Swamp Girl

I hope so, but I've fished it about a dozen times and my biggest bass have been 18". However, they are fat bass, so you might be right. 18" bass eating well have to grow longer, right?

Maybe I'm naive, but I can't imagine that happening. There's a dead end road that leads to the property and that road is lined with four, newer houses. To reach the path to where my locker would be, you'd have to cross a homeowner's lawn or bushwhack through the woods. Your chance of being spotted and challenged would be quite high. I think squirrels stashing acorns in it is more likely. Access from the pond is also unlikely, as there's no public access to the pond. It's a quiet, peaceful place.

Three times, I caught one bass last April and May and I felt no shame in sharing the details of my near skunks. One of those three times, I was skunked and about to pull my canoe out of the water when I heard current around the corner, for the bog was high and water was roaring through a pipe under the road. So, I cast a wacky worm into a tree trembling in the current, felt a tug, and we tussled. I was fighting the current as she was using the current and I was trying to avoid being swept into the tree as she wrapped around the tree. She was 17.5" with a back as black as charcoal. I remember the details of that fight as clearly as if it were this morning because that bass was so hard to catch. And when I read about other anglers who were skunked or nearly skunked, I say, "Brother." I loved reading this thread. So many great comments. @RipzLipz is right. When we're not catching, we can get busy appreciating everything else that's in, around, and above water. Another one of my one-fish days was a great day to just witness with gratitude because I wasn't busy with bass. And @WRB is right about cold water clamping mouths. Thanks, @Catt, for starting this thread.

Agreed, @gimruis. I don't want to tempt someone with something shiny.

Thanks, Eric! Now, I have a question for you guys. I'm going to buy an old v-hull and likely pair it with a small outboard. I'd like a place to store some basics, like a PFD, net, and tackle. There's not a lot of theft in Maine, so I was thinking something like this and I'm wondering what you think, which I'd just stash in the woods:

It's actually the lot next to yours. I'm tired of just seeing your 21" smallmouth photos. I want in on the action! Yes, I am prepared to catch 32 other species.

Good for you. Me too.

I think it is, Dwight. It's the last lot on a dead end road, there's more than 400' of waterfront, there's power right where the lot starts, and it's level land, which would all appeal to a potential buyer down the road. Plus, there won't be houses on either side. In the meantime, I will store a v-hull there and enjoy years of fun fishing.

Behold the maw on ^this beast.^

I've always loved reading about your river and seeing the bass you catch in it.

Thanks, Alex. It's five minutes from my house and if I ever decide to build, it's the last lot on a dead end road, bordered by swamp on one side and the lot on the other side already has its house built up by the road. So, it would be quiet other than the beavers and loons.

All y'all are welcome anytime. You can camp in the woods and fish as much as you want. You can even use my fancy stand-and-fish boat. Cricket Lake made me laugh! Thanks, A-Jay. Do you remember my thread, Farm Fishing? That's the lake. Here's a link:

And the taxes are only $140 a year as long as I don't improve it.

I just placed an offer on five acres of waterfront property and it was accepted. It's on a pond I LOVE. It doesn't have bass four pounds or bigger, but nearly all its bass are 2.5 to 3.5 pounds. The lake is 170 acres and only one of its four sides can be developed as three sides are marsh. The one side that is developed only has about ten homes on large lots, all set 100' back, so when I look out from my shoreline, I only see water and trees. I am so excited. I'm not going to build on it. I'll leave it wild. It's five minutes from my house, so I'm going to stash an old v-hull on its shoreline and fish like a fancy angler, in a boat that can't tip and I can actually stand. So fancy.

I love my Whopper Ploppers, but I throw a lot of poppers too. Weirdly, I have NEVER CAUGHT A SINGLE FISH on a walk-the-dog bait. And I use them here and there. So, the Spook is to me as the Whopper Plopper is to @gimruis.

I hope you too catch yard-long largemouth bass.

I haven't posted this photo for a long time. It's a 36" largemouth bass!!! caught on a Whopper Plopper (Whenever I catch two bass one one lure, I measure them as one bass and 19" + 17" = a 36" largemouth.):

I love when Jake and Pops out in California catch bass.

Gosh, ^this^ man can write.

As @Blue Raider Bob said so well, Pat could catch bass in a dew drop.

Arrrgh! I don't wail for you, brother. I wail with you, as I've lost footballs with fins too.

Looks like a blast!

I've had good luck changing the size and colors. I go bigger in the spring and early summer and downsize through the fall. I do agree with others who suggest that bone or white and black are your two starter colors.

Creepy cheats.

Great story about Rachel and her pink wellington boots.