Swamp Girl

Whoa! Lotta fish on thin line!

Knowing this makes fishing exciting, trying to puzzle through what bass might love best. I need to do this. There are mornings they barely bite and I shrug and think, "They're not biting hard today," as opposed to thinking, "What might make them bite hard?" Oh, they have told me one day and the next day, they turn all flipsy-tricksy on me and I strike The Thinker's pose in my canoe.

So true and well put!

I hear ya. It does get a little easier when you retire and don't have to sally forth everyday. I just cozy up in my warm home and look outside at the glittering, pretty snow. I wouldn't bet against you. Thank you, Alex. I do pretty well at fishing, but very well at enjoying.

Cool mixed bag, Jon. I'm glad you're still out there, still catching bass, still representing the North.

Well explained, @casts_by_fly.

Consider fishing Maine. The area around Augusta teems with water. I'd launch at a smaller pond right by the road with no ramp that most people drive past. You might be surprised at how many you'd catch right away.

New Hampshire is our nearest neighbor.

Hmm. You're fishing quite close to me. Makes me wonder if I caught fewer bass and fewer big bass because it was simply a Different sort of year.

Great way to end your year. I conceded to winter today too. I was soooooo cold the last time I fished. Now we turn our gaze to the South and its many fine anglers.

In short, 2025 was oh-so-fine. However, compared to 2024, when I caught my PB, 2044 bass, multiple five, six, and seven-pounders, 2025 was a bust. It just doesn't feel that way. I still caught 1,451 bass and more 19-inchers than I caught in 2024. My decision to focus on my pond and my pal's pond and not fish the hard-to-reach bogs likely explains why I caught fewer giants because the bogs grow the bigger beasts, but I caught at least one 19-incher many times I fished my pal's pond (and caught three or four 19-21-inchers a few mornings) and I finally cracked the code to land 19-inchers at my pond (They're in the gnarliest places you can imagine, places with more weeds and wood than water.). I was just so happy on my pond. I still haven't acclimated to owning waterfront. I never imagined it was possible. I remain stunned that I could afford it. It's not the sort of waterfront that rich people buy, as my nearly 500 ft. of shoreline is all wetland, but a couple buddies and I built a primitive boardwalk to reach open water and I keep two canoes there. It's five minutes from my home, so I sometimes only fish for an hour. It's one of the cleanest ponds in Maine because three sides are deep wetlands, which filter the water, and there's only one old camp on the shoreline. The other nine homes are set 250' back. Most of the time, it's just me out there. Heaven. I could show you fish pics, but you've already seen them. I'll just post these pics again: Hear the loons sing and the geese wings and now you understand why I've loved 2025.

This makes sense. There are times when I wish I could buy a simpler car. The average car now costs $50,000. A simple new car costing $25,000 would work for me.

You're welcome. And thank you right back! Your kindness is much appreciated.

I don't know if you guys ever feel this way, but I can feel learning-tuckered after three years of learning so many new things to catch lmb. It's one reason I delayed casting a buzzbait. I assumed that I simply couldn't tie on the bait and cast, that trailing the buzzbait would be the scores of tricks I've have to learn that might increase my catch. It's the same with a bladed jig, another bait I've avoided using. I've gained some competence with half a dozen baits that cover the water column and there are times I just want to keep swing dancing with those baits. I know the moves of those swing dance partners. I can step onto the floor with them and have a great time. "But you should really learn salsa!" someone always says. This doesn't mean that I'm not glad I finally used a buzzbait. As I explained above, it does something other water-churning baits can't do. However, I'm going to develop some competence with it before even considering another new lure. Hopefully I can achieve this before the Kid returns in 2026 because he LOVES learning new lures and if I'm going to teach him, I better know something.

Thank you, F3. I was born in the wrong place, I.e. suburbia. So, I hopped on my bike and rode out to the woods hundreds of time, wading creeks looking for crawdads and climbing trees. Some people are comforted by cookie cutter houses. They discomfort me. I'm still that way. I am so happy floating on a quiet pond. I've had countless eagles and ospreys soar over me, but they still thrill me. Imagine someone who's happiest in a mall. I'm the utter opposite.

I should have just watched Glenn's video. It answers all my questions and some I hadn't yet asked. Thanks, @Glenn!

Second question: Do they work all year? With my 2025 fishing almost over, I'm hoping I can use one again next spring.

No kidding. I wish I had time for us to connect.

I look forward to it. I'm almost done too. I'm actually tuckered. My high-energy dog requires three outings a day and before I even launch, I'm running on fumes. I too have learned so much from the Bass Resource gang. I still get muddled, but when I do, I simply ask.

Mr. 127, you are really open to learning. I hope we're able to help you. Brian, I love your post.

I think a lot about the overlap between lures. For example, I don't think there's a great difference between a lizard and creature, or even between a crawdad and a lizard. And I think that an underspin is basically an upside down spinnerbait. The reason I resisted using a buzzbait is because I already use ploppers and they're both basically propellers. However, using one has shown me that they differ enough for me to cast both ploppers and buzzbaits. For one, the buzzbait is MUCH more weedless and I caught bass in the weeds with it, plus the buzzbait isn't just a surface lure. It's subsurface too.

Oak Ridge. I'd need good weather: enough warmth and not much wind. Unfortunately, the coast of Maine is windy this time of the year. It's double digits most days and doesn't abate most evenings. I lost three bass in a row this morning simply because my hands were too cold to set the hook. And I had the lures fall out of the basses' mouths in the net nearly every time. I need to remember to take my hand warmers and stuff them into some gloves. Thanks, Tim!

I'll try that. Thanks!

After some of you have encouraged me to use a buzzbait, I finally did last night and tonight and caught some solid bass. So, I have a question. I been using two retrieves: A high and water-chopping retrieve A slower water gurgling retrieve Is one generally better or should I continue to use both?

Hmmm. Well, I look forward to a real, quiet, sneaky hit then. I caught these two on the buzzbait this morning: