a pretty good day that coulda been a LOT better

[paul.]

hey y'all. went today for just a couple of hours to a little lake fairly close to home. it was raining off and on (mostly on). i started out chunking a big super shad rap (basically a saltwater version that's as big as my hand). started out twitching it on top. well, it didn't take long before i got an absolute MONSTER BLOW-UP, by far the best topwater hit i have had all year. i just about jumped out of my skin it was so loud, abrupt and violent. well, as luck would have it, the fish just flat missed the bait and try as i might, i couldn't get her to come back for seconds. i don't like to guess at fish i don't get a good look at, but i'm tellin' ya, the strike alone weighed 8 pounds ;D. seriously, i think it mighta been a double digit fish or real close. made se so mad >. well after i got my heart back in rhythm and stopped shakin', i started throwing the big shad rap again, this time working it like a jerkbait underwater (twitch, twitch, pause) hoping that they might not miss it like that. caught an ambitious 2 pounder in short order that was apparently determined to make that big plug the only meal he had to eat for 2 weeks. of course landed that dink with no problem, which made me even madder about missing the hawg. about ten minutes later a biggun' (probably 6+) swiped at the bait about 6 ft. in front of me, but missed it. but she came back the next cast and nailed it. had her on for a few secs, but she came unbuttoned and now i was really p.o.'d! . after that, i couldn't get another bite on the big shad rap. i decided to slow down a little and started fishin' a brush hog. changed to a spinnin' rod w/ 10 lb. test just for kicks. caught a 4 pounder pretty quick-like and released it. soon after, set the hook on another, and the drag started hollerin'. she did herself proud fightin', esp. on the spinning rod. she was a pretty good 'un alright - 7-5. got the pic below and quickly released her. called it quits after that. so i guess a pretty good day after all. but man oh man, i wish i woulda got a hook in that first one! i hope to meet up with her again soon. hope y'all are catchin' some too!

[FivePoundBluegill]

Dont get why no ones commented on this thread. That is a great report. I would be happy with the day you had all because of that 7.5 LB bass. Yeah I hate missing big fish... we all do but at least you were able to land a lunker bass and get a nice 4 LBer as well. I realy am suprised that you had a fish attack a top water at this time of year though. I thought once it started cooling down that the bass would not take a topwater bait anymore. Anyway I am sure you will get that first bass that attacked the topwater at some point....

[Jake.]

Great Report! Thanks for sharing.  8-)

[paul.]

That is a great report. I would be happy with the day you had all because of that 7.5 LB bass. Yeah I hate missing big fish... we all do but at least you were able to land a lunker bass and get a nice 4 LBer as well. I realy am suprised that you had a fish attack a top water at this time of year though. I thought once it started cooling down that the bass would not take a topwater bait anymore. Anyway I am sure you will get that first bass that attacked the topwater at some point....

thank you 5pb. water temps are actually not that cold here, about 55-56 degrees. granted, i'd rather fish water that has risen to 55 degrees (springtime), than fallen to 55 degrees, but 55 ain't that bad either way. for what it may be worth, my day debunks 3 commonly held myths about cool water fishin':

1. cool water fish won't bite topwater presentations. not true. the fact is they most definitely will, expecially in smaller waters where the temp is almost uniform throughout. i think it's always important to cover the entire water column in your seach for fish. never rule out or assume anything.

2. as the water cools, you must downsize to appeal to finicky lunker bass. wrong again. i think a big bait appeals to a big fish regardless of conditions. not sayin' you can't catch em on small baits, there's just no need to put up your big ones.

3. cool water fish retreat to deep water and stay there until spring. definitely false. i think a certain portion of fish remain shallow all year long. even those that do "go deep" will make brief forrays into the shallows to feed at times.

well i hope this helps someone. that's the spirit i intend it in anyway. don't want to sound preachy or like a know-it-all, cause i sure ain't. i'm a new guy here and still learning a ton myself. i hope y'all catch some this week.

[bass109]

hawg 8-)

[FivePoundBluegill]

That is a great report. I would be happy with the day you had all because of that 7.5 LB bass. Yeah I hate missing big fish... we all do but at least you were able to land a lunker bass and get a nice 4 LBer as well. I realy am suprised that you had a fish attack a top water at this time of year though. I thought once it started cooling down that the bass would not take a topwater bait anymore. Anyway I am sure you will get that first bass that attacked the topwater at some point....

thank you 5pb. water temps are actually not that cold here, about 55-56 degrees. granted, i'd rather fish water that has risen to 55 degrees (springtime), than fallen to 55 degrees, but 55 ain't that bad either way. for what it may be worth, my day debunks 3 commonly held myths about cool water fishin':

1. cool water fish won't bite topwater presentations. not true. the fact is they most definitely will, expecially in smaller waters where the temp is almost uniform throughout. i think it's always important to cover the entire water column in your seach for fish. never rule out or assume anything.

2. as the water cools, you must downsize to appeal to finicky lunker bass. wrong again. i think a big bait appeals to a big fish regardless of conditions. not sayin' you can't catch em on small baits, there's just no need to put up your big ones.

3. cool water fish retreat to deep water and stay there until spring. definitely false. i think a certain portion of fish remain shallow all year long. even those that do "go deep" will make brief forrays into the shallows to feed at times.

well i hope this helps someone. that's the spirit i intend it in anyway. don't want to sound preachy or like a know-it-all, cause i sure ain't. i'm a new guy here and still learning a ton myself. i hope y'all catch some this week.

Thanks for the tips man. I know fish will sometimes take a big bait any time of year. I did not know however they would take a topwater right now. You said they will take a topwater bait in a smally body of water so would you reccomend throwing a topwater in a small private pond with murky water right now during the evening? There is a small private pond down the street from me that is why I ask. I am guessing since it is small the water temperatures would be pretty much the same all around the pond. Yeah I know that the fish do not all go to the deepest part of the lake during the winter. My last two trips have proven this. Today I caught two three pounders and yesterday I caught a four pounder in a pretty large lake. These fish hit the rattletrap very close to the shoreline as well which proves your point to be true. Thanks for the tips man and I hope you catch more hawgs soon....

[paul.]

so would you reccomend throwing a topwater in a small private pond with murky water right now during the evening?

i'd definitely give it a shot.  if the water is murky, you may have to rely on something that makes some comotion, maybe like a buzzbait crawled as slow as you can and still keep it on top.  maybe a popper with long pauses between pops.  or a super spook walked a few feet then pause for a few secs.

but it sounds like you are just hamering them on a trap right now, so i wouldn't try anything new for too long before going back to that.  i never question success.  if it works, keeps using it until it stops.

i'll tell you another DEADLY cold water tactic.  a shallow running crank with some suspend strips attached to the belly.  crank it down, long pause, couple of twitches or cranks, long pause.  i've caught em on this in 3 ft. of water when water temp was 36 degrees.

good luck and i hope you keep on whackin' 'em!  

[T-rig]

Great report, thanks! 8-)

[roadwarrior]

Fine fish, nice pic, great post!

8-)

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Awesome report, Awesome fish, AWESOME JOB  

[Lightninrod]

WTG Paul!  Fine Fish and report for sure!

Dan

[.dsaavedra.]

paul you da man!!! you never cease to amaze me with your fish. you dont know how badly i would love to go on a fishin trip w/ you!!! ;D

so you caught em on a super shad rap eh? i always wondered about those for bass...they sure are big! what color was it? i like the golden shiner color

i love seeing the fish you catch...it inspires me really...i think im gonna hit the water tomrrow w/ a spook and then probably some suspending cranks and then jigs. that is if my dad feels up to takin me (he doesn like cold ) do you fish alone or do you fish w/ someone? ive always wondered who takes your pictures...cuz it seems to me like you fish alone.