. May need another tacklebox soon as every visit to my BR friends = whipping out the credit card. I'll tell you its a shame when you can remember your number!  A house framer asked me the other day, "Does Amazon come to your house every day?" I said no why? He said "Because they come to my house every freakin' day!  ?Oh well, at least my wife is happy!"

7 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Then we'll have to fish vicariously through @AlabamaSpothunter, @thediscochef, and the other talented Southern fishers. 

 

Gimruis, I lived in Eau Claire, which as you know, is right at the Twin Cities latitude, so I know what your winters are like and whereas inland Maine is just as cold, coastal Maine isn't. December can be pretty pleasant here, but still too cold for canoe fishing. I plan to quit in about three weeks. I fished too late into the cold last year and it wasn't safe. I also fished too early last spring. It's hard to not fish when seeing the Southern boys boat their beauties!

What? Am I not vicarious enough? Alex, and the chef couldn't catch a nose bled much less winter bass.....uh....maybe that's me I'm describing.?

[Swamp Girl]

33 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

What? Am I not vicarious enough? Alex, and the chef couldn't catch a nose bled much less winter bass.....uh....maybe that's me I'm describing.?

 

Yep, you're funny!

 

 

[GreenPig]

2 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

PB Spot, or you mean you almost caught another teener LGM?  Either way, sorry to hear about that.....that pain is real for sure. 

 

I really need to find some better fishing spots ? 

She was an obese LM that looked like she had swallowed a grapefruit. 

[GreenPig]

3 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

@The Baron, that underspin paddletail is always rigged and ready in my boat. You've been posting some big bass, buddy. Well done!

 

 

I've never met @GreenPig, but man, oh, man, I grieve with him. LIkewise, I've never seen a DD and likely never will. If it doesn't hurt too much to tell the story, GP, I'd like to hear it. 

Sure. I'd been throwing midsized glides and swimbaits for a few hours when I spotted some schoolers. So I deviated from the plan and caught four of them before snapping back into big girl chasing mode.

I hadn't even had a follow on the midsized bait so I tied on two bigger baits, the Megabass I- Slide 262 and 9" Bull Shad, figured I'd swing for the fence. So I head down the lake to Concrete Pipe Point, but as I passed Beaver Hut cove and realized that the wind was blowing across the cove and my innerself told me to turn around. I was going to fish a bit deeper(8 - 12 FOW) with the bigger baits for the remainder of the trip. The wind was blowi g 15 to 20 mph so I was steady on the TM while casting parallel to the bank. On my third cast with BS, she hammered it, so I reeled and sweep my rod low and right and begin cranking. Immediately after hooking her I tapped my SpotLock with my foot on my trolling motor to stop my boat and hold it in the wind. She thrashed at the surface a time or two on the way in but never jumped. So here she is boat side with 6 to 8' of line out and me with my net in my hand. 

Unfortunately I'd missed the SpotLock button and my boat was drifting straight away from her, essentially dragging her. So I hoisted my rod with my left hand while reaching out with the net in my right. She shook her big head and tossed that big bait like she'd been trained to do it.

Just like that she was gone. The entire scene may of taken 10 seconds but was in slow motion for me. So I hit SpotLock so I  could sit down and cry a little. Just kidding.? I retied and went right back to fishing, I may of been shaking a little. She's not the biggest I've hooked and lost or caught. She wasn't hurt so I'm good but would've liked to have touched and photographed her. It was better to hook her and lose her than never hook her at all.

[Swamp Girl]

Wow! What a story. Thank you. Good rebound too from losing her. 

[thediscochef]

2 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

  Alex, and the chef couldn't catch a nose bled much less winter bass.....uh....maybe that's me I'm describing.

In my defense I did catch my PB on December 19 (still technically not winter) but I had to be on a boat to do it ? but basically from there till March...yes, lol 

 

48 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

Sure. I'd been throwing midsized glides and swimbaits for a few hours when I spotted some schoolers. So I deviated from the plan and caught four of them before snapping back into big girl chasing mode.

I hadn't even had a follow on the midsized bait so I tied on two bigger baits, the Megabass I- Slide 262 and 9" Bull Shad, figured I'd swing for the fence. So I head down the lake to Concrete Pipe Point, but as I passed Beaver Hut cove and realized that the wind was blowing across the cove and my innerself told me to turn around. I was going to fish a bit deeper(8 - 12 FOW) with the bigger baits for the remainder of the trip. The wind was blowi g 15 to 20 mph so I was steady on the TM while casting parallel to the bank. On my third cast with BS, she hammered it, so I reeled and sweep my rod low and right and begin cranking. Immediately after hooking her I tapped my SpotLock with my foot on my trolling motor to stop my boat and hold it in the wind. She thrashed at the surface a time or two on the way in but never jumped. So here she is boat side with 6 to 8' of line out and me with my net in my hand. 

Unfortunately I'd missed the SpotLock button and my boat was drifting straight away from her, essentially dragging her. So I hoisted my rod with my left hand while reaching out with the net in my right. She shook her big head and tossed that big bait like she'd been trained to do it.

