Swamp Girl

Yikes, Bob!

I caught a thick lmb this early morning. My camera isn't flashing and I don't know why. Sigh.

I'm sorry, @Reel. Quite a loss.

I caught 18 this morning at my pond, but Al caught 34 on his last outing, so I'm considering changing my screen name to abouthalfalottabass. 1,259 for the year. I've about a month to catch 241 more to reach my goal of 1,500 in 2025. Here are the five biggest:

I didn't know that were so many "we're not supposed to" rules. I've broken some of these not knowing I was breaking them, like spinnerbaits on calm days.

Unlike Al, I only caught two, partly because I was fighting the wind more than bass (It was white capping and I had a wave come over my bow.) and partly because I only fished an hour. 1,241 for the year. All day long I told myself I was going to fish a bog tomorrow morning, but I think I'm going to fish my pond again. It's so close and easy.

Al is one of the best Bass Resource anglers.

We're not supposed to be happy with what we have, but I don't crave new rods and reels and a bigger, faster boat. I'm happy fishing small and old. Plus, we're not supposed to pass up bigger bass for smaller bass, but I do. It's just so much easier on me to fish my pond instead of bogs. My pond is closer and has a canoe sitting in the water waiting for me. Yeah, the bass aren't bog bass, but they're big enough for me:

The fish were feeding where you saw them boiling. You didn't have a chance...without a boat.

OMG, I forgot my big "not supposed to do." I'm not supposed to use spinning rods for everything, but I do because I can cast accurately with them and I believe I cast longer with them. I wish you guys could see me cast under bushes with my spinning rods like the baitcasting pros do.

I love those dark smallies, waskacrank.

I'm cool with mixed marriages too. Another: We're not supposed to enjoy catching bass with bait. I'm not doing it currently, but I've caught thousands of smallies with leeches. It's so exciting when you feel that tiny tap and set your hook into three pounds of brown fury or five pounds of hard-diving walleye.

You're a good dad, Baron.

We all would! Me too! @T-Billy three!

Yeah, I have one of those busy boat big bass days here and there. This was one, all caught on the same morning and many others: When I can no longer fish frosty mornings, such memories will keep me warm.

Pat, you're not supposed to not like catching one fish because you're a big bass angler. I truly don't like catching one fish because I'm a busy boater. Here's another one: We not supposed to love trolling for bass because bass anglers are supposed to cast, but I love the paddling, being free to watch for birds and beasts, and the thrill of watching my rod bend and bend and bend backwards.

I agree with scaleface. The advantage the boat anglers had wasn't likely their lures, but casting from a boat. I think Mr. Bazoo's suggestions are solid.

We're not supposed to like it when bass jump because they often throw the hook, but when they bust out of the water with their big mouths agape and gills flared, they are magnificent and I can't help but love the moment, even if they swim free. What's your "We're not supposed to, but...."?

Wes, no one who hits a rock is too cool for photos! Congrats, Baron, on your five-pounder. It looks like a V-shaped Olympic swimmer.

I launched this evening for a sunset cruise. I wrote "cruise" because it was too windy to cast. I hooked and lost two bass that felt heavy. I did catch four small lmb and this well-shaped smb in 1.25 hours: My 2025 total is 1,239. I'm nickel and diming my way to 1,500.

Those giant goldfish are cool to see. I saw some in the tailwater of a dam, great golden beasts flashing in the roiling current.

Scott, that is so cool!

Smart. You took note and circled back. Musky anglers use the same tactic. I do something similar if I spook a bass. I'll note where that bass was and cast to similar-looking spots. Did you consider T-rigging your Freeloaders? I prefer T-rigging to weighted hooks. Weighted hooks tend to be thicker than the thin EWGs I buy. I need every hooking advantage, as I'm old and setting the hook from a featherweight canoe that shifts under me. Since you're younger and far stronger, you might be able to power through whatever the hook.

If I were Pat, I'd be doing this, given the year he's had:

An ocean sunfish and a basking shark are two, huge, and strange creatures. I would have loved to see them and that up-close moose.