Blue Raider Bob

I must be kin to papajoe! We think alike!

Just one fat shad away from 4 lbs.! That is a very large 'Bama Bass! My PB for those is just over three.

The baking idea didn't last. I was back at it yesterday and had moderate success. I fished an area that was not so densely packed in grass but the floating Eelgrass was still a problem. Fouled up nearly every cast, but I caught six with six more strikes. Had to work for them. Used a modified A-rig with only three arms, and burned it across the top of the water column. I do not like A-rigs in general because they are so heavy, and bulky. Just doesn't match the way I fish. This three arm lightens the lure and still gives the Bass an impression of a small school of bait. Big fish was 16". Shad were everywhere but the wind nearly blew me to Alabama.

Yes, I have experienced that. This was different as it is a vast weedy area and the Bass were not herding the bait. The were striking individually all over the place. I was dropping flukes and other lures right on top of them only to see them crash shad nearby. I'm going to try it again Sunday Lord willing!

thanks the size of the Shad were easy to determine as they surrounded me. I couldn't fish deeper because the grass grew to the surface. I tried a buzzbait at various speeds all over but no takers. The outer limits of the shad balls were still over the grass and constantly moving quickly because of the attacks. The action really prevented bait ball from forming as they were constantly on the run. I left and fished in the bay and once again, shad were everywhere. Only now they were not pursued. Went home skunked. That's my other option.

Experienced a phenomenon I've never seen before. Nickajack, one of the chain of lakes on the Tennessee River. Overcast skies. Pulled up to a bend in the river where the depth goes from 30' to 6' quickly. The 6' area is a vast flat covered with grass growing to the surface. Bass and Shad were everywhere. Blowups were constant with a frequency I've never seen before. Shad surrounded the boat and Bass and Shad were leaving the water. This was not occasionally, this was constant for three hours with dozens of bass exploding topwater. It was a feeding frenzy. With that said, I did not catch a fish. Grass prevented treble hooked baits as every cast was covered in grass before it could move a foot. Walking baits and poppers dropped in holes elicited no strikes. Weedless worms, Flukes, and frogs were not touched. I was dropping flukes right on top of explosions time and time again with no strikes. Buzz baits pulled on top of grass went unscathed. It was the most frustrated I have ever been while fishing. The Bass were so keyed on the Shad that I never even got a strike. Crank baits and Chatterbaits fished on the river channel edge were not touched. Not sure what my next move should be. Quit altogether and learn to bake cookies, or try again. Suggestions?

Its anglers like this that encourage me to be generous and overlook and offer the benefit of the doubt to all the rude boaters out there. I needed this jolt of kindly sportsmanship to renew my faith!

I'm not jealous. I'm always this green!

EPIC !!!!! Kickin' butts and takin' names! I drive that bus Alex! 😐

Those are the disrespectful idiots that get to me. Can't you have a good time with your sonic boom box turned down a little? And the vile lyrics? What's the point? I've never been THAT stoned! Close maybe.....

Got a humorous cold water story. Way back in the day I was rabbit hunting with high school friends at the Loosahatchie River bottoms in west Tennessee. One idiot shoots a duck that flew over and the duck crashed on the other side of the river. We were not going to just let this idiot kill a duck and leave it, so we proceeded to try to cross the river at a logjam. There was snow and ice but we managed to, one at a time, cross the logs to this island. The last one across was "Idiot", and he slipped and fell on the log and dropped his Browning Auto into the river. Well, after listening to all the crying I could take, I asked the boys to build me a fire, and I stripped down and jumped into the river. It was about five feet deep, and I walked around until I stepped on the shotgun....took a deep breath, and went and got it. All agreed it was finders, keepers. The boys pulled me up and out and I went to warm by a very poor, sickly fire. Ended up pulling on my clothes while I was blue and frozen, and fetched the duck. After listening to "idiot" relentlessly crying about how his father was going to kill him for loosing his shotgun, I relented and gave it back. It was either his father was going to kill him, or I was! "Idiot" didn't hunt with us again. We ate the duck!

Well Swamp Sis, if I had a thousand words to describe you, sissie would not be one of them. That looks like such a fun place to fish. Wet socks and pants is how I grew up . Difference between us is my swamp water was warm! 😁 Your water is not! 🥶 I love how the stream widened into a river, then a pond. Took lots of padddlin' to get there though, but as you know, the journey is half the trip! Thanks for taking us along. I hope to be river fishing tomorrow if work will let me. Hope the dam gets fixed so the waterfront property owner gets his shoreline back. That would be a serious loss to me.

Very true. Spent a lifetime pursuing the PB of my dreams and ended up dragging it in with heavy catfish gear. Oh well, I'll spend the rest of this lifetime chasing another! Your descriptions are terrific. Sounds like you've seen branded pigs before, but the poor little rabbit! Dang!

Thanks for taking us. It is more important than I can express!

Mine is worse. Bottom trolling a Green Sunfish for catfish in 17' of water. Rod doubled over. Grabbed rod and nonchalantly reeled in what I though was a good sized Blue. Got it up to the boat and saw green instead of blue. Panic set in. Got it up and netted. 7 lb. 4 oz caught on live bait trolling with heavy gear. Took pictures and weight and eased her back into the river.

You win the Crown. Woody.....Hand it over!

Yep....you win!

Messing with my boat in the garage this weekend while it rained and I read my trailer winch plate for the very first time. Boat and trailer are circa 1977. Don't know what went on in Hastings Nebraska back in the day but I'm giving that place a wide berth!

Nope, Woody wins this one!

You, me, and the rest of us mortals!

Tell me your just kidding....right?

I am honored to be mentioned in a post by a world class fisherman, (and person), catching fat bass in one of the most beautiful areas of our great country. Yep, you're a swamp girl! you can whisper it to me...... Metamorphosed! To change into a different physical form, especially by supernatural means!

Our "Launch and Die" months are July and August. Our winters are so mild that I can often fish through them. Very few bitter cold days, and the winter months allow a little quiet on the water, as opposed to the warmer months when I have to share.

This is best description of monthly fishing statistics ever. Hate you have the launch and die months but glad you have the May's and June's! Knew you'd catch that one! The forum police headquarters has moved to Knoxville! Sorry, gimruis. The torch must pass.

If I got to fish Menderchuck with AJ, I'd wear that sack forever!