Super User A-Jay Posted May 13, 2010 Super User Posted May 13, 2010 My favorite fishing partner was a little under the weather yesterday so I flew solo out on a "trout" lake. The wind was really blowing - again. After trying everything I could think of with no action, I resorted to pitching a jig and craw to the few docks this deep clear lake has to offer. Pitching docks from a canoe in 20 knot winds is well let's just say sometimes it's ugly. The first two stops yielded a couple of decent lmb. The third dock is right on the edge of a steep drop and the bottom right in front of this dock is a maze of big timber. On the first pitch I had an immediate pick up - I set the hook and the fight was on. I definitely had my hands full. I'm fighting this obviously big and rather uncooperative mutant bass trying to keep her out of the timber and simultaneously attempting to maneuver the canoe to keep from blowing back through the timber and back onto the dock ! For a few panicky moments there I wasn't doing either one very well. Thankfully the Yozuri hung tough and I managed to get the boat to a better position for a net job. She was 23 inches and flawless. A healthy diet of northern Michigan rainbow trout has served her well. The Rapala scale was bouncing back and forth between 6.9 and 7.1 - so I'm calling her a 7. I released her and called it a day - a very memorable day. A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User firefightn15 Posted May 13, 2010 Super User Posted May 13, 2010 With the conditions described, nice job getting that thing in the canoe. Looks like that hard effort was well worth it. 8-) Quote
Super User Shane J Posted May 13, 2010 Super User Posted May 13, 2010 Awesome! That fish is beautiful! Congrats Quote
Big-O Posted May 13, 2010 Posted May 13, 2010 Awesome fish and from Michigan, while solo in a canoe and in high winds. Miracle comes to mind but persistance, passion and skill fits the bill JUST FINE WTG A-Jay.... Big O www.ragetail.com 1 Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted May 13, 2010 Super User Posted May 13, 2010 ;D Love the image of you in those first few moments. I know how you felt. Good job keeping everything together. And WOW! That is one heck of a MI bass. 23 and 7 goes together just about right. Congrats! Quote
BassThumb Posted May 14, 2010 Posted May 14, 2010 Nice looking fish! Look at that squat, little tail. Quote
phoneman Posted May 14, 2010 Posted May 14, 2010 Holy smokes that thing is beautiful. Last bass I seen that big in MI was in pontiac in bass pro. and that guys from texas! you have to send more pictures. that thing fat! Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted May 14, 2010 Author Super User Posted May 14, 2010 Holy smokes that thing is beautiful. Last bass I seen that big in MI was in pontiac in bass pro. and that guys from texas! you have to send more pictures. that thing fat! Thanks - as for more pictures - not happening :'( Unfortunately what's posted is the best shot of this fish. I was solo on this trip. Between the ridiculous wind gusts and wind blown waves, after landing her, I was working a bit to keep the canoe up right. So at the time, I was satisfied to get this shot of her and a successful release. Of course looking back, I think you're right. Perhaps this will prompt me to get off my duff and finally fabricate an effective camera mount. My fishing partner (wife), who wanted to but could not be there that day, has in her own very kind way, expressed this same sentiment. Which REALLY makes me feel like a mook. :-[ A-Jay Quote
Uncle Leo Posted May 14, 2010 Posted May 14, 2010 For Michigan that is a true trophy, WOW! Congrats! They do not get much bigger and are few and far between. Quote
Super User Grey Wolf Posted May 14, 2010 Super User Posted May 14, 2010 That's a great bass !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote
phoneman Posted May 14, 2010 Posted May 14, 2010 Where in Michigan is that? I understand if it's your personal honey hole and you want to keep it quiet. ha Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted May 14, 2010 Author Super User Posted May 14, 2010 Where in Michigan is that? I understand if it's your personal honey hole and you want to keep it quiet. ha Wasn't a honey hole before this trip. I had only fished this place 3 times so I'm still learning it. But I'm happy with the results so far. As for a location, ya - OK ~ it's way up yonder past the caution light - there's a little country store with an old Coke sign - be sure to stop in and ask Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea - then a left will take you to right to the ramp. hehe A-Jay Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted May 15, 2010 Super User Posted May 15, 2010 Fantastic largemouth for michigan, A-Jay. Sounds like you kept your cool & got the job done. Congratulations. Quote
Taylor Fishin 4 life Posted May 17, 2010 Posted May 17, 2010 Great healthy fish what a fight it must have been Quote
paragon Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 Nice master angler fish a-jay I know fish like that are few and far between. But being a michigander myself it gives me hope. Thanks for sharing. paragon Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted May 18, 2010 Super User Posted May 18, 2010 Where in Michigan is that? I understand if it's your personal honey hole and you want to keep it quiet. ha Wasn't a honey hole before this trip. I had only fished this place 3 times so I'm still learning it. But I'm happy with the results so far. As for a location, ya - OK ~ it's way up yonder past the caution light - there's a little country store with an old Coke sign - be sure to stop in and ask Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea - then a left will take you to right to the ramp. hehe A-Jay Hey, wait a minute...! Describes one of my honey holes to a T! > ;D Quote
hookset on 3 Posted May 21, 2010 Posted May 21, 2010 That's a hawg ANYWHERE! Congrats. Are you going to get it mounted or areplica? :exclamation Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted May 21, 2010 Author Super User Posted May 21, 2010 That's a hawg ANYWHERE! Congrats. Are you going to get it mounted or areplica? :exclamation Thanks ~ She was release. If she had been close to or better than the state record, I would consider a replica. As it turned out a few photos and some video will take care of it. A-Jay Quote
Bass Junkie Posted May 26, 2010 Posted May 26, 2010 Where in Michigan is that? I understand if it's your personal honey hole and you want to keep it quiet. ha Wasn't a honey hole before this trip. I had only fished this place 3 times so I'm still learning it. But I'm happy with the results so far. As for a location, ya - OK ~ it's way up yonder past the caution light - there's a little country store with an old Coke sign - be sure to stop in and ask Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea - then a left will take you to right to the ramp. hehe A-Jay The fish of my dreams comin' back to me........ 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted November 26, 2020 Author Super User Posted November 26, 2020 Ok first off I have to apologize for being a knucklehead. Secondly, my CRS has advance quite a bit more than I thought. Totally forgot I have the Master Angler Award with The Only (non-digital) Pic I have of her hanging in the tackle room. Not the best pic; tried to 'clean it up' a bit. Taking a pic of a pic doesn't leave much to work with. Either way . . . Finally I may not have been 'totally accurate' as to where this fish was actually caught. Lake Menderchuck isn't on any of the DNR maps so . . . A-Jay 3 Quote
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