Mainebass1984

Fished Champlain last week. There have been a bunch of club tourneys and opens there lately. It has been very tough for most. Water temps have been in the high 70's almost 80 degrees. Fish incoming water and deeper weeds.

Super high pressure blue bird skies with a strong north wind mid summer = terrible fishing conditions for me A low pressure system associated with a warm rain with light winds = great fishing conditions for me "warm" is relative to time of year

I would prefer to fish in the spring or fall personally. I have caught far more 7 plus pound bass during the spring and fall. July and August I don't catch as many over 7. The numbers are great sure but I want to catch lunkers. The end of June, July, August and September I have my best luck at night fishing. It is fun catching 20-30 2-4 lbers each day but I would much rather catch 10 bass and have 1 of them be over 7 lbs. Don't get me wrong You can still catch lunker bass during the summer. The second biggest bass I have caught an 8 lb 10 oz was caught during the second week of July. In my opinion the big fish bite is much more consistent during the spring and fall.

Don't forget about buzz baits. You can fish these a bit more effectively threw thicker weeds then a spinner bait. I rarely fish from night into the dawn. I usually am getting up and heading out the next lake about dawn.

Went fishing in the rain yesterday after work with a buddy of mine, Tom. Got on the water about 4 o'clock and fished until dark. It was raining pretty hard but the wind was calm. The water temp was 72 degrees and the air temp was 70 degrees and humid. Motored 20 minutes across the lake to my first spot. First three casts we caught 3 bass on chatter baits. Its a pretty good spot an underwater point that is weedy 200 yards off shore and a drop off from 7 to 33 feet. We caught several more fish before leaving including a couple on a rubber worm. Motored over to the next spot and with the help of my gps stopped just within casting distance of it. It is a milfoil bed in 6-8 feet out water next to a drop off that quickly goes into 14 ft. The first couple casts we caught a couple more fish all about 2 - 2 1/4 lbs. Before continuing up the shoreline we caught a couple more fish. Working up the shoreline we caught a bass here and there and then it slowed down. Moved to the next spot which is way off shore but only in 8 feet of water. We quickly pick up another couple fish including lunker for the day at 3 lbs 7 oz. After that spot quieted down we worked the shoreline back to the ramp. We got off the water at about 9:15 pm. It was a pretty good afternoon of bass fishing in the rain. Between the two of us we caught 25 largemouth and 4 pickerel. We caught fish on chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, rubber worms and top water poppers. The chatterbait produced best for us. It seemed that most of the fish in this particular pond are in there summertime spots. Although we did catch a few fish shallow and at a couple springtime spots the fish certainly seem to be in early summer spots. I will be heading back out this afternoon taking another friend out fishing.

I usually have my best luck from 10-12. I also don't usually stay out to much later then that. I prefer to night fish during a full moon. White buzzbaits, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits are my go to lures. The fish I usually catch at night are 2.5 lbs and bigger.

Stocking private ponds is completely different then a public body of water. As long as you get the fish from an approved source there isn't an issue. Taking game fish/bait fish from bodies of water and then transporting them to a private pond is completely different. Not only would you be transporting that fish but any virus/disease/pathogen that is in the water as well as any weed particles that could be in the water as well. I am not sure about the laws where you live but here it is illegal to transport live game fish.

I am heading out fishing at work this afternoon in the rain. Calm winds and rain = good fishing. I will be tossing around a spinner bait and a chatter bait. Should be a blast !

For a couple years or so keep few smaller fish to eat every time you fish that pond. I am not familiar with your states regulations but stocking fish is illegal in many states even if it is only baitfish. I would contact our local biologist or game warden and ask him what you should do. This is a terrible idea !!!! The result of this could be the introduction of diseases as well and/or introduction of fish into waters that may not otherwise have them. It could change the ecosystem of the creek/river/lake FOREVER. It terrifies me some of the ideas that come up on this forum sometimes. Stocking fish whether it is game fish or baitfish isn't something that should be taken lightly. There are unseen consequences for such introductions. Consequences that once started can never be reversed. Stocking fish into an ecosystem that otherwise doesn't have them changes that ecosystem for ever. Not only the ecosystem of the creek/river/pond/lake that you would get stocked but every river/creek/lake/pond in that watershed. Examples this happening are Asian carp and Snakeheads not to mention the unintended introduction of aquatic vegetation, milfoil and water chestnut are good examples. Like I mentioned before it is highly illegal in most states. I am not sure what the punishment is in your state but in Maine it is a 25,000 dollar fine, up to 3 years in jail and the loss of your fishing license for life. Most states may not be s harsh as Maine's but the penalty for illegally stocking fish is never just a slap on the wrist or a 100 dollar fine. Fish stocking should be left to your regional biologists.

