Mainebass1984

I have been fishing one particular lake after work as much as I can here in VT. It took a couple times to really get on them good. Since then I have been fishing A LOT there after work. Spending as much time as I have been on that particular body of water really lets me fine tune where they are and what they want. I don't always catch as many bass as I have been lately. It has been super good. Pertaining to my last post, the 2 of us caught 42 bass, not me alone. Either way the action has been amazing. I don't tear them up like that every where, sometimes I am getting 2 or 3 fish an hour as well. The body of water I fish after work in VT is 350 acres. It is not tournament pressured but it does get a good amount of pressure. There is always someone there fishing week day or not. Weekends are especially busy there. I was using the full sized rage craws will a size one drop shot hook using 8 lb flouro. Great for getting lots of bites but not so good getting big fish out of heavy cover. Lots of the fish in this particular pond are 1.5-2.5 lbs. Fish over 4 are not common. Biggest I have landed there is a 6-8. I figured out something interesting about 3 years ago that pertains to bass fishing everywhere, in my opinion. You see a lot of guys go up and down a shoreline or area catching a fish every now and then. They make one pass most of the time and move on. I have found that at times when you catch a bass off of a spot there is a congregation of bass at that spot. Sometimes 2 or 3 some times 20 or 30. Sure spots like that aren't exactly common. When I do find spots like that I mark them with my GPS because I know it is a "good" spot. I will stay on that spot for some time, 10 or 15 minutes, or maybe even an hour, as long as the bite is still good. I like to concentrate my time on spots that hold lots of fish and big fish. That's how I catch so many at times. In my opinion (you know what they say about opinions) a lot of fisherman fish too fast and leave an area before all the fish are caught. They catch a fish or two and move on, instead of thoroughly fishing an area and catching 5 or 6.

Fishing was pretty good yesterday afternoon. I took they local fisheries biologist out in my small boat on the local pond. Even though we had a massive cold front come through the fishing was pretty good. We caught 42 bass form 4 until about 930. Most of our fish were caught on rage craws rigged weightless, weightless worms and top water poppers. It is always interesting hooking into big bass when fishing with 8 lb fluorocarbon around thick cover. I got broken off by TWO big bass yesterday evening. One was a ginormous lunker for sure. She took me to school, around a few tree roots and SNAP. That was sad. Oh well that happens I suppose. Did manage to catch a 3-14 and a 4-2 in that same thick cover. My friend caught a 3-1. Lots of 2 lbers. I will be getting out there again for sure. Big bass don't just break your line, they break your heart.

You are entitled to your OPINION which you clearly stated above. Where are the facts ? Where are these studies ? Where is the science ? What invasive species has had no impact when introduced ? Clearly with your vast knowledge you could do a much better job managing the fisheries then they could. Then you would be a " subordinate dishonest individual with little integrity " as you so put it. I am sure though you would never want such a job or be willing to educate the public in fisheries management, techniques or policies. The position is as you stated beneath your knowledge and understanding of the subject.

It sounds like you have had a bad experience with a biologist ? Biologists certainly know what they are doing. It takes a Masters Degree and multiple years of experience in the field to even be considered for a state biologist position. I think studying fish for 6 years and multiple years of experience in the field gives someone an idea of what they are doing ? You are entitled to your opinion. I also am entitled to mine. I like facts and science not opinions, accusations, bs talkers and people who have no idea what they are talking about. You mentioned it is not about science and facts. I would argue and say that is exactly what it is about. What science and facts are you talking about in particular ? What invasive species has no impact on native populations ? For example the Colorado River basin is home to 4 fish that occur NOWHERE else in the world. Sure they are chubs and suckers but that isn't the point. In my opinion and most likely the opinion of the biologists every measure should be taken to preserve endangered species including killing invasive species bass or not. Once a species is introduced into a body of water that species spreads through out the entire watershed. Bass when introduced to ecosystems that have never had them change them forever. They alter the entire balance of the ecosystem. They take away finite resources from other fish species even if they don't directly prey on that particular fish species. Fisheries Biologists aren't merely employed to appease what an angler wants. Sure it is part of the job description. They are there to manage lakes, ponds, rivers and ecosystems. It isn't so simple as I want smallmouth bass in this river so lets put them there. Every aspect of that introduction is taken into consideration. Does every biologist know exactly what they are doing ? No. I am sure they have pretty good idea though. I wont tell him how to do his job though. I also wont tell a painter how to paint, or an engineer how to build a bridge or a trucker how to drive a truck.

