5 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I about saved that shad in case I snagged a couple more so I could freeze them for bait ? 

I woulda if it was me!

 

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Are you guys ever struck by how beautiful some bass are? It might be color, shape, both. ^This" smallie is a beauty. 

 

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I definitely thought it was quite golden compared to a lot of other ones we catch 

very pretty fish indeed...that worm however is almost as pretty

15 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

I woulda if it was me!

 

 

very pretty fish indeed...that worm however is almost as pretty

Smokin’ green, great color 

I redeemed myself today.  Instead of going to Lake Wylie and fighting the mud I went to Lake Norman.  (same river chain, 2 lake up river)   I caught 9 between 14 and 17 inches.  (all spots).   3 on an Alabama rig, 1 slow rolling a spinnerbait........and the other 5 on a Devils Horse (topwater prop bait you twitch)   The water was the clearest I've even seen Norman.  I could see the bottom at 8 feet.   The first four were early.  They were hugging the bottom.  I couldn't see them on sonar until they moved.   I ran the alabama rig (and spinnerbait on 1) under balls of shad hugging the bottom.   They would come up to get it.  Surface temperature was 49 degrees.  The bass temperature was 53 degrees.   They were in 15 feet of water, again, hugging the bottom.   The bottom bite died after 4.   I searched for a while with no luck.  I ended up fishing at a sun baked sea wall.   Surface temp was 50 by this time.   I could see bass, right on the surface in the Sun.   They didn't pay attention to anything I threw.   (spinnerbait, jig,  various crankbaits ect)    I finally tied on a Devils Horse.   Game on.   I had to make good, land like a feather casts, let it sit for a while, then they'd hit it after the first twitch.   Their body temperature was 55 degrees. (5 degrees hotter than surface temp, 2 degrees hotter than the bottom huggers at 15 feet.)    I suppose they were "baking" in the Sun.   

I'm going back to Lake Wylie tomorrow.  Hopefully it's cleared some.  I refuse to be defeated by that lake.   

 

Finally got one with a little heft to it today. Sorry about the lighting in the pic. Had the sun (which has been in short supply) over my shoulder. Also caught about a dozen smaller ones on a jerkbait and Dark Sleeper. Sleeper's getting a lot of game time lately. 1/4 oz size is identical to most neds just a bit heavier. I catch them with a slow hop rather than swimming it.

22 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Working on getting a clothing sponsor to market a line of holey jeans for anglers  I think the market is pretty much untapped at this point 

I mean you already have the record for the number of fish caught on one lure, you might as start a new one for the number of fish caught with the same pair of jeans.  Although, the first record is one I'd brag about.  The second one, not so much.

26 minutes ago, Woody B said:

I redeemed myself today.  Instead of going to Lake Wylie and fighting the mud I went to Lake Norman.  (same river chain, 2 lake up river)   I caught 9 between 14 and 17 inches.  (all spots).   3 on an Alabama rig, 1 slow rolling a spinnerbait........and the other 5 on a Devils Horse (topwater prop bait you twitch)   The water was the clearest I've even seen Norman.  I could see the bottom at 8 feet.   The first four were early.  They were hugging the bottom.  I couldn't see them on sonar until they moved.   I ran the alabama rig (and spinnerbait on 1) under balls of shad hugging the bottom.   They would come up to get it.  Surface temperature was 49 degrees.  The bass temperature was 53 degrees.   They were in 15 feet of water, again, hugging the bottom.   The bottom bite died after 4.   I searched for a while with no luck.  I ended up fishing at a sun baked sea wall.   Surface temp was 50 by this time.   I could see bass, right on the surface in the Sun.   They didn't pay attention to anything I threw.   (spinnerbait, jig,  various crankbaits ect)    I finally tied on a Devils Horse.   Game on.   I had to make good, land like a feather casts, let it sit for a while, then they'd hit it after the first twitch.   Their body temperature was 55 degrees. (5 degrees hotter than surface temp, 2 degrees hotter than the bottom huggers at 15 feet.)    I suppose they were "baking" in the Sun.   

I'm going back to Lake Wylie tomorrow.  Hopefully it's cleared some.  I refuse to be defeated by that lake.   

 

January topwater, nice!!!!

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

January topwater, nice!!!!

 

It's a first for me.   I've seen bass around the bank before that wouldn't touch anything but topwater.  I've just never seen in it January.   

Slower day despite the sun and warmer temps - go figure. Still nice getting out with 50 deg temps in January. A pair of 16” fish took top honors today.

 

I finally got to catch my first of the year.  They were biting jigs in 2-3 feet of water today. The deep bait schools have produced bites but not the targeted ones. 

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

A pair of 16” fish took top honors today.

I hope you’re keeping a fish log with those jeans @Team9nine.

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I hope you’re keeping a fish log with those jeans @Team9nine.

 

A little too much of a pain. My counter only goes to 1,000, and a good pair of jeans will last me a few years. I'm sure I'm somewhere north of 10,000 fish per pair though on average these days 

7 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

??

Lol, got out there with all my gear, started fishing and catch two really quick fish.....motor died for good.   Used a net to paddle home ?

 

To me this is peak White Whale season, fish were biting, Academy was open....250 later I'm back on the water and caught another 10 fish before I called it.    

 

Lots of 2-3lb fish, and the biggest was about 3.5.    This 110jr +1 is almost paintless on one side, perhaps getting close to 100 fish over the last month on it knock on wood.    8 came off the Jerkbait, 4 came off the Flashback Mini.  

 

 

Alex, you continually change your retrieve. Do you try to note in your head the retrieve that catches each fish?

3 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

Alex, you continually change your retrieve. Do you try to note in your head the retrieve that catches each fish?

I try to do that Katie when the fish make it obvious what they want, other times excitement takes the wheel ?

 

What I really enjoy about suspended jerkbait fishing is the nuance to it.   Some days they hit on "slack line", other days right when you begin the next jerk.   Some days they want it paused longer or jerked harder.

 

The amount of continually input in jerkbait fishing keeps you really plugged in and paying attention.   I can just dream off working a T Rig.  

Your videos are helpful to me, Alex, because you focus on your hands. I hate the fishing videos where there's a cinematographer who's standing behind the fisher so that I can't see how they're working the reel. 

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

Your videos are helpful to me, Alex, because you focus on your hands. I hate the fishing videos where there's a cinematographer who's standing behind the fisher so that I can't see how they're working the reel. 

Given your adventures with the canoe, and the special places you get to fish, perhaps a GoPro is in order.     I know weight is a concern for you, but with a chest rig and the cam, it barely weighs anything.   You catch too many fish for pics, you need a video for all of them ?

 

You can learn quite a bit by reviewing your footage at least if you are like me and really get lost in the moments and excitement.   When it gets exciting, things become a blur it seems.

Alex, I'll upgrade to a GoPro at some point, but will likely just use it for photos. It's a slippery slope, I fear. You buy one GoPro and then mount it on your boat and then you buy another and another and and then your boat bristles like a WWII heavy cruiser, albeit with electronics. Then you have to manage the batteries too and you get home and spend hours editing and on and on.

 

I've been watching a lot of Kristine Fischer's and Old Lady Angler's videos and I just described their kayaks. It's too much for me to manage. I fish best with my lightweight canoe. That's my niche, but I'm grateful to fishers like A-Jay and you who do create videos.

 

I have a couple small hacks in mind to improve the quality of my photos. I hate that I have half a dozen blurry 19" or bigger bass photos from last year. Then there are others where I didn't photograph the tips of their tails, so there's no confirmation of their size. 

 

I'll be fishing 2023 with several upgrades: A new net that's not rubberized, but rubber. It also has a strong aluminum handle as I broke a plastic-handled one last year. A waterproof tackle box. Reels with mono, braid, and fluoro, lots of new lures, a thermometer, a rod holder for trolling, etc. I even have the scale that I bought, but never used. I want to practice with it at home before trying it with a wriggling bass. 

Stopped by the quick hitter on the work route again today. I thought the worm was still sinking but a fish was eating it, thankfully it held on long enough for me to set the hook 

24 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Alex, I'll upgrade to a GoPro at some point, but will likely just use it for photos. It's a slippery slope, I fear. You buy one GoPro and then mount it on your boat and then you buy another and another and and then your boat bristles like a WWII heavy cruiser, albeit with electronics. Then you have to manage the batteries too and you get home and spend hours editing and on and on.

 

I've been watching a lot of Kristine Fischer's and Old Lady Angler's videos and I just described their kayaks. It's too much for me to manage. I fish best with my lightweight canoe. That's my niche, but I'm grateful to fishers like A-Jay and you who do create videos.