Just like that she was gone. The entire scene may of taken 10 seconds but was in slow motion for me. So I hit SpotLock so I  could sit down and cry a little. Just kidding.? I retied and went right back to fishing, I may of been shaking a little. She's not the biggest I've hooked and lost or caught. She wasn't hurt so I'm good but would've liked to have touched and photographed her. It was better to hook her and lose her than never hook her at all.

That's an amazing story and heartbreak. I hope you get another one with a better result soon!

[LrgmouthShad]

 

2 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

the chef couldn't catch a nose bled much less winter bass

[FryDog62]

Got a Girthy Gal today on a Slobberknocker. 5.86 on the Richter scale..

[thediscochef]

3 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

 

A+ use of this meme bravo sir

[Bazoo]

Took the bass buster out for a spin earlier. My friend caught a clam, deep rolling a spinnerbait, no pic of that one though. I have caught a clam too, many years ago.

[Swamp Girl]

That's a lotta yellow in those trees, but looking at your t-shirt, it's still warm there. I like your boat. It looks stable and comfy. 

[TnRiver46]

Had a free hour and hit the swimming hole, avoided hooking any humans or dogs and caught one bass 

[Swamp Girl]

This morning, as I was paddling back to my car, an osprey did a low pass over me. Ten minutes later, a Great blue heron did the same and higher than the heron was a V of geese. I thought of Louis Armstrong's song, "What a Wonderful World."

 

And what a wonderful fishing summer I've had, the best of my life. I caught a 6.75-pounder this morning (Yep, I weighed her and she's the last photo. She was hard to frame due to her size and flopping. Frisky!) and a fat bass I didn't weigh, but I'm sure she was over four pounds and maybe five (She was nearly 19" and brawny.). They're the last two pics.

 

Before those big gals are pics of the pond followed by three bass that were typical of my morning catch totaling 22. I also caught two pickerel as big as pike and as hard fighting as bass. I wish the photo of the big bass was better. She was long and strong and I tried three times to get a photo, but she just wouldn't be still and when I tried putting her on the bump board, she went bonkers. 

 

After the three bass is an abandoned camp. 99% of the pond's waterfront has been acquired by a nature conservancy, so the cabins are empty and rotting. The pond can feel post-apocalyptic. 

 

It's an incredible pond. I've caught at least one big bass every time I've gone there and most times, I've caught two to four. I've never seen anyone else. What a wonderful world.

 

P. S. - I told @PhishLI that I think of old maps where there were warnings on the edges, "There be dragons here," when I think of this pond. Its wildness, its abandoned camps, and its big bass all combine to thrill and spook me. Look at the second photo. Doesn't it look like there be dragons there?

[Blue Raider Bob]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Had a free hour and hit the swimming hole, avoided hooking any humans or dogs and caught one bass 

     I really appreciate how you take EVERY opportunity to fish. I'm sure your (slip-a-way) gear is always in your truck. Way to go!

     Back in the day, before mobile phones, when I used a pager and pay phones, and spent lots of time on the road, (modern technology has me office bound now), I kept an ultra-lite spinning outfit in my truck. Many's the time I would cross a bridge, do a double-take, turn around and fish for a few. Is that a Roostertail you caught 'm on?

 

 

[TnRiver46]

@Blue Raider Bob, that’s a fluke style bait by bio spawn, it has great action. Lots of followers and small ones chewing on it like a dog bone 

[Swamp Girl]

2 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

     I really appreciate how you take EVERY opportunity to fish. I'm sure your (slip-a-way) gear is always in your truck. Way to go!

     Back in the day, before mobile phones, when I used a pager and pay phones, and spent lots of time on the road, (modern technology has me office bound now), I kept an ultra-lite spinning outfit in my truck. Many's the time I would cross a bridge, do a double-take, turn around and fish for a few. Is that a Roostertail you caught 'm on?

 

 

 

Bob, I once profiled a paddler for a couple magazines. He paddled from Washington state to Alaska, portaged over the Chilkoot pass, paddled down the Yukon, and then down the Bering Sea. He admitted that he was a little raw after nearly dying many times, but still said that he couldn't cross on a river on a bridge and wonder where it would take him and what he'd see. 

 

Your story reminds me of his, i.e. the pull of water. 

[Blue Raider Bob]

    Wow, what a story! People like that gentleman, and yourself, inspire and embarrass me. I'm inspired by your sense of adventure, backbone, and dedication, but embarrassed because I never had the nerve. Now it's way too late.

     A grade, and high school teammate buddy of mine once rode a bicycle from Seattle to Memphis one summer. He told me later that once he called his mom from the great divide to come and get him, he was giving up. His mom told him no. If you give up now, you will never forgive yourself. He finished the journey.

[MIbassyaker]

Little bit of a pea soup situation today on this lake, but a good morning with 13 in 4 hours...plus another 3 or 4 that got off and half-dozen failed buzzbait hookups.

 

Almost all were 16" to 18", and hit one of 3 baits -- Black Cavitron buzzbait, Gold double-willow Pepper Spinnerbait, or a t-rigged Rage Tail Space Monkey:

 

Big fish was 19", 3.70lb and nailed the cavitron in a foot of water....was probably 4+a couple months ago:

 

Double portrait of the angler under gray skies, with another 16 & 17....enjoying likely one of the last trips he will have time to make this year: