New Personal Best - 4+ lbs

[David Russell]

Wow, what an evening. I've been fishing seriously for about 9 months. Though my Grandpa used to take my family out when I was a kid, I didn't catch the fever until last year. But I didn't really catch the fever until today.

I fished some Thursday evening at our neighborhood lake and caught a 1 1/2 lb spotted bass. Then on Friday, I had the day off work and fished Chambers County Lake here in Alabama. I got skunked. This morning I fished for a couple hours at Oak Mountain. No dice.

I've only ever caught dinks or 1-pounders out of our neighborhood lake, so I've just thought that's all the lake was producing. But I've also only fished it since moving here in August. And this afternoon, my mind was blown.

I took my family down to the lake to take some photos near some budding dogwoods and my two-year-old son asked to take his "fish pole". So I obliged and decided to take mine as well, just to wet a line. After getting to the lake and snapping some photos, I pulled the fishing gear out of the truck and we walked down to one of our little spots that has produced the most fish for me.

I tied on a lipless crankbait and started throwing. I was just working a counter-clockwise throwing pattern, covering as much water as possible since I knew we wouldn't be there long. (The whole family was in towmy wife, our two-year-old and six-month-old.) After about 10 casts, my wife said the baby needed to get back to some warmth, so I told them to go on ahead while I gave it "two more casts". All I needed was one. Before my wife could even turn to start walking, I felt the rod tip bend in my hands. So I set the hook against it and wow. Because my experience has only been with smaller fish, I really thought I was hung or dragging something. But then the line moved very deliberately and yet without all the jerking around, that I knew I was on to something and it seemed like something big.

My wife asked, "Do you have one?"

"Yes!" was about all I could muster. And then, the fish came to the surface about 12 feet from shore and that big mouth came straight out of the water. The fish jumped and cleared the surface entirely and then fell with a massive splash. That's when I started yelling.

And everyone on the lake heard me.

I went Ike.

The fish surfaced and splashed a second time and I was in heaven. I turned to my wife and asked, "Are you seeing this? This bass is huge!" My wife couldn't believe it. She's seen me so proud of these snapshots I bring home of 1 pound fish. So she knows this is a big deal.

I felt fairly confident that I had a good hook set. But I kept the rod tip low and let it play out just enough for her to tire. I pulled her in and hoisted my personal best fish in the air! Score!

Another angler, who heard my cries of excitement had just walked up and another lady came over and we all marveled at the fish. The lady was out photographing something else and she had a nice camera (I had put mine back in the truck.) So luckily, we got some really good snaps, even with the whole family there. Very, very cool. Within a few moments, it was all over as I carefully released the fish and she swam elegantly back into the depths.

This particular photo was taken with my phone. I'll post the others when the photographer sends them to me.

So I've been around this board long enough to know that a 4-pound LMB isn't the biggest fish in the world. But for me, today, it was. And now, bass fever has set in me this evening like those two treble hooks in the mouth of my biggest catch to date. HOOKED.

[Big-O]

That's Awesome David and congratulations on that fine bass...a big smile and a big fish Also great that your family was there enjoying the entire experience with you

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[shimmy]

Congratulations!!! Anyone here will enjoy a 4 pound bass. That is great. No better feeling, you may be new, but once they get around 4 pounds, it takes skill to reel them in. I have seen very few exceptions in my life of horrible fisherman catching big fish. Your not one of them.

For instance, this lady who catches this giant bass just angers me. I am jealous, but just angry this big'ol bass let her do this to her. Big fish should not be caught like this. Nevertheless, they let it go, i can calm down

[firefightn15]

Now Dave, that is a great story! And like Big O said, having the family around for your nice catch is the ultimate.  Congratulations! 8-)

Shimmy, that vid made me laugh for about 1 min and then, like you, I started getting frustrated.  In the end I was wondering if grandma was even going to let that beast go.

[bassman31783]

Congrats, great fish.  Glad to hear that you are truly hooked now. 

[flipnpitch]

Nice fish, Dave. And like you said, you are now hooked!!

[Grey Wolf]

Congrats on your personal best.

[slonezp]

Congratulations!!! Anyone here will enjoy a 4 pound bass. That is great. No better feeling, you may be new, but once they get around 4 pounds, it takes skill to reel them in. I have seen very few exceptions in my life of horrible fisherman catching big fish. Your not one of them.

For instance, this lady who catches this giant bass just angers me. I am jealous, but just angry this big'ol bass let her do this to her. Big fish should not be caught like this. Nevertheless, they let it go, i can calm down

Poor fish

NICE job on your PB. Get one like that for your 2 year old on his "fish pole" and he'll be hooked for life

[GLADES]

Congrats on the 4+ beauty! The bait monkeys voice will be louder than ever.Two full suitcases full of tackle later... I have caught quite a few @ 4-7 lbs. My goal now is double digit.

[Dwight Hottle]

That's a great story & a great bass. Your hooked now!