@Team9nine That sounds like a blast!

 

@The Bassman Some fish are stunning. Like yours.

Took Sunday off, but was back at it yesterday.  Caught 4 small Bass, but two slab Crappie.   Finally got enough power to fish this big of a lake with an electric motor.   Got a group of 29 battery to go with a group of 27 which will be the backup, and the group of 24 will remain the Garmin power supply.     I stupidly bought the smallest battery first, but this now enables me to stay on the water all day, or all night come summer.   

 

Today was just another hard to describe day.   The importance of staying with a particular bait for as long as possible until you have that breakthrough has brought me my hottest three weeks of fishing.   First it was the A-Rig, even though I had caught sporadic fish on it for the previous months of throwing it.    

 

However I bought 6 high end blade baits because of TacticalBassin monkey, have thrown this since November, and caught ZERO fish.    The main reason I've stuck with those two baits is because they meet two huge criteria of mine, Shad imitator, and must have a reputation for pulling big fish.  

 

Well today it produced 20+ fish ranging from 1lb-5lb+, and sadly lost a no doubt trophy caliber fish.   I can only guesstimate it being 7lb+ because it looked bigger and pulled 1000% harder than the 7lb I caught a few days back.    Lots of 3s, a few 4s, and one 5lb+.     The fattest 3lb Spot I've ever seen came off it as well.    I watched videos on how to throw it, and that technique never worked, being a big fan of the Yo Yo retrieve as a Chatterbait guy, that's when all the magic happened.    A parabola retrieve trying to avoid the bottom as much as possible vs. the gentle lift your rod tip and let the bait always come back to hit bottom.     I'm trying to Vomit Comit this bait if you will.   

 

Overall caught 30+ fish as I caught 2 on the A-Rig, and then at least 10 on the Flashback Mini but those were all fun sized.

 

The duality of fishing emotions is about as extreme as it gets, on one hand, I'll never forget a day like today, on the other hand I got literally nauseous after losing that fish, and to be honest I'm still kind of torn up about it.    It was really a special fish, I've never had a fish squeal my newer Zillion drags.  Just sucks, but what else am I going to do but fish harder as it's the only known cure.  I doubt it was a DD fish, and that's the whole goal, has been my whole life.    In August I said I'm going to singularly focus on accomplishing a childhood dream, my oldest dream I can remember....a DD from the lake I spent my childhood fishing.    I'll fish this lake over 300days/1200hrs per yr. until that happens.    I hope to give this thread and you guys a break from being my blog spot at that time as well lol.  

 

Couple of the beautiful Spots

 

Finally a few pics to show just how cartoonish fat 90% of them are....it makes me so happy to see it every time.  

Nice bass @AlabamaSpothunter.    Save up, bite the bullet and get you a lithium battery.  You'll kick yourself for spending money on those antique batteries.  Not to mention lugging them around.  

Your best day, Alex. I'm sorry you lost the biggest one, but d**n, man, you landed so many fine, fat fish. I was just thinking the other day about how few big fish you lose. Way less than me! Still, I'll be sad with you and overjoyed for you.

 

Again, I love how you're out there alone. All the others have hung up their rods for the winter and are growing soft inside their warm homes, but you're out there...living...celebrating...learning...and even having your heart broken. 

 

Fat bass make me happy too. It means they're thriving. 

So kind Katie! Only a fellow angler can understand the heartbreak.   Fat fish eased the pain a bit that's for sure.

 

Thanks Woody, you're right about the lithium, I'm just waiting to buy that when I hopefully get a new boat with electric outboard.   The group of 29 is pushing it at 66lbs lol.   

10 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I'll fish this lake over 300days/1200hrs per yr. until that happens.    I hope to give this thread and you guys a break from being my blog spot at that time as well lol.

Then you’ll have to move onto the next goal, a teener! 

Heck of a day. Those are some seriously healthy fish. Its cool seeing the difference in shape between fat bass of different species. A fat LM, a fat SM, and a fat spot are all shaped differently. 

10 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Took Sunday off, but was back at it yesterday.  Caught 4 small Bass, but two slab Crappie.   Finally got enough power to fish this big of a lake with an electric motor.   Got a group of 29 battery to go with a group of 27 which will be the backup, and the group of 24 will remain the Garmin power supply.     I stupidly bought the smallest battery first, but this now enables me to stay on the water all day, or all night come summer.   

