spencer12

We've caught some in South Ga that were well over 12 inches.

X2 on bitters baits. I've used them for a few years now. Great prices and great products.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Hello Everyone, I'm interested in purchasing a Daiwa Tatula Casting Rod and I have a few questions. First, does anyone have this rod? If so what are your thoughts, what power/action is it, what do you use it for etc. I'm leaning towards purchasing the 7' 1" MH/XF model. I will be using this rod for texas rigged worms. Most of my setups consist of a 3/16 oz strike king pro tungsten weight, with either a 2 or 3 alt Gamakatsu G-Lock worm hook. I tend to use 6-10 inch worms. My current worm setup is a Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier CarbonLite Rod. It is 6' 9" MH/XF. I really like the rod and I've had it for years, but I recently had the top guide break and I figured I'm in the market for a new rod. I really like the extra 4" of the tatula but I'm curious as to how the power and action compares to other rod brands. I really like the extra fast action on my BPS CarbonLite so I figured the tatula would be as well. Thoughts?

I went back this afternoon and caught two. With no real pattern or approach. I caught them both on a plastic worm. The first fish came on a slight drop off with a sunken tree at the bottom. However this was offshore and was literally my last attempt before heading in. I will say there was a lot of pressure today which usually hurts things a bit. The second fish was by the landing, along the bank line. I noticed some small patches of grass (and I mean small) and I thought what the heck, and made a cast. I fished a little longer in the same area with no luck before packing up. I threw a trap, paddle tail hollow body swimbait, squarebill, and a curly tail finesse plastic worm. I saw a lot of baitfish activity along with bird activity following those shad. However I did not get a bite fishing the shad. We had a cold front come through this week that dropped the water temps back down to around 60-61 degrees. This lake has won again. Honestly, I'm debating just trolling around and fishing no mans land. It seems the shad are following no type of structure or pattern and are just free roaming. Couple that with spawning fish, fluctuating water temps, and no clear pattern, I'm back to square one.

Nothing too bad. Here's a few: I saw my buddy catch a water moccasin on a junebug senko. Caught a 3.5 foot alligator on a topwater frog. I set the hook on a machine gun bite and lost my worm, I figured it was a bream. About 5 minutes later (Same buddy as above) caught a bass with my worm still in its mouth. Fishing in a small 100 acre lake in south ga in about 17 foot of water in the summer, I kept seeing something come up to the surface and making a hissing or sucking noise. I thought it was a turtle but then I saw what looked like a lamprey or something similiar come up grab some air and go back down. ( I still have no idea what it was) I used to fish the Suwannee River with my grandparents as a kid for panfish (They were very serious panfisherman), and I'm honestly certain my grandparents both caught state record red breast sunfish or "Redbellies" as we called them. This was before I knew about records. I watched them pull many of those little basketballs from that river, I miss that. I was fishing another lake that I had fished with my father as a kid. I hadn't been in close to a decade. So I decided to go one Monday morning. I arrive at daylight and I have the place to myself. Apparently the lake was taken over by hydrilla unbeknownst to me. So as it's cracking day I'm puddling along, dredging through hydrilla that is lodging up my trolling motor ( I'm in a 14ft jon boat) I'm sticking my hands in the water pulling it out, and splashing about. As the sun starts peering up about 50 yards in front of me staring at me is about a 10ft alligator. Alligators do not bother me at all, but this one made me nervous. If he wanted to get me out of the boat he could have.

