Daniel My Brother

Hi and welcome!

That is just awesome! Great story and pix!

Zel, Your post got me thinking about the better bass that I've caught at night, and what they have in common. 1. Most have been topwater. Maybe that's just because I throw more topwater at night. Jitterbugs in open water, Buzzbaits over grass, Frogs in the slop. 2. Most have been on or near shallow flats that have quick access to deeper water. 3. Most have been tight to wood. Although grass is a close second. From looking at your map, and checking out google earth, I'd probably start at the bend in the lake just up from boat ramp B. I feel a little odd offering you guys advice on where and how to fish the Chunk. Probably not too many guys in Pennsylvania know the lake better than you and Dom. Good luck and tell Muddy to come back and visit. Dan

Nice Fish! Nothing better than finding a new place to fish close to home. Keep it up.

No favorite brand. If I read good things about a reel, and can catch it on sale, I'll buy it. I've got a little bit of everything and enjoy them all. The only brand that has let me down on more than one occasion has been Quantum...but if the new reels are better, I might give 'em another shot. I'm stupid that way.

Great fish and great post.

I've caught 7 inch fish on 7 inch worms, so I'll say yes, you should be able to catch fish with an 11 inch worm....although I've never used (or possibly even seen) an 11/0 hook before.

No, but Barney the Dinosaur is.

There's an article on this website that explains a situation very similar to your own. Here's a portion of it: "One mid-south lake owner built a 30-acre reservoir, hoping for a balanced bass fishery, with a legitimate opportunity to catch a double-digit fish. Modest goals, certainly attainable. He stocked fathead minnows with bluegill and redear sunfish, gave them, a six month head start. Then, he stocked largemouth bass, some Florida strain fish, some natives, and some genetic mixes, at 50 per acre. At the beginning, he set up three feeding stations, to expedite growth rates of bluegill, to get them spawning more quickly, setting the table for his impending stocking of voracious bass. Bluegill grew rapidly. Once stocked, so did the bass. Here's the rub: At the end of the second year, frequency of bass catches was low. The landowner was concerned. His bass were growing well, some of them nearing three pounds. But, he couldn't catch them as easily as he thought he should. He's an impatient guy. We electro-fished his lake, caught a few bass, all like green footballs with giant mouths. A few bass were surrounded by thousands of forage fish, bluegill ranging from 1-7 inches. All seemed well, until the third year. Thousands of 5-9 inch bluegill crowded around each feeder, all day, whether there was feed in the water or not. The lake was fertile, and teemed with baby bluegill. Midway through the third year, circumstances suggested bass weren't spawning. An electro- fishing survey proved the theory. The earnest lake manager faithfully fed his bluegill. Bluegill responded by growing ... and growing ... reproducing and growing more. Bluegill became the dominant species. As their sizes and numbers increased, the demand for bluegill food expanded throughout the lake. In this case, bluegill were dominating bass nests, before bass could have their first spawn. So, the originally stocked bass were rapidly growing, some near five pounds in their third year, but there wasn't a year class coming in behind the originally stocked fish. Bluegill had turned the tables on baby bass. Or, maybe bluegill set the table by eating baby bass." You can read the entire article here: http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/forage_bass_balance.html

Bass don't seem to like being out in the sun any more than we do. Grass, deep water, and shady spots are where I look for 'em. But finding them can be a chore. I have the best luck fishing grass on the edge of deep water with a jig or t-rigged soft plastic. My second choice is a carolina rigged lizard around points. Third choice is shady areas under overhanging trees. These all work to some degree, but none are as effective (for me) as fishing the low light times of dawn and dusk...or even night.

I want to believe this, I really do, but Bob Keeshan's Wikipedia page disputes the story... "Keeshan was born in Lynbrook, New York, and attended Fordham University after serving in the United States Marine Corps reserve during World War II. A persistent rumor is that actor Lee Marvin appeared on "The Tonight Show" and said he had served in the Marine Corps fighting alongside Keeshan at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Marvin never told the story, never served on Iwo Jima (having been invalided out after the battle of Saipan months earlier), and Keeshan never saw combat or overseas duty, having enlisted just before the end of the war."

Welcome!

I like the way Vicdotcom thinks. I would like to see all big fish released...BUT if I didn't catch it, it's not my choice.

I'm torn on this one. I really liked the "Free" tackle bags they offered a while back, even for the $5.95 shipping and handling. But a "Free" $5.95 Tshirt? Not so much. If you really want to give people a free shirt for buying a reel, then include it with the reel.

I heard Lorena Bobbitt's husband tried that once. once.

Boat bottom color is just one more thing that bothers fishermen more than fish. Don't worry about it.

x 2 Excellent advice.

Wahoo! and Welcome! :)

Great pictures and a great fish.

I've made an incredible fishing discovery in my search for the next big thing. It's called a scale and it will weigh your fish for you! You might want to start saving up now, because it will cost you a whopping $6.49. It's small enough to fit in your tackle box, it doesn't need batteries, and it even comes with a tape measure! Maybe you think you don't need a scale. After all, why weigh a fish when you can ask your buddies at BassResouce to make a guess? Because, surprisingly, some people get offended when we don't guess high enough. Shocking, huh? Up next on Incredible Fishing Discoveries' is a device that will capture the image of your fish with the click of a button!

Great fish! How big was the biggest?

Senko

I'll nominate Long Mike, Chris, Muddy, cart7, and Avid as the guys I miss the most. Come on back, the water's fine!

I've tried diffent things, but I've had better luck just sticking with one rod and leaving the spare in my car. The places I wade go from 6 inches to 6 feet in a hurry, and it's just easier with one.

Hellloooo!