BassShephard

Thanks! Makes sense I caught the 22 3/4 on a day just like today except it wasn't gusty. I've nicknamed this Bass ScarFace because it had a huge scare over its right eye/on its head and one down its tail to its tail fin. Very unmistakable if I were to catch it again which I really really hope! Wanted to get that but my camera died.

I really wanted to go fishing today, I have fished only twice this fall and had little luck this year except in Feb. It was around 65 degrees, gusty, partly cloudy, slightly stained water, and water temps pretty low so it would be a day I'd consider not the best for fishing. First I went fishing in a creek since I thought on a day like today chain pickerel would be the best thing to fish for, but not even a bite so I left and went to a pond I frequent. I caught 5 small bass, which I was happy since I didn't think Id catch anything. The clouds started covering the sun so I switch from crank baits to a mepp spinner, I cast the mepp out started reeling and it got hung up so I tugged on it real hard to get it lose ...but it went in the opposite direction! Realizing I have hooked a fish I started pulling and reeling, here is this nice old bass with a huge mouth coming up out of the water, really gotta love those days you think you'll catch nothing only to be dead wrong The bass was hooked by one hook and to boot the bait is older then me and rusty, the very point broke off (but it still had the barb) and this fish was a fighter so another lucky landing. A 22 3/4 and a 23 1/2 this year inst bad despite my mistake luck during spring and summer, I barley caught anything bigger then 2 pounds in those two seasons yet the colder months I have more luck...go figure. Can't wait for spring, hopefully I'll have my boat I bought ready by then, I'm going to be going to Chesdin and the other lakes more so heres hoping I'll catch some even bigger bass next year

I've been walking all around in the inside of the boat and it seems solid, didn't really think to check the transom, but I think its also good. I don't plan to put any thing bigger then a 10 HP on it since most lakes in the area are restricted to nothing over that. Y'all bring up some good points, I like the idea of having a deck and it adds storage, I was thinking about extending it 8-10 inches and moving the seat back 18 inches or more, which would give me more room. I hadn't contemplated retrieving the bass but I plan to take it out on my friends pond first to get a good idea of how the boat performs before modifying and putting it in a lake. This boat I think you could rig up a console/steering on it (if you knew what you where doing). I'll defiantly show pics of my progress, hopefully over the winter I'll have time/money to work on it.

After owning 2 old beat up Jon boats I've been wanting something better for a while now, but haven't had the money or haven't seen any that interest me. Right up the road they put this boat up for sale, I thought it was an interesting little boat but never bothered to stop. I got some extra cash so the other day I decided what the heck and went to look at it. It looked like a good boat, I figured it was prob high but turns out they wanted $550 for boat, trailer and a trolling motor which I thought was a fair price. Its a 1960 Ouachita 15 foot, max yield of 1178 Ibs (If my memory is right somewhere in that area) Its a nice little boat imo and I'm surprised at the shape of the boat considering its 51 years old. The interior is the only bad off part of it, in which it just needs new carpet and some reworking of a homemade deck the owner made. Only downside for me is I'm not fond of fiber glass, I'd rather have a v shape bow and the live-well is in the middle of the boat which is a design flaw imo. Was it a good price for this boat and is it a good brand? Never heard of Ouachita boats, also if you come across pics of this kind of boat let me know, all the boats I've seen of this brand has been 70s and had consoles. I plan to fix this boat up and use it for the lakes in my area, yes finally a boat I can stand in and walk around! Things I know I'm going to work on: New carpet, rework the homemade deck cause they did a sloppy job cutting it (least I don't have to make the braces and what not ) and imo the seat needs to be moved back so you can stand in the front...right now if you tried standing in the front you'd trip over the seat and go over board. Going to add some storage compartments, the open sides of the boat I'm going to either make panels to cover them or make small storage compartments to place inside of it. Still thinking of other things I can do with the boat, reel racks, drink holders or what ever

Caught nothing Sat. Caught 4 bass, 1 BG and a Crappie Sun. Wishing it would stay warm now, lost my job so nothing to do...I want to spend it fishing before I join the Army

Its worth a try! I went today, it was around 52 degrees, high water (though technically the water has been low so its at average depth now) caught 3 bass, a BG and had a bunch of bass that got away. It was slow at first, but around 5 they started feeding, I was using cranks and spinners. Plan to try my luck again tomorrow.

Nice catches!

Its just a matter of time and we all will be catching lots! I've been fishing the same place, Its 2 private ponds on the same property and a creek, but I haven't fished the creek lately. I went last week twice, did decent the first time (little bass and lots of crappie), but cold weather/rain has set in and only caught 2 on the 2nd day. Since I caught that big one I've been craving more big fish . Spawning season is so close.... I've been seeing bream hanging in the shallows messing around, just need the steady temp! Nothing big but I've been catching quite a few bass this size, also gives a good view of the pond. It doesn't show the whole pond, It curves to the Left (toward the back of pic) the island i'm standing on is usually flooded by now, lots of fish like to hang there.

Thanks! My guess is maybe 48-52 maybe higher but I'm accounting for night time cause that is when I caught it around 6:15 pm (maybe later didn't have a watch). Been going a lot since then and been catching a lot of little bass. Fri I hang one I think was big, it felt big and was putting up a hell of a fight but he came to the surface and threw the hook :'( I caught maybe a 1.5-2 Ib fish that day and lots of little ones.

Lol that sounds great but I mean temporary, just for this spawning season I'd have a hard time with those it has lousy vehicle access.

Thanks! Yeah I Don't like guessing what they weigh cause you can only guess but so accurately, all I know this fish was heavy lol and had to be at or over. There claims of one person catching a 9 pound bass and another seeing a 7-9 pound bass. I know I've hung one last year that had to be close to the one I caught, he had nearly just big of mouth but he got off 7 feet from the bank. HAHA I did and it said he weighed 2 pounds 3 oz : If this fish weighed that then I'd eat the Crank bait I caught him on lol.

Thanks, what I learned today was nothing ventured nothing gained, I haven't been to Sandy or biery creek, but want to go really bad but no decent boat. Here is the bait I caught him on, I'm amazed 1. he bite it and 2. I was able to land him. one hook bent, one broke and the slightly bent one wasn't hooked (least I think), neither was the back hook. I call this my lucky bait cause its my go to when I don't catch much and it usually always produces..so it lived up to its name today.

I'll have to do some more vertical structure, I do have one vertical structure its a small tree that had a little brush on it, I caught a 2.5-3 IB spawning bass there last year. I just through some more brush on it (its hard to see in the pic) the 3 trees in the foreground and the ones in the background flood too, though last year my boat was broke so I couldn't hit those flooded trees. The pond is still a around foot low case your wondering, forgot to mention that, but it usually floods heavily. Rather not place any thing on top so I can fish through it and I like Sight fishing. Edit: I take that back its probably only about 8 inches low its usually up to the tree line in the background, but it usually stays flooded Feb-early may.

Check out Warm weather Winter Bass VA thread. It was a great day of fishing, went fishing at 4:12pm and fish were all over the shallows lots of 1Ib some 2 Ib saw a 3 plus and to many to count baby bass (7-9 inch range). Caught a few decent or at least what I label minimal decent size (or eating size) lots of baby bass and what I think is a 6Ib Bass (almost 23 inches)

I started not to go fishing today with the bad day I had yesterday (I caught some yesterday but not what expected being in the 70s) but Boy am I glad I went now. Only had 2 hours to fish (late evening) fish were every were, herds of 1IBs some 2Ibs and even saw a 3 plus swimming around the bank... but nothing was biting. After an hour I hit a hot spot, I think they were feeding on minnows and I just keep pulling them out, I caught what you see below and lots more dinks (lost count). Nearly dark I thought maybe I should call it a day, but decided on going down to the 2 pond on the property. Caught a bass then through my bait along side some pillars and my baits comes to a halt, it felt like I snaged something... here this huge bass comes splashing out of the water I'm pulling and fighting it rod and reel screaming, I'm yelling and praying DON'T COME OFF!!!!....DON'T BREAK!!!... I pull up this big old bass and start yelling and cheering lol. The pictures are crap cause it was near pitch black out and I was shaking, I was to excited to gauge its weight but It has to be a little over over 6IBs what do you all think? jpg