 

 

Thanks for the support, I certainly appreciate it.

And while I totally respect your opinion, I don't share it.

You catch so many great bass and in some truly one of a kind & just gorgeous places,

it's a crying shame that it isn't being shared differently.

Your writing is amazing but a great pic and especially even some short video,

just an entirely different deal.

If there was a single basshead on this board, that IMO 'needs' at least one GoPro,

Young Lady  - It Is You ! 

Yes, it 'adds a little to your deal; both physically & time wise.

And so does everything you already post here. 

But come on, if there was a Gopro hidden in your rig, you probably wouldn't even know it. 

So there ya go.

The next sound you hear is me stepping off my soap box . . . 

btw - I'm always available to answer any concerns, ask away !

A-Jay

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Thanks for the support, I certainly appreciate it.

And while I totally respect your opinion, I don't share it.

You catch so many great bass and in some truly one of a kind & just gorgeous places,

it's a crying shame that it isn't being shared differently.

Your writing is amazing but a great pic and especially even some short video,

just an entirely different deal.

If there was a single basshead on this board, that IMO 'needs' at least one GoPro,

Young Lady  - It Is You ! 

Yes, it 'adds a little to your deal; both physically & time wise.

And so does everything you already post here. 

But come on, if there was a Gopro hidden in your rig, you probably wouldn't even know it. 

So there ya go.

The next sound you hear is me stepping off my soap box . . . 

btw - I'm always available to answer any concerns, ask away !

A-Jay

 

 

 

You are the Smallmouth God, A-Jay.

 

I will buy a Go-Pro. Gotta model suggestion? 

24 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

 

You are the Smallmouth God, A-Jay.

 

I will buy a Go-Pro. Gotta model suggestion? 

Let's not get carried away ~

Look up info on the Hero 11 Black Mini ~

It's the newest model but it's small, simple to use and does everything you'll need.

Pretty much point & shoot.  Which is what we all really want while we're fishing.

The less fiddling around with the camera the better. 

This one captures video only but pull pics from the video is super easy. 

HAs a built in battery as well.

https://gopro.com/en/us/shop/cameras/hero11-black-mini/CHDHF-111-master.html

Oh Boy . . . . 

This could be the start of a beautiful thing.

A-Jay

 

9 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

This could be the start of a beautiful thing.

 

You sound like Humphrey Bogurt!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMOBxjIvLBE

 

Thanks for the suggestion and the link too. That's just what I'll buy. 

 

One more question: Can you suggest a clamp to attach it to my canoe?

 

5 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

You sound like Humphrey Bogurt!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMOBxjIvLBE

 

Thanks for the suggestion and the link too. That's just what I'll buy. 

 

One more question: Can you suggest a clamp to attach it to my canoe?

 

Yes but hold up - and I'll apologize in advance.

 I have to double clutch on my previous recommendation above.

I was under the impression that the mini had a viewing screen - an important feature for framing your video.  It Does Not.

Hence I can not recommend something I'd never use and I'd never use that.

I run a couple of hero 9 Blacks and they are very good.

The hero 10 black are even better. Are last year's model and a very good buy right now. 

The newest 11 is getting great reviews as well.

These things are not cheap but IMO you get what you pay for.

https://gopro.com/en/us/shop/cameras/hero9-black/CHDHX-901-master.html

 

Here's the clamp I use works on just about every Gopro including the newest models 

https://gopro.com/en/us/shop/mounts-accessories/jaws/ACMPM-001.html

 Finally, super sorry for the confusion and also for hi-jacking the heck out of this thread.

A-Jay

 

 

I've got a Fish-i camera and a Yolotek mount.  I've decided it's bad luck though.    There was a bad connection at a poorly designed fuse in my boat yesterday.  The battery went dead, then I started catching fish.   I repaired it today,  and got a big ol SKUNK.    

 

The Fish-i isn't something I'd wear on my body.  I think it came with a shoulder and head mount though.   It doesn't have a display screen, but there's an app you can see where it's aimed with your phone.   

Check out Yolotek.  I found out about them from @A-Jay.    They may have something for mounting a camera on a Canoe.    

48 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

You are the Smallmouth God, A-Jay.

Apparently he's also the GoPro Monkey!!! ?