BluegillsTightlines

The skunk that broke the camel's back. After yet another miserable outing on the water, I decided to hang my rods up and sell em. The passion just isn't there anymore and the fire has been extinguished. And with it becoming even more expensive to even go fishing now, I feel like my time and money are better off allotted elsewhere. Never thought this day would come, but here we are. 2026 has been a challenge in pretty much everything and even fishing wasnt safe from that. It got to feeling too much like a chore and was no longer enjoyable. The wind just will not quit blowing 25 mph and they sprayed herbicide in my home lake, which has taken out the vegetation that fish hide in. Between that and factors elsewhere, I have finally lost my passion for it. I was at least assured my gear would be put to good use by someone who has the desire I once had. There just comes a time with everything-- and honestly, the fishing was a slow melt anyway. I quit crappie fishing after 4 years of no crappie, quit catfishing after all the Hotspots got filled up. Bluegill just got to where they no longer satiated me, so that left bass. And now with tthe A aforementioned constant wind and vegetation in my home lake being killed off, the final scale has peeled. I am an angler no more and dont expect to regain the desire. Best of luck and tight lines to all. Sucks that this is my final report, but it is what it is.

Unfortunately like all the other times I've tried to fish this spring save for monday 2 weeks, it has been FAR too windy. Kept getting blown into trees and snags, ans general frustration with the non stop wind got to me today and Unfortunately I lost my cool in a moment of weakness and snapped my ultralight rod over my knee. I just want to be able to fish, even if I don't catch anything, but as it is now if this wind doesn't let up, it looks like all I will get to do is work. 0 catches today fwiw

As the entertaining Hawk Harrelson says "You can put it on the boaaaaaaardddddd.......YESSSSSS!!!!!" Finally fishing for the first time all year. Mostly bluegill and shellcracker were caught. But I did get this 2 lb bass on an ultralight with a 1/32oz Jighead and minnow. Saw it sitting by an old weed pile that hasn't out its green back on yet and decided to see if I could coax it rather unconventionally. It kept taking little nibbles, but with each one my confidence grew that I could get it to commit, and sure enough 20 minutes later, the jighead and minnow were inhaled. That was a really satisfying catch since it had been since october last time I went, and also due to being patient and sticking with what I thought would work. Certainly not my biggest, but so satisfying. Glad to be back on the water.

Just a 1 lb 11 ozer today on the board at season's end for my local lake. Had another hookup from a similar size fish but it spit the hook, and then I set too early on one that felt like it was in between 3 and 4 lbs. Bummed to miss that one but it is what it is. Overall it was a successful bass season, I didn't quite catch the numbers of 4# like I did last year, but still had some solid 2s, 3s, a couple 4s, and one that would be in my top 3 I've ever caught. Mid May through June was a a massive struggle but it picked back up in July and stayed pretty consistent throughout the remainder of the year-- did not get skunked from July onwards. With the lake closing soon and a significant weather pattern change coming up, I will be transitioning into ultralight fishing at a reservoir a few more miles down the road focusing on shellcracker and hoping to finally find a crappie. If this winter season is similar to last winter, I could perhaps have some fun with some schools of smaller size bass there with Mr Crappie joker grubs on a 1/32 oz jighead. Also have a telescopic light action rod that impressed last week with the way it handled a nice size carp.

Best i understand it, today was the last day for the year on my local 120 acre state PFL(public fishing lake) before they shut down to do improvements on the existing docks, build 2 more, and add some riprap with limestone rocks so I was glad to take an impromptu Sunday morning trip. Little bit slower bite to start than Friday, but an hour in they picked it up. Had a couple blowups, a couple missed hooksets, then I managed to get a nice 3lb 10z bass, a 2 lb 8 Oz bass, and a little finger bass when I transitioned to pan fishing on the UL. Got a new rod to replace the one that got drug in the water while taking my medicine Friday. Always nice to cash in right away with a new rig. Waited till almost 11pm last night to spool it up, but im glad I did. Im not a good lure fisherman at all, at least not with the bigger worms, spinnerbaits, poppers, frogs, buzzbaits, crankbaits etc, but I know of a place I can go over the winter for some Ultralight fun with crappie jigs to catch some bass they won't be mammoths, but ultralight bass of any size are really fun, and sometimes you may catch a surprise larger size fish. Overall at the lake this year, id give it an 8/10. Fishing was productive pretty much all year long, save for that stretch from mid May through all of June that had legit had me questioning my desire to keep doing it- glad I stuck through it, or else I never would have caught that near 7 lber 3 weeks ago.

No pics as I had ran and left my phone at home, but the bass bite was wild this morning. Basically had a bite on every cast for the first 45 minutes or so. Quite a few dinks, 4 keeping size bass, and 1 spit the hook that was probably a 4+ lber. Had a plethora of blow ups besides that. Was fishing off a little island with weed beds to each side and straight ahead was the main lake body. Bass were hitting on every side I could cast to.

Started off VERY slow this morning. Couldn't get a bite no matter what i tossed, even went to bluegill fishing for a bit and even they had lockjaw. Finally cracked the code an hour and a half later, got two nice bites but missed the hooksets, then finally hooked the 2 lb bass-- which i think was the same one I had missed. Few minutes later I catch a nice size catfish and possibly the derpiest looking fish i think I've seen-- not sure anything was going on in that noggin, or perhaps it was smug and proud of getting me wet and muddy. Pink T is still undefeated.

Nothing big today but I just cant complain about a pair of 2 lb bass that fought like hell and were easy keeping size. Hole punched some weeds with braid to get the second one. Then transitioned to bream fishing on the UL when the bass bite stopped about 9am. Got this rather angry little 4 ouncer full of rage and teeth, eyes filled with contempt. Also of note, inside-out pink t shirt remains undefeated this year, have not been skunked with it..... So every time I go to the lake, I purposely pull it inside out and wear the tag prominently sticking out. Whole month of June y'all remember when I didnt catch one bass and questioned my passion? I didn't wear the inside-out pink T. I've worn it since then every time and haven't regretted it.....Long as I am catching fish, I don't care how dumb or hobo I look 🤪

Was out catfishing with some cutbait, had to grab me a drink for my morning medicine. Before I could get back to it, this hawg had my rod dragged into the water. I was aggravated with myself for doing that, I should have reeled in while I took my medicine, I was very worried I had just lost my $190 Shimano slx-shimano convergence rod and reel. However there was a gentleman in a Jon boat who saw the butt of the rod still floating so he nudged up to it and picked it up. He said the fish was still on it and was quite big. I watched him reel it in and boat it. He then came to the island I was on and handed me the rod and reel. We confirmed the weight of the fish with both scales and both said 6-14. I am VERY grateful to him for going out of his way to get that rod. And i was happy for.him to get to catch the fish. Alas, the vain part of me still wishes I would have been smarter and either waited to take my medicine or just reeled in before doing that. May not have got the bite, but I wouldn't have had to experience another person catching "my" fish. I just cant call it my catch when I wasn't the one who did the work even though it was on my equipment and setup placed where I had thrown to. I gave him a $20 for doing me a major solid and saving my combo, even if I did have to watch someone else catch "my" fish. On the other hand i think now I have an idea on the size of the big one I caught a couple Fridays ago(one with me in blue work shirt)and I believe it was similar size. What do you guys think? Perhaps hard to tell with the differing angles and one being selfie mode and the one today being captured with rhe main phone camera lense.

I feel much more at home posting here than I do anywhere else, so I will indeed continue sharing catches on this forum. Missed a couple hits from a nice size bass that probably wasnt as big as the one I caught Friday, but probably would have went 4 lbs. Tossed in later where oddly there was a bass between a weed patch and the bank. I thought as I was making my motion to pitch in it was spooking him, instead he was back pedaling and every time id pitch he would swim right up on my bait. 4th pitch got him. Not near as big as my catch last week but still a solid 17-3/4" fish around 2 lbs. Im a creature of superstition, every time I wear this pink t shirt fishing, I get something decent. Also purposely wear it inside out. I don't wanna wear it right in case I ruin the good luck properties 🤪

May kinda hold back on sharing latest catch pics. Had a negative experience on an outside media forum. I admittedly overestimated the size of my last catch and something they said both kinda set me off and made me want to start holding my catches to myself. They told me "it must be his down syndrome telling him that fish was __ lbs". I mean sure, I quite likely did overestimate it, but in my excitement and rhe way it fought, I couldn't help it. I mean it's one thing to tell someone they got it wrong, but to (he absolutely was not joking) to say someone has a mental condition that causes them to overvalued their fish is uncalled for. Unfortunately there is bullying in the fishing community, and i certainly am not the first, nor will I be the last victim of it. But I do think I will quit sharing as much, just for my sake.

Man, that 19" has a big tall body from the gillplate onward. That thing is going to make a monster some day. I agree, I think it is a 5 as well. Here's one I got last year that was 5.07 lbs. Yours is almost identical in size and shape.

