Mainebass1984

Nice catch ! That fish must have been a sea beast. You got a picture of it ? Id love to see it ? You get any measurements weight it ? Fish that size are very rare around the northeast. You going to get a replica ?

I need a bigger boat. Cant quit my job just yet.... Openwater is only from April through Nov. I need to become a better fisherman first.

Nice fish Jitterbug. The fish were definitely biting on Saturday. The fall bite is heating up. Did you try a crankbait at all ? Good luck ! Where is the qualifier this year ? Have confidence, you get em !

This year has been one of my best. It isn't over for me just yet. I will be fishing until thanksgiving or until the ice is so thick I cant break through it with my boat. Best year for number of bass, 1296 bass and counting. No personal best this year yet but definitely the best for numbers of big bass, 46 bass larger then 5 lbs and still counting. Won 3 consecutive tournaments this year and won Angler of The Year as a non boater in my bass club. It has been one of the best years so far and it is far from being over.

Accomplishments while fishing in Maine: 24 bass between 7 and 8 lbs. 5 bass between 8 and 9 lbs 1 bass over 9 lbs, weighing in at 9 lbs 1 oz , 23.5 inches long, 19.5 inch girth, over 16 years old. Biggest 5 fish limit in Maine weighing 32 lbs 6 oz Accomplishments this year: 1296 bass so far this year since April 19th and still counting 46 bass over 5 lbs this year between Maine and Vermont and still counting Angler of The Year in my bass club as a non boater. First non boater ever to win Angler of The Year in my bass club. While fishing tournaments this year finished 1st in 3 times, 3rd place once, 4th place twice, and 5th place once. Finished in 1st place in 3 consecutive tournaments. Still pushing myself to be a better angler. To share this passion with friends and family. Still searching for a 10 lb largemouth from Maine. Never going to stop chasing at that 10 lber. Its going to happen.

Fall fishing has begun here in New England. Morning lows in the 30s and daytime highs maybe reaching 60's. The water temperature has dropped significantly the past 5 days from 73 to 65 degrees. For most of the day Saturday the water temp was 62-63 degrees. I the waters I fish the fish have been in fall patterns and locations. They will be there until it ices up. The crankbait bite is really heating up. Saturdays lunker on a jig. 6 lbs 10 oz 4 lbs 12 oz on a jig. The fish had a seemingly brand new rapala hanging from his mouth. Still wanted my jig though. On sunday the jig bite died. The crankbait bite was really good, once I figure it out. 5 lbs 0 oz on weightless worm 5 lbs 10 oz on a crankbait. Got to bump the stump to get bit. 5 lbs 7 oz on a crankbait. The fall bite is heating up. I will be fishing off shore isolate structure with a jig and crankbait until it ices over thick enough my boat cant break through.

Fishing this past weekend was great. It sure did feel like fall out there. Saturday was real cold to begin the day at 34 degrees. The wind was calm and it was overcast. I was a bit underdressed for 34 degrees but I was fishing. The bite was a bit slow but productive. The jig seemed to be working best. About id day the bite started to pick. I went to one of y favorite spots around noon and the fish were there and biting. First cast on this sunken tree my jig never hit bottom. A big bass slammed it before it could hit bottom. I set the hook and the fight was on. After a couple strong surges it went completely airborne. It was a big bass. After a couple more surges I had it boat side. It pulled under the boat and when it came next to the boat again I had the net ready. She weighed in at 6 lbs 10 oz. I continues to fish the tree and catching some fish on a jig. I took a few casts with my favorite crankbait Caught a couple fish on that, biggest was 3 lbs even. I went back to the jig and on the first cast hooked into a decent bass. It weighed in at 4 lbs 12 oz. Once I had it in the boat I noticed it had a chartreuse rapala sticking out of its mouth. It seemed new. That fish had broken some ones line and the heart in the process. The fishing remained some what slow but productive. It started to rain. It was a bit cold for this time of year. It only managed a balmy 57 degrees for the high temp of the day. I fished until dark and boated a couple more decent fish, a 4 lbs 5 oz and 3 lb 0 oz. Sunday it was cold in the morning again. This time it was windy and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky. Fishing started off really good. In the first hour I boated 10 bass mostly on a jig and weightless worm. On my third cast of the day I hooked into a chunky largemouth on a weightless worm. About 10 minutes after that fish I was flippin some trees with my jig and hooked into a 4 lb 8 oz. It was pandemonium getting that fish in the boat. I hooked it way back in the tree, pulled it up an over 2 tree branches and got it unwrapped before I got it in the boat. Great start to the day. After the first hour of fishing the bite pretty much died. I went to the same productive main lake sunken trees that were so productive the day before. I couldn't get a single bite on a jig. The weightless worm wasn't producing well either. I caught a couple fish but nothing good on the worm. I did catch a 3 lb 0 oz on a crankbait. The fishing was slow. The wind was blowing. It wasn't warm. I figured it was going to be a tough day. After struggling for a couple hours I picked up another decent fish on a crankbait a 3 lb 10 oz. The crankbait was producing best it seemed. So I stuck with it. Went back to one of my favorite off shore spots I had already fished with a jig and a worm. I anchored the boat. First cast with the crankbait I feel it bump off the tree and then a huge fish loads up on it. The rod bends over double, the drag rips out and then snap. Gone. Busted my line. That was sad. I like an idiot hadn't retied after catching a pickerel. I told myself it was a pickerel that had just broke my line. I sat down and was eating my lunch when I hear something 15 feet away. It was a very large bass trying to jump and shack my lure fro its mouth. I got a pretty good look at it. It was big. I was disappointed. I know better I should have retied. Bummer. After I was done with my lunch I pick up the crankbait and cast it out. A big fish slams it. After jumping a couple times this one makes it in the boat. Not as big as the one that broke my line but a nice fish. Weighed in at 5 lbs 10 oz. A long somewhat skinny fish. I thought I had figured something out with the crankbait. I started spot hopping. I would catch a couple fish at each spot on a crankbait before moving on. Started catching fish on a more consistent basis. The biggest fish the rest of the day was a rather plump 5 lb 7 oz largemouth. The bite was good right up until dark. Before the end of the day I caught a 4 lbs 5 oz and another 3 lb 0 oz. Fall fishing is here. Now is the time to get out on the water and catch some. Big fish are biting now and will be biting until ice up. I am itching to get back out on the water. I a feeling a bit sick cough cough. Maybe a need a sick day or two ?

