Big Indiana Mama Bass on Yum-Dinger: Biggest Bass this Year

[hoosierbass07]

Wow, about two hours ago I was out on a strip pit with my brother in a canoe.  I've not caught a big bass all year because I've been working so much I've not had chance to fish as much as I want to.  I'm usually too tired to fish during the weekends.

 Anyway, it's Friday and I have tonight off.  My brother and I got the canoe out for the first time this year.  He was tossing a giant magnet in the water to see if he could pull up any cool junk.  I was casting a small soft swim-bait and soft plastic lizard (Texas rig).  For the first hour or two I only got a few bites small very small bass. 

 I decided to take the lizard off and put on my number one all time lure - five inch Yum-Dinger.  I started casting a little further away from the bank and more in the deeper water when it happened - I felt a fish grab my lure.  Then I pulled the rod up to make sure the hook was set.  Then the battle started - My rod, a seven foot Shimano Clarus medium heavy rod bent like it was going to break.  My brother thought my rod was going to break.  I was using my favorite line - Sufix Elite Mono eight pound.  I had my drag set a little tight but that bass started yanking line off my Shimano Symetry like it was the Incredible Hulk.  I tightened the drag more and it still pulled line off.  Then that bass went straight down under my canoe and there I was, holding my rod with a big bend in it, hoping my eight pound line holds up and the rod does not break.  Also, I had the barb crushed down on the hook - a 3/0 Gamakatsu round bend.  That worried me some. 

 Eventually I was able to work that bass up.  I lipped it and wow - a big mama!  I weighed it and it came it at a little over six pounds, one ounce. 

 That bass was one of my biggest and definitely my biggest ever summer bass.  All my other big bass have come in the spring time. 

 I don't catch big bass that size that often.  I don't know about other people, but it was sure a work out for me.  Holding that rod a certain angle, reeling some, letting the drag out, etc...  It was very intense and physical.   

 Interesting fact, all my big bass have come on spinning reels (I only have one baitcaster) and all my big bass have come on either eight pound Sufix mono or six pound Sufix mono.  That Sufix Elite mono has never let me down.  Also, the hook I had on was tied probably a month ago.  Instead of retying a fresh knot, I figured I would not catch any large fish so I kept using the hook with old knot (Triline Knot).  That Triline knot and Sufix line did its job.   

 Anyway, I'm happy over this.  It's either my biggest bass ever or my second biggest. 

 

 

[Gundog]

Congrats Hoosier.

[00 mod]

Congrats on your possible PB!  Get any pics?

Jeff

[Darren.]

Congrats! Yeah, where's the pic!  

[Senko lover]

Time to update that pb info! Nice job bro

[hoosierbass07]

It came at a good time.  I've been working so much and not having time to fish as much as I want, I was getting a little depressed about all of fishing.  I think I need to go back to how I started bass fishing, one pack of Yum-Dingers, one pack of power worms and one pack of lizards and that's it.  I take tons of junk with me but hardly ever use them and then get depressed/mad at myself for carrying all those lures and not using them.  Since I like Texas rigging maybe if I do take along another lure it should be jigs since I like fishing on the bottom.  Frankly, soft stick baits are my number one lure and I would probably be very happy if all I did was use those for the rest of my life.  lol.