Fishing with grandchildren. The absolute best!!

Long post warning*** Fishing has been up and down for me lately, some days I catch a lot of numbers and some days I can't buy a bite. In the last 2 weeks or so I haven't been able to boat a fish over 3 lbs out of the numerous that I have caught. My youngest daughter has been asking to go fishing with me on the boat for a few weeks now. Her Mom and I figured she wouldn't really want to go once we got out there so we kind of waited and she seemed like she really wanted to so we ordered her a life jacket. It came in over the weekend and she wore it around the house because she was so excited. She had asked me when we were going and i told her "maybe" we would go Monday. I got up at 5:30 this morning and headed to the lake without her, when her Mom woke her up she was bummed. I told her to tell her I would take her when I got home. I got home about 4:00 and I was exhausted. Well, her grandma brought her home about 4:30 and the first thing she said was "ready to go fishing"? As tired as I was, I said "you bet". I had already got her a spinning rod and reel set up and a small tackle box ready. We met her Mom at the lake and we were off. I was not looking forward to it because I was certain she wouldn't catch anything since I didn't have any minnows or worms for her to use. We got out there and I tied on a little H&H spinner bait and proceeded to show her how to use the spinning reel. I showed her, then I would cast and she would reel. Then she would try it on her own, and I would help. After about 20 min she was all on her own. I told her if she feels a pull or it feels heavy to pull back and reel. She thought she had a fish every time she got caught up in the moss or brush and would say "I got one" LOL. We fished about an hour and I thought she was about to quit. I told her we had one more spot to try. I said this is the "honey hole" because I always catch a fish here. I was fishing off the front deck and she was fishing out of the back. We pulled into the honey hole and were there maybe 5 min and she said "I got one", assuming she was hung up I turned to see her rod bent over and line moving. She really did have one. This is probably the smallest fish I have taken my picture with, but it is my PB to this point. Sorry for the long post.

5 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

She really did have one. This is probably the smallest fish I have taken my picture with, but it is my PB to this point. Sorry for the long post.

That is one happy girl...great job JB on getting her out and her getting a fish.

That's a great story and something she's always going to remember. I have a couple teenage daughters I started taking out when they were 4-5 and they still love going out fishing with me when they get the chance... can't beat that quality time together. Well done.

Birthday fish! My biggest Spot ever

 

On 5/18/2020 at 12:47 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Bait finally showed up in the mail yesterday after a long quarantine in Japan. Took it out after work this morning and it got blasted right on the edge of some emerging water willows.

Hey Blue you're really looking good with the weight loss. 

3 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Hey Blue you're really looking good with the weight loss. 

Fish beware!! 

Got out today 8-4. Fought a wicked wind all day. Caught 16 bass on 7 different lures with the buzzbait bringing the days best to the boat at 5-1. Also got a 3-11 on a spinnerbait.

13 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Hey Blue you're really looking good with the weight loss. 

Feeling better too. My knees and back don't hurt like they use to after a long day in the boat now that they'll not carrying an extra 60lbs. Funny how that works?

It's been a good spring so far.

 

I was able to get out yesterday on the tail end of a passing storm front. With a little early morning wind blown chop, I was able to get ‘em on topwater to start on a shallow flat. Picked up the bladed jig, two cranks of the handle and the rod tip stopped its rhythmic thump like I hooked a stump. The rod loads as I set the hook and what I now know is a heavy fish heeds to deep water. A couple of runs on both sides of the bow and I am able to welcome her aboard, a 6.79lber released to fight another day.

Fished our Montana B.A.S.S. Nation Spring Open and weighed my new tournament PB 5.59!

Fishing was wet but absolutely spectacular. Managed to finish 11th out of 30 teams.

Bottom photo is a friend who missed the state record by ounces on Sunday with an 8.26 giant!!!

