I got to witness something today I feel is worth sharing with you guys. I pull up to the boat ramp( Monterey Park) today to load up the boat and see tpwd truck pull up. I'm wondering what is going on. They are returning the 13.3lb sharelunker that was caught Monday. They could not use the fish because it wasnt a pure Florida strain bass. So any ways they are returning the fish to the angler that caught it. He backs down the ramp to release the fish and holds it up for us to take some pics of the giant fish and says he is going to keep the fish for a skin mount. So he puts the fish back in the cooler and drives off. His fish, his decision. Congrats to the lucky angler on the fish of a lifetime, just thought I would share.

Thanks for sharing that Red

Congrats indeed to that guy,

That is a fish of a lifetime!

Skin mount, replica mount

His fish his decision is right

That's an awesome fish! I don't see why it has to be a pure strain for TPWD to keep it. It has the necessary genes to become 13+. Most crossed animals are better than the original. My humble opinion.

Tpwd say that pure Florida strain largemouth are 18 times more likely to produce fry that will reach the 13+ pound mark. I kinda would think that if the fish is a bass that's 13+ enter it into the breeding program, what could it hurt!

I read somewhere that the Florida bass grow a lot faster than the other bass, not sure if that has a role with the tpwd deciding they didn't want that bass.

A 13 lb bass to me, is a monster!! Don't matter if native or Florida!

A fish of a lifetime for sure!

Well I finally got over to the camp, was able to fish a few hours Friday and Saturday.

Caught some dinks, just wasn't able to get anything going my way. That's the kind of relationship me and Big Sam has, it can love me one day, and hate me the next!! Lol

Just being able to get out on the water is a great feeling, yeah a big bass would be great, but...

Maybe next time

Y'all have a great day

An I hope you have better luck next time your out fishing

Yup Rob sometimes just getting out there and enjoying the lake is simply worth the trip. I got to get out this past Sunday and do a little fishing. Got on the water about daylight and caught some smaller fish on a chrome trap. Then I picked up the frog and started working the tops of grass and edges of hay grass, then big momma crushed it! She weighed 8lbs and bit a boo yah poppin pad crasher and was the only fish I caught on the frog all day. Fished to a little after lunch and caught some small fish here and there on Texas rigged plastics and the chrome trap. The fish are really scattered and finicky. Talked to a local guide Lynn Atkinson at the ramp last week and he said he had been catching some smaller fish and that the bigger fish hadn't been very active lately.

That's a nice fish Red

I believe that little front that came in last wed or thur had something to do with the bite.

Gotta love watching that blow up on the frog, nothing better

hows the big pond fishing ?

Went out today and yesterday. Two days of fishing and only about ten small fish to show. I have thrown the book at them the last couple of days and got nothing to show for it. A rigs, tx rigs, jigs, traps, 6xd, and even jigging spoons and just couldn't figure anything out. I know it's not but it's almost like the lake is turning over the way the fish are acting. Here I am saying how poor the fishing has been but Castledine and Cecil way in over 60 lbs of fish in a two day tourney.

Red I read that all I can say is wow what a sack . I wonder if they are fishing north or south

I don't know what they are doing but it's nothing new, those guys are always on em. I fished out of caney tues, fished caney area, veach, Coleman, covered a good area. I fished out of Monterey weds, fished the canyons, Indian, hog branch, and all around Harvey. I'm just at a loss for why the fishing isn't any good right now, unseasonable warm weather maybe?

Word I'm hearing is find brush piles near deep water. Was hoping to get over there this weekend but weather looks like a wash out.

I hit several brush piles in the 10-20 foot range the last two days i fished and didn't get a whiff. I might not be able to get back out until after the first, maybe they will be biting then.

Anybody catching anything this weekend?

hey guys im still working lots of over time and hadnt got to fish much, i created a facebook page for current fishing reports and pictures today so go like and join toledo bend / sam rayburn fishing reports. i have three days off monday-wed this coming week! i will report back to yall! on here and face book

I went out this last weekend, carried my dad, bad conditions for me. Cold front blew in an the dreaded blue bird skies, I seem to struggle with those two conditions every time.

Fishing was tough, stayed shallow due to the wind, only caught a few small fish using plastics.

Had a good time visiting with my dad, and I thank the good Lord he is still able to get around an enjoy the outdoors and soak up the peaceful surroundings that nature has to offer.

Wish that everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a safe and blessed holidays 

Merry Christmas to y'all as well! I fished yesterday and struggled bad. Caught 9 fish and none over 3lbs. I stayed deep all day and never found em grouped up anywhere. Water temp was 61, so I think they are still scattered. Need a couple of good cold fronts to pull em out and stack em up IMO.

Well new member...  2 weeks ago I had a 24lb stringer (8lb kicker)...  been on solid fish.... last weekend had 17 but lost a 6+ which would have put me over 20 again...    brushpiles 20ft +and radical dropoffs... from 22 to 35 seem like the best bite....     photo to add some truth...    be there Saturday hiding from that SE wind again...

Awesome fish Gary. I need to find some like that for basschamps in a few weeks lol. Looking like I should be back out there Wednesday. Good luck and let us know how you do Saturday.

Went out  Christmas Eve day and caught 15-20 fish all were in the 20-35 ft range. There was a few fish 3-4 lbs mixed in but most of them were small. I will agree the fish are scattered. Hope everybody had a blessed Christmas!

Got to hit big Sam last Thursday done real well even with high winds, biggest was little under 6  but caught around 20. Fish seem to be scattered  water temp was 59-60  Can't wait to go back

Got to get out this past Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday I did pretty good, caught 15-20 fish. Fished out deep part of the day targeting main lake ridges and humps in 18-35 foot using Carolina rigs and football jigs. The other part of the day I went shallow flipping and pitching shallow cover(grass mainly), and picked up several nice keepers including a solid 6 pounder. 

Wednesday however was a different story, the wind picked up and was a little more cloudy. Doing so well the previous day shallow I headed to the bank and started flipping and pitching, the fish were few and far between and much slower than the previous day. The last couple of hours of the day  went out deep and caught 5-6 small fish. Hope this helps.

I caught 6 fish today, 2 being 5lbs. All were caught out deep. I flipped shallow for a little bit but never got bit. Gonna be back at it tomorrow.

I don't think the fish know what the heck is going on with this crazy weather we are having. 75 degrees one day, 35 the next. You can catch fish right now but the fishing is just funky right now, hard to get on a pattern and stay on one. I wish the weather would stabilize so the fish can settle in or head out for the winter migration. This weather is crazy!!