Fishlegs

Sounds like a great day! As always, you got some beautiful shots of your surroundings.

Wow…just wow!

Wow, what a day! Congrats!

Congrats on getting permission to fish there. I have a spot that is similar to yours. I've been told that I'm the only non-family member that fishes there. I like to test new techniques/lures so that I can get a feel for how they work when I go there. When I first started fishing this spot I tried to fish it very slowly to learn what's under the water. It helped me to find the best spots to concentrate on. Hopefully the next suggestions will seem like common sense to you, but it's not for everyone. I would recommend not doing anything to lose the privilege of fishing there. Never leave trash behind, clean up any you find, offer to help around the property if you are able, and offer the owner a token of appreciation to let them know you are grateful to be allowed to fish there. I've given my person a gift card, helped clear brush off the property, and I always take time to speak to the grandkids if they come around (which has taken my entire fishing session a time or two 😇). One time I hooked a fish, and let the kid reel it in. I got more pleasure from the kid's reaction than I would have from reeling in the fish myself. Also, you will want to see how the owner feels about keeping fish. Some want you to keep them, and some don't. I usually catch and release there, but one time I kept some catfish to eat so I sent them a plate. Courtesy, respect, & kindness go a long way.

Congrats on that Muskie @throttleplate! Awesome fish!

@king fisher The fish @A-Jay catches are probably big enough to see from space. 🤣 Hiding from satellite coverage can get pretty complicated.

You only experience this at night? I have that feeling all the time. 🤣

I've heard that they taste like candy...if you're a catfish! 🤣

I'd probably throw a light, slow falling soft plastic like a senko.

That’s brilliant, @MN Fisher! Thanks for sharing.

Love it! You know it's a special day when A-Jay gets giddy! Congrats, again! I feel a strong urge to go buy a jerkbait! 🤣

Wow! Congrats on an amazing day! @A-Jay is the chosen one... ps - It's "a day" for you, but that would be a lifetime for most of us. Amazing!

North, South, East, West...doesn't matter. That fish would make anyone, anywhere ecstatic @ol'crickety! That's a great fish even in lakes like Okeechobee, Guntersville, Toledo Bend, OH Ivie, Menderchuck, Baccarac, or Biwa! You caught it in Maine!

Wow! What a way to kick off the season!

Glad to hear the positive news @A-Jay. Thanks for sharing. @WRB Here's hoping the treatment has a positive effect, and that she will get to make the trip.

Skipjack are sometimes called Tennessee Tarpon down here. From P. 34 from the Angler's Guide to Tennessee Fishing (link) Skipjack Herring (Alosa chrysochloris) Other names: skipjack, river herring, hickory shad, Tennessee tarpon Skipjack herring prefer large rivers with clear, cool, flowing water. They are also common in large mainstream reservoirs where they can be found in the fast-flowing waters below dams. They feed primarily on fish, insects, and plankton, and often in schools, when they force groups of small shad to the surface. Skipjack herring are found mostly in Tennessee’s mainstream reservoirs and their larger tributary rivers. They are common in this habitat from Knoxville westward, excluding the Cumberland Plateau. They average approximately 12 inches in length and the range is 9-20 inches. The state and world record is 4 pounds, 3 ounces.

Nice one. Congrats!

Congrats on the catch. Hopefully, the first of many on the year!

A trip that inspires you to try to be a better person is truly a worthwhile trip. Thank you for sharing it with us. It sounds like you had a packed schedule, but did you get to catch any Japanese bass?

Interesting question. I’m no legal advisor 😂, but I’d say it’s about how your phrase it. You could say you caught 3 bass, or you could also say you had 4 hookups. Regardless of the number, it made a very cool story. I say kudos to you for it.

It's been a while since I've posted. I've had too much going on to fish much lately, and when I did get a chance it's been a struggle. Finally caught a few in the past week or so. No big ones, but any fish is better than a skunk. The fish on the left was caught on a day when my buddy and I caught 10. He caught a 4 lb largemouth, and a 3 lb smallmouth...which was his PB smallmouth! He was pretty excited, and I was excited for him. It fought like a beast. I think he may want to chase those brown fish more often now. 9 out of the 10 we caught that day were on rattle traps. Any color would do. Orange, red, silver, and gold worked. The LM in the picture was the lone fish caught on a TX rig. The fish on the right was caught on an quick 30 minute bank trip that resulted in 3 fish. 2 small largemouth, and the smallmouth pictured. The smallmouth hit a trick worm like a train. I thought it was going to be a lot bigger, but I'll take it. Just glad to get to fish.

That typically means a tree that has fallen into the water. They make good places for fish to hang out. Here's a link to a thread from a while back with some discussion about how to approach them.

It may not make you feel better, but I’ve struggled from the bank this year too. It’s not just you. I haven’t been able to fish much the past couple of weeks, but I’ve caught a few throwing rattle traps near the rocks, and paddle tails deeper. I typically have good luck with grubs, and craws, but it's been tough at my usual spots so far this year.

I just saw that. It had to be a released pet. There is a small population of gators in north Alabama, but Norris is hundreds of miles, and multiple dams from the closest population. I can't imagine a gator making it that far on its own. Still better watch out if you go swimming though! 🤣