On 5/18/2020 at 10:53 PM, jbsoonerfan said:

Long post warning*** Fishing has been up and down for me lately, some days I catch a lot of numbers and some days I can't buy a bite. In the last 2 weeks or so I haven't been able to boat a fish over 3 lbs out of the numerous that I have caught. My youngest daughter has been asking to go fishing with me on the boat for a few weeks now. Her Mom and I figured she wouldn't really want to go once we got out there so we kind of waited and she seemed like she really wanted to so we ordered her a life jacket. It came in over the weekend and she wore it around the house because she was so excited. She had asked me when we were going and i told her "maybe" we would go Monday. I got up at 5:30 this morning and headed to the lake without her, when her Mom woke her up she was bummed. I told her to tell her I would take her when I got home. I got home about 4:00 and I was exhausted. Well, her grandma brought her home about 4:30 and the first thing she said was "ready to go fishing"? As tired as I was, I said "you bet". I had already got her a spinning rod and reel set up and a small tackle box ready. We met her Mom at the lake and we were off. I was not looking forward to it because I was certain she wouldn't catch anything since I didn't have any minnows or worms for her to use. We got out there and I tied on a little H&H spinner bait and proceeded to show her how to use the spinning reel. I showed her, then I would cast and she would reel. Then she would try it on her own, and I would help. After about 20 min she was all on her own. I told her if she feels a pull or it feels heavy to pull back and reel. She thought she had a fish every time she got caught up in the moss or brush and would say "I got one" LOL. We fished about an hour and I thought she was about to quit. I told her we had one more spot to try. I said this is the "honey hole" because I always catch a fish here. I was fishing off the front deck and she was fishing out of the back. We pulled into the honey hole and were there maybe 5 min and she said "I got one", assuming she was hung up I turned to see her rod bent over and line moving. She really did have one. This is probably the smallest fish I have taken my picture with, but it is my PB to this point. Sorry for the long post.

Brings back memories. 

 

Fishing all day is extremely exhausting, not sure why but is.

Then come home and your girls want you to take them, always said yes.

 

It's a very different kind of fishing but motivated by love.

 

Good for you young man.

1 hour ago, BigSkyBasser said:

Fished our Montana B.A.S.S. Nation Spring Open and weighed my new tournament PB 5.59!

Fishing was wet but absolutely spectacular. Managed to finish 11th out of 30 teams.

Bottom photo is a friend who missed the state record by ounces on Sunday with an 8.26 giant!!!

Outstanding. 

Thunder Goby Strikes Again ~ !

 

 

A-Jay

Upped my pond PB again this year with this fish going a little over 6 lbs. today, Midwest finesse style.

 

 

First river Smallmouth of the year. The old Panther Martin came through in the clutch. He was no monster but I was so happy to catch him. It's been 6 months since my last Smallmouth catch.

 

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i lost count but i caught a pile of them this morning. after several days of heavy rain and gusty winds, it turned off sunny and hot here in western NC. this nice spot came off a brush pile in 20 fow.

 

Well, I don't eat bass, but I hate spots as much as drum, white bass and gar.

I (we) keep them all and give them to bank fishermen.

2 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Well, I don't eat bass, but I hate spots as much as drum, white bass and gar.

I (we) keep them all and give them to bank fishermen.

that’s great man

Biggest one of 2020 for me.

 

Finally put one in the boat worth sharing, been a few weeks since I was able to do so. After a ton of small 1-2 lbers lately this one felt like 10 LOL. Tipped the scales at 4-12

Took the kayak out on a local reservoir until 3 am and ended with a 4 species night, including my PB White Bass. I was fishing for smallies with a tube and got about every species in there but a smallie. I caught the White Bass and Crappie with a Creme Mini Tail and a 1/16 oz crappie jig and the Saugeye and Catfish with the tube. 

 

 

 

 

 

18 inch river smallie. Caught and released very quickly. 

Went to the in-laws  family today.  Well wife and daughter to the in-laws. I dropped them off and headed to Murphy lake which, is 5-10 minutes away  Fished for almost 8 hrs.  I can not believe the amount of people fishing right now.  Kind of a slow day but, lot of pleasure boats were out and fishermen like I said.

 

not anything huge but, caught about 6 total.  First one came on a half chartreuse and half green pumpkin ned rig ( I forget the name.  I lost a huge bass and caught a hammer handle on a discontinued  green pumpkin orange claw craw dad-z t-rigged.
 

High light of the day in desperateation mode I decided to start throwing my home made swim jigs.  Right off the bat list probably a 20 incher I was about sick. Than last cast of the day I nailed this fat 16 incher.  Nailed it on the fall.  First time ever really throwing a swim jig.  I thought it was kind of a off the wall color.  Apparently the bass did not think so