Fishing was great this past weekend. Cough. Cough. I feeling kind of sick.

Who is going fishing this weekend ? Big cold front moving in. Daytime highs in the low 60s. Going to feel a lot like fall. I will be fishing saturday and sunday regardless of the weather.

Fall turnover usually happens when the water temperature is around 50 degrees up here in the north east.

I think this is a season related question. I caught a lot of big fish shallow this spring and have been getting them deeper lately. Overall most of my fish over 6 lbs this year has been in 5-10 feet of water off of sunken trees fishing a jig.

You never know when you will come down with a case of fishingitis. I get a lot of sick days to use through my work. I use them when I am sick of work.

Nicely done. Hopefully she will be there for you on tournament day with a couple of her friends. 6 lbers are a heck of a fish anywhere in New England.

Heck yeah ! Nice fish ! You will want to see her on tournament day and a couple of her friends too. Yesterday I fished an evening tournament on Lake Dunmore. My partner and I caught over 30 bass finished in 1st place and got lunker. It was a blast. We caught most of our fish in 10-20 feet of water on rattle traps and weightless worms. With this 3rd win in a row I do believe that I have Angler of the Year all locked up for my bass club here in VT.

This has been a very interesting topic. I have been following it since it started. I target big bass in Maine and Vermont. Sure they aren't 15lbers like in CA but the are a still a challenge to catch. Not very often do you hook into 6 plus pounders up here in New England. They are true trophies out here. A lot of bass fisherman I know would argue a 5 lber is a trophy out here. It takes a long time for a New England bass to attain 5 lbs. By that time they are wary, probably have been caught before and have seen there fair share of lures. It is interesting to see and hear the opinions on targeting bigger bass. A lot of has ben covered on the topic, putting the odds in your favor, fishing bigger baits, swim baits, jigs, location, etc. Everything mentioned definitely helps and will catch big bass. IN my own opinion location is a big factor. On every body of water all across the country there are specific locations that will time and again hold big fish. Attention to detail is very beneficial in my own opinion when it comes to targeting big trophy class bass. It can be the smallest detail in the lure your throwing or a subtle change in bottom contour, or a small tree branch in 15 feet of water. One thing is for sure you cant consistently catch trophy class fish if your not on the water targeting them. I live to fish for big bass. It is what I have a passion for.

Major League fishing went to a bunch of lakes around the Belgrade Lakes. They went to China Lake, Messalonskee, Great Pond and Long Pond. I was not aware they went to Sebago. A couple of my friends followed them around. It is only a matter of time before there are more big tournaments in New England. The state of Maine department of inland fisheries and wildlife will not allow a tourney on Moosehead Lake. Its there policy. They want to keep bass fisherman off of Moosehead. Here is an article about major league fishing in Maine http://www.centralmaine.com/2014/08/30/central-maine-lakes-draw-major-league-fishing-anglers-for-tournament/

Earlier in the day I lost a crank bait on this particular tree. When I hooked the fish on the jig it wrapped on that tree getting caught on my crank bait as well. Pulled the fish out of the water and the crank bait was in its side. Here is a pic of it.

Well done ! Its a great feeling isn't it ?

