AlabamaSpothunter

I feel like in many ways today was the biggest breakthrough I've ever had in fishing. I've been working on these deep fish for months, had my first real breakthrough a week or so ago I guess, but today it was the plan from jump based on the conditions. Today was the make or break it confirmation of my theory that my goal can be accomplished in this place with my new hard earned knowledge. I lost the big fish of the day at dusk, another easy 6.5-7lb+ fish.....however big fish today was a 6.4lb beautiful girl. Two more fish right on the 5lb mark, a couple in the 3.5-4lb range, and 12-15 fish ranging in between 1-3lbs that were all butterballs. Best 5 would have been well over 20lbs, and if the big fish of the day didn't come unbuttoned it would have been my best 5 day out there ever. Around 30 fish total, close to 25 of this Damaki Axe Blade in 1oz in Holo Shad. 100% bought because of Matt Allen and Tactical Bassin. They are salesman obviously, but a day like today was 100% because of his bait, and a quality Garmin unit. The feeling of catching quality fish because of sonar is a high I've got to keep pursuing, if you use these things, man they are fun and effective. When I brought this Shad up early on in the day, I knew I had the bait

I think this thread has run its course sadly mods. I'll think better about posting in the future

Congrats on a magnificent fish! The weird filter is cool. I have no idea how you guys fish 4lb test....that's pretty impressive, the Drums I caught up there pulled hard below Wheeler Dam. I'm so used to power fishing that when I last took out the panfish setup with 6lb, I was breaking off left and right.

Dang brother, it's truly magnificent! The only Shimano I currently have in the line up is the Calais 100a, and I hear it's the predecessor to that reel. It's so bombproof and awesome that I have to get another one.

Yeah that fish was caught last year when a few guides like Josh Jones, and Nick Kefalidas all got together, similar to this year. I think you're right, the record has a great shot of being broken, they are already catching a number of 13-14lb fish, and those fish are going to be getting bigger by several pounds over the coming month I'd imagine.

Solid takeaway from that bit of information.

Excellent, gonna have to get one for sure. Thanks!

Thanks! Out of reactions for the day and it's not even 9am ? Awesome, I know what I'll be watching tonight. Thanks!

Heck yeah, target those fish. Catching a quality fish from the middle of the lake makes you feel like you tapped into the secret truth of the Bass fishing universe ? On smaller less pressured bodies of water, you know at least right now in Bass history, very few people are targeting these fish.

Wow, I didn't know that he pulled one from 60ft. Wonder if he stops targeting when they are that deep like that given the mortality risk. What's the point of trying to catch sharelunkers if they are gonna die. Not only does it not help another lake, it hurts Ivie.

Been looking at them actually, any recs? The Frabill 15ft looks nice for not a lot of money. Guy I know swears by these things.

Love hearing that brother, especially in the times we live in. I reached a put where I thought my fuse was gonna blow in 2020/21, I think rediscovering Bass fishing and this community has helped heal my soul.

Sorry for your loss, Groot was such a handsome pup. May he RIP. Most good animals are better than people I've found, I'll never forget or really get over losing my two best cats, one from childhood, one from about 5 years ago. Just sucks. They are so loyal, don't ask much in return. Time helps though friend.

Size 2 is excellent, 3 will work just fine, but I wouldn't go bigger. I run 2s on the 3.25 Rage Swimmers which are very close to a 3-3.5 keitech I run 3s on the 3.5-4.5 similar swimbaits.

