Swamp Girl

Congrat, Bird!

@AlabamaSpothunter Oh, I love "To Build a Fire" too. Papa Hemingway said that American literature began with "Huck Finn." In "Call of the Wild," remember when the man whispers into Buck's ear right before the heavy sled pull, "As you love me."? That's a perfect quartet of words. Papa had his demons, for sure, but he lived pedal to the metal, from volunteering as an ambulance driver in Italy before we even entered the war to being in a plane that crashed in Africa and then the rescue plane crashed too to hunting Nazi subs with his fishing boat. I too am amazed by the fat bass that @Bluebasser86 catches. They look like little Dots, but Dot fed on fatty trout. What's the forage in your lake, Bluebasser86?

It's cool that a crickety, ol' Yankee gal and a young Alabama hog hunter made the same leap to Papa Hemingway!

I once had a crowd watch me catch a fish...up to a point, but I landed the fish alone. I was fishing the tailwaters of a dam for crappie. Big, roaring current, but I was fishing an eddy off the side with 4 lb. test. I hooked a sturgeon and it used the current to its advantage. A crowd gathered to watch the fight. Several times, I got it close to the boat, but couldn't land it. Then the Sun set and everyone left, except for the sturgeon and me. When I did land it in total darkness and release it in the water, my arms were so tired it hurt to start the engine and motor back to the parking lot. I feel badly about playing it so long. It was likely as tired as me. Maybe I should write a book, "The Old Woman and the River." Nice fish, @killobet! And nice reel! @The Bassman, do those homeowners ever protest you fishing in their backyards? I've watched YouTube videos where folks challenge anglers for fishing on their turf. Anyway, I see that snow on the ground and am seriously impressed by your bass.

Man, that's a deep lake! I like how you crank your arm back to pose your fish close to your head. Your second fish has the same fish as the fish below. Not thick, but not skinny. We've gotten so much rain in Maine and that thrills me. There's a bog I tried to fish last year, but couldn't reach because there wasn't enough water to float my canoe. I checked the bog last month and the entry would now float a bass boat, but only if you could lower the bass boat down a boulder-strewn slope. Since then, we've gotten even more snow and rain. So, yeah, we both have a lot to look forward to. Here's that East Coast bass that looks like your west Coast second bass:

Those are beauties, @NorcalBassin. I worry a lot about the western drought. I check the usdroughtmonitor map every week. No lie. And I've been relieved to see your drought conditions improving. Those two numbers you cited, 58' and 150', are stunning. I'm hoping your coming snow melt will help a lot too. We're supposed to hit 16 below zero this week, but I hope to be fishing again come April and maybe even late March if we get a few warm days in a row.

You guys are sweet and funny!

You're probably right, Alex. I'm casting to cover and fishing shallow water. Heck, I fish some bodies of water that are 10' at their deepest. You're right about my prep too, Alex. I study the Fish & Wildlife depth maps and the Google Earth images too. I use the historical slider to see the water at different times of the year, which shows me where vegetation grows. I also bought a laminator so I can print and protect the maps in plastic. I can't see the bait balls, but sometimes I see bass chasing shad on the surface and I've had good luck casting to them. BUT, Alex, I am seriously impressed by your winter fishing. A of Bass Resource guys are struggling, but you have caught so many fish in the four, five, and even SEVEN-pound class. And you're doing it with your dinky boat on a lake that no one else is bothering to fish just now.

Well, if A-Jay is going to upgrade his electronics, I'm going to upgrade my paddle and buy a longer one for that's the way I check depth. FYI, if my paddle can't touch bottom, I know it's deep.

I've met @LrgmouthShad. He's the first giant I've ever met, so I can only roughly estimate his size, but I'm guessing he stands about 14' tall. I know I got a crick in my neck talking to him. So, his bass is likely a DD.

Gosh, those are beautiful bass, Alex. Your bass have preposterous bellies, bellies that make me laugh! Thanks for showing us the sonar screen on video and still shots. There is no way I'll lug a battery for a sonar unit, but I still like seeing how you apply it to catch fish. Congrats, Steve, on your first 2023 bass. You are one ahead of me. Alex is about 256 ahead of me.

I fear fishers near and afar will pile onto this lake. It'll be the smallie equivalent of the Yukon Gold Rush.

Nice fish and great story, Woody. Your pupil has become your teacher. Good writin', Pard!

Hi! I also love wading and fishing from a canoe. I've owned a Grumman Sport Canoe too.

FYI, Tom, A-Jay hooks and land submarines and whales and then paints them to look like bass. He is a very good painter, so don't be fooled.

Howdy, Tom!

Go, BR, go!

Sorry to read you got stuck, @thediscochef. That happened to me twice this year. The first time, I poked the hook all the way through to flatten the barb with pliers. The second time, I had hook cutters with me. Anyway, 2 fish in 22 outings tells me that if I ever go to war, I hope you have my six. You're a never-quit Honey Badger.

I've paddled, backpacked, and cycled thousands of miles and I heartily agree. The wind has been my lifelong enemy. I've had it knock me down atop a mountain and rip my paddle out of my hand. However, I once had a tailwind while biking and it blew me about 20 mph without my pedaling. That was fun, but that night I paid for the pleasure when it flattened my tent. Anyway, nice, fat bass by Alex and Scott!

@Blue Raider Bob I hear ya, Bob. Labs are big eaters. So, let Emmy tame the otters and they can live with you. Otters don't eat as much as labs and Glenda will love having otters running and pooping in her house. BTW, my standard consultation fee is - $300 because my advice is the worst.

Bob, I've sent (overnight delivery, of course) you two black labs with lasers* on their foreheads, both powered by Mr. Fusion Minis strapped to their backs. The expected arrival is tomorrow afternoon. You'll have to sign for them. I bought the lasers from this guy. He seemed reliable, but he did charge me a million bucks:

If we were to meet at Bob's, I'll take the first shift of Otter Watch. Say, do we have to buy tickets to attend the T-billy Muskypalooza?

Man, oh, man, that sounds great. Keep wishing big, my cyber-pal!

I wish I could help, Bob. I catch fish on them, but I don't know what brands and colors I have. I'm always amazed how you guys remember everything about the lures you toss. Do you use a spinning or baitcasting outfit when you throw jerkbaits, Bob?

@Eric 26 Eric, with Alex catching and you and I eating, we'll have to tell the helicopter pilot that while we appreciate his attempt at rescuing us, he'll have to return with a C-130 Hercules.