Your Pb Planned That Day?

[Bassun]

HA!  That's why I don't have a state record! lol

[Bankbeater]

I was not planning to catch a new PB that day.  I just put on a bait that had worked in that body of water before, and I was hoping not to get skunked.

[WRB]

Planned yes. 2 days before the full moon, prey spawn, with rain forecasted so I took the day off work.

Having a good knowledge of the lake I knew where to start, what depth to expect the bass to be at and what to use and how to present the jig.

I expected to catch a few giant bass on that day and did, because I was on the water and not at work.

Tom

[Heron]

My PB?  No.  But it was, my first fish.  And this catch was about as planned as one could get - for a new guy.   Let me tell you the story of how this all went down. 

 

 

I began fishing last August, and I would walk to the water with one goal in mind - I want to catch a fish, of "respectable size."   Now of course, that certainly lends itself to a little ambiguity, because, it really isnt in regards to any specific size in particular.   I just did not want to catch a small fish.  I wanted one, of respectable size.  

 

Well, as the weeks started to pass, I had scouted out 6 or 7 great spots to fish from, all of which were chosen because they contained features that the fish are typically attracted to. I was also absorbing an excessive amount of fishing information at the time, as if I was cramming for some sort of exam.  But, to no avail, I was not catching anything.  Not to be discouraged though, this was expected. 

 

Then, I came across a fishing report from some guy who fished the same lake in the evening and did well.  At the same time learned more about the "dog days of summer."  Well, when I put these two informational tidbits together, it made more sense, why I wasnt catching anything.  I concluded from that, that perhaps evening fishing would be a better choice.   

 

On the day of the evening trip, I arrived at the lake when the sun was only about 2-3 fingers above the tree line.

 

 But where to go?   I selected the spot that was on the shore of a deep 40ft channel, and next to me, to my left, was a shallow pocket.  It seemed ideal for its deep water access, availability of shallow forage, fallen log for cover, and plenty of ambush staging.  It seemed to me, at the time, that perhaps the fish would hold deep during the day, then come into this shallow pocket in the evening, or stage just outside of it.   Hmmm, ideal indeed. 

 

But what to throw?   I didnt have much of a selection at the time, only 5 different baits total, to be honest.   But, I figured, the sun is low, the water is stained, with visibility of maybe about 2-3ft. --- So with that, I grab my White/Gold spinner bait. 

 

But where to throw it?  Well I figured, parallel to shore, sweeping across the front of that pocket.  And on about the 5th cast - Bam!  I got something.   The fish that was hooked, had some fight to it that I had not encountered before.  It also had a heaviness that I was not familiar with.  When I bring the fish on shore, I am stoked to see that, yes indeed, THIS fish was definitely larger than anything I had caught in the past. 

 

But how big was it?  I scramble to pull out my tape measure, and camera.  The fish measured 17 inches. Im stoked.  THIS fish most definitely qualifies, as being of "respectable size."   THIS fish, is exactly the fish I was looking for.  It was exactly the fish, that I was trying for...that I was hoping for.  I take a quick photo, and pick the fish up and hold it for one last look.  Feeling highly accomplished, I wanted to hold the fish up over my head and hollar out as loud as I could like one of them sand-people from Star Wars.  But, just then, a voice in the back of my head says to me, "ok put it back."   

 

When I released the fish back into the water, and watched it swim off, I had a strange spurt of emotion overcome me, and raised up my hands victoriously to the sky (I was alone, of course).  

 

My personal best, before this fish, was a 12" LM that I caught in 1986.  And since this fish, I have had bigger.

 

Everything just came together that evening.  So, even though this fish is not my biggest, and certainly not my PB...It is, and always shall be - My proudest fish. 

[Heron]

Whoa, that was really long.  Sorry guys. 

[RSM789]

No, it wasn't planned nor anticipated.

 

I had just purchased a new boat and was taking it out on its maiden voyage.  The first 30 minutes or so of fishing resulted in 7 bass, including 5 in 6 casts to a specific target.  I am totally juiced, enjoying the fishing and getting a feel for the boat.  I make a cast to a dock about 25 ft. away from the aforementioned honey hole target, bounce the Roboworm a few times & feel a tap.  As I set the hook, my first thought is " number 8 in my new boat".  Moments later as she peels off line, my thought changes to "Okay, not number 8, but my first catfish in my new boat".  About 20 seconds later this huge green head begins thrashing on the surface & my thoughts change to words, specifically "Holy @#*", at a very high decibel level for that early in the morning.  She weighed 8 lbs. even and is my avatar photo.

[Rhino68W]

I didn't plan on catching mine, especially 2 PBs within 5 minutes of each other on the same bait! It was raining all morning, and I was stuck wandering around this certain pond. Just as I was getting ready to leave I decided to hit up the easiest accessible bank with a spinnerbait. Then fate stepped in...

[Rhino68W]

I didn't plan on catching mine, especially 2 PBs within 5 minutes of each other on the same bait! It was raining all morning, and I was stuck wandering around this certain pond. Just as I was getting ready to leave I decided to hit up the easiest accessible bank with a spinnerbait. Then fate stepped in...

[Ozark_Basser]

PB for me was caught on a Rapala X-rap in December.  I never fished an X-rap before so I took it down to my local honey hole to try it out and check out its action.  I remember it was right before dark and I hadn't caught anything yet.  I remember looking at a visible piece of cover (a small tree I personally had thrown into the water in hopes of catching a fish off of).  I remember casting that jerkbait a little too boldly into the cover and pulling back quickly when it hit the water in hopes of pulling it through the cover safely.  A big female grabbed a hold of it as I pulled away from the tree and the fight was on.  She came in pretty easy because of the cold weather, but it was still a hell of a fight.  

[Bassun]

Whoa, that was really long.  Sorry guys. 

 

Meh good stories take a few lines! 

[Senko lover]

My PB story is pretty unusual. I was fishing with a friend on a (blush) paddleboat on a private lake. We were using corn and worms to catch sunnies for a fry (Something I rarely do). I had a rod with a spinnerbait in the boat as well. I saw a giant splash about 20 feet away, handed my rod with a small bass I was fighting to my friend, and fired my spinnerbait into the wake of the splash. After a couple cranks of the reel handle, my rod bowed over and I landed my pb. It was around 4 pounds; I didn't have a scale with me. No it isn't very big, but I've tied it since and I've only been seriously fishing for a year.