Swamp Girl

Best post!

Another value to counting is it tells the full story of your angling life. If I go out and catch one or three or get skunked, I share that. I don't just post my big numbers, which would mislead the BR membership into thinking that fishing is always great in Maine.

Another good reason to count. And another. And you better keep sharing them. I love to see your joy in catching bass.

I just fished my pond for one hour and fifteen minutes, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. As I've been doing lately, I only took two lures, this time a 4", bubblegum pink Senko wacky rigged and a brass-bladed Mepps spinner. Both caught three bass, which surprised me, as I was fishing under a high Sun on a pretty cloudless day. Maybe I've gained a little insight into catching bass under a high Sun. I caught one bass on a weed line, one approaching a shade line, three in the deeper water adjacent to a dropoff, and one in the middle of nowhere. I didn't put the fourth bass on the bump board so you could see the weather conditions. Nothing big, but all chunky except for the fourth, lip-gripped bass. I used two, little lures because of @Glenn, who coaches us to downsize in the fall. I figured my Mepps would imitate a shad and the little Senko would appeal to sluggish bass.

Some of us share fish totals. Others don't, counting only their big fish, however they define that, as valuable enough to count. I'm a counter and I think counting counts. Here's why: When I keep count, I gain insight into ratios. I consider a big bass to be more than four (pounds). So, by counting, I'll know if a pond is producing a four-pounder every ten fish or twenty, which is telling about the pond's genetics. By counting, I can also can infer about the size and health of the forage base. For example, the pond I fished yesterday morning put shorter and longer bass on my line, but they were all thick. I caught 20 yesterday morning, but the pond is good for 40 or even 50 some mornings. All this tells me that there's a LOT of food in this pond because everyone is eating well even though there are a lot of bass at the buffet. A bog I no longer fish produces big bass, but few bass, which reminds me of musky fishing and one of the reasons I quit musky fishing is because its hours of casting with no action. Lastly, I'm alone in my canoe most mornings, so counting gives me something to do and gives me mini-goals, such as reaching 10 or 40, which keeps me focused.

I get it. Having my pond with a waiting canoe five minutes away has me fishing more than ever, although for mostly one to two-hour spurts. I'm actually going fishing there in a few minutes. Because I get to fish more, I experiment more, trying a new lure or two pretty much every time I go.

Then you're earned the curtsy and many more, my Lord.

If you keep catching big pike and musky, I'll be calling you Exox Andy. I hope T-Musky won't mind.

Pat, did I read in another thread that you fish 365 days a year? If so, this curtsy is for you: If it's only 360 days a year. the curtsy's still for you.

If you go where the Eskimos go....

Giant trout, musky, and bass??? I wish I'd kept pace, but you left me choking on your dust. Proud of you, Andy.

@Blue Raider Bob: Honestly, Bob, I look forward to winter. It's the Cozy Season, the Season of Rest. And it is beautiful in the winter with all the glistening snow. Our snow isn't like city snow, which falls and turns black. Our snow stays white.

@MN Fisher: Thanks for the links! I just bought the forceps and pliers. I already have my phone and scissors attached to me, so I'm not going to add another two things.

So true. I arrange my tools before I make my first cast.

I was using a wacky worm this morning and lost more fish than I caught because it's very easy to gut hook a bass on a wacky worm, so I set the hook sooner rather than later, thus I lose a lot and can live with that.

I'm not surprised we're synced. We're about at the same latitude.

I have a hard time applying ^this^ in the water I fish. I have a great memory for the biggest bass I've caught. On the four bodies of water I fish regularly, I could show you where I caught my biggest bass, as well as sharing their size, time of day, lure, etc. So, naturally, I cast to those spots again and again, but I rarely strike gold at the same spot twice. Likewise, I can be catching 16-inchers and suddenly hook a five-pounder in the same spot. Changes in latitude, changes in bass attitude, I guess.

I'd fish for sturgeon too if I could. They're magnificent.

48 inches??? Wow!!!

I was fishing this morning, I thought about Andy and hoped he was landing a BIG one. I didn't catch a BIG one, but I did catch 20 in three hours. I fished the pond where I caught my PB, the bass in my avatar. The fish I did catch reminded me of why I caught my all-time bass there. You can see it in the big belly of this little one: And you can see it in the build of this 18.25-incher, which has the shoulders and head of a bigger bass: You can see it in the tail of this 17-incher: Yeah, this pond has the genetics and forage base to grow big bass. It also has this if the bass aren't biting: I caught three bass on a wacky worm, two on a spinnerbait, and 15 on a Shimano pink Flash Boost Popper, worked both in a pop and pause retreat and as a walking lure. I tried so hard this summer to catch another 7.5-poundish bass like my PB, but just couldn't and then I remind myself that at my latitude, a 7.5-poundish bass is equivalent to an 11.55-pounder in the South according in In-Fisherman. In short, a rare fish.

I'll be thinking a good thought for you on the water, Andy. Leaving now!

I'm big bass hunting tomorrow morning, launching at the little pond where I caught my PB. I'd love to catch a 5/6/7 pounder or a 20-lb. bag. I usually fish big powerbaits/reaction baits at this pond, but I rigged two wacky worms this evening and downsized my surface presentations to a tiny, translucent popper and a chrome Tiny Torpedo. I also have a small hard jerkbait rigged. Fingers crossed I've made a good guess or two about fishing slower and smaller.

Yep. It's all one motion.

So many times I feel a single tug and reel in a tailless Mayor. That's the danger zone, for sure, i.e. right beside the boat where you're most likely to lose tension in your line. I've lost many bass simply reaching for a net, giving them just enough slack to shake free.

I also use 5/0 hooks too with 4" Mayors. Again, I urge to wait a sec when you detect a hit. The only time I set the hook immediately is when a bass fully commits to killing my lure and runs with it. The bass tries to yank my rod into the water, so I yank back.