I love fishing rivers in Maine. They don't see to get the bass fishing pressure that a lot of the lakes and ponds do. If I am fishing for smallies I like to find decent current flowing over rocky areas. I have great luck on senkos, jigs, poppers and square bill crankbaits. Unless I am fishing top water I try and imitate a craw fish. If I am fishing fro largemouth I am looking fro areas that have a lot of lay downs and cover out of the main river current. There are huge largemouth in rivers in Maine. River fishing in Maine is highly underrated. My favorite times to fish rivers is on very windy, windy day or after a cold front has passed through the area. The Androscoggin River is good smallmouth fishing and is well known for it. The fishing on lesser known rivers in the area is even better.

I fished it July 6th I think and it was NOT very good.

It takes patience at times for sure but I have confidence in those spots. A certain scenario seems to unfold when I fish certain spots. I will pull up to a spot and catch a half dozen or more fish from 2-3 lbs. Then I wont get a bite for 10 min, 15 min or longer. When you do get that next bite it usually is a big fish. This has happened to me many times in all different bodies of water. I think that at times the smaller 2-3 lbers are just getting to the bait quicker then the big old slow fish. The bigger fish don't want have to move far or fast to get there next meal. At other times its all about first cast. Patience certainly pays off at times. I think that I fish slower then any one I have ever fished with. Most people like to fish fast and cover water. I like to concentrate my time on specific spots.

Fishing has been real good the past few days. Been spending so much time on the water haven't had much time to get on here. Last weekend I was supposed to fish a tournament on Arrowhead. Unfortunately that didn't happen because my boaters trolling motor had some issues. Bummer but it happens. It was a weekend of fun fishing instead. Saturday I got up way to early and was on the water at dawn and fished until 3 pm. It was hot humid and sunny with a light wind. The bite wasn't really fast and furious. I tried some new spots and that wasn't really working out for me too well. Then I came across a small channel that had some surface activity around. I saw a swirl and cast to it. Hook into a good fish. Fight it in out of the weeds ands put her in the boat. She weighed 4 lbs 10 oz. Biggest so far for the day. I caught a few more decent fish around 2 1/2 - 2 3/4 on a frog before moving on. Then I decided to fish some deep of shore trees. There were definitely a few nice fish hanging around those. First cast I caught another 4 lbs 10 oz. Then nothing. Moved onto the next tree. First cast 3 lbs 0 oz and then nothing again. Just as I was heading in for the day I decided to hit one more tree before calling it quits. Before my jig hit bottom on the first cast a bigger bass sucked it in. A fat 21 inch 5 lb 14 oz A great day to end the day. I fished the afternoon bite on Sunday. Got on the water at noon. It was a super windy day with wind 10-15 mph out of the south. Usually when the wind is blowing out of the south the off shore trees are pretty good. I motored over to the trees. I had to anchored because the I couldn't hold with the trolling motor. I was fishing a jig and I could feel every branch. After a few casts I hooked a good fish. It was a skinny fish but a good one just the same. 21 3/4 inches 5 lbs 5 oz After catching fish the day before off these trees and catching another nice fish on the first tree I decided to fish trees the rest of the day. I knew I would get numbers but I was after big fish. I was catching one fish per tree. I was spending 30 minutes or so on each tree before moving to the next one. Then I would fish them all again. There is no way I could have fished these trees with out an anchor. I caught a few more nice fish off the trees including a 4 lbs 4 oz on a jig, a 3 lbs 9 ozer on a crank bait and a 5 lb 0 oz on a jig 5 lbs 0 oz As you can tell from the picture there were some waves. I fished the trees right up until dark. I wanted to night fish for a bit and wanted to fish around thick weeds. The night bit was decent. I was fishing a chatterbait, a spinnerbait and a buzzbait. After dark my biggest fish was a 3 lb 5 oz. I fished until midnight then called it quits. Tuesday evening I fished my favorite pond in Vermont. I got on the water at 4 pm and fished til midnight. The bite was really good. I was catching a lot of 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 lbers. I was tearing em up on a weightless rage craw fishing the primary drop into 15 feet of water. Takes patience for sure to fish such a light lure so deep. I went through a lot of rage craws. I was catching fish every other cast. I did not get anything over 3 lbs during the day. After the sun set I spent most of my time fishing a buzz bait. They were crushing it and every fish I caught was over 2 1/2 lbs. I caught a 3 lbs 0 oz and a 3 lbs 4 oz after dark. I lost the biggest fish I had on all day. It slurped down my buzz bait ripped off drag like a tarpon and then was gone, just came off. Only one other fish took off any drag all night and that was the 3-4. Whatever I lost was small. Bummer but it happens. After the rain picked up around midnight I called it quits. Although I lost that lunker it was still and amazing 8 hours of bass fishing, landing 58 bass before calling it quits. Fishing has been great lately. No more post spawn blues for me. I will be back on the water this evening.

Longest fish from this past weekend 21.75 inches 5 lbs 5 oz

Who is going fishing this weekend ? I am and I will be back in Maine. I plan on doing a little night fishing as well.

Fished yesterday afternoon from 4 til dark. Took a friend fishing in my boat for the first time. He had a blast and caught the biggest bass of the year so far for him. It was a bit windy to start but after a rain shower moved through it calmed down pretty good. The water temperature was 76 degrees a couple degrees colder then it has been. The wind was blowing 10-20 mph out of the south when we got there. Most of our fish came on rubber worms, chatter baits, crank baits and frogs. Frog fishing is always fun. My buddy Matt caught a 3 lb 14 oz bass his biggest so far. I got lunker for the day a beautiful chunky 21 inch 5 lb 0 oz largemouth. There is a pic of it on the who wants in July thread. We ended the evening with 38 bass in the boat a bunch of them 12-16 inches. My friend Matt already wants to go again. Not sure if I will get out on the water this evening but I will be for sure this weekend.

Got a Vermonster bass yesterday evening. Slid a bit up the measuring board but I think we can just go with 21 inches. 21 inches 5 lbs 0 oz

You still hurting from that day ? That day was one disaster after another....

Fishing was decent yesterday afternoon for my friend and I. The wind really was cranking 10-20 mph up until about 630 pm. There were white caps and with my small boat that is NEVER a good thing. We toughed it out and between the two of us we caught 36 largemouth mostly 1-2.5 lbs. Our lunker for the evening was 18 inches but it was super skinny. It didn't weigh three pounds. We fished until 9 pm so we had about 4.5 hours or so on the water. We caught most of our fish on jigs and chatter baits. Lucky we left when we did. As we just finished loading up my boat a severe thunderstorm rolled in with lots of lightning, a torrential down pour, hail and recorded wind gusts over 60 mph. Glad we weren't on the lake for that. I will be back out on the lake this evening. Hopefully will get a few big fish bites.

I would recommend going just across the border in Maine. There are many small ponds in the area that hold big bass. If you do not want to buy a Maine license then your options are a bit limited. Conway Lake has pretty good smallmouth fishing and there are largemouth in there too. Lower Kimball Pond which is in Maine and New Hampshire has good smallmouth and largemouth fishing too. Upper Kimball Pond has some good smallmouth fishing as well. There are other opportunities just south of North Conway in Tamworth and Chocorua.

I think it took more then I have now to win last month.

Sounds like a good day. Did you go under the bridge by the causeway or under the other bridge down south ? A 5lber is a nice fish there for sure. Where were those 2-5 lbers during the tournament ? Did you weigh that lunker ?

I like fishing tournaments. I have fun doing so. There is something about driving away from the lake with a wad of cash in your pocket knowing that you just beat everyone else. I have won a few, finished in 2nd and 3rd a bunch as well. Usually fishing opens my partner and I can count on finishing in the top 5 places. I do not fish as many tournaments as I would like to. When I fish a tournament of course I want to win but if I don't I want to at least make a decent showing. I have only fished 4 tournaments this year. No wins. We always get a good limit and usually average around 3 lbers but just haven't got a kicker fish in any tournament this year. We have finished in 4th, 4th, 4th and 5th places in the 4 tourneys we have done so far this year. At least we are consistent I suppose.

I have no idea why more people don't fish in the rain. Usually it is pretty good fishing for bigger fish. I was out fishing yesterday and it rained for awhile. Most people left the lake. I did not and I am glad I didn't.

Night fishing during the summer months can be amazing. I enjoy it for several reasons, bigger average size bass, no jet skis, no pleasure boaters, cooler temps, usually near calm conditions and... there is nobody else out there but me.

There are plenty of big bass in VT. Waterbury Reservoir is good for a bunch of smallmouth. Curtis pond, lake Iroquois are another couple good largemouth lakes. Then of course there is always Lake Champlain. One of the best bass lakes in the country.

Got to the lake yesterday about 9-930 am. there were a few other people that had already launched. The water was up a bit from the recent rain. The wind had already started blowing pretty good which always sucks for controlling my small boat. It was partly coudly with the wind blowing 10-15 mph out of the south/southwest. Started the day fishing an area with lots of trees that was out of the wind. My lure of choice to start the day was a rubber worm. After a few casts around one of trees I caught my first decent fish of the day an 18 " 3 lb 3 oz largemouth. Fishing some more around the trees I caught a few more fish in the 2-2.5 lbs range fishing a jig. After a while I decided to motor over to another area of the lake. The area I went to was a huge weedy flat and cove. There definitely fish there. I started catching a lot of smaller fish 1-2 lbs mainly on a texas rigged rubber worm. Switched over to a frog and on the first 3 casts caught three 2 lb bass. Fishing a top water frog is always fun especially when they really want it. Once I was done with this area I went to a rocky point. Casting a crank bait and bumping the rocks I caught 4 smallies all under 2.5 lbs. I could see a storm rolling in so I decided to move to an area where I could fish out of the wind and be near enough to shore if I have to get out of the boat because of a thunderstorm. It started raining but thankfully there wasn't any lightning or thunder. In the rain casting a spinnerbait I caught a decent fish. 18.5 inches 3 lbs 4 oz The wind had calmed with the storm and I was very thankful of that. I have had great days fishing in the wind but for the most part I rather wouldn't have to deal with it. The stormed passed and it was getting a bit later in the afternoon. I fished a couple more spots and was picking up fish every now and then on a jig. I decided to spend the few hours just fishing a few trees I hadn't fished yet that day. After a long ride with the trolling motor I arrived at the are I intended on fishing. It began to rain again. It was a very light rain with calm wind at this point. Fished around this particular tree for awhile with a rubber worm and jig with no bites. I moved in closer and was pitching to small openings in the tree when I felt a bite way down in the thickest part of the tree. I set the hook and the fished gets wrapped. I work the fish out of the tree and over a couple tree limbs. It looks pretty big, after a spirited fight by the boat I net her. It is a big old bass with shoulders. Unfortunately it has a super skinny stomach. Its an odd shaped bass for sure. I wish it had a big fat gut to it. 22.25 inches 6 lbs 6 oz If that fish had a gut to it I think it would have been well over 7 lbs with the shoulders it has on it. After catching another smaller fish off that tree it was off to the next tree. It was still lightly raining. This tree is in about 15 feet of water and is completely submerged. A few trees limbs come up to with 5 feet or so of the surface. I make my first cast with a jig. It settles to bottom and then my line jumps. Set the hook and the fight was on. The fish come up near the surface and it looks really, really long. It takes some drag before I can get it the net. I grab it out of the net. It has a huge mouth that I could easily fit both my hands into but it is deathly skinny. No stomach and it was unbelievably skinny around its back bone. The fish must have been sick or it was about to die of old age. I think personally it was near death. 23.25 inches ONLY 5lbs 5 oz Again I wonder what that fish could have weighed it was healthy and had a good girth to it. Oh well it is what it is. A long skinny old bass that probably was over 15 years old and about to die of old age. Another 30 minutes fishing that tree and it was time to make another move to more trees I know of. Once I got to the trees I started again with the jig. Picked off a few smaller fish and was debating which tree I was about to fish next. As I was thinking about where my next spot would be I see a small tree near where I am. It is a small birch tree overhanging the water with the tip just barely in the water. I figured that should get a cast before move to another spot. I pitch my jig up underneath it. I pick up my line and it is swimming sideways. Set the hook and the fight was on. I can see this is a better fish with some girth to it. Of course the net is out of reach so I lip it into the boat. This fish has some girth to her, big time. 21 inches 5 lbs 13 oz The rest of the day wasn't nearly as productive. Fished right up until dark, loaded up my boat, and made the long ride back to Vermont. Considering it was July I think it was an amazing day. Its too bad that the 2 longest fish weren't fatter but I am still just as happy to have caught them. Finished the day with 21 largemouth and 4 smallmouth. Today I caught fish on a rubber worm, frog, spinner bait, crank bait and a jig. The rubber worm caught the majority of the fish I think but the jig caught the bigger fish. Biggest 5 fish of the day went 6-6, 5-13, 5-5, 3-4, 3-3. I wish that would happen during some of the tournaments I fish. I will be back on the water this afternoon this time I will be back in VT.

Fishing was great yesterday in the wind and passing showers. I decided to take yesterday off so I could have a mini vacation. The wind made it a bit tough but the bite was good. Fishing during the rain was really good. Back to work this morning and back on the water this afternoon.

Went out night fishing last night in the wind. Got a few fish. This fish being the biggest. 19 inches 3 lbs 5 oz Getting on the water a bit late today but I intend on fishing til dark, thunderstorm or not.

I am in