First Big Bass Of The Year - Battling The Wind!

[hoosierbass07]

 Oh my, am I pumped up!  This afternoon I did something I probably should not have done.  I went kayak fishing in very windy weather.  The thing is, it got very warm today - around 78.   

 

 So I went to a strip pit pond and started paddling and it felt like I was padding up a mountain because of the wind. lol. I eventually made my way around a bend to a small cove out the wind.  Along the way I tried to cast a crankbait, plastic crawdad lure, and the Ned Rig.  I got no bites on any of them.  I spent an hour in this cove just casting around with those lures and no bites.

 

  I decided on my way back to the dock I'll cast all along the bank as the wind pushes me.  And, I decided to use my main confidence lure - a five inch Yum-Dinger Texas Rigged on six pound Sufix Elite mono using a 3/0 Gamakatsu hook.  Yeah, some may say six pound line is too small for a 3/0 gamakatsu hook.  I say no - I get great results with the 3/0 and six and eight pound Sufix Elite mono.  Plus, this six pound mono is a year old!  

 

 So I'm beating the bank and come to a spot where it feels like something grabbed a hold of my Yum-Dinger.  I cast a few more times and catch a small bass.  My first bass of the year from my kayak.  

 

 Then I head on down the bank getting close to the dock and the wind picks up big time.  In fact, it feels like I'm in brunt of the wind.  It's so windy I can't even cast much.  I decided to make one more cast before I headed to the dock to pack up.  I cast out the Yum-Dinger, close the bail, and start paddling some to keep from being blown onto the bank.  Then I realize I got something on.  Then I see it - a big one!  It's even taking drag from the little Lexa spinning reel I'm using.  I keep thinking - man, I hope this six pound line holds up!  I have never taken super large bass on six pound line.  After a minute or so I reel it in to my kayak and lip that thing and pull it up.  

 

 I didn't get any pictures or weight it but I"m thinking a good 3 and a half to 4 pounds, maybe more.  And that six pound Sufix Elite held up fine.  

 

 Here is the funny thing - I probably would not have used that Yum-Dinger if I had not seen a new video by Al Linder talking about how soft stick baits work all year long depending on their size.  I've been reading how in early spring you should use jigs and crankbaits and jerkbaits, but not soft plastic stick baits.  So I've not thrown them at all this spring.  But sure enough, the old Texas Rig Yum-Dinger comes through!  

 

https://youtu.be/xPTcembsEp4

[flyfisher]

i have caught bass in water temperatures down to 38 on the same style of bait and in every month of the year here in Virginia.

 

Oh and nice catch too  

[BrownBear]

Nice job and good story, thanks for sharing!

[hoosierbass07]

 I'm proud of myself.  This is my third year of bass fishing and I'm always hesitant to stick my thumb in the mouth of the bass.  I guess I have a fear that it will bite my finger off like a shark or something.  lol.  This time when I had it next to my kayak I told myself there is no way this thing is getting away from my hands, so I made a quick note on where the hook was and then lipped it good. 

[*Hank]

Sounds like a nice fish,good job!