Latest Catch Pics Thread

[Team9nine]

Saw the last section of the new lake today. Overall I’m thinking this is going to be a very seasonal or weather specific lake. It just doesn’t set up as a good all-around lake from what I’ve seen. I need to spend a full afternoon doing nothing but fishing docks though to make sure I’m not overlooking the primary pattern out there.

 

That said, I went back to the one good structure spot I found after spending an hour down near the dam and caught another dozen bass in about 2 hours of fishing. Nothing big again, but having a blast with this one area - it’s produced nearly 45 bass in the past 3 days. Today, half were cranking and the other half on worms. Also have to credit the FFS unit for making fishing these type areas so efficient.

This fish is pretty typical of the bass I’ve been catching in this area.

 

 

And this is the price you pay for banging a balsa crankbait over a roadbed for hours, and catching a lot of bass in the process. At least it broke near the boat where the bass was able to be netted first.

 

[keagbassr]

Not much going on lately,mostly catching dinks to keepers on spinnerbaits but managed a couple good bites this week, a4-3 on Tues. And a big head no cheese 6-3 today both in a double wide beaver. Thought for sure she was 7+ when she came up thru the weeds. Also a bonus pic of a 3-2 smallie from a week and a half ago up in maine.

[Bluebasser86]

Championship tournament day 2.

 

At the conclusion of day 1, I was happy to be in second, but I wasn't real happy with my spot. I hadn't even seen any bigger fish, and several people had caught at least a couple 16-17 inch fish, while I was struggling to find 15's. I took the same route as the night before and pondered the idea while watching catfish rods. Caught another pretty nice one and came to the conclusion, I'd rather hope some bigger fish moved in than try to find bigger fish in new water I hadn't fished.

 

The morning of day 2 was much calmer than day 1, almost no wind at all, not really ideal for smallmouth fishing. And after 30 minutes of fishing with no bites, I was getting concerned. I got to the same pillar I'd caught 3 of my 5 off of the day before and fired my tube. While I was watching my line, I never saw any movement, but it seemed to not sink long enough. When I tightened the line, sure enough, it was moving for deeper water. The hookset was nice and solid with lots of weight, and to my surprise, a good largemouth wallowed on the surface. After a much calmer battle than my fish the day before, I scooped a 17" largemouth in the net.

I continued working the pillar and nabbed 2 more small keepers off of it, but nothing I wanted to have by the end of the day. The previous 2 days, I'd had somewhat of a trailing boat, a deep V that seemed to follow me everywhere and fish right on top of me, today proved to start out no different. The arrived shortly after I caught my 3rd keeper and jumped right in front of me shortly after. I had 1 real nice one practically lick a jerkbait right next to the kayak but not hookup, but I had very little action for a while after that. I got tired of following the boat and dealing with their antics, so I made the tough decisions to make a long move. 

 

I fished a few quick spots along my move and caught a couple tiny keepers, but again, nothing I wanted at the end of the day. My tube bite from the day before seemed to have evaporated, so I was switching between rods trying to get bit. I finally caught a 15.5" in the back of a nearly dry pocket to make a decent cull.

Then, despite the sun and calm conditions, I started fishing a spook on a shallow rock bank. I had a good fish blast it and miss it, then the next cast, it connected. I fought the fish to the boat, reached with the net, and my line broke. I'm guessing the 20lb braid must have contacted a rock with zebra mussels when the fish dove, but my favorite spook and the fish was gone. I made a switch to one of the only other topwater walkers I had, and first cast had an even bigger fish swipe and miss, then hook up, only to come off just as fast. It was like getting punched in the gut, but I had something going at least. 

 

Around the point, I had another big smallmouth chase my bait all the way to the boat last minute but not eat, then caught a largemouth that was a small cull. A little further down that same bank there was 1 little tree in about 3' of water. I pitched a Yamatanuki at it and caught a smallmouth that was a little over 14" that gave me a decent cull. Next pitch to the same tree, I caught a 15.75" smallmouth.

There was at least one more in that tree that wanted to eat, but all it did was chase the Yamatanuki to the boat, and swirl on a topwater. 

