IcatchDinks

That's what nets are for, Katie. 😂 Me, looking at my go to rod:

Sunset over Lake Brandt in North Carolina

Well, @Pat Brown is a great fishing guide and an excellent fishing buddy. There weren't a lot of fish biting during our night fishing trip, but Pat put me on the biggest one that was, and gave the perfect advice of how to cast and retrieve to catch him. It wasn't a monster, but fought like the Dickens. We had loads of fun. I owe a debt of gratitude to Pat and @FishTax for showing this Michigan boy how it's done the North Carolina way. Edit: fish weighted 2.6 lbs

@Pat Brown, @FishTax, Jake, and myself hit up another urban pond this morning. I hooked a skinny 17 inches right away just after 5:30, and the rest of boys absolutely slaughtered them while I dipped my lure in the water and watched. 😄 I'll post mine and let the others speak for themselves. It was a heckuva fun morning, with more fishing planned for the week.

@Pat Browngo to bed. We gotta go fishing in the morning. 😄

I'm envious of that crawler. 🤤 I own that reel. I hate it. 😄

Bait Monkey got me pretty good today. The biggest expense was a long sleeve Tshirt to fight the sun, but wanted to try some of these swimbaits everyone is talking about, Academy kept throwing stuff in front of my face and like a first year bass, I bit on every single one.

I need that Old School fishing report ASAP. I love old lures and gear.

Praying. I'm so sorry.

Can confirm that @Pat Brown is indeed a real person. I have yet to see the Giants he posts on here, but I believe it's just a matter of time. The man is a master at working a frog. We had a blast. Thanks again for inviting me out! Nice fish, @Woody B! Your spots are always so pretty.

Ooh, yeah, I remember seeing that photo. Such a fat hawg. 😂 Congrats again on the fish. What a catch!

Did I miss this when you posted her? Or did I just forget? I must go find this unicorn and gaze at her beauty.

That's a lotta nice fish. Glad to hear of your success and how you continue to improve! Also, a great homage to one of the premier children's authors. Maybe I'll read this to my little boy alongside the original. 😄

Well, we head for North Carolina tomorrow evening, and I'll be away from my home waters for 11+ days. So I went down to the Chippewa for a few goodbye casts before I pack up all my fishing gear for the trip. Landed one very fat smallmouth who fought like the Dickens and decided to call it a day. Now I'm off to fuel up the car and pack before work tomorrow. It feels a shame to leave my home waters behind just now. The water levels are back to the perfect depth, the fish seem super active and healthy. But I will have the opportunity to fish some private ponds down south, and that should offer some new opportunities. Plus, I really love the in-laws we're going to visit. Should be fun.

Same some for the rest of us, Jeremy Wade. Very nice catch!

@CDMTJager this is what I do. I hate resizing photos. It's too much hassle for me.

I guess I just like flowers...

I also am all out of reactions, but I'm definitely gonna give Tim's Snell hooks a try. Off to YouTube and Walmart.

I've lost them AFTER they get hooked. But I've never had one take the bait and not get hooked.

Oooh, that's cool and exciting! I love using Google maps' satellite view to find new places to fish. Also, I dig your new signature, Katie. (Although I always chuckled at "stealthy as an F22").

Yesterday I took an impromptu detour and stopped by a pond I haven't fished since early spring. I only spent about 30 minutes before continuing on my way home, but landed one little guy. Then this morning I spent an hour and a half at my favorite pond, but only managed to land two similar sized fish. I did have a very nice fish on the line that would have made my morning, but somehow he spat my Texas rig, and I never saw him again. I don't think he even ever felt the hook, which doesn't make sense me. But I watched him spit it. I've never had a fish take an EWG into his mouth and not get hooked before, so I'm a little baffled by that one.

That's a great trip. I wonder if there's a size to fight ratio: if they're too small, they have so much fight in them but it means literally nothing cuz they're tiny. If they're huge it seems the don't have the same kind of vim and vigor the little ones have. The best fights I've had all came from good sized, yet not enormous bass. The 15" smallie I caught a couple weeks ago gave me the best fight of the summer so far. My PB green bass definitely gave me some fight, but not like a river smallie. Then again, I've only caught one bass I would consider enormous, so I really don't know what I'm talking about. 😄

So are large and small mouth.

I wouldn't have the patience to grind them down. I'd just crimp them closed with pliers. But grinding would probably be the best way, imo.