 

Today was just another hard to describe day.   The importance of staying with a particular bait for as long as possible until you have that breakthrough has brought me my hottest three weeks of fishing.   First it was the A-Rig, even though I had caught sporadic fish on it for the previous months of throwing it.    

 

However I bought 6 high end blade baits because of TacticalBassin monkey, have thrown this since November, and caught ZERO fish.    The main reason I've stuck with those two baits is because they meet two huge criteria of mine, Shad imitator, and must have a reputation for pulling big fish.  

 

Well today it produced 20+ fish ranging from 1lb-5lb+, and sadly lost a no doubt trophy caliber fish.   I can only guesstimate it being 7lb+ because it looked bigger and pulled 1000% harder than the 7lb I caught a few days back.    Lots of 3s, a few 4s, and one 5lb+.     The fattest 3lb Spot I've ever seen came off it as well.    I watched videos on how to throw it, and that technique never worked, being a big fan of the Yo Yo retrieve as a Chatterbait guy, that's when all the magic happened.    A parabola retrieve trying to avoid the bottom as much as possible vs. the gentle lift your rod tip and let the bait always come back to hit bottom.     I'm trying to Vomit Comit this bait if you will.   

 

Overall caught 30+ fish as I caught 2 on the A-Rig, and then at least 10 on the Flashback Mini but those were all fun sized.

 

The duality of fishing emotions is about as extreme as it gets, on one hand, I'll never forget a day like today, on the other hand I got literally nauseous after losing that fish, and to be honest I'm still kind of torn up about it.    It was really a special fish, I've never had a fish squeal my newer Zillion drags.  Just sucks, but what else am I going to do but fish harder as it's the only known cure.  I doubt it was a DD fish, and that's the whole goal, has been my whole life.    In August I said I'm going to singularly focus on accomplishing a childhood dream, my oldest dream I can remember....a DD from the lake I spent my childhood fishing.    I'll fish this lake over 300days/1200hrs per yr. until that happens.    I hope to give this thread and you guys a break from being my blog spot at that time as well lol.  

 

Couple of the beautiful Spots

 

Finally a few pics to show just how cartoonish fat 90% of them are....it makes me so happy to see it every time.  

That's some good stuff right there brother!!! Congrats!!!  I've never done well with blades either. I've always fished them like everyone says to, subtle lift and let fall to the bottom semi slack. I'm gonna have to try 'em like you're fishing them here. Thanks for the lesson. What's the water temp?

35 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

That's some good stuff right there brother!!! Congrats!!!  I've never done well with blades either. I've always fished them like everyone says to, subtle lift and let fall to the bottom semi slack. I'm gonna have to try 'em like you're fishing them here. Thanks for the lesson. What's the water temp?

I know you didn’t ask me but…… I try to remove slack when it’s falling because that’s when they smack it 

23 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I know you didn’t ask me but…… I try to remove slack when it’s falling because that’s when they smack it 

10-4. I keep in touch with it, but don't really have much tension on the line. Semi-slack is a good description. I have about as much faith in a blade as you have in a spinnerbait. LOL. I know they'll catch 'em though. I'm gonna try picking up the pace with it like Alex was fishing it this spring, If I can put that A-Rig down that is. My ability to do that after last fall's Muskiepalooza is questionable at best.

59 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

That's some good stuff right there brother!!! Congrats!!!  I've never done well with blades either. I've always fished them like everyone says to, subtle lift and let fall to the bottom semi slack. I'm gonna have to try 'em like you're fishing them here. Thanks for the lesson. What's the water temp?

Thanks brother!  Water temp was 52.

 

I also gathered the impression that these were best fished in deeper water over hard bottoms....so I'd been throwing it in 10-25ft over rock bottoms exclusively until yesterday when I did the exact opposite, threw it in 2-8ft on dredged channel ledges and mud flats.   

 

Even after a good day I leave the water as confused as I started it ?

I've been catching most of my blade fish off the bottom, while it's just sitting still. I've been really surprised by how few actually catch it on the fall. 

1 minute ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Thanks brother!  Water temp was 52.

 

I also gathered the impression that these were best fished in deeper water over hard bottoms....so I'd been throwing it in 10-25ft over rock bottoms exclusively until yesterday when I did the exact opposite, threw it in 2-8ft on dredged channel ledges and mud flats.   

