Same fish?

[DrAloha]

Caught about 300 yards from one two years ago (today's I'm  wearing orange pants)

This is a 35 acre lake.  And this time of year, I see hogs laid up against the bank (on beds?).  Also, wanna take a guess at the weight? 

View from the other side. 

Link to thread of fish from 3 years ago

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Looks like it but given her size 3 years ago that would be one really old, and more surprisingly healthy-looking fish.   She'd be over 10yrs and that's a really long time to live in the south.  

 

Than again how many lottery fish could be swimming in a 35acre pond?

 

Either way it's a magnificent fish, both of them!   I'd guess the orange pants fish is around 11lbs.  

[Pat Brown]

Since she was 12 and 1/2 the first time and it's been a few years I'm going to say she's 13 😎

 

That's an absolutely gorgeous bass!!!!   Catching fish like that is what it's all about.

 

The damage on the tails looks the same also for what it's worth.

[DrAloha]

5 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Looks like it but given her size 3 years ago that would be one really old, and more surprisingly healthy-looking fish.   She'd be over 10yrs and that's a really long time to live in the south.  

 

Than again how many lottery fish could be swimming in a 35acre pond?

 

Either way it's a magnificent fish, both of them!   I'd guess the orange pants fish is around 11lbs.  

 

It's a fairly deep lake (has a channel that gets to 23 feet).  I just feel like I'm looking at tea leaves trying to read spots on bass.  

 

I swear there are at least a half dozen double-digits in this lake.  I see them on their beds, I go home to my wife and tell her about them, and she just rolls her eyes. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Send me the GPS coordinates, I'll get to the bottom of this for you in no time 🤣

[DrAloha]

3 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

Since she was 12 and 1/2 the first time and it's been a few years I'm going to say she's 13 😎

 

That's an absolutely gorgeous bass!!!!   Catching fish like that is what it's all about.

 

The damage on the tails looks the same also for what it's worth.

 

Thanks!  I honestly don't know.  The more I look, the more I'm not sure.  And I am not sure on the weight either (used two manual scales--

Scale 1, weight 1- 14 lbs,

Scale 1, weight 2- 13.5 lbs (2 minutes later)

Scale 1, weight 3- 12.5 lbs (25 minutes later)

 

Scale 2- 12.5 lbs (20 minutes after catching)

 

Only used manual scales as I get tired of digitals being out of batteries/taring when I don't want to tare.   I guess I'll never know the true weight. 

 

[Pat Brown]

1 minute ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Send me the GPS coordinates, I'll get to the bottom of this for you in no time 🤣

 

I've never been to Memphis. But it does sound like the beginning of a beautiful song.  😎

[DrAloha]

Another picture.  I hope she lives happy and healthy.  I held her in the water for about 25 minutes waiting for my dad and my wife to come and take pictures.  She went side up for a second on the first attempt at release. but second attempt she jetted off like the fastest dink you've ever seen.  

[GreenPig]

Great fish no matter the weight.The color pattern and tail shape makes me think that the same girl. 

[Swamp Girl]

Doc, bass that big are beyond my ken. Listen to Mr. G. Pig, Alex, and Pat. Don't listen to @WRB as he'll tell you that he never estimates of weight of bait. Yeah, Tom's bass were so big that he thinks our biggest bass are bait. 

[Blue Raider Bob]

On 3/30/2024 at 5:57 PM, DrAloha said:

Caught about 300 yards from one two years ago (today's I'm  wearing orange pants)

This is a 35 acre lake.  And this time of year, I see hogs laid up against the bank (on beds?).  Also, wanna take a guess at the weight? 

View from the other side. 

Link to thread of fish from 3 years ago

 

Back in my Memphis State days, (showing my age), the Orange pants would have been a violation!

On 3/30/2024 at 6:20 PM, DrAloha said:

 

Thanks!  I honestly don't know.  The more I look, the more I'm not sure.  And I am not sure on the weight either (used two manual scales--

Scale 1, weight 1- 14 lbs,

Scale 1, weight 2- 13.5 lbs (2 minutes later)

Scale 1, weight 3- 12.5 lbs (25 minutes later)

 

Scale 2- 12.5 lbs (20 minutes after catching)

 

Only used manual scales as I get tired of digitals being out of batteries/taring when I don't want to tare.   I guess I'll never know the true weight. 

 

I vote for the first manual!

[DrAloha]

I’m definitely not a UT fan (the burnt orange pants are as orange as I go). Pretty die hard Memphis fan and alum (from a family of alums in the State days)

 

I do think the first scale was pretty inaccurate— some guys were fishing for catfish next to me and it was their Bass Pro cheap manual hanging scale

My dad came to the rescue with his manual Rapala fish gripper scale (scale 2). He’s made sure it’s calibrated, but not past 10 pounds.  I dunno how well those scales do when they aren’t yanked past a certain weight regularly (it read 12.5 pounds— but when I pulled it down to 13– it stayed there). 
 

Pops insists I need to buy a scale as he’s tired of coming to weigh my double-digit fish (secretly, he likes it). I think it’s bad luck to bring a scale or a net (I only catch big fish when I have neither). Coincidentally, I also never see eagles or interesting wildlife when I don’t bring my nice camera 

[Pat Brown]

If you're going to be catching fish that big, you need to get a real digital scale with a fish Gripper.  I suggest a waterproof one.  I have the Kast King scale and to be honest with you it's been great for years and it's very accurate and it floats!  Maybe 22$ or something?