Super User HoosierHawgs Posted January 2, 2016 Super User Posted January 2, 2016 12 hours ago, slonezp said: 2015 Size was up, numbers down. I caught more 4lb+ bass on my home water than in years past. Caught more 5lb+ bass collectively on all the water I fished this year than any year in the past. Don't think I caught any legal walleye this year. Caught a crap-ton of pike although none as big as the one A Jay caught 2016 Going to depend on the outcome of my shoulder surgery. Good luck with your surgery! Thoughts for a speedy recovery! As for me 2016 is fish more, and waste less of my total time. Maximize the time I've got, because you never can truly have "more time". Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 2, 2016 Super User Posted January 2, 2016 1 minute ago, HoosierHawgs said: Good luck with your surgery! Thoughts for a speedy recovery! As for me 2016 is fish more, and waste less of my total time. Maximize the time I've got, because you never can truly have "more time". Thanks. Surgery is complete. Starting physical therapy next week. 6-8 months recovery. 1 Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted January 2, 2016 Super User Posted January 2, 2016 2 minutes ago, slonezp said: Thanks. Surgery is complete. Starting physical therapy next week. 6-8 months recovery. That is quite a while. Hope to hear that you are doing well and that your recovery is on the lower side of the estimate. 1 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 2, 2016 Super User Posted January 2, 2016 19 minutes ago, HoosierHawgs said: That is quite a while. Hope to hear that you are doing well and that your recovery is on the lower side of the estimate. Don't want to hijack the thread. You can read about it here http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/165125-going-under-the-knife-again/?page=1 1 Quote
Airman4754 Posted January 2, 2016 Posted January 2, 2016 I was mainly always a power fisherman, didn't fish deep all that much, didn't change baits often and was more into covering water than picking key spots. 2015 I started finess fishing a lot more, started fishing deep, used baits tailor to the scenario, and got more into "milk runs" as opposed to covering every inch of water. My overall size of fish went up considerably. In 2016 I'd like to become a better drop shot, swim jig, and punch fisherman. Shakey Heads have been so productive I kind of neglect the drop shot and I don't throw a swim jig nearly enough. Quote
Bass Turd Posted January 2, 2016 Posted January 2, 2016 Hoosierbass07 Check out Winkiedoodles videos on YouTube. He does a lot of strip pit / small lake float tube fishing. He's got great tips on a variety of baits. He tells you exactly how he rigs and what the fishing conditions are. I just picked one at random.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA9fK-PBg5A 1 Quote
Mainebass1984 Posted January 2, 2016 Posted January 2, 2016 I had a great year in 2015 fishing in Maine and Vermont. I did not fish as much as in past years due to some situations that I couldn't control. I still managed to get out and bass fish exactly 81 times this year. I caught 949 largemouth and 258 smallmouth in 2015. Total numbers were down from 2014 but more fish were over 3 lbs on average then 2014. I was fortunate enough to get on some very reliable patterns this year and ended the year with 43 bass bigger then 5 lbs. The largest for the year was 7 lbs 13 oz caught in the spring. This year was the 10th year in a row that I landed a largemouth over 7 lbs. I caught my biggest Vermont bass yet weighing in at 6 lbs 14 oz. I usually don't target smallmouth. When I did target smallmouth the fishing was outstanding and this year was the best I have ever experienced. Of the 258 smallmouth I caught 60 (about 23 %) were larger then 3 lbs. I also was fortunate enough to catch my personal best 4 lb 13 oz smallmouth. I had one of my best 5 fish bag limits ever in the spring which I was fortunate enough to share with my mom. For the day my 5 biggest largemouth weighed 29 lbs 15oz, the 3rd heaviest bag I have ever had. This past year the frog bite wasn't nearly as good as 2014. I caught more fish this year flippin then ever before. The most productive lure for me in 2015 was the jig. I had many memorable days with friends and family. I was able to get my mom and dad their biggest bass they have ever caught. My moms weighed in at 6 lbs 4 oz. On the year 7 friends caught there biggest bass fro my boat, the biggest being a 7 lb 9 oz bass my friend Brandon caught. Shane J from here on the forums caught his biggest Maine bass a 7 lb 8 oz largemouth. Shane was also fishing with me when he caught largemouth that put him on the leader board in Vermont and Maine that ended up qualifying him for the BBC. It was a great year in 2015. I can only hope 2016 will be just as good. I am hoping to fish swimbaits more this year and get my first 7 on one. As the custom as every year begins, I hope this year will be the year I get a 10 lb bass in New England. 