I was in my boat. Night fishing in the summer can be super productive.

Time on the water is essential to figuring out exactly what the fish are doing, finding a pattern within a pattern. Its not the boat that makes the fisherman ! I know a few guys that have the most expensive boats but couldn't catch a limit of bass if there life depended on it. Back to the original post question... You want to figure out summer bass patterns ? Go fishing early and stay late.

It was a really tough weekend for me. First weekend of the year didn't manage to catch a 5 lber. Here is three more fish for the competition Night fishing. Buzzbait. 19 inches Buzzbait. 20 inches One of the saddest most unhealthy bass I have caught in a long time. 19 inches. Time to do some serious culling. Only a few days left.

This past weekend was some pretty tough fishing. The night bite was hot Friday night. No lunkers but 3 over 3 and only fished until 11, lunker was 3-8. Saturday I went in the afternoon with my girlfriend and ended up catching 17 the biggest coming on a buzz bait, it was a skinny 3-6. Fished the Moose pond tourney on Sunday and it was super tough. Caught a bunch of small fish but the better fish eluded us. We finished in 5th with 12.14 lbs I think. The fishing sucked. Fished yesterday with my dad. We got out on the water late and left early. It was tough fishing but we still caught 21 bass between the two of us none over 3 lbs. Overall the fishing this weekend sucked. Post spawn blues for me.

Fishing last night was pretty fun. The buzzbait bite was on fire. always fun catching them topwater like that at night. Fished a new lake today for 5 hours or so with the girlfriend. Caught a bunch of bass. No hawgs. Tourney tomorrow then hawg hunting Monday.

This weekend I WILL be posting some fish

Looking forward to doing some fishing this weekend. I will be doing some night fishing tonight for 3-4 hours. Tomorrow afternoon I plan on checking out a new lake. Sunday is tournament day. Monday the plan is too take my dad hawg hunting, its about time he catches a 6 lber. Anyone else getting out this weekend ?

Isolated offshore structure/cover. You must get away from the bank.

Southern Champlain has been a little bit tough lately. Especially with all the pressure from the LCI. For the most part the fish have moved off of the banks and are in 4-8 feet of water. If your looking for quantity fish a senko. If your looking for quality fish a jig or a frog !

Yesterdays tournament didn't go quite as planned. It was on the very southern end of Champlain and the fishing was tough. Finished in 4th place again. We needed a good kicker fish and we would have had a very good chance at winning. I have fished three tournaments this year and finished in 4th place in all three of them. At least I am consistent I guess.

Tournament this afternoon on big ole Lake Champlain. Hopefully will run into a few.

Tournament fishing has really taken away from my time for this competition. This coming weekend I have another tournament but will have some time for this competition. I need to step it up. Good going guys. Nice fish being caught and posted on here.

Did anyone else on here fish the Kezar Lake tourney yesterday ? It was super super windy and the bite was a little slow. Caught several 3 lbers but just couldn't get that big 5 lb plus bite. Bummer. Next time perhaps.

I ad some free tie this morning to get out fishing today. Got onto the water about 6:30 this morning and fished until 1:30 pm. It was slow but productive fishing. The water temps were in the mid 66-70 degrees. It was overcast the most of time I was fishing. I caught fish on jigs, chatter bait and rubber worms. Landed 8 largemouth and 2 smallmouth. Fish # 1 21.5 inches 5 lbs 14 oz Check out the odd protrusion on its stomach near the anal vent. Its rather odd. Not sue what it was. There must have been something odd in its stomach. This fish also had the tail of a 8-10 inch perch sticking out of its gullet. Fish # 2 20.5 inches Fish # 3 18.25 inches Fish # 4 18 inches

Top from last year. All caught in Maine. 9 lbs 1 oz. My personal best. 8 lbs 5 oz 8 lbs 3 oz Biggest fish I ever caught. Not in Maine.

Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one. Look at the scientific evidence between both sides of the argument. You can find plenty of scientific studies online. Then you can form your own opinion. There seems to be plenty of 3 lb plus largemouth in the places I fish in New England including an occasional 7 or 8 lb lunker. The average fish is around 2 - 2 1/4 lbs, I will take those all day.