This past weekend was good for me size wise but a bit slow on numbers. Landed some quality fish on a jig. I was fishing deep off shore trees. I had already fished one particular tree earlier in the day with no luck. I had actually broke off a crank bait in the tree which is always a bummer. A couple hours had passed and I decided I wanted to fish the tree again. I pull up to the tree and took a cast with my jig. After it hit bottom I go to inch it forward. I feel a tree branch and hop it over it. Before the jig hit bottom I felt a bite. I set the hook into what felt like a tree. The fight was on. Even with 50 lb braid the fish was kicking my butt and got wrapped into the tree. I had to go in and try to get it out. After a minute or two of trying to get it unwrapped I some how managed to get it free. Once I had it in the boat I noticed my crankbait that I had lost in the tree earlier in the day sticking out from its side. The fish measured 23 inches and weighed in at 7 lbs 4 oz. My biggest so far this year. 7 lbs 4 oz I got a couple more good fish this weekend. 6 lbs 3 oz 5 lbs 4 oz

The fishing this weekend was good size wise but the number were lower then usual. Friday was much windier then they forecast. I was out on the water at 8 am until 8 pm. It was hot almost 90 degrees and the fish really weren't biting well. I caught a few fish early on the jig. Biggest fish of the morning was a 3 lb 9 oz on a jig. The jig was producing well. I did try a texas and wacky rigged worm, a hollow body frog and crankbait with not much luck. The mid day hours were really tough. I didn't get a bite for several hours. I was fishing my best spots and wasn't catching anything. I did get one of my favorite crank baits stuck on a log and busted it off. That's always a bummer. I switched tactics from deep wood to 3-8 ft and weeds. That wasn't producing well either. I did manage one fish on a frog, a 2 lber. A couple hours had past and it was about 3 pm now. I went back out to the deep trees. First tree I stop at a 2 3/4 smallie, cool. It was nice to catch a fish again. The second tree I caught a 2 lber on a crankbait. Pull up to the 3rd tree. First cast a big fish slams my jig. The fight was on. Using 50 lb braid this fish was still kicking my butt. It got wrapped in the tree really bad. I had to go in and get it. Even then it wasn't coming out easily. I tried for a couple minutes before finally getting it free. It was a big fish, biggest of the year so far. Once I had it in the boat I noticed my crankbait sticking in the side of the fish. It must have caught it on the log when it was wrapped around it. I was glad to get my crankbait back. Crankbait stuck in the fishes side. I caught the fish on a jig. 7 lbs 4 oz 23 inches long I continues fishing the deep logs with not much luck. It was getting a bit later now and with the sun setting so early now I decided to head back. Of course I had some places I wanted to fish before leaving. The same places that I was getting jig bites in the morning weren't producing. I switched to a texas rigged rubber worm and started getting bites again. I was fishing thick shallow wood. Most of the fish I was catching were 2-2 1/2 lbs. I did mange one better fish. It slammed my worm. 5 lbs 4 oz I ended the day at about 8 pm and it was dark by then. I packed up all my stuff with a head lamp. Even though it was a much windier day then they had forecast I was able to deal with it. Big open lakes in a small square boat usually isn't ideal. I had to anchor at spots so I would be able to fish. I couldn't hold with the trolling motor. It was a good day fishing. 12 hours on the water 17 largemouth and 3 smallmouth. Biggest bass of the year so far a 7 lb 4 oz. Saturday I did not have much time to fish. I launched the boat at 3pm. I figured 4 hours our so would be better then nothing. It was another super windy day. The fishing started out slow again. Then the wind picked up even more pushing 25 mph and that just plain sucked. Then the rain started. It was a torrential down pour fro about an hour. I had to bail out my boat, a couple inches of water had accumulated. After the storms had passed through the air temp went from hot humid 87 degrees to 65 cool and crisp. The fish bit much better after the front passed through. I got one big fish bite off of a deep tree. Before leaving I boated a 3 lb 3 oz and a 3 lb 2 oz on jigs. I ended the day with 10 largemouth, not bad given the time restriction and the weather. Lunker for the day was a 6 lb 3 oz on a jig. I am really looking forward to a couple weeks vacation starting at the end of the month.

Nice Smallmouth Nev. What did she weigh ?

I absolutely love fishing jigs. They catch big fish. I like to fish a black jig with a black # 11 pork but switch to a size # 1 pork later in the summer. I also have very good luck on a brown/orange jig with a crawdad # 11 pork. At time I have better luck with a plastic trailer. If that is the case I use a rage craw as my trailer or a pit boss. I like Stanley casting jigs and chompers brush jig from 3/16- 3/4 ounce but most of the time I am fishing a 1/2 ounce. Seems from my experience that jig trailers with more action work better during warmer months of the year and the pork frogs when it is colder.

Attention to detail is also very important when targeting big fish. Even the most subtle detail can make the difference between catching one big bass or 10.

China Lake has got ginormous bass. If it isn't too far you should definitely check that place out.

http://www.centralmaine.com/2014/08/30/central-maine-lakes-draw-major-league-fishing-anglers-for-tournament/ Central Maine can get all the press AND get all the added fishing pressure