 

At this point, I figured I had the exact same length as what I had the day before (77"). Not bad, but I knew I had to make up 6.5" to catch first and then some extra to pass him. It seemed like every tree I passed had fish on them and the next cove over, I knew had a few trees, so I started pedaling hard since I only had about a hour left. I rounded the point and there is a transition in the rock on the bank a quick drop. I was going to cruise by, but for some reason, I grabbed a rod and made a cast. My bait barely hit the water when a big smallmouth ate it. Didn't even have my Gopro running, that's how committed I was to skipping this bank. I did the unsmart thing and turned the camera on during the fight though. I was shaking so bad by the time I got that fish in the net, I couldn't hardly unhook it. It wasn't a monster by normal standards, but an 18.25" fish in the conditions we had, was a giant.

Now I was over 80", I was given myself a chance, especially if I could get another good one. Maybe 50' down the bank, I saw a big one tracking my topwater, I worked it carefully, watching her close, then nab the bait. She shook her head a couple times, and was gone. Put my head back down and kept casting. 

I got to my area with the trees, a few trees and a beaver dam, I was going to cull here. 15 minutes later, I hadn't had a bite and time was running out fast. I turned around and headed back to the bank I'd caught the big one and lost the other. Halfway down that bank, a fish nipped at my bait but got stuck. I could tell by the swirl and pull, it was a good fish. With less than 30 minutes left, I slid the net under a 17.50" smallmouth.

I caught 2 more fish that didn't help before the finally buzzer sounded. I had given it everything I had. I know I could have culled out those 2 15's with a little more time, or a little better luck, but it just didn't happen this day. I ended with 161" for 2 days, 84" on the day. It turned out to be good enough to put me in 2nd for the tournament, sending me to the Bassmaster Kayak Classic in March next year. It also was the final solid finish I needed to secure the AOY race, and my big smallmouth was the big fish of the day Sunday, which won me a Hobie inflatable lifevest. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed when I found out all I needed was another 2.50" for first place. I know I had that hooked or nearly hooked many times during the day. I told the guy that won to make sure he watches the video whenever I get it done so he can see how many close calls he had ?

 

[Swamp Girl]

@keagbassr, that big head is one lumpy-bodied bass. I can see why you thought she was a seven when she showed her head. 

 

5 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

sending me to the Bassmaster Kayak Classic in March next year

 

Fantastic!

[gim]

5 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

sending me to the Bassmaster Kayak Classic in March next year

Where and when in March is this event?

[Bluebasser86]

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Where and when in March is this event?

Tenkiller in Oklahoma

[Bazoo]

I went to Freeman Lake today, with intent to fish into the rain that was forecast. I had one nip on my buzzbait, but it was pretty slow for a couple of hours. It started raining right before I was going to pack it up, and wham a 5lber decided it was safe to come out for the buzzbait.

[gim]

Whoa, @Bazoo. We need to talk about the haircut police here. And while your at it a razor would also be beneficial.

[Swamp Girl]

2 hours ago, Bazoo said:

I went to Freeman Lake today, with intent to fish into the rain that was forecast. I had one nip on my buzzbait, but it was pretty slow for a couple of hours. It started raining right before I was going to pack it up, and wham a 5lber decided it was safe to come out for the buzzbait.

 

Beauty, Bazoo!

[A-Jay]

Rage Bug on a swinghead did all the heavy lifting for me today ~

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

My buddy has been killing it in the back of the boat lately! He got another 20+” whilst I catch dinks 

[T-Billy]

14 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

whilst I catch dinks 

I've heard that big fish like spinnerbaits. Maybe you should try one of those. 

[TnRiver46]

53 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

I've heard that big fish like spinnerbaits. Maybe you should try one of those. 

Let’s just say nobody has caught jack crap with those! All bigs have eaten the worm 

[Swamp Girl]

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Let’s just say nobody has caught jack crap with those! All bigs have eaten the worm 

'

That means the big bass are under the back of the boat. Turn the boat around and THEN you'll be catching the big ones.

 

#goshI'msmartaren'tI?

 

23 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Sheriff deputy for over 16 years now. Part of my current assignment is transporting inmates to and from court and also sitting in plains clothes with them during their trials. Unfortunately "plain clothes", translates to a suit and tie ?. As someone who selects clothes almost completely based off comfort,  it is not my favorite thing at all.

 

Compromise, Deputy Clayton. Wear the suit and tie, but don your colorful crocs with them. 

[LrgmouthShad]

@TnRiver46 throw a frog out in the middle of the channel. They’ll never know what hit them

#terriblefishingadvice

 

Y’all are hilarious the way you keep harassing him over spinnerbaits ??

[WVU-SCPA]

Best skunking of my life.

 

Took the new project boat out to mess with a few things and decided to take the boy for his first on the water fishing trip since it was going to be a short excursion.  Was ready to go "bye bye" after 45 minutes, but cherished every moment.

 

Did have 2 bites in 30 cast where something just blasted the blades.  Local spinnerbait bite has been fire.

 

 

[Swamp Girl]

2 minutes ago, WVU-SCPA said:

Best skunking of my life.

 

Took the new project boat out to mess with a few things and decided to take the boy for his first on the water fishing trip since it was going to be a short excursion.  Was ready to go "bye bye" after 45 minutes, but cherished every moment.

 

Did have 2 bites in 30 cast where something just blasted the blades.  Local spinnerbait bite has been fire.

 

 

 

Best post of the day. Likely. Unless someone posts a photo of taking their kid AND dog fishing for the first time. 

 

Seriously, I love that photo and your solid dadding. 

[TnRiver46]

9 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

@TnRiver46 throw a frog out in the middle of the channel. They’ll never know what hit them

#terriblefishingadvice

 

Y’all are hilarious the way you keep harassing him over spinnerbaits ??

Ironically the middle of the channel is a great place for

topwater where we were. Shad eating bugs in the scum line are always getting trucked by large SMB in the dead center 

[LrgmouthShad]

2 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Ironically the middle of the channel is a great place for

topwater where we were. Shad eating bugs in the scum line are always getting trucked by large SMB in the dead center 

Spook? Y’all throw those a lot on the Tn River? 

[Pat Brown]

 

Ran into a sizable specimen on a black 1/2 oz nichols buzz bait and got to see a beautiful sunrise.

[galyonj]

6 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Spook? Y’all throw those a lot on the Tn River? 

 

FWIW, I don't throw much topwater anymore, but a walking bait like a spook will get tied on before I reach for anything else (poppers, ploppers, etc).

[TnRiver46]

10 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Spook? Y’all throw those a lot on the Tn River? 

Heck yeah, people even wear em out with ploppers. They will hit anything when they are feeling right 

[Swamp Girl]

35 minutes ago, galyonj said:

 

FWIW, I don't throw much topwater anymore, but a walking bait like a spook will get tied on before I reach for anything else (poppers, ploppers, etc).

 

All this talkin' 'bout walkin' baits has me wanting to try them again. Here's how many bass I've caught on a walking bait:

 

Muskies: 0

 

SMB: 0

 

LMB: 0

[Pat Brown]

55 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

All this talkin' 'bout walkin' baits has me wanting to try them again. Here's how many bass I've caught on a walking bait:

 

Muskies: 0

 

SMB: 0

 

LMB: 0

 

 

I also have 0 fish on walking baits unless you count walking a frog or popper or chopping a glide bait.

 

I keep trying them at times I think they should work and get nothing.  Fast.  Slow.  Long pauses.  Burning them.  Burn + pause.  Silent ones, rattly ones, knockers etc.

 

Tie on a squarebill and let it float to the surface and sit there and it gets eaten.  I don't get it.

 

I had one blow up on a Berkley Cane walker back in early summer and I had one blow up on a super spook night fishing a year ago.

 

Beyond that, I've never even seen a ripple behind one.  I throw them at schooling fish and the schooling stops.  I let it get worked back up on the surface and toss a buzzbait in there and it gets crushed.

 

I don't know what it is.  I think walking topwaters work better at herring lakes or something.

 

Probably just need to do the ole 'tie on only walking topwaters for a month and see what happens ' game with it.  Usually I figure it out when I do that.

[LrgmouthShad]

When I came here to TX, it became immediately apparent to me that a spook is something of a more prominent bait here than in other places I’ve been. So I got several. I’ve used them sparingly. No strikes yet, but they will produce at some point.