 

Even after a good day I leave the water as confused as I started it ?

My biggest blade bait fish was caught a few weeks ago 6' deep, right next to my kayak, on a mud bottom. I lifted and dropped it, bait was just sitting in a puff of mud on the bottom no doubt when she inhaled it.

1 minute ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I've been catching most of my blade fish off the bottom, while it's just sitting still. I've been really surprised by how few actually catch it on the fall. 

My biggest blade bait fish was caught a few weeks ago 6' deep, right next to my kayak, on a mud bottom. 

The shallower water and softer bottoms is my big takeaway from yesterday, I'm pumped to find similar locations as those and see what I learn from that.    

 

2 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

The shallower water and softer bottoms is my big takeaway from yesterday, I'm pumped to find similar locations as those and see what I learn from that.    

 

I fish all winter long and it's extremely rare for me to catch a fish deeper than 8' of water. Those mud flats with little ditches and mud flats with leftover weeds hold fish all winter long. 

12 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

However I bought 6 high end blade baits because of TacticalBassin monkey

What were they? Inquiring minds want to know! LOL Seriously though, it looks like a lipless crank in the pics but a lot slimmer?

On 1/25/2023 at 9:21 AM, ScottW said:

What were they? Inquiring minds want to know! LOL Seriously though, it looks like a lipless crank in the pics but a lot slimmer?

Got two of the Damiki Vaults

Damiki Vault Blade Baits - Tackle Warehouse

 

MegaBass Dyna Response 

Megabass Vibration X Dyna Response Blade Bait - Tackle Warehouse

 

Damiki Axe Blade 

Damiki Axe Blade Tail Spinners - Tackle Warehouse

 

Jackall Deracoup 

Jackall Deracoup Tail Spinner - Tackle Warehouse

 

 

You're right, they are very similar to a lipless crank.    Basically just a piece of thin metal stamped out.   I bought them all based on Matt from TacticalBassin ?

 

eta:  The tail spinners aren't blade baits, but I put them all in the metal cold water bait category.    

4 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I bought them all based on Matt from TacticalBassin ?

You’re gonna need to put a filter on YouTube or go broke! ?

11 minutes ago, ScottW said:

You’re gonna need to put a filter on YouTube or go broke! ?

 

I have placed half a dozen orders because of you guys. In a recent thread, @PhishLI suggested some lures in a recent thread and I went and bought them all.

jealous of all the fish pics!

3 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

 

I have placed half a dozen orders because of you guys. In a recent thread, @PhishLI suggested some lures in a recent thread and I went and bought them all.

Katy I know just how you feel. I had to go buy a bigger tackle bag for all the new stuff our BassResource friends keep suggesting. Now my new bag weighs more than I do!

     Now Alex is going to convince me I need a Blade Bait Box to go along with my new Jerk Bait Box. Still won't help me catch anything but it's fun to open that TW package that comes in the mail!

48 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Katy I know just how you feel. I had to go buy a bigger tackle bag for all the new stuff our BassResource friends keep suggesting. Now my new bag weighs more than I do!

     Now Alex is going to convince me I need a Blade Bait Box to go along with my new Jerk Bait Box. Still won't help me catch anything but it's fun to open that TW package that comes in the mail!

 

There's no mythical Bait Monkey, Bob. These guys at bassresource.com are the Bait Monkeys!

 

I'm guessing if I called Alex, Phish, or Tim, they'd answer the phone, "Tackle Warehouse, how can I help you?"

 

 

 

10 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

There's no mythical Bait Monkey, Bob. These guys at bassresource.com are the Bait Monkeys!

 

I'm guessing if I called Alex, Phish, or Tim, they'd answer the phone, "Tackle Warehouse, how can I help you?"

 

 

 

Hey now, I've got a $15 Whopper Plopper in the bag 100% because of you.....something about Monkeys who live in trees shouldn't throw bananas ?

29 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

There's no mythical Bait Monkey, Bob. These guys at bassresource.com are the Bait Monkeys!

 

I'm guessing if I called Alex, Phish, or Tim, they'd answer the phone, "Tackle Warehouse, how can I help you?"

 

 

 

I’ve definitely bought some stuff because of members on here, no doubt.