3 Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted January 3, 2016 Super User Posted January 3, 2016 2015 was my best year ever by far and it just scratched the surface. I got really dialed in a bunch of different disciplines and it paid off in a really big way. I was able to locate and catch bass unlike any other season but I feel like I've still got a long ways to go. I also got my 4-rod quiver set in both physical and mental terms, but I'm making some changes for Sweet '16. My goals for 2016 are mostly thus: 1). Get my tin boat's trailer all set and registered for the season (never got around to it last year) 2). Get my MH setup flipped and replaced in glorious JDM fashion before the ice melts 3). Get some electronics. It just flat out takes too long to map out water without them let alone the fish locating abilities... 4). Sell my kayak and get a FeeFree Lure 11.5 5). Catch a DD largemouth 6). Kind of a tertiary desire but if I could flip my 2nd "project" tin boat and get a~5hp gas outboard for my other one I would be really stoked. I'm a pretty simple guy so my goals are pretty simple. I just want to fill my very limited slots with as sickeningly high end gear as I can manage and just be ready for anything. No huge crazy boats or international trips or anything like that though. 2 Quote
Super User webertime Posted January 3, 2016 Super User Posted January 3, 2016 2015 Highlights: May 9th 2015. 87 Bass, including a 6.5lb Largemouth (PB from Lake Champlain, in my Avitar) 2 casts later a 5.9lb Smallmouth (All time PB). In August I made the Vermont TBF state team. Fishing wise the rest of the year was nothing special. 2016 goals: Participate in the Champlain Bass Series. Get the Ranger out more. A lot more... Do well at the TBF divisional in September on the St. Lawrence. Teach Mainebass1984 how to Carolina Rig... making him a weapon of Bass-destruction. 1 Quote
hoosierbass07 Posted January 3, 2016 Author Posted January 3, 2016 Oh, I forgot one of my 2015 goals that came true - wear my life jacket every time I went kayak fishing and not drown. I'm happy to say I kept my life jacket on every time I went out on my kayak and didn't take it off once and didn't even come close to tipping over on my sit-ontop kayak. Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted January 3, 2016 Super User Posted January 3, 2016 18 hours ago, Master Bait'r said: 2015 was my best year ever by far and it just scratched the surface. I got really dialed in a bunch of different disciplines and it paid off in a really big way. I was able to locate and catch bass unlike any other season but I feel like I've still got a long ways to go. I also got my 4-rod quiver set in both physical and mental terms, but I'm making some changes for Sweet '16. My goals for 2016 are mostly thus: 1). Get my tin boat's trailer all set and registered for the season (never got around to it last year) 2). Get my MH setup flipped and replaced in glorious JDM fashion before the ice melts 3). Get some electronics. It just flat out takes too long to map out water without them let alone the fish locating abilities... 4). Sell my kayak and get a FeeFree Lure 11.5 5). Catch a DD largemouth 6). Kind of a tertiary desire but if I could flip my 2nd "project" tin boat and get a~5hp gas outboard for my other one I would be really stoked. I'm a pretty simple guy so my goals are pretty simple. I just want to fill my very limited slots with as sickeningly high end gear as I can manage and just be ready for anything. No huge crazy boats or international trips or anything like that though. What kayak are you currently in? Quote
Super User Master Bait'r Posted January 3, 2016 Super User Posted January 3, 2016 4 hours ago, HoosierHawgs said: What kayak are you currently in? Entry level Dick's kayak. I think its it's a Future Beach 126 or something like that? I've added a bunch of accessories though. Someone will be happy with it but I've outgrown its shortcomings after 3 seasons in it. 1 Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted January 3, 2016 Super User Posted January 3, 2016 1 minute ago, Master Bait'r said: Entry level Dick's kayak. I think its it's a Future Beach 126 or something like that? I've added a bunch of accessories though. Someone will be happy with it but I've outgrown its shortcomings after 3 seasons in it. I see. Hope you enjoy your 11.5 Quote
pwahmy Posted January 4, 2016 Posted January 4, 2016 2015 was up and down, Spring was killer bed fishing. Summer was tough but managed to squeeze out one of the best days of fishing I've ever had. Fall was okay actually the worst compared to the other seasons. Winter is just now hitting so we'll sw what 2016 has in store. As far as goals I want to gain more confidence in some finesse presentations and slowing down a bit. -Payton Quote
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