Hello all, I've recently began fishing a new small lake that has me stumped. The lake is around 30-40 acres and is oval or "bowl shaped" basically. It has gizzard shad stocked in it. The depths range from 3-6ft around the edges and gradually rolls into about 7-9ft throughout most of the lake. However, at the dam end of the lake it is around 12-15ft in a very small portion of the lake. (Near the spillway) There is literally no vegetation and is devoid of any type of natural cover. The only cover is manmade brushpiles scattered sporadically around. There are a few sections of the lake walls that have rocks but they do not extend very far into the water (3 ft at most) During the summer I was catching bass on one of several small humps and brushpiles. The past two weekends I've struggled. The water temp is currently around 65-68 degrees so I'm assuming they are getting ready to spawn. The water has a green tent to it so spotting beds is difficult. I've managed to catch a few over the last three trips but nothing like I'm used to. I've only caught them in one area of the lake which has shellbeds near the shore. I've scanned over the lake time and time again and so far I haven't found any more shells other than that spot. So my question is, where do I start? Clean sandy, relatively shallow lake, no vegetation and limited cover. It's basically 1/4 flat 3-5ft, 1/4 with structure (Humps, drop offs) 1/4 gradual sloping bottom out to 8 ft, and 1/4 deep flat nothingness. Do you believe the bass are spawning yet? My obvious guess is they are shallow but where? I've ran the banks (basically the entire shoreline) with limited success. I know there are fish in this lake and I know there are quality fish around. What are the shad doing with these water temps (65-68) and what is there behavior this time of year? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks

Just curious to see what everyone here has done to "trick" out there jon boats. I'm really interested to see what everyone else has done to make these small, lightweight aluminum boats the ultimate pond, small lake etc. bass catching vessel. I don't have any pictures but so far this is what I've done and I'm always looking to improve my boat layout. To start I have a 15 ft. Grumman Jon that was my grandfathers. When I first started using it all that was on it was a stern mounted trolling motor. He mainly panfished so this was sufficient. However, I am a bass fisherman. So first, I installed a depth finder. I went with the Lowrance Elite 4x. I then purchased a Minn Kota Edge 45 bow mounted foot control trolling motor. (36 inch shaft). I put all of my batteries in the back so the weight of me in the front is leveled off. I then connected my transducer to my grandfather's old stern mounted trolling motor (works great). The wires for the depth finder and trolling motor I ran through the rungs of the deck and then taped together to keep them in place. I then covered all of this with carpet. It really is a great setup. So what have you guys done to your jon boats to help you catch more bass. Also any tips tricks or pointers for Jon boat fishing?

How did you guys do, I fished there this week after not fishing it for more than 10 years. It appears they had a hydrilla invasion while I was away, but I did manage 2 small ones near the river mouth.

Hey everyone, I just picked up my first a-rig. I'd like a few pointers and tips on when, and where to throw it please.

Does anyone know how old these california lakes are? 1.) Lake Castaic 2.) Lake Dixon 3.) Lake Casitas 4.) Lake Miramar Also how large are each?

You can buy a cheap cooler and buy an aerator. Me and a buddy use this when fishing tournaments out of my Jon boat. Just look on bass pro or go to Wal-mart and they have them. All you need is a cooler and a battery, although I feel like carrying all this with you may get old after awhile.

I believe a Fl. angler found those records from his research so again the accuracy of it is not 100%

This is what I could find for Fla. 1.) 20-lb 2-oz; 31 in L; 27 in G; Pasco Co; Big Fish Lake; 5-19-1923 by Frederick “Fritz” Friebel (current “non-certified” FL Record). 2.) 19-lb 11-oz; 29 in L; 23.25 in G; Indian River Co; Farm 13/Stick Marsh (St. Johns River Basin); 7-5-1994 by Doug Thompson (catch and release). 3.) 19-lb 4-oz; Taylor Creek Reservoir (St. Johns River Basin); 6-30-1974 by Phil Jay. 4.) 19-lb; Pinellas Co; Lake Tarpon; 6-26-1961 by W.A. Riley Witt (former “non-certified” FL Record). 5.) 18-lb 15-oz; Pinellas Co; Lake Tarpon, 1961 by unknown angler. 6.) 18-lb 13-oz; 29.5 in L; 26.5 in G; Clay Co; St. Johns River; 4-12-1987 by Buddy Wright. 7.) 18-lb 8-oz; Polk Co; Orange Grove Lake; Jan 2008 by Jeffrey Smith (catch and release). 7.) 18-lb 8-oz; Alachua Co; Newnan’s Lake; pre-1986 by Wayne Jacobs. 7.) 18-lb 8-oz; Leon Co; Lake Jackson; Mar 1967 by unknown angler. 8.) 18-lb 5-oz; Madison Co; 3-25-1968 by Bobbie Haskell. 9.) 18-lb 4-oz; St. Johns River; 12-16-1948 by J.W. Smith. 10.) 18-lb 2-oz; Clay Co; Lake Brooklyn; 3-12-1966 by Hugh Paul. 10.) 18-lb 2-oz; Taylor Creek Reservoir (St. Johns River Basin); 6-25-1974 by Phil Jay. 11.) 18-lb 1-oz; Polk Co; Orange Grove Lake; since 2000? by Jeffrey Smith (catch and release). 11.) 18-lb 1-oz; Indian River Co; Farm 13/Stick Marsh (St. Johns River Basin); 4-4-1994 by Robert Bloom (catch and release). 11.) 18-lb 1-oz; Indian River Co; Lake Blue Cypress (St. Johns River Basin); pre-1975 by unknown angler. 12.) 18-lb; Polk Co; Orange Grove Lake; since 2000? by Steve Smith (catch and release). 12.) 18-lb; Polk Co; Lake Marion; pre-1992 by unknown angler. 12.) 18-lb; 30 in L; 25 in G; Franklin Co; Tucker Lake; 1964 by L. L. Petty. 12.) 18-lb; Lake George (St. Johns River); 5-3-1958 by Marlin Coston. 12.) 18-lb; Putnam Co; Ashley Lake; 3-25-1951 by Carl Swisher. 12.) 18-lb; Citrus Co; Homosassa River; pre-1992 by unknown angler. 12.) 18-lb; Withlacoochee River; pre-1992 by unknown angler. 13.) 17-lb 15-oz; Mar 1988 by Donald Brunson. 14.) 17-lb 12-oz; Osceola Co; West Lake Tohopekaliga; 7-11-1986 by John Faircloth. 15.) 17-lb 9-oz; Lake George (St. Johns River); pre-1974 by Babette Morgan. 16.) 17-lb 8-oz; 28 in L; 25 in G; Orange Co; Lake Rose; 1985 by Mike Paule. 16.) 17-lb 8-oz; 28 in L; 25 in G; Okaloosa Co; Hurricane Lake; 3-19-1983 by Robert Earl Dunsford. 16.) 17-lb 8-oz; Lake George (St. Johns River); pre-1974 by Justin Morgan. 17.) 17-lb 7-oz; Lake Co; “small sand mine pond”; pre-1998 by Bing McClellan. 18.) 17-lb 6-oz; Polk Co; Lake Winterset; since 2000? by Jeffrey Smith (catch and release). 19.) 17-lb 4-oz; Polk Co; Lake Summit; since 2000? by Jeffrey Smith (catch and release). 19.) 17-lb 4-oz; 25 in L?; Orange Co; Raccoon Lake; 3-3-1992 by Linda Richardson. 19.) 17-lb 4-oz; Alachua Co; Orange Lake; pre-1990 by unknown angler. 19.) 17-lb 4-oz; Walton Co; King (or Kings) Lake; 1987 by unknown angler. 19.) 17-lb 4-oz; 30 in L; 22.5 in G; Polk Co; unnamed lake; 7-6-1986 by Billy O’Berry (current “certified” FL Record). 19.) 17-lb 4-oz; 29.7 in L; 1973 by Doug Hannon. 19.) 17-lb 4-oz; 32 in L; Lake Okeechobee; Feb 1971 by J.J. Shaw. 20.) 17-lb 3-oz; near Winter Haven; since 2000? by Jeffrey Smith (catch and release). 20.) 17-lb 3-oz; Marion Co; Lake Weir; 1960’s or 1970’s by unknown angler. 21.) 17-lb 2-oz; 27 in L; Lake Ocklawaha (“Rodman Reservoir”, Ocklawaha River Basin); 3-11-2000 by E.C. “Doodle Bug” Dressler. 21.) 17-lb 2-oz; “Lake Record in the Holmes Creek area”; pre-1989 by Randolph Field. 21.) 17-lb 2-oz; pre-1983 by Carl Wagner. 22.) 17-lb 1-oz; near Winter Haven; since 2000? by Jeffrey Smith (catch and release). 23.) 17-lb; Bay Co; Felix Lake (Tydall AFB); pre-2009 by unknown angler. 23.) 17-lb; Putnam Co; Crescent Lake (St. Johns River Basin); 1980’s by unknown angler. 23.) 17-lb; 32 in L; Lake Co; Lake Schimmerhorn (Ocala NF); pre-1984 by unknown angler. 23.) 17-lb; 32 in L; Marion Co; Half Moon Lake (Ocala NF); pre-1984 by unknown angler. 23.) 17-lb; Marion Co; Lake Bryant (Ocala NF); pre-1975 by unknown angler.

I believe basswhippa qouted me and wrote in my qoute box I didn't say that.

Here is a current list of the top 25 Ga. Bass (This doesn't include the #5 Bass caught this april 17.6lbs I believe) I know a few 16lb+ fish that have been caught and not certified as well. #1 22lb. 4oz. Montgomery Lake George Washington Perry 06/02/32 #2 18lb. 1oz. Marben Farm (Lake Margery) Ron Petzelt 09/15/87 #3 17lb. 14oz. Chastain's Lake (Cobb County) Nickey Rich 04/27/65 #4 17lb. 9oz. Lake Lanier Emory Dunahoo 12/19/65 #5 17lb. 4oz. Marben Farm (Lake Margery) Jerry Jones 04/22/90 #6 17lb. 0oz. Lake Gale (Midway, Ga) Robert C. Stone 03/18/74 #7 16lb. 11oz. Lake Chatuge David Preseley 03/27/76 #8 16lb. 9.3oz. Marion County Lake Sam Taylor 03/15/02 #9 16lb. 9oz. Lake Allatoona Greg Rymer 08/31/82 #10 16lb. 8oz. Lake Eufaula John Giles 03/12/80 #11 16lb. 4oz. Lake Spivey Annie Malcolm 1971 #11 16lb. 4oz. Lake Seminole Charles Tyson 05/23/61 #13 16lb. 2oz. Morgan County Pond Robert Hilsman 04/07/62 #14 16lb. 1.2oz. Fort Stewart (Big Metz Lake) David Gregory 05/26/02 #15 16lb. 0oz. Forsyth County Pond Donald L. Smith 05/19/97 #16 15lb. 15.4oz. Marion County Lake Sam Taylor 03/16/02 #17 15lb. 13oz. Lamar County Pond Bryan McBride 12/10/98 #18 15lb. 12oz. Fort Stewart (Dogwood Lake) Don Harlow 02/20/93 #19 15lb. 10oz. Lake Seminole R.P. Bolton 1970 #20 15lb. 9.6oz. Fort Stewart (Canoochee Creek Res.) Greg Harvey 02/12/99 #21 15lb. 9oz. Fort Stewart (Big Metz Lake) Paul Smith 09/08/92 #22 15lb. 8.5oz. Dodge County PFA David Hudson 03/16/02 #23 15lb. 6.5oz. Hart County Pond Brad McCall 03/21/92 #24 15lb 6oz. Lake Juliette Alonzo Dunn 01/04/90

I see a lot of you guy's are leaning towards Japan and Cali. Seeing Raul's location reminded me of old mexico. Mexico has a chance as well. I would like to note the Japanese govt. recently added bass to the invasive species list. They are supposedly supposed to be removed if caught. Don't know if thats been mentioned or not. Personally here is my take on it, California has the best chance in my opinion BUT I think the fish there get waaaaay to much pressure for the small reservoirs around the big bass areas (Within a hundred mile or so radius of LA i believe) That being said I still think Fla or Ga has a great great chance to at least put a 20+ in the books. Also I believe the fish will come in a smaller body of water 200 acres or less. Anyone know how many 20lbers have been entered in the record books? Can't be more than a few id guess.

So what does everyone think? Where will the next world record largemouth be caught? Will it be out west in one of california's deep trout stocked reservoirs, maybe japans lake biwa, or maybe even the florida strain's home state of Fla.? I have my opinion and will share when we have a significant amount of opinions and views on the matter. Your thoughts?

Well I'm from south ga. so when it comes to fishing for bass or any fish for that matter I guess I'm pretty lucky. We have mild winters and for the most part excluding the end of november, december, and january you can catch a good number of fish. 13 inches and below can get annoying 2-3lbs Is a quality fish 4-6lbs Is pretty big 7-9lbs Is a fish I will take a picture with 10lbs-over Is a huge bass. I have access to some awesome 10-20 acre private ponds, and If I told some of you the number of 6.5lbs. + fish we've caught out of them in one day I suspect some would call me a liar so I won't. As for total fish caught, I've caught well over 30-40 on a single trip a couple times, but again those are private ponds that see only the owners and me fishing for them. On public waters I would say any 6lber is a big fish and 1-3 fish an hour (depending on season) is excellent. There was a 17lb bass caught this year here in ga from a small lake somewhere around north ga. If I remember corectly the lake was under 100 acres. I see pictures of a few 14 pounders caught here and there, I think if Ga. could up its Dnr salary and this state would start putting more money back into our lakes and pfa's we could see a lot more of these fish being caught. I've been fishing Ga's public lakes and pfa's for 18 years and I've been stopped and checked by a Game Warden twice. I understand in North Ga. they're a bit more abundant but once you get down below the piedmont region they are few and far between. I can't tell you how many times I've watched a bank fisherman with a bream pole and bucket sitting on a pond dam at a Pfa catch and toss a 10 incher in the bucket without a second thought. (Sorry for the rant)

Sorry guys been away a little while. I think the (Or actually I almost know) the problem is "interference" with my trolling motor. I have both the trolling motor and unit connected to the same battery but connected away from each other. I really hope I can figure out a solution without having to lug 2 batteries in this small boat around all the time. My settings are: freshwater mode sensitivity around 70-76% color depth around 80% surface clarity High Noise level High I've attached a "good picture" this is the best I can get it but as soon as I pick up speed it starts getting worse. It starts showing yellow balls of color small fishy looking blobs that arent fish etc etc when I know there isnt anything below me. Unless the entire 100 acre lake has schools of shad and fish every foot of the lake from the bottom to the top I know it has to be interference. It really isn't a problem finding depth and structure it does that perfectly its just showing a lot of unnecessary things. Again this is a good picture I took only because someone asked me how it was working and of course I wanted them to think I was a tech saavy electronic fish pro. When I turn the sensitivity down to around 60% most of it goes away I'm just scared that this may cause me to actually miss true fish arches. What do you all think? Is a 50-60% sensitivity to low for spotting fish or no?

I'm back home now, I was posting from the water earlier so I didn't feel like going into detail on my phone. Anyways the elite-4 showed the depth perfectly. It's just the picture was just lines of color everywhere for the most part. It would clear up some at times. I mainly fish soft bottomed lakes with this unit anywhere form 5-10 feet deep. Any suggestions?

Yeah that was my mistake on the sitting still. It's doing a bit better now, but it still has a ton of clustered vertical blue streaks any ideas?

Hey guys I recently installed this depth finder to my boat. I can't figure out what's wrong with it. The transducer is installed flush to the bottom of my trolling motor(jon boat) and while sitting still the screen is almost unreadable I'll post some pics later but there's colors everywhere the bottom is not reading solid and there's vertical streaks everywhere. Any suggestions?

Thanks for all the replies guys. I have two boats that I use, I have a tracker and a jon boat. I never take my tracker to these small lakes just because its a hassle on those small ramps. I recently installed a depth finder to my jon boat and I'm excited to see what the bottoms of these small ponds look like. I have the "cover" down on these waters but now I'm excited to fish some of the "structure". I've always been a deep water guy and I've honestly never had the opportunity to fish deep on these small lakes. Tomorrow i'll be hitting a 40 acre lake so hopefully I can catch them in the open water.

For you small water guys (100 acres or less) what do you consider structure? Most ponds this size are rarely deeper than 8-9 feet, but I know that bass will still relate to drop offs, humps, points etc. The question is what do you consider structure in these fisheries and what key elements do you look for on your graphs?