I bought waterfront property.

[Swamp Girl]

44 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Sounds like a good investment. Enjoy it Katie. 

 

I think it is, Dwight. It's the last lot on a dead end road, there's more than 400' of waterfront, there's power right where the lot starts, and it's level land, which would all appeal to a potential buyer down the road. Plus, there won't be houses on either side. In the meantime, I will store a v-hull there and enjoy years of fun fishing. 

[TnRiver46]

Is it in Arizona??? 
 

just kiddin, congrats 

[Swamp Girl]

20 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Is it in Arizona??? 
 

just kiddin, congrats 

 

It's actually the lot next to yours. I'm tired of just seeing your 21" smallmouth photos. I want in on the action! Yes, I am prepared to catch 32 other species. 

[Eric 26]

Congratulations Katie. And as many others have already said looking forward to seeing your beautiful pictures and reading about your fishing trips as they always make me feel like I was there. 

Edited February 16, 2024 by Eric 26
Content

[Swamp Girl]

Thanks, Eric! 

 

Now, I have a question for you guys. I'm going to buy an old v-hull and likely pair it with a small outboard. I'd like a place to store some basics, like a PFD, net, and tackle. There's not a lot of theft in Maine, so I was thinking something like this and I'm wondering what you think, which I'd just stash in the woods:

 

[gim]

I would say that's probably ok but I definitely wouldn't put anything of significant value in it, even if you think it would never get stolen.

[Swamp Girl]

Agreed, @gimruis. I don't want to tempt someone with something shiny. 

[TnRiver46]

I’ve seen those things crammed full of mice and acorns 

[detroit1]

Sweet for you, Cricket. It sounds like a dream come true. Congrats.   🙋‍♀️

[GreenPig]

That's wonderful. I'm so happy for you and us BR members for all the 2.5 to 3.5 lbers you'll be posting. A flat bottom is more stable IMHO.

[GRiver]

Congratulations 

send pics…. Of fish and property. 

[Bankbeater]

19 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

 

 

First off Congrats!!

I wouldn't leave that outside.  You're liable to come out one day and find it missing and the contents dumped out on the ground.

[Bird]

19 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

Thanks, Eric! 

 

Now, I have a question for you guys. I'm going to buy an old v-hull and likely pair it with a small outboard. I'd like a place to store some basics, like a PFD, net, and tackle. There's not a lot of theft in Maine, so I was thinking something like this and I'm wondering what you think, which I'd just stash in the woods:

 

I'd opt for an lockable outdoor storage shed, very affordable and you could store a push mower and weed eater.

Lowe's , home Depot and Amazon have many to choose from.

[N Florida Mike]

Congratulations Katie!  

[PhishLI]

On 2/15/2024 at 2:56 PM, ol'crickety said:

I just placed an offer on five acres of waterfront property and it was accepted.

Outstanding! Congratulations! Guaranteed there are some big mamas in there for sure.

[Swamp Girl]

50 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

First off Congrats!!

I wouldn't leave that outside.  You're liable to come out one day and find it missing and the contents dumped out on the ground.

 

Maybe I'm naive, but I can't imagine that happening. There's a dead end road that leads to the property and that road is lined with four, newer houses. To reach the path to where my locker would be, you'd have to cross a homeowner's lawn or bushwhack through the woods. Your chance of being spotted and challenged would be quite high. I think squirrels stashing acorns in it is more likely. Access from the pond is also unlikely, as there's no public access to the pond. It's a quiet, peaceful place. 

[12poundbass]

22 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Is it in Arizona??? 
 

just kiddin, congrats 

She said it was lake front property not ocean front property. 😁

[Swamp Girl]

6 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Outstanding! Congratulations! Guaranteed there are some big mamas in there for sure.

 

I hope so, but I've fished it about a dozen times and my biggest bass have been 18". However, they are fat bass, so you might be right. 18" bass eating well have to grow longer, right?

[PhishLI]

Just now, ol'crickety said:

I hope so, but I've fished it about a dozen times and my biggest bass have been 18"

With that type of acreage, you've only scratched the surface then. Stunted populations rarely exceed 2 lbs in the north with a whole bunch of fully mature 1- 1.25lbers dominating. It's striking to see an old fish that small. You can't miss the difference compared to a young fish of the same length and weight.

 

If you've caught 3.5lbers, there are pigs in there. Believe it. They won't be jumping into your boat, but they're 100% in there. Put in the time, adjust your pace and presentations, and you'll hit em eventually.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Katie, this is where the relative weight chart we've talked about in the past is really an effective tool.    

 

In a perfect world you'd get a shock study done on the lake, but essentially all they're doing is making the catching easier in order to get that sample size to run through the relative weight chart.   It's also nice to see what other species are in the lake, and at what population sizes.     

 

If your fish aren't lining up with the relative weight chart, then a shock study, culling, and supplemental forage stocking can turn the lake around within a few short years.   

 

Maybe the lake has a board, and if not you could organize one.   Hard to afford those things with a single person picking up the tab, but if others around the lake care about it, might be a viable option in the future.  

[Swamp Girl]

11 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

If you've caught 3.5lbers, there are pigs in there. Believe it. They won't be jumping into your boat, but they're 100% in there.

 

Okay, I do believe it now. You should see my smile.

 

3 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

 

Maybe the lake has a board, and if not you could organize one. 

 

The lake does have an association. I plan to join it.

 

As far as species, it has largemouth, smallmouth (even plumper than the largemouth), pickerel, pumpkinseed, white suckers, yellow perch, golden shiners, and eels. There's no public access, but the association lets the Boy Scouts hold an ice fishing tourney there once a year.

 

Here are a couple smallmouth from the pond. They're not @A-Jayish, but they're beautifully marked and well-fed. Most of the pond is soft-bottomed and that's where I catch lmbs, but as soon as I pass over a rocky-bottom, I start catching the smb. 

[PhishLI]

Just now, ol'crickety said:

As far as species, it has largemouth, smallmouth (even plumper than the largemouth), pickerel, pumpkinseed, white suckers, yellow perch, golden shiners, and eels.

We'll see you holding at least an 8lber eventually. For sure. Fish it hard during mid-late April/early May. The spookier bigs are somewhat reckless during late prespawn.

[Swamp Girl]

2 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

We'll see you holding at least an 8lber eventually. For sure. Fish it hard during mid-late April/early May. The spookier bigs are somewhat reckless during late prespawn.

 

8 lber? Ha! I wish!*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*And hope!!!

[PhishLI]

Just now, ol'crickety said:

8 lber? Ha! I wish!*

We have 9 acre millponds around here with a similar forage base, including eels, where 9 lbers have been caught. My brother has a 6 acre spot right down the road where a 7.5lber was caught recently, and that joint has otters. Shiner lakes always have monsters in them. 170 acres of unmolested habitat with that forage base? No doubt that there are queens in there.

 

Focus. Believe it. Do your thing, mix in some patience, and you're golden. Personally, I'd barely fish anywhere else if I were you. 170 acres doesn't sound like much, but it is, and it's a lot to unwind. Codes within codes over a full season.

 

Get something simple like a Striker 4 just so you can map the contours and holes before the weeds come up. Find the ambush points and prime real estate/territories where a big might claim. If panfish beds pop up anywhere close to those areas post-spawn, work them hard.

[Swamp Girl]

6 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Personally, I'd barely fish anywhere else if I were you.

 

Nowhere else??? I can't live without my bogs!!!

 

However, I understand your position and it is persuasive. Fishing this pond primarily will be even more attractive with a boat and motor and anchor. The motor and anchor will let me fish anytime.

 

Wind? Schmind!

 

I'm going to buy the Striker 4.