22 Apr 2024 ~ Epic Afternoon Smallmouth Bite ~ (video)

[A-Jay]

I got out onto Lake Menderchuck around noon.

It was clear blue skies but with a pretty stiff Southwesterly wind.

Surface water temps were in the mid to high 40's.

I was on this lake a few days ago and the fish seemed to be staging just a bit outside on the steeper drops.

Very few had moved into where I like to hunt them.

Well the warm sun & wind pushed a bunch right up into my lap.

Action started around 1 PM and was a steady pick until I left right after 6 PM.

It was jerkbait city.  Other baits may have taken fish, but I have a bit of an addiction to the stick baits; so that's what I threw. 

There were a couple of big schools of 3 & 4 pounders roaming all over this one wind blown flat.

I managed to weed through quite a few hoping to mine out some big bronze babes.

My best 5 went 28.88 lbs, (5.02, 5.11, 5.35, 6.35, 7.05)

including my 2nd ever smallmouth over 7 lbs.  

Fish was just a beast, I could barely hold her.  

 

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

 

[gim]

Looks like the talons got a work out too.  Boat control would be much tougher in that chop without them.

[A-Jay]

16 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Looks like the talons got a work out too.  Boat control would be much tougher in that chop without them.

I'm going with near impossible.

And at 64 yoa, just standing up and staying stable on the rocking & rolling forward deck

all afternoon is remarkably physically demanding. 

Loved every minute of it though.

A-Jay

[Jar11591]

Incredible. What a day.

[Dwight Hottle]

Well done sir.

[TnRiver46]

[Robinhood21]

Sweet Mother of God... 😳

[T-Billy]

Absolutely EPIC!!! Congratulations!!!

[Fishlegs]

Love it! You know it's a special day when A-Jay gets giddy! Congrats, again!

 

I feel a strong urge to go buy a jerkbait! 🤣

[tunaman]

Just incredible fish - way to go sir!

[pdxfisher]

That is amazing! Those smallmouth are just insanely fat and healthy looking. I can't imagine a day like that. I barely feel worthy to even watch the video