Like many, my oldest fascination has always been with the Big Bass hunters, not the all around greatest Bassmasters, but the folks who are dedicating their lives to catching the biggest Bass in the world. As a kid it was the SoCal lakes, and folks like WRB. Today it's Texas, FFS, and folks like Josh Jones and Ben Milliken. What they are learning with FFS, and then confirming to the world with their catches is what I think many here have said, big Bass roam around in wolf packs, many times offshore in deep water. Anyway Jay Kumar has an email newsletter full of amazing info I've been finding, this recent one has an interview with Milliken and a few answers and questions are super informative, and I thought others would also appreciate this info. Some real nuggets that I will be thinking about right away on the water. 4. Before forward-facing sonar, big-bass fishermen would either deadstick live crayfish in CA or fish big swimbaits there – not including random catches on "regular" baits in TX and FL. Are we in a new era of big-bass hunting? > "My approach is based on a lot of that historical [big bass stuff]...couple of these guys catching big fish have been bass fishing for [a short time]. My approach takes a lot of my 25 years of bass fishing prior to this and applies the same [stuff, also things] outlined in Bill Murphy's 'In Pursuit of Giant Bass' book. > "...apply natural, refined big baits with sonar in different parts of the water column or part of a lake where these giant fish have not seen a lure before." Follow-up Q: Some guys have said that with forward-facing sonar they're finding bass in new places they haven't even considered before, and that bass spend more time there than the classic bass spots. Have you seen that? > "Yes and no. I think the biggest thing I've learned since moving to TX is these big ones aren't necessarily solitary predators...not just one 15-lb blob in the middle of the lake by itself. The majority of fish I catch are in groups of 6-12 fish that, depending on the fishery, are all 7 lbs and bigger in open water...using size and numbers to overtake their prey. > "Think more of them are together out in open water in schools, just big wolf packs, than we ever thought before. > "I know for a fact that if you catch a fish, a 10-lber, on a point after dragging a Carolina rig there for 3 hours, it's not because he was there and didn't want to bite. It's because him and 6 of his buddies came by at that moment – because they're constantly moving." 5. What's one thing that's blown your mind about big bass behavior that you've learned? > "It would definitely be what I just said – their propensity to live with other big fish in groups. And it's in every single lake...especially grass lakes...giant fish in wolf packs. I think it's nothing we could ever know with out forward-facing sonar." Bonus Q 1: Do you have a favorite giant bass bait, or is it possible to have just one? Or is there a key to big bass baits? > "Every lake is different, but one thing I've found is that the best lakes down here are the lakes that have a large population of big gizzard shad. > "It's not possible to have just one bait, especially seasonally. A lot of LiveScope guys only fish one body of water for 3 months of the year in the winter, so they can just have an Alabama Rig. But a 6-8 inch line-through swimbait is a good bait to have, a 10-inch shad-style glide bait, and a jerkbait is also another one. That's one of the only small baits that can fool giant bass consistently."

I recently lost a trophy caliber fish right at the boat after already trying to net it once.....truer words couldn't be spoken in regard to sometimes the fish just wins its freedom. I'm still dying because of that fish, but wow did that fish earn my respect and admiration. First fish to significantly squeel a Zillion drag almost on max.

First off, you're gonna being addicted to Bass for the rest of your days.....that shaking feeling in quite synomous with successful Bass fishing, and it seemingly has no tolerance level. Secondly, landing big Bass is hard even for pros. Everybody has a different approach to hooksets, personally the second I feel them, I hit em with all I got and then I constantly evaluate drag, where the fish is in the water column, and most importantly obviously never once let an inch of slack get in that line. Lastly, Bass fishing takes lots of practice, "time of water" can't be taught or explained. The next time you go Bass fishing, you'll catch a fish you didn't last time, and so forth. Just enjoy the process, the hardness is part of it imho. Congrats on your biggest Bass, that's your PB now.

And yet God bless you I honestly believe you watch my videos ? I've never hooked a Bass that wasn't a monster/"good one" for that first 3.7 nanoseconds, just long enough for me to stupidly say it ?

Dang right in the feels. I'm living out a true lifelong dream currently being able to pursue a giant on the lake I grew up spending my entire childhood on. Camped out, swam, catfished with my first GF, stunk out and met a girl for the first time and made out on her dad's pontoon, spent countless summer nights in HS night Bassin which had a profound effect on me to this day. Had numerous rope swings, we'd spend hours shooting bb guns at fish, never hitting a single one lol. We'd throw M80s in there as well. No supervisor.....pure unaltered nature, the greatest gift a child could ever receive, especially in 2023! I remember running home with a stringer of about 15-20 Bream with the biggest pride smile an 8-9yr old could have, then I saw the look on my parents face ?

Quiet trip home I imagine between you and that buddy ?

My cat thanks you for scaring the day lights out of it when I erupted in laughter ?

Lol, I lied....I looked after posting. Not sure why I won't look at Googan Baits, but when I first started back fishing all I read was how annoying the brand was.

Both of you are Platinum, 24k is for the peasants ?

Not even going to look at this sale lol, BaitWrx just got $75 a week ago for the awesome 50% off winter sale, but they are doing a BOGO sale Feb 2- Feb 5 Groundhog Day BOGO Sale – Bait-WrX

Right back at you Tim, truly a brother from another mother! ??