Pics are sideways, but oh my gosh. Was having a rough morning with back to back big fish throwing hooks. But an hour later I casted out and this thing smashed soon as it hit the water. When that head broke the water surface on the first jump I thought I was gonna poop bricks. And pretty sure I could be heard yelling "stay on baby girl, stay on darlin!!! from across the lake lol. It hit way out so it was a very challenging battle. Got it in and it measured at 24" Pretty sure this is my PB.

Go figure, couldn't get a bite on my baitcast set ups, so I went to my ultralight and good ole fashion dirt and nightcrawlers. And this one picks up on the third cast with a nightcrawler. No weight but measured 18". Was fighting two battles at the same time as my stomach was cramping and I was crowning............ talk about a rock and a hard place. Crappie on a frog is some wild work. He choked it too.

I love when they get those prominent greens from being in vegetation

No pic, but did catch a 17.5" 2 lb 12 Oz bass, but he got out of my hand before I could snap the photo and went back in the drink. Had one about the same size break off a poor hook tie, and then had about a 4 lber I swung and missed on the hookset. A bit annoying but at least it was some quality action. I used monofilament backing for the first time instead of slapping a piece of electrical tapeto tie braid on to my 30 year old Shimano Bantam Coriolis and it did very well on the one I landed. The mono backing saved me a lot of frustration tying braid to the spool, whereas before I went to that, I almost dreaded spooling braid because of previous nightmares where I would have to try 6-8 times to get the spool to wind line.

First cast curse is real. Had this guy pop up and shake on the first cast. Then I assume it was the same fish because it had a very fresh looking pierce in its schnoz. At least I could have kept him if I had wanted to as he taped in at just over 16". 100% better than what I experienced for all of June though.

Finally got a "big" one by my standards-- been since mid May catching one this size. Got another smaller one to add later thats on my other phone that died on me. Parting gift, big bass popped me in the jewels whilst unhooking it.

not gonna lie, a little bit jealous of the folks with tbe smallmouth bass. those things look so awesome and ive heard they fight harder than a largemouth does. not sure if we have any in our neck of the woods or not.

Caught 3 this morning. Size is down quite a bit from what I was doing this time last year, but after the last half of May and all of June, Im just glad to catch something again. Broke in the new Shimano Caius 150HG and Shimano Convergance rod, loved how the reel retrieved and the levarage the long handle on the Convergance gave me.

Boy did these feel good. I was looking at dry storeage due to a long a persistent heat pattern of 90 degree temps with 80%+ humidity, however we had a weak boundary layer move in over night that cooled things enough to where i could fish for a couple hours. Got the half pounder and 25-30 minutes later got the channel cat, then an hour after that I caught the 16" 1.7 lb bass. No giants by any means, but after the last 4-5 trips were skunks with nary even any nibbles, it felt great for the line to go tight again. The bigger of the two bass cost me a pair of jeans as when i stooped down to lip it, there was an immediate RRRRRRRRRRRREEIIIIPPPPPPP along the inseam that created a huge hole. 100% worth it though. Also, i believe i hooked into a rather large grass carp as something took 20 lb braid straight out and popped it like it was nothing.

I can really tell I am not into fishing right now after the last few disaster trips. On my way to work I crossed some bodies of water that looked like they would hold quality and quantity fish-- and normally I would take a moment to do a quick scout and note some places to go, but this time I just did not feel compelled to give it much thought, other than thinking that I feel like it is pointless now because I just feel like I'd have the same rotten experiences I've been having-- just not worth the trouble. It may take the fall season to save my fractured love for it.

That one is eating quite well.

yes. no bites. when they ain't hitting bluegills, that's when I know to pack it up.

Another trip, another skunk, no bites. Getting too hot for me to tolerate out there now, and the gas spent and money I've spent on going and acquiring lures and equipment just hasn't been worth it. My rods and reels are going into dry storage for the year, my season is done. I just don't have the motivation to go anymore with the hot temps moving in and not even getting a slight bump, despite trying every adjustment I can think of, trying different bodies of water, and changing up lure and bait types and colors. I used to say I'd never lose the passion for fishing, but unfortunately that may be changing. I know it's not about catching a monster every time out or even catching numbers-- but when it's skunk after skunk like it is now when I could be utilizing that time for other more productive endeavors, the passion starts cracking. Looks like I bought the new rod for nought. Disappointing end to my season.