BassmanDan

Every year we travel home to Indiana for the week during the 4th of July, but this year circumstances kept us here in NC. I have been keeping a log for about 7 years now and noticed that right after we return from Indiana there has been about a 3 week period when the big bass in my honey-hole eat everything in sight. I wasn't sure if this was just coincidence or not but my stay-home vacation has been unbelievable. I've been on the water most of the last week and am amazed at the numbers of big bass in that lake....here's the numbers: 8 1/2, 8, 7 1/2, 7 1/4, 7...and more 3's, 4's and 5's then I can remember. One day the 8 and 7 1/2 pounder bit within 10 minutes of each other! My buddy says "It's just another fish story without the pics"...

I'd have to say worms, worms, and more worms.

Well I just spent two days on the water and haven't seen my wife or dog so I'd have to say yes.

...will you adopt me? I had a BIG addiction for tackle after the bass bug bit...I wouldn't consider myself cured but now I spend more time fishing than buying and looking. And I would MUCH rather wait and buy the best I can afford when it comes to equipment...having the "perfect" rod and reel combo still makes me go schwing!

Finally throwing a swimbait and committing to it.

I've seen alligators that weren't that big!! Great story and UNBELIEVABLE CATCH...congats!

Very nice pics and story...and the shirt is great! He's got his game face on now.

Maybe that was Mike Long in disguise Chris ;D. I've actually had someone lose their cool and accuse me of lying when I truthfully told them what I caught one day when we were done fishing the same lake. Needless to say that person is "over the top" competitive and I just walked away to let him stew in his own juices. I'll tell you how many I caught and what I got them on but not where...finding them is half the fun anyway.

I have seen firsthand the curious and sometimes negative reactions to fishing in my office where there is a wide variety of ages, cultures and backgrounds. Modern technology has a stranglehold on most young people and the outdoors does not compete for their interest in many cases. I fish at a city park that is right in the middle of a highl-tech college based area... and get the funniest looks when I'm carrying 8 rods down to the lake. Usually I'll see funny looks and hear a comment like "there goes a serious fisherman"..and they are right. At work I don't talk about it unless asked directly to stay "PC". I firmly believe we will see a continued decline in hunting and fishing in our lifetimes that may lead to new laws and unwelcome changes in the way we can enjoy the outdoors.

Great shots Paul...you can tell she's right at home in the outdoors. That frog pic is great.

Those are some beautiful bass Chris...congrats on the PB. Your trophies never cease to amaze me...I have no doubt you'll get that 12.

That sounds like an awesome trip...congrats.

Great looking fish Paul...it's always good to make new friends.

Thanks for all the replies y'all. It's just now starting to sink in. Hawk- Since I was struck with "big fish fever" and didn't get her measurements I think I'll just blow up the two pics and put them in a frame. Dock_master3- I got her from Wheeler in one of their jon-boats. Harris is on fire right now though...it took 39 pounds to win a tournament over the weekend. and Paul...you're right about the gasoline thing...

It's been 11 Years of chasing...countless hours and dollars spent in pursuit. Yesterday it all finally paid off on a tough high-pressure, northeast wind, fish don't want to bite kind of day. I've spent most of the last two weeks fishing until I'm exhausted and collapsing immediately after supper. But I bought a swimbait lure on Saturday... and I've never thrown a swimbait but that's what she wanted. Just threw it out and wound it back...go figure. I've thought about what I would do if I ever was lucky enough to catch her and to be honest I didn't know until that moment. When I saw the scale hit 10-1 there was no doubt she was going back- and then I got in such a hurry I didn't even get her measurements :. After she swam away and I had the pictures and memory 11 years seemed like just a beginning. Here's she is from both sides. Thanks for looking.

Thanks...she weighed eight-eight and was released immediately to hopefully make many more like her.

Hey y'all, The dogwoods are blooming and the big females are thinking about moving up in my waters. Two days of hard jig fishing this week finally paid off. She wasn't that double-digit but a nice start to the season. Most big fish come out to deep water after the hookset but she knew right where the stumps were and shot at them like I wasn't even there. Luck was on my side and I got her turned... then it was a couple big runs and she was in the boat. Here's the pic

Great fish Culln5...it is definitely the time to be hitting it hard in our area now! They grow em fat in NC and Falls is a good place to get that double-digit. If you haven't tried Wheeler it's putting out some good ones this week also. Congrats on a new PB!

that's one of the nicest looking eight-pounders I've seen...congrats!

Great job..very healthy looking bass. Congrats!

Very timely thread...this is the first winter I've not fished in the last 5 years (and it's killing me). Carpal tunnel and now bass (tennis) elbow forced me to take some time off to heal. I started casting left-handed some last season to alleviate the pain and probably will have to continue... even though it SUCKS losing your accuracy and having to re-learn. I second what others have said about walking...my dad was on his last legs a couple years ago but he forced himself out of bed and started walking...it was like a miracle and now he goes 4 miles a day and could probably walk me under the table. Stay active!

Great looking bass...that is enough to bring on a bad case of fishin fever,.

Now that's a day to remember...great job!!

I haven't been on the water since early December so I've forgot how to fish...but about five years ago I couldn't buy a fish in January so I learned how to drop-shot....4 inch worms put fish in the boat when nothing else would. That has worked every winter since then. May be worth a shot, who knows?

I wasn't trying to offend anyone Matt. I'm just describing what has happened on my fishing hole...the lake is only 150 acres and I've been fishing it for 10 years now so it's not hard to see who's there. I would feel the same way about anyone trashing up such a beautiful lake, even if bank fishing was allowed. ...and Dominion Dan, I meant the banks I fish FROM MY RENTED JON-BOAT...do you really think I would make such statements if I bank fished there myself? Come on.