14 Sept ~ 5lb Smallie

[A-Jay]

Been working over this big flat for a few days now.  It's on the edge of the main lake basin so I'm thinking it reloads - Often.  It's especially productive when the winds blowing in on it.

About 400 yards long & wide there's plenty of room for the fish to move around.  I can see them (SMB) chasing bait all over the place, in, around & over isolated weed patches.   4 inch yellow perch carcasses & the occasional crayfish have adorned my live well routinely each trip. 

A few different baits have taken fish.  All Moving baits though so that makes me very happy - I get to Chunk & wind.  SK RES, a 1.5 Square Bill, A KVD Perch Jerkbait and a Texas rigged tube, but a Megastrike Strikeback spinnerbait  has been the most consistent producer the past few trips and today was no exception.

Several 2 & 3 pound smallies came early & often and then later in the day this 5 pound Fatty De-Stroyed my spinnerbait. 

  I Like it when that happens.

A-Jay

 

[flyfisher]

that thing is a pig!!! nice work

[lecisnith]

It's a great feeling when you're WRONG in thinking it was a decent pike.  Nice Smallie, man.  You're tearing it up lately.  Almost like you know what you're doing...

[A-Jay]

5 minutes ago, lecisnith said:

It's a great feeling when you're WRONG in thinking it was a decent pike.  Nice Smallie, man.  You're tearing it up lately.  Almost like you know what you're doing...

Thanks ~ I'm such a spaz -

I did think it was another big pike and I didn't want to lose another bait so I was Cranking it in pretty good.

Then it went Skyward - I realized right about then I need to turn on the camera and GET THE NET !

A-Jay

 

[Airman4754]

Sweet fish! 

[Turkey sandwich]

Dude, you are getting ridiculous!  I feel like you've already gotten your money's worth out of the new boat and it isn't even a year.  Congrats!  

[jbw252]

Congratulations A-Jay. Sweet fish. That new boat really stepped up your game. 

[roadwarrior]

        

[A-Jay]

6 hours ago, Turkey sandwich said:

Dude, you are getting ridiculous!  I feel like you've already gotten your money's worth out of the new boat and it isn't even a year.  Congrats!  

Thanks TS I appreciate it -

I'm not doing anything different.  It's just that the Pro V is giving me access to water I could never get out on in the Old Town. 

A-Jay

[fishinfiend]

heck ya

 

Love throwing a spinnerbait!

[BassB8Caster]

Nice work! As a newish fisherman, i appreciate you taking the time to make these videos as well as including commentary on the area and lure used. Helps me (and others im sure) implement certain strategies into their fishing. Thanks for sharing!

[Glenn]

TOAD!!!! 

 

[Darren.]

She's a beaut!

[senile1]

Very nice, A-Jay!  You are starting to rack up the catches.  Love the girth on that smallie!

[Catt]

Nice Hawg right there!

[Bankbeater]

Congrats! That is a nice smallie!

[jbmaine]

Now that is one nice fish!!!!!!!!!!

                         Great job

                                         Jim

[JustJames]

Awesome smallie. Are there small mouth in SoCal?

[A-Jay]

Just now, JustJames said:

Awesome smallie. Are there small mouth in SoCal?

Thanks ~

Unfortunately I have No Idea.

For your sake - I certainly Hope So.

A-Jay

 

[tkunk]

Nice fish!  I sometimes do well with spinnerbaits when I fish shallow, wind-blown structure on very windy and wavy days, but I've never had much luck on days where the wind's blowing less than 10 MPH.  

It'd be great if I could start using spinnerbaits more often, because I could cover more water.  A few questions, if you don't mind.

What depth were you fishing?

Do you have success with spinnerbaits when the smallies are in 15-25 fow?

What were you doing for your retrieve?  Maybe something like counting down for X seconds then burning the bait back as fast as possible?

[A-Jay]

10 minutes ago, portiabrat said:

Nice fish!  I sometimes do well with spinnerbaits when I fish shallow, wind-blown structure on very windy and wavy days, but I've never had much luck on days where the wind's blowing less than 10 MPH.  

It'd be great if I could start using spinnerbaits more often, because I could cover more water.  A few questions, if you don't mind.

What depth were you fishing?

Do you have success with spinnerbaits when the smallies are in 15-25 fow?

What were you doing for your retrieve?  Maybe something like counting down for X seconds then burning the bait back as fast as possible?

Thanks ~

The vast majority of my spinnerbait fishing for smallies involves burning the bait within at foot or two of or just under the surface.  Rarely do I go very sub-surface for them like I'll often do for LMB.  

My retrieve is a very occasional stop & go but mostly just high speed.  Water depth depends on cover & structure. 

In this case I was covering a very large flat (400 yards long & wide) that has isolated patched of weeds on an other wise sand bottom.  Some weed spots are 5 ft x 5 ft & a few feet apart and others are 50 ft x 50 ft and several yards apart.  Bass & bait seems to move all over the area when they are active so it pays to cover water.  Water depth ranges from 5 - 10 feet and the visibility is very good, can see the bottom easily the whole time.  Long casts are key.  By getting up wind, casting down wind & letting the boat blow along I can systematically, quietly cover the whole flat.

 When I reach an area I want to spend some time in or I get bit, I drop the Talons and go to work.

Here's what it looks like. . . . .

A-Jay

[bowhunter63]

Congrats,What a sow