22RangerZ520R

Appreciate it sir Thanks! Definitely not going to forget it! Appreciate it sir! It didn't feel real as it was unfolding!

Thank you sir! I don't know if it's a record for my "Lake X". I know Butch Brown had like a 65lb+ bag a while back and I'm sure others in Cali have had 5 DD bags, but I haven't heard of many 50lb+ bags out my way. Thank you sir! Appreciate it sir! 👊🏻☝🏻 Appreciate it sir! 👊🏻👍🏻 Yes sir, was nice to meet you as well. I'm looking forward to coming up to Menderchuck this spring for trophy smallies! It'll be here before you know it........! Appreciate it sir! And yep, it's like cloud 9 × 1,000,000!

Appreciate it sir! Yeah, it was a crazy experience, one that I'll probably never have again! It's going to be very hard to top that bag and to top the 13lb PB, but I'm going to try! Yeah, have to keep the backgrounds blurred, I've been burnt in the past from so called fishing "friends" who have abused my info sharing. I can say all were caught on swimbaits, no guide, no live bait and on public water in the US. Appreciate it sir! Epic is a good word to describe it! I know "mega bag" is being used a ton right now, but colossal sounded better to me...lol. If it didn't happen to me personally, it would be hard to believe! I know the guys in Cali are more used to the 13lb+ sized bass, but they're way more rare out east. Ha! Thanks! Yeah, 60lb could be the next goal, but I'm probably going to stick with smaller increments...lol. 57lb bag and 13½lb PB are the new goals. Yes sir, God lined up the stars for me for sure! Yes sir, ffs is a true "game changer". I'll never fish without it.

THANK YOU LORD! ☝🏻🙏🏻 God + preparation + opportunity = Success! Caught my new teener PB at 13lb even and she anchored a colossal 56lb solo bag! I had FIVE double digit bass in one day! I'll never forget it! Every big one I threw to committed and bit. I caught one of the 10lb 8oz right at dark and she bit on the fall. I was able to watch four out of the five eat on Mega Live 2. All were caught on a variety of large hard and soft swimbaits. At this time I'm not disclosing the exact baits (one is a prototype) or location, I hope everyone can understand. My custom F5 swimbait rods paired with Calcutta Conquest 400MD's performed flawlessly. The 13lb was enormous, she went 25¾" × 22"! I've had the goal of a teener for a few years now and it feels great to see the time, money and mental fortitude pay off. The other four giants that made up the 56lb bag were: 11¼, 10¾ and two 10½. It still doesn't feel real and I don't know if I'll ever top that day! It was the perfect storm of conditions and I was able to capitalize on every opportunity with zero mistakes/misses that day. On top of the five giants in the mega bag listed above, I also had a 9¼, 9 and 8 that day too! I'll be doing separate posts with length/girth shots on each of the DD's. Pics are in order of size, 56lb...! 🤯 - 13lb - 11lb 4oz - 10lb 12oz - 10lb 8oz - 10lb 8oz Had to resize the pics to fit on this post, better pics on IG - 22RangerZ520R

Persistence, preparation and timing are probably the biggest take aways I have over the years. Continuing to grind when your mind is telling you to quit (I've been to the point mentally many times where I'm about to pull the plug and put it on the trailer and that's the exact moment I'll get bit!). Making sure your gear is 100%, net at the ready and re-tying baits often throughout the day (I've learned this one the hard way by casting off expensive baits). Hitting prime structure and/or cover multiple times. Catching the big ones "slipping" during a feeding frenzy. Having the mindset of quality over quantity..... I'd much rather catch one giant than the 100 dinks "MLF style" by beating the banks with a bladed jig or shaking a minnow. In a nutshell those are some things I've done/noticed over the years. Nothing new... No secret bait, no private waters, no live bait, no guides, just putting the time in on the water. Also, putting forth the effort needed along with some old fashioned grit and determination. Last, but definitely not least is once the giants hit the net, giving thanks to God for the bite and opportunity to enjoy His creation!!!

Thanks. No, not a KY fish. Ha! A few times...

Tied my PB with this 12lb 8oz giant! A fight I won't soon forget... I've been focused on trophy hunting and the big bait game for over 10 years now. This fish represents countless hours on the road and water! She was a perfect specimen. Healthy, fat and not a blemish on her. A custom F5 swimbait rod paired with a Conquest 400MD spooled with 25lb InvizX brought her to the net. I'm not disclosing exact bait or location at this time. Unfortunately I've been burnt in the past and I'm not repeating that mistake. God is GOOD! ☝🏻🙏🏻 12lb 8oz | 26¼" × 21"

That's correct sir 😁

4" swimbait

NEW smallie PB!!! My last smallie trip up north didn't disappoint! (Minus dropping my phone in the water, ruining it and cutting the trip short because of it and the weather) Fished some new water and ran into this beautiful specimen. Watching her eat on Mega Live 2 was definitely a bonus! The adrenaline dump when the bigs hit the net makes all the time, money and effort worth it! She's my new smallie PB at 7lb 8oz ~ 22¼" × 18"! Thank you Lord! ☝🏻🙏🏻 Can't wait to get back up there next spring!

Update: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2025/06/20/childers-case-moves-to-grand-jury-in-may-31-somerset-columbia-murders/84248210007/

Yep, sad situation for sure. I thought his jailhouse interview was weird and he was chillingly calm.

Dang it! She'll bite again...

Appreciate it sir! Appreciate it sir! Yeah, the trout stocking definitely helped those lakes back in the day

Appreciate it sir