aut0

Thanks. I always think the spawn is hitting earlier than it does. It looks to me like she was still getting ready to do the deal, but water temps are pretty high, right now. We had a good week of sun, about 45 days ago, then about 2" of snow, so it really did a number on everyone's predictions for the timing of the spawn. Worked out for me, though.

Having closed my electronics business, and now working weekends until something better comes up (and I give away this swim team I'm in charge of), I get to fish Mon-Thurs. :-P I took the Kayak on Monday and Tuesday, to Kee Reservoir, which is behind Mercer Mall, in Bluefield (kinda). Got 1 (one) bite on a jig, which he came to the top, and shook off. Little guy. Wednesday, I hit James P. Bailey Lake. This is a Stocked Trout pond. I felt like the Bass King, because nobody else was doing very well in the evenings I went, and I was landing 6-8 bass in an hour before sunset. Here's the best. (Yes, for those who remember me from a few years ago, I have a shirt on. You're welcome). I am usually found in rivers/streams (Bluestone is my fav, followed by the New River and Wolf Creek, in VA), so Largemouth aren't really commonly found on the business end of my line. This is unquestionably that biggest LM I've caught, to date. I'll be bringing scales and tapes with me while I'm bank fishing, now.

Awesome feedback. Glad I was at least in the ballpark.

Hmm... The outside-of-the-gills on that pickerel look funny; striped-ish. Wonder if that's a factor in identification.

Niiiiice, nice, nice. He was quite yellow, in color. I know the pic doesn't portray that, but you know. Definitely looking similar. I think the Pickerel and the Muskie must be pretty close relatives.

So, full disclosure, I have no idea why I never posted this in the forums. I caught this thing in Indian Creek, WV, about 3 years ago. Anybody know what species this is? My GUESS was a Tiger Musky, but I honestly have no idea. It could've been a dragon for all I know. Strange looking thing, when you've caught almost-exclusively smallmouth all your life. Thanks!!! -aut0

Was stationed there, back in 03-06. Not that I ever got to fish it, but I used to live on N. Basilica Ave, which is at the North end of Goose Creek Reservoir. A decent little 20-30 min drive from the college, if I had to guess, but if I ever catch myself back in the lowcountry, I'm going straight to my old house, walking across the street, and throwing a line. -aut0

GoTakeANap: No, I'm wading (in street clothes). The New River has a lot of places that open up wide and shallow. In that particular area, it's chest-high all the way across. Piece of cake. retiredbosn: My buddy and I have talked about floating a stretch of the New and one of the Bluestone, too. Maybe we'll get to it some time. Probably not this year, it's about to turn cold on us.

Hahaha, I'll try harder next time. I didn't really land anything significant. Maybe when I do, it'll be a spectacle. I kinda like having the camera running, though. Wish vimeo hadn't degraded the video. much clearer on my pc.

First-Person-View style: https://vimeo.com/49045148

The weather yesterday was extremely warm for February. Today's too windy, but I'm gonna go out within the next week or so.

I fish creeks/rivers almost exclusively, here in WV/Southwestern VA... Question is, with a winter that has been VERY warm, I wonder what it's going to do to the movement/life of the smallies here? Hoping it doesn't adversely affect them, especially if we have a cold snap later. after being in the mid/high 50's for a while, I begin thinking I need to be out... It's February. This should not be. lol.

Thanks. Yea, had been catching redeyes and <12" smallies all morning, so that one hit me like a sack of potatoes. lol.

OOPS! lol Guilty as charged. In my defense, it was RIDICULOUSLY hot yesterday. lol. Sorry. hahaha

Caught today in the Bluestone River near Pipestem State Park:

Thanks, haha, yea Cripple Creek isn't far at all. We hit the New River sometimes, but our luck there isn't very strong.

Thanks, it's in Southwest Virginia, look up the town "Rocky Gap, VA" and you'll see Wolf Creek rd... Creek runs East along that rd, all the way to Peterstown/Narrows VA, where it enters the New River. I live in Bluefield, WV which is just over East River Mountain from Rocky Gap, so I get to fish it quite often. (Actually, you drive through the tunnel on I-77, not over the mountain. ) Nice little creek, big enough to hold some good sized smallies. Stocked with trout seasonally, as well. I live there, so I've learned the go-to bait... If you leave the house without a bag of zoom lizards, you might as well go bake a cake. You're right though, craw stuff works well too, my buddy likes to switch to a craw crank just because he has so much faith in it. Sometimes he outnumbers me, but usually not. Treble hooks aren't my fav anyways. ;-)

LOL my fishing buddy always gives me hell for using 12lb fluoro on a MH rod to go to wading in the smallmouth streams. He uses 6lb test and the lightest spinning gear I've ever seen. You'd probably get along with him.

The bite has turned off like a light switch down here on the southern border.

Bird Dog: I think he's just kidding. I dunno about Army but EVERYBODY in the AF says: "Don't believe your recruiter" but I don't think it's quite that literal. More of a playful/joking thing. My old recruiter and I ended up working together when we both palace chased to Charleston, WV without having seen/heard from each-other in 3.5 years, I have no complaints from any of my recruiters, or any I've helped since getting out. (I send ppl their way all the time. They give me free shirts and stuff. lol.) 4 years Active Duty Air Force, 2 years Air National Guard here. Loved it, and miss it every day. (Well, I miss Active Duty, anyways)

HAHA too funny, Booger, Nice talking to you too! ryb: Yea, we definitely need to meet up. I've got one buddy that I fish with A LOT, he'd be game for it I'm sure, he's off most Sundays, and I can take off almost whenever I want.

Wow, I've caught over 50 bass easily this year, and only until 2 weeks ago had I caught a single Largemouth, now the last 3 big fish were Largemouth! Caught this morning, off the bank. No boat. Oh, and I put a shirt on this time. You're welcome.

Thanks all. hog: it was a challenge, but my buddy was too far away to take the pic in time to release, so I had to one-handed unzip the backpack, find the phone, which was in a zip-lok bag (because I wade, it's just "insurance" in case i go down in the water when I have my pack on.) get it out of the bag, unlock, and take the pic. haha. Obviously it's not as hard as it sounds though. ryb: pretty crazy, huh?