Jar11591

Just got home and I’m stuffed to the gills. There was turkey, Mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, polenta, sausage stuffing, cranberry salsa, green been casserole, Rueben dip, asparagus, brussel sprouts and bacon, brownies and pie. Gonna sleep like a log tonight.

First off, Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow BRers. So what’s on your menu tonight? I’m going to a big family potluck, so aside from the usual turkey and trimmings, I’m not sure what to expect. I’ll be bringing my homemade Mac and cheese (pics to come soon). What are y’all eating today? And feel free to share what you’re sipping on as well. I’ll be having some Sloop Super Soft IPAs. EDIT: Added Mac and cheese photo

@T-Billy beautiful cold water largemouth. Looks like shes been through a thing or two.

Used to throw the classic red and white Dardevle in ponds as a kid and would slay the pickerel and panfish. A true “classic” for sure.

Poppers have been my #1 bait for numbers 5 out of the last 6 years, and I’ve found the same thing. The majority of my strikes come within several feet from where the bait lands. I attribute it to that the drawing power from the bait landing is greater than the action of the bait, and any catchable bass that are in the area are immediately alerted when it lands. Whereas the action of the bait may not have enough drawing power to alert any additional catchable bass that weren’t already alerted to the bait when it landed. Just a theory by a frequent topwater fisherman.

I use Gamakatsu hooks exclusively. The Wide Gap Finesse hooks cover pretty much all my finesse bases, from wacky rigs to drop shots to nose hooked weightless flukes. It’s the perfect finesse hook in my opinion.

Another vote for basement. The garage is too cold in the winter. I have a dedicated corner in my basement where my gear stays year round. Work bench, rod holder and 2 book cases worth of tackle and gear.

I throw black poppers very often. Black spinnerbaits as well. I think black is a good color for any kind of bait.

It’s been almost six years since I went to Baccarac. I made the trip in February of 2017 and the fishing was incredible. No double digits, but many of 7s, 8s, and high 9s. I have been sort of trying to plan my next trip down there. Sad to hear that it’s not fishing like it used to but if the fish are well fed and there is still lots of bait, seems there is hope that it will recover. Like others noted, lakes can go through cycles. Baccarac having such a high peak on a good year makes the lows seem very dramatic.

Some Buffalo suburbs have gotten over 5’ so far and it’s still coming down out there. In my part of NYS we avoid the lake effect storms that slam the state out by the Great Lakes. Snow in states that aren’t prepared for it can really do damage. Even a couple inches can shut things down. 2.5’ is apocalyptic down there lol

I’m really glad I live in the eastern part of NYS right now.

@AlabamaSpothunter been enjoying the videos. Keep up the good work. It’s medicine to this Yankee who already has cabin fever, and it’s not even December yet ?

Number one was a double willow spinnerbait. Not sure if 1/2oz or 3/4oz was the top weight. Fished on 7’ MH-F rod with a 5:1 reel, 30lb braid with a 25lb fluorocarbon leader.

There are a lot of dogs in my life. I grew up with dogs, and my girlfriend and I have a pack of 3. This is my 13 year old girl, who has been with me for over 12 years. Still runs around the yard like a puppy.

@T-Billy very impressive muskies. 4 in a day? You should be a guide.

I did glass work for 10 years and cuts were a routine thing. I’ve had a couple gushers and witnesses a couple gushers as well. In the moment Im just concerned with rendering aid to myself or whoever has the wound. The part that bothers me is seeing a photo of the fresh wound afterwards or something. If I think too hard or look too long at it i sometimes can get a little lightheaded.

Got a little dusting of snow last night and my old girl loves it.

Great looking senior pups. Senior dogs are the the best. Good for you for fostering. I imagine if I tried, every one would be a foster failure ?. I’m sure the fact that these 2 have some familiarity with you will really help their transition.

@AlabamaSpothunter you sir, have my respect. Good on you for doing that.

Treehouse Brewery Julius IPA…. 8/10

I only use a head lamp when re-tying or taking a fish off. Running a light non stop will bring death by mosquitos in these parts. Your eyes adjust very quickly to the darkness, even on moonless nights. I may tighten my brakes a little on casting gear but usually just go by muscle memory.

I love to catch any kind of fish, but I’m like @AlabamaSpothunter, no other species gives me the rush that bass do. Catching more bass and bigger bass is what I go to bed thinking about, and I have 5 lifetimes worth of bass specific gear and tackle. I get plenty of northern pike without having to target them, they are everywhere that I fish for bass. They’re always fun, as long as they don’t bite me off. A few times of year I’ll target another species, and it’s usually trout or panfish. Stream trout are often the last fish I have access to before complete freeze and snow cover. I have miles of streams around me that have brook, brown and rainbow trout. I take trout charters on Lake Ontario with my father occasionally as well. That’s his kind of fishing. I like to occasionally go after pumpkinseeds, crappie, bluegills and perch to have a fish fry. They’re always fun on light tackle. Ever more rarely, I’ll fish for carp. I can’t stand waiting but they’re a blast once you get one on. I have roughly 10 rigs dedicated to species other than bass.

There is a 0% chance I would ever do that. What good does my name in a record book gain me, besides a honey hole that will now be inundated to the point of being unfishable? I would gladly show off a record catch to y’all here on BassResource without naming the water, but I struggle to see what positivity would come from me giving up my record producing honey hole.

Awesome muskies @T-Billy

Overall I’d rate this season a B-. Average size was slightly down, but numbers seemed to be consistent to years passed. Spinnerbaits accounted for the most fish, so they dethroned the popper which is usually my number one bait for numbers. Spinnerbaits caught my 3 biggest of the year. Fished a ton of new water this year. Found lots of productive spots and some not so productive, so I know which spots to pick apart and learn next year. This is the first year in many that I targeted smallmouth just as much as largemouth. So overall I’m rating the season B-. Size was down a tick, numbers were on par. No PBs caught, but lost what should have been my personal best smallie. Not the best year of the last decade, but certainly not the worst. Some fish pics from the year: