MA heating up

[ErikmonBillsfon]

Caught the bigger one on a top water popper in Sturbridge, MA last week. I think it was the river2sea bubble popper. Caught about 12 today on the same keitech swing impact fat in male perch color. Idk why people complain about durablility they last for me if you right them right. 

 

Both fish caught at dusk. We have had enough rain and cold temperatures recently. Good luck to everyone this season!!!!

 

 

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

Show-off!  Really nice fish! I'm out in the cheap seats ... Pittsfield. Have to agree things are warming up here, well, except for the weather.  I tripped over the bass in my profile pic last week using a black/blue fleck Exostick Pro. Best catch in two years. There is hope for us here in MA. Again, beautiful fish! Congrats!

[ErikmonBillsfon]

I live in Springfield but fish in Lee, MA at my girls lakehouse. That big fish I didn't even weigh, look how skinny it is. She was 21 inches and hopefully she didn't have a clogged stomach. At this time she should be spawned our. : (

 

Hey grumpy if you ever want to try and meet up to fish let me know, just don't phart I'm the boat : )

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

ErikmonBillsfon:  Only lake with which I'm familiar down in South County is Laurel Lake and I'm not too sure I want to deal with the zebra mussel issue. Up here, each time we launch a watercraft we are supposed to sign a form stating that we have "sterilized" the boat if we have used it in a list of questionable bodies of water, one of which is ... you guessed it - Laurel Lake. Since I use a kayak it's not too bad, but still a royal pain. Fortunately there are several good fisheries here. Would be fun to meet another bassin' enthusiast though!  I gotta check out other lakes down there.

 

If ya look at my profile pic you can see mine was post spawn too. Caudal fin was a wreck and you can see the skinny belly. Oh, she was only 19" and, according to my shaky scale she was four pounds two ounces.

 

You should enter the BBWC if you're catching 21" fish!

[Steveo-1969]

@ErikmonBillsfon  I am one of the "Keitech durability complainers".  How do you rig it so you can catch 12 fish on the same swimbait?

[CTBassin860]

On 6/3/2017 at 11:01 PM, ErikmonBillsfon said:

Caught the bigger one on a top water popper in Sturbridge, MA last week. I think it was the river2sea bubble popper. Caught about 12 today on the same keitech swing impact fat in male perch color. Idk why people complain about durablility they last for me if you right them right. 

 

Both fish caught at dusk. We have had enough rain and cold temperatures recently. Good luck to everyone this season!!!!

 

 

Is that Cedar pond?

[TnRiver46]

Nice fish! Thanks for the post. @GrumpyOlPharttei understand trying to stop the spread of zebra mussels but I don't think that's the way to go about it!!! Hahah. There's no need for hassling the people that use the fishery. They are the ones that care the most and provide all the cash. Zebra mussels have already proven that they are much tougher than a signed release form. 

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

@TnRiver46: It is a bit of a pain, especially if ya forget to take a pen or pencil to fill out the form, but rules is rules. I can live with it. So far, as far as I can tell, only one lake in MA is confirmed to have the little beasties so maybe it helps. 

[TnRiver46]

6 hours ago, GrumpyOlPhartte said:

@TnRiver46: It is a bit of a pain, especially if ya forget to take a pen or pencil to fill out the form, but rules is rules. I can live with it. So far, as far as I can tell, only one lake in MA is confirmed to have the little beasties so maybe it helps. 

Oddly enough, we have them in Tennessee and guess what...... clear water and big smallies where there are zebras

[ErikmonBillsfon]

On 6/6/2017 at 9:13 AM, Steveo-1969 said:

@ErikmonBillsfon  I am one of the "Keitech durability complainers".  How do you rig it so you can catch 12 fish on the same swimbait?

perfectly straight on a twistlock gama or owner weighted hook 

ill use a 4/0 for 3.8" and a 5/0 for 4.3" size. 

 

I used to twist the lure all the down so the nose was on the eye and then i would pull the tail tight and then drive the hook threw verticle. I feel that the lure must lay with slackness to it. Not so its bent in a u shape but not pulled taut either. If the area where the hook goes threw has tension on the plastic its more likely to tear. Ive caught pike and bass on the same lure, when it used to rip with one or two fish. For me, I get skunked sometimes and the kietech will always get bit. The majority of this year ive been trying new techniques like swimbaits, glidebaits and bigger profiles but i always know if i pick up that kietech it will get bit. Its just no longer the most fun way to catch em. 

Good luck to you all this season

[Steveo-1969]

@ErikmonBillsfon - Thank you for the rigging explanation! I primarily fish Keitech Swing Impact baits on a jig head. I tried supergluing the bait to the head this past weekend with mixed results. I'll give the twistlock hook a try.