I was fishing one of the ponds I frequent and decided to set up some temporary fish structure. During Spring this pond rises and floods some areas, the fish like to spawn these areas so I made it a little more inviting. The water level goes up to were you see the weeds, fish like this area but it offers little structure, I set it up so I can fish it like cannels with no fear of hanging up and some brush areas for bait fish to congregate on. Lost my knife so I couldn't do what I wanted, but I plan to go back and make sure this stuff doesn't float away once it rains heavy. Any one have any other ideas on how I can make this area more fish friendly? Yes, I have permission to do this. Here's hoping for some large spawning bass this year!

lol Same Never named any but there are some I look for, these are bass with certain distinguishing marks. I caught one today that I will be looking for in the future, he is little but unmistakable if caught again. I've seen some with black spots as well, but I think they lose these spots after awhile?

I'm in another state so I can't say for sure were you live, but here the small ones come up during the warm days. Nights are still near freezing temps, so the larger fish are staying in deeper waters. Imo the best thing to catch now is Crappie, pike and probably smallies, live bait would be best as well. Also look for vegetation and rocks they heat up faster and maintain heat longer then other structure

Yes very good advice! cause I went without mind : forgetting it expired in fall.. but I'm good to go now. I went today for an hour and a half (right before it got dark) Caught one small bass, 2 Crappie and 2 bass got away (one being decent size) Bait used was Shallow crank and tube jig. Had I went earlier I think I would have had a lot of success, but I was working all day for extra cash so I can get a new boat 8-). Plan to go Wed and Thur though.

I think the Potomac has high mercury in some places and something else but you should be ok long as you don't eat to many fish. Around here they have some warnings about mercury and you shouldnt eat but so many a month, I don't eat them so I'm not sure on the specifics.

Thanks! I feel stupid though, when I was at the sporting goods store 2 people were talking about fishing (one worked there) one was talking about he had caught catfish and the other that he caught some strippers. Thinking I had accomplished something by catching those little bass I interrupted and said I've been catching small LBass, they gave me a funny look and the went back to talking. Few Seconds later the guy who works there was showing him a mounted Bass (prob 6-7 pounds) that he caught in Jan :-[ I plan to fish again for Chain pike today, I have the fever! But I will have to fish at the other creek because I have permission there, its private property so long as I fish from the bank I believe I don't need licenses (least that is how I determined what the law means) Chain pike aren't as common in it though so I doubt I will catch anything (there is a slim chance on Smallies and Bowfin though).

I went to that creek today! Just fishing from the bridge, I had some little Chain Pike follow my bait, strike and miss. After awhile and using different baits the mepp Spinner pulled through, I hooked a Chain pike which felt like snagging a rock, my 16 year old reel (the new one I bought last year broke, 3rd broken reel in 3 years : ) flew apart (least I had it for 16 years before it broke) so I reel the pike in with my hands and made the mistake of picking up on the line. The pike falls off on the bank, hits the water, I dive on my knees and stick my arm in to grab it but he got away.... Still counts if I get it on the bank right? I really wanted to hold that fish, he was only around 14 inches, I know that isn't big for a pike but its the biggest I've caught. Now excited, I couldn't wait to catch some more! but after a few cast I realized my licenses expired during fall, so I got the hell out of there (I was just at the sporting good store this morning......... ) I don't have money to pay fines. Here are updated pics of the creek, didn't realize it had this much water, but its covered in vegetation/lily pads during summer. If this isn't pike heaven I don't know what is.

I've seen it before, there was once a 8 or 4 million bounty for catching a record breaking bass, in which case they retracted that bounty after Dottie was caught.. I wonder how they found out it was foul hooked, I have to be honest that I prob wouldn't had mentioned it :-/ Over the record or not, its not an attractive fish, wonder what it ate and how, that thing doesn't look like it could swim to fast.

I hope so I'd like to go to other places but I'm still not familiar with late winter and early spring so I hate to make a trip not have any luck. Here is a creek I want to fish, it has lots of swamps, I've fished from the bridge but never in a boat. I should be able to find some nice Chain pike or dead bodies Up stream. Down Stream

Private pond, one I frequent since its down the road maybe 2.5 acres really nice small pond, I have pics here of it http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1296358207/45#45 Best thing about it is its 75-100 feet away from another pond of equal size and a decent size creek below that pond (pics on the same page) lots of fun in the summer