Aaron_H

I haven't thrown the Stunna as much as a couple of others, but the gold/black has produced for me. I lost a bunch of fish on it including a big prespawn fish one of the first days I threw it, the trebles were dull out of the package. A little honing and the problem disappeared. Hooks are super sticky on the other one I bought, so I think I just got unlucky. I would prefer a shorter shank treble, though. Overall, I don't prefer the slow-sink action, I would prefer a slow-rise out of the box which is much more forgiving and able to be modified for different water temps and hardware. But it has a great slashing action and it does work as advertised right out of the box.

Ran out of likes yesterday, love hearing about all of y'all's accomplishments over the last year! Whether you think it's big or small, any success in our sport is worth celebrating IMO. You caught a 10lber this year! If that's a humble year I can't wait to see a brag-worthy year ? Yeah I've had a few 4 footers get a little squirrelly with me over a fish I've got up to the bank, but they're easy to spook off. That big male last year was a whole other beast, though.

It's not so bad, you leave them alone and they leave you alone for the most part. But during their mating season they can get a little...uptight about you being in their space when they're all hopped up on hormones.

Academy house brand H2O Xpress Ultimate Jerk Shad in the crackle color caught me a healthy Florida giant on February 11th just after 4PM. She went 10lb 9oz, my first double digit and current PB.

That's always a good mindset. Had my closest call with a big male gator this year early into their mating season. Hoping he doesn't make a return visit this season. I've seen some of the bass you post, man. "Not a good fisherman" my butt! Great fish! The selfies can be tough once they get big like that. I find it easiest to hold the fish as close to me as I can, and hold my phone as far to my side as possible instead of straight out in front, gives you as much distance as possible to get the fish in frame. Example: Like @T-Billy said, tripod is another great option, @A-Jay has suggested it to me as well but I haven't got around to it yet, one more thing to lug around the bank.

Behemoth!

Title says it. Did you catch a PB? Find success on a new technique? Unlock the secrets of a tricky fishery? Bought a boat? We're all anglers here, feel free to get a little braggy with no shame! For me, one thing I was extremely happy with is that I managed to not skunk the entire year. Got out right at 100 trips this year, and while I didn't always find numbers or size, I never got stuck with the goose egg, either. Really hoping I can keep up that streak into 2023, but we'll see how that goes.

The line capacity may be an error on Digitaka, on Shimano's site, the SLX DC 70 has a line capacity of 100 yards/12lb versus 130 yards/12lb for the 150 sized spool. The handle is also slightly shorter. Not surprised at the bearing count increase, not that it's the end-all-be-all.

Your suspicions are correct, that is a Certified Slab™ of a crappie.

Traditionally I am a three-rod guy for bank fishing. One for topwater, one subsurface moving bait, one bottom contact. Generally that's Whopper Plopper/Spook, lipless crankbait/chatterbait, and Texas rig/jig. However, this year I didn't throw topwater that much, so it was generally replaced with the jerkbait throughout the year as my third (and primary) setup. Lately, I've haven't been throwing bottom contact that much either, so it was usually two rods: jerkbait rod and either lipless crankbait or chatterbait.

That immediate realization that you just hooked into a different class of fish is just...*chef's kiss* Truly fantastic fish, congrats!

I have yet to unlock the secrets of triggering bigger bites with the ned rig, yet to break 3lb with it so far. Some day. Gorgeous fish, fellas.

Was the only bigger bass, but I only threw topwater five trips this year, got 11 bass on it. Didn't throw a frog or a spook a single time this year, which makes me sad. Summer is my favorite time to throw a frog, but the thunderstorms were so bad I wasn't able to get out at all during that period. Whopper Plopper is a producer for me, but we've all got different strengths so if it looks better on your tree then by all means.

I don't know if there is a better ribbontail worm than an original Culprit. Likewise, the old Mister Twister 6" Phenom is still a fish magnet. My personal vote will go to ringworms, though. Not the kind you need to medicate, but these bad boys: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-LKESTRK.html?from=basres https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Zoom_Dead_Ringer_Worm_4/descpage-Z4DRW.html Had some absolutely banger numbers days on them when the bite is tough in the dead heat of summer. Great on a dropshot, too.

Well my mom always said I was a sensitive kid.

Interesting thread. My LMB this year over 5lb aren't super numerous, but it's been my best year so far. Here are the baits that produced better size fish for me in the 2022 season: Jerkbaits: #1 was the H2O Xpress Ultimate Jerk Shad. I've tried a couple of colors but Crackle was the deal for every plus-sized bass caught on this lure. 10lb 9oz, 10lb 2oz, 8lb 10oz, 8lb 10oz, 6lb 12oz, 5lb 5oz. A very distant #2 was the Rapala Shadow Rap Shad in Halloween. I found this one on the bank and it helped jumpstart my early jerkbait success for the year, managed to get a couple of nicer sized fish on it once they were targeting smaller baitfish in the fall. Biggest ones went 6lb 1oz and 5lb 0oz. Chatterbait: I'm pretty simple when it comes to chatterbaits. 1/2 oz base model green pumpkin Chatterbait which I tune to have instant blade startup has been my go-to for several years. I've experimented with a few different trailers but for the past couple of years have settled with the green pumpkin Zako. I have been throwing the CrossEyez version lately as I like that O'Shaughnessy hook bend a lot, but nothing big on that version yet. Biggest ones went 7lb 7oz, 6lb 13 oz, and 6lb 2oz. Topwater: Topwater wasn't a crazy producer for me this year, but got one nice on on the Whopper Plopper 110 in Loon, went 6lb 0oz. Spinnerbait: A first to make any size list for me, but I did get one nice fish in some heavy current right after Hurricane Ian on the Strike King Tour Grade Compact spinnerbait double willow blade in white/silver. That fish went 5lb 12oz. Lipless: Not a great year for the lipless for me, admittedly. I got excellent numbers with it, but I struggled with size. The lipless is my all-time confidence bait, but I had some very frustrating post-spawn days where I lost several plus-sized bass, one of which was VERY large and I believe would've been another DD. My setup is typically very good at keeping jumping fish pinned, just a string of unfortunate luck, I think. The 1/2oz Booyah One Knocker in Flashy Momma produced my only sizable bass for the year at 5lb 9oz. I'm hoping the 2023 season will be another great jerkbait bite in the coming months, and really crossing my fingers I can get my "mojo" back with the lipless, it typically accounts for my largest fish of the year. I did get one shot this year at a potential PB on one, just gotta try and keep them buttoned up better.

The pattern on that last one!

Rapala Shadow Rap Shad deep would be worth checking out IMO. I've thrown the standard version quite a bit this year and had good success with it. The deep version is rated to dive 5-6 feet. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Rapala_Shadow_Rap_Shad_Deep_Jerkbaits/descpage-RSRSDD.html

Dude! What a tank of a fish, congrats on the PB (and on a jerkbait, too!) I'm so proud of you man, that's a beautiful fish. Great job!

I thought this, too, until I started throwing some Rapala baits.... ? Now I swap 90% of hooks/split rings, if only for peace of mind and eliminating that variable. I don't worry about hook covers or hooks dulling in my boxes. If they get dull, I just hone them a bit with this file: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Dr_Slick_Hook_Sharpener_File_4/descpage-DRHF.html A big fan of it, honestly.

You hate to hear it. You've been fishing hard all year and you've caught some great fish, bud. Hopefully it turns around for you here soon.

The only thing I won't share with strangers is my actual fishing spots. I've been burned from it before, had good spots completely trashed by people who told other people who told other people etc, eventually some of them bring buckets, illegally keep every single fish they catch, and leave all their trash on the banks. However, I will share everything else about what I'm doing. I'll tell you the exact lure, what rod/reel I throw them on, why I throw it, how I work it, what kind of cover/structure I look for to target fish, etc. I love learning, and teaching, and seeing others find success in a hobby I'm so passionate about is hugely rewarding for me.

Unless I needed the line capacity, I would skip the XT and go for the MGL, personally.

I fished a Texas rig for years on spinning gear, caught many fish and good fish doing it. The fish don't know what combo you're throwing, use what feels natural to you and enjoy.