@Swamp Girl where were they and what's the water like?

I tried a new spot yesterday that I now know is very clear, has very indistinct shoreline, is like 95% weeds, and gentle slope all around. Feels like they could be anywhere across 150 acres and I found none.

17 minutes ago, Banned User said:

where were they and what's the water like?

The water is clear and I caught them in the following places:

Along rocky shorelines wherever there were thick, green bushes overhanging the water. They tucked under the bushes.

A rocky flat about 2.5 feet deep with reeds and other weeds here and there. They related to the reeds and weeds.

Mid-pond floppy grass.

Mid-pond lily pads.

The edge of bog.

So, in short, I was casting to cover. I did pull five out of one laydown. Here are two of them and you can see the laydown behind the second one:

22 minutes ago, Banned User said:

I tried a new spot yesterday that I now know is very clear, has very indistinct shoreline, is like 95% weeds, and gentle slope all around. Feels like they could be anywhere across 150 acres and I found none.

That's somewhat similar to my pond, which is a little larger, but also shallow and weedy, but nowhere near 95% weeds.

7 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

I don't know if you guys saw my trip report, but I caught 80 bass at my pond yesterday morning. To be frank, it was too many bass. I really felt my age at the end. @Lottabass out in Iowa experienced the same thing with his half dozen four and five-pounders. His shoulders were barking and he had to quit. Even if the fishing were hot enough again for me to catch 80 bass, I don't think I would. I was just so tired at the end.

Sore, but ain't quittin!!!

@Swamp Girl Those bass must be getting sick of looking at you! 😂 You had to have caught a few multiple times.

2 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

I caught 80 bass at my pond yesterday morning.

80 bass. It took me March, April, and May to catch 80 bass this year and you did it in a day?? Congratulations LMAO. 🤣

I did some exploring this weekend, tried out three new ponds by the cape and I had some varied success at each. The first pond was a kettle hole and I spent the first two hours paddling around trying to locate them. After a while I noticed the sun starting to create a shade line and I found a small point that looked right. I tossed my bladed jig along a sand to rock transition and caught my first bass of the day. Soon after I caught two more on a dropshot. I noticed the depth the fish were at and then made another pass across the pond to an underwater point that had the same depth range. Bingo, four bass on a jerkbait and one more on a dropshot. I caught one more later on in a different area but in the same depth. Overall I caught 8 bass and lost about 5 or so that jumped off.

The next day I went to a pond that has a very good reputation, and I thought i was going to have a banger of a day when in the first 30 minutes of the morning i caught three fish including a tank pickerel. The next three hours were a s l o g however. I got lucky and ran into a school of small bass feeding on baby herring and was able to land four in quick succession on a little karashi. I packed up after that blitz and tried another pond closer to my home.

At this point the wind picked up and i spent most of my time trying to keep my position at this new pond. I landed one bass and one pickerel there, but the success was nowhere near like the morning. Water temps this weekend hovered between 78-84°. Summer is kicking.

On the dropshot!

Jerkbait. Fast and constant was the name of the game. I’ve really spent a lot of time figuring out these baits and there is so much nuance to them. Every time it seems like they want it different.

Another one on the jerkbait.

Almost a pin sized pickerel. Absolutely smoked the giant dog-x.

Frog bass. Smoked it as well. When they we’re biting topwater they were hitting it hard.

1 hour ago, AverageAngler said:

80 bass. It took me March, April, and May to catch 80 bass this year and you did it in a day??

Yeah, I'm a lucky duck. Once a trip or so, I stop fishing to simply say to nothing and everything, "Thank you."

I got my Ghost back from BassFishinElectronics' service and got it wet at Mash Wake, which officially opened again last week. I found a pile of dinks, dirt shallow, with a 3.3" Keitech on a 1/8 oz. Okashira Screw Head, and one 4.39 # LMB on a bone Zara Spook. Water temps were 75.x - 77.x.

Also, @Fishing Rhino 's daughter called me last week. Tom's fading pretty fast and Kristie asked me to head down there and show her boyfriend how to run Tom's beloved Nitro so they can get him out on the water. I'm heading down there next week after my wife's birthday. Tom was always generous with his knowledge and boat, so it's the least I can do. He's in is early 80's and dementia is taking over.

Any old timers left around here that know Tom feel free to PM with any messages. I'll be sure to pass them along.

I hope next week's not his last time out. I'll help him any way I can, but knowing full well, that that last cast is on the way.

On 6/15/2026 at 8:50 AM, Swamp Girl said:

I don't know if you guys saw my trip report, but I caught 80 bass at my pond yesterday morning. To be frank, it was too many bass. I really felt my age at the end. @Lottabass out in Iowa experienced the same thing with his half dozen four and five-pounders. His shoulders were barking and he had to quit. Even if the fishing were hot enough again for me to catch 80 bass, I don't think I would. I was just so tired at the end.

Holy smokes. I thought I had a good weekend catching 35+ and 40+ crappie on Saturday and Sunday. I can't imagine 80 bass in a day. Well done! I might be up in Maine next week staying at an air BNB on Norway lake / Pennesseewassee lake. Plan to bring the boat. Any experience on that body of water?

1 hour ago, NRJ1988 said:

Holy smokes. I thought I had a good weekend catching 35+ and 40+ crappie on Saturday and Sunday. I can't imagine 80 bass in a day. Well done! I might be up in Maine next week staying at an air BNB on Norway lake / Pennesseewassee lake. Plan to bring the boat. Any experience on that body of water?

No experience. Sorry!