RenzokukenFisher

Went out about 2 days ago on the yak and caught a nice 4lb 12oz largie! This lake doesn't get much pressure so when hooked the fish fight like freight trains. Swam right under my yak and into a submerged tree, luckily my outfit was more than enough to winch er' out. 1/2 oz Green pumpkin jig with a matching rage craw trailer.

It's always a bummer when stuff like this happens but its inevitable when hooking into fish unfortunately. Yesterday I had the stoutest most aggressive 1.5lb bass engulf my crank bait and got 2 hook points into the gills. Got the lil guy unhooked and released as quick as I possibly could but he was bleeding bad. This fish looked to have some terrific genetics the way it was built so it really bums me out considering he might not make it. But yea it's practically impossible to avoid so the best we can do is respect the catch and do what we can to ensure its healthy when there things happen.

I definitely meant no disrespect to George Perry himself in my original post. I was more skeptical about the lakes potential for big fish and the accuracy of the scales used to weigh the fish. As others have pointed out though there are no satillite images of the lake in the 1930s which I forgot to consider and lakes can have periods of prime potential for giant bass. I think this record has a chance of being legit but I do think extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Without solid pictures, measurements, and witness testimony to verified weights it makes it harder to believe. Either way I'll accept it as the record since thats what it currently is.

What are your thoughts on this world record? I am skeptical of its validity by doing a simple google earth search of the lake. It looks like it would be difficult for a DD to grow in it let alone a 20lb + fish. What is the evidence that this is a legit weighed record.

I have a gem near where I live, it's basically a fantasy land. A good half a mile hike in and off the beaten path a bit. This place is a trip how its structured. Its water surface ebbs between 50 and 10 acres depending on the time of the year. Thing is, about 6 months of the year the fish are almost inaccessible from the bank. When the water levels are higher during those 6 months the fish stage along water primrose weedlines out of a bank anglers reach, and if you were to hook one you're about guaranteed to lose it in those mangled primrose. You have late summer through late winter to target the fish and stand a chance at getting them to your feet, giving you about 3 or 4 months of prime time to target them since winter fishing there you will skunk every single time, I've tried. It quite literally feels like nature designed this place with the intentions of protecting the fish from angling pressure. Here's the reason I've never given up on this spot: This place has the chance to bless you with a fish of a lifetime and multiple at that. Despite not being stocked or maintained, the fish are huge, but few in number. Personally I have caught an 8lb fish (the one in my pfp) and a 6.5lb fish, but I know others who have caught multiple 8lb class fish, 9lb class fish, and someone who caught a 12lb fish there. Knowing these have been caught leads me to believe there are certainly more pushing over into the Double Digit range. Many of the big ones are young too. An 8 has the mouth of a 6 and the 6 has the mouth of a 4. Currently the place is in a tough phase to fish from the bank but in a few more months I'll be testing my luck out there. I'll gladly leave the fish alone for now so when the time comes they will have no fear eating a lure.

I see it looks like I'm on the right track then. I've been having great luck nightfishing throughout this month and am heading out tonight again after work. California is experiencing its first major heat wave of the year with temps being 108 so I definitely want to avoid daytime fishing.

Have you all noticed any patterns in fish behavior when a heatwave comes around? Cold fronts often seem like a focus of attention but what about heatwaves.

Winter??? Its gonna be 108 on monday here in cali ?

Okay thanks I'll need to check around a bit more then and get out of the highrent neighborhood because I dont have the money for it as a broke college student?. 25 is already pushing my budget but it was a custom bait from a local angler who in the past has helped me out so I had no problem supporting his work. Also thanks for the lighter tip I'll have to give that a shot!

I just bought one within my price range, about 25 dollars, but when shopping I saw most were over 100 bucks a pop. Why is that?

Okay rad! I'll probably go straight braid then. Since im stuck on the bank I want my best chance at getting a fish out of thick weeds so straight braid sounds like the way to go. I'm guessing I shouldn't hook set as hard?

Hey guys, I am going on a three day night fishing trip starting tomorrow and I'm unsure whether or not I should use leaders. The place is a 20acre pond about 4-5ft deep in most areas with tons and tons of weeds. Mats are already starting to form in the shallower areas. This spot also has multiple 5lb+ fish in it so I want to do whatever I can to make sure my gear is in line. Should I go straight braid or use a heavy mono leader? I will be using a 7ft composite MH rod with 40lb braid for treble topwater, a 7'3 MH with 50lb braid for chatterbaits and swimbaits, and a 7ft heavy with 50lb braid for frogs, jigs, and t-rigs. Will be bank fishing. Thanks for the help!

Thanks for all the suggestions you guys! I got some new UG and I'll be sure to not cross any lines when tying the palomar as well as tightening the tag end first. I think I'll also give the San Diego jam knot a try. Thanks again!

So for the past month I have been breaking off repeatedly with a palomar knot. Many times when i even just test the knot with my hands it breaks. The line i'm using is 15-20lb maxima ultragreen. Could it be the line is just getting old? I've had it over a year and it comes along in my backpack in the cold of winter and heat of summer. I always wet my knots. I tighten mainline before the tag end so could that be it? I hunt big bass and I lost 2 5+ pound fish nightfishing today because of it and lost my favorite spook hahaha. Really trying to get to the bottom if this, thank you.

I couldnt agree more! Nothing like using a "slower" natural bait to target any and all cover (with good structure ofcourse). Keeps things simple. That makes total sense. Only recently have I found how important it is to find where the fish are. Gonna be hard to catch anything if theres nothing around hahaha!

What bait/technique do you feel you've put the most hours into and are the most confident in? What do you reach for when your having trouble figuring the fish out? For me it's a slow moving bait and more specifically a jig. There's hardly a time when it fails me since color changes, downsizing, and other adjustments are all possible with it. I've used them so much at this point it feels like second nature and now my arm sets the hook before my brain even notices theres been a bite ?. Other than that I love how well fish get pinned with it. I haven't had a fish come off on a jig in over a year I'd say. What's your confidence bait?

Thank you I'll add that to my list Thank you for the suggestions! I went ahead and bought Bill Murphy's to start but I'll check out the others as well.

My spring semester in college is coming to a close here and I would like to read some bass books over the summer with a focus on giant largemouth. I've heard of "in pursuit of giant bass" by bill murphy but what are some other good reads? Any recommendations?

Thank you! It was nice to have a solid day like that after a slowwwwww winter.

Good luck out there! Maybe the lake will be generous with another one.

Thank you! She took me for a spin ?. Fighting a bigger fish on the yak is quite a bit different than on the bank.

Had an awesome day out on the water today! Scored myself 40 fish with a 5lb 5oz kicker to top it all off. She didn't appear to be full of eggs so I'm thinking maybe postspawn? Caught her on a Jig in a submerged tree in about 10 - 15ft of water. Very pretty fish, gave me a short workout ?.

At the end of the day you need to find out what your fish like at your ponds. As a bank fishermen who has access to like 20+ ponds at all times, I've learned first hand that every pond's fish has preferences. I could catch multiple bass on a jig alllll day long at one pond while at another pond they won't sniff a jig but will slam a Texas rig. Learning your fish's habits comes with time on the water. More often than not you will begin to piece together what they like and can start hammering them. Pair that knowledge with going during odd hours like noon, nighttime, or early morning and you'll get em. Goodluck!

As some have mentioned on this site, often lure presentation is more important than the lure you are using. Learning angles is important as an "angler" and dropping a bait in the water is part of this. Sometimes it needs to be a low angle for a silent entry but other situations call for a nice splash. Just dont go try to recreate Hiroshima with a drop shot ?.

Oh darn. The fishing seems to be hit or miss in my area right now. Goodluck on your next outing though!