New PB and A great outing.

[Cade Laufenberg]

I had a good outing On saturday fishing the Mississippi River. The largemouth I've been catching shrunk on me, and it seemed like a lot of fish are starting to move to spawning areas. I think i was catching the males. This happened to me last year, and it was a frustrating time. however, catching a limit of solid 2-3 lb males and then hitting prespawn locations can be very productive. That's just what my plan was on saturday. I stuck around 9 lbs for 4 fish in the shallow areas using a swim jig. After that I moved out to a gravel point where the smallies load in the spring, and was able to connect with a behemoth. I was fishing with a shakey head with 8 lb test when I set hook into the biggest smallie I've ever caught. After a long and dramatic fight i put the fish in the boat and measured it to be 20-1/2 inches long. I'm guessing this fish will weigh around 5+ lbs. At that point I was feeling pretty good about my day. I had 14 lbs and was looking for another kicker fish to improve my limit. A couple hours later I connected with a solid 18" plus largemouth that kicked the weight over 16 lbs. Not to shabby. I would have cashed a solid check in the BFL last weekend.

Needless to say I can't wait to get back in the boat after school today!!  ;D

Here is the new pb smallie!!

[Grey Wolf]

That's a good day on the water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Nice fatty!!

[paul.]

that's cool man.  great fish and story.

[rondef]

Congrats on the new PB.  

[T-rig]

That's a beauty, congrats! 8-) Boy I miss smallies. :'(

[miked62]

Crongrats on the PB

[Cade Laufenberg]

Thanks guys. My friend and I got out last night for a bit and ended up fishing some new water. The pattern for these smallies is starting to come together. Points with moderate current adjacent to spawning areas are holding good fish. And gravel points or scattered rock IN spawning areas or very close to are also producing good fish. I use a swim jig for the shallow points with current, and a shakey head for those isolated rock bars. It's starting to become rather predictable. Here is me with a solid 3+ smallie and my friend stuck a 4 lber out of the back of my boat. Hate it when that happens!! ;D ;D

[roadwarrior]

Great post!

Those are some fine fish.

8-)

[Bass XL]

Nice smallies! I hope the smallies in my lake get that big.

[Cade Laufenberg]

Got out last night again...The fish are in pretty much all stages right now, but the majority are post spawn. The spawn fish i've been catching have been the smaller 14-17" fish, while the post spawners I've had better luck for the bigger fish. I had to work for my keepers last night in my 4-1/2 hours of fishing, but managed 6 keepers and about 30 in the 10 to 13-1/2" range. My best 5 were 14 lbs held down by a 3+ lber and a 19-1/2" spawned out pig. After dark i ended up accidentally catching a 23" and 27" walleye! The picture of the 27" didn't really turn out worth a crap, but it was still sweet.

I hope everyone else is having a good year. Now that these fish are post spawn, the time of year when I excel, it's going to be a slugfest. I get out of school in 2 weeks and I CANNOT wait to start getting on the summer grass patterns. I'll keep you updated.

-Cade

[roadwarrior]

Another nice fish!

8-)

[skillet]

Nice looking Fish !! Sure wish we had some of 'em closer to me ;D...

                               As Ever,

                                skillet

[fishinfiend]

thats a great smallie

[Cade Laufenberg]

Thanks everyone!

the fishing really has been unreal this year. Its only getting better every year.

I fished by myself tonight in similar areas, trying to expand off my pattern. The fish are stacking up on rock points that create an eddy in the current, chasing bait and feeding up. I did catch a few today that were definitely still on the beds, but most were spawned out. I'm sorry for no pictures, I would have got a bump board pic of the 4 lber I caught today, but she was slightly tounge hooked, bleeding, and I just wanted to get her back safely. Overall another awesome night. I caught 30+ Largemouth, 9 keepers and my best 5 a little under 16 lbs. I only had one fish in my limit under 3 lbs, and it was just barely under that mark.