Toddy Pond Maine LMB

[ICU812]

New to the boards but thought I'd throw this LMB up that I caught last month out on Toddy Pond in Maine.

I've only recently had time to get back into fishing so I didn't have a proper scale on me at the time (got one now lol), but it was 21 Inches and I'm guessing 4.5 lbs?? Maybe 5 [ch9786], I don't know let me know what you guys think. Sorry for pic quality, its not the best but you get the picture.

Caught this on my FIRST cast with a new 4 topwater swimbait. First cast on the lure out of the box which was pretty crazy. Fish hit it pretty hard with a splash and jumped out of the water one time when it got close to the boat. Lol gotta love the topwater strikes.

I took the pics, looked frantically around for a tape measure which luckily I had, got the measurement, and put her right back in the water. She slapped my hand with her tail and took off into the deep so I can catch her again a few pounds down the road

BTW I'm not really holding it right am I?

[Grey Wolf]

Nice bass , that is close to five.

[flipin4bass]

An easy 5! Great catch guy, they do grow em big up there.

[Big Bass Chaser]

Beautiful fish, great catch. 

P.S.  I don't know how good it is for the fish to touch their gills like that.

[pudmunk]

that's a big boy!

[Fat-G]

Beautiful fish, great catch.

P.S. I don't know how good it is for the fish to touch their gills like that.

Nice fish.

It's not. Holding them by the stomach helps to relax them.

[ICU812]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Yeah I used to fish a lot as a kid and have been away too long. I have to learn basics like how best to handle the fish all over again.

I've been doing some research on the subject and as I suspected I was holding the fish all wrong. From now on I'll grab them with my thumb on their "tongue" and support their weight gently with my other hand.

Thanks again guys great to be on the board!! Caught come mackerel last night and grilled them up. Real Good!! Three mackerel on a rig at once is a nice fight on light spinning gear!!  Gotta love Maine!

[basscatz]

I am thinking on trying out Toddy pond for bass.  It is a 2 hour drive for me.  Could you give me some clues where to try for some good ones.  Thanks!

[=Matt 5.0=]

Nice catch! You should turn the boat around next time so the sun isn't behind you... 8-)

[ICU812]

lol yeah I was shittn a brick and not thinking straight - Hopefully I'll have more opportunities to get better pics with big bass like that in the future

[ICU812]

I am thinking on trying out Toddy pond for bass. It is a 2 hour drive for me. Could you give me some clues where to try for some good ones. Thanks!

Honestly I don't have much experience with the pond.  It gets real deep in the first section of it (northern section) and is shallower in the next two sections. I'd like to get back out there and try to pull a few more out as well - if you're planning on heading out let me know!!

[basscatz]

Where did you find that bass in the pic....it is a nice one!

[ICU812]

Where did you find that bass in the pic....it is a nice one!

She was roaming the shallows near the outlet in the northern section there.  You can see in the third pic on my post that I'm pretty close to the bridge.  I know you're not from the area but as you approach the lake you'll see the spot I mean, pretty near the launch

[basscatz]

What is the water depth there at that spot? Is there a ditch or channel running to the outlet I see in the background?  Is it mostly grass?  Or is there a mix of rocks in there as well?  Was that big fish there just a fluke or did you do well there? Have you fished it very often....what was the size of fish you have caught there?  Thankz

[FL_Sharpshooter]

I'd say that looks about a 5 1/2 lber. Very very nice bass. I usually grab their bottom lip with my thumb and support their belly with my other hand. It's usually a good idea to dip your hand in the water before handling the belly, as to not wipe off any of their protective slime. Great catch!

[ICU812]

What is the water depth there at that spot? Is there a ditch or channel running to the outlet I see in the background? Is it mostly grass? Or is there a mix of rocks in there as well? Was that big fish there just a fluke or did you do well there? Have you fished it very often....what was the size of fish you have caught there? Thankz

You could probably call it a fluke as I don't think ppl usually catch big bass like that in that water. I told one of my friends who's from around here about it and he found it hard to believe that I caught that bass in Toddy Pond. I've seen smaller bass chilling out by the boat launch but nothing like that one. I'm new to the area and don't really have enough experience to speak on the quality of the fishery. Besides that one bass I haven't personally had much luck there. I don't have a fish finder though which I know would be of tremendous help in a lake of that size. I think most ppl fish for landlocked salmon and lake trout there - not too sure.

As far as the terrain where I was, like I said I dont have a depth finder so I don't know too specifically, but it's VERY shallow where I was, (3-5 ft?) and I would assume there is some sort of channel leading to the outlet though I didn't see one. This hog took the lure right by the bank though. It's a mixture of weeds and rocks and stumps in that area. So watch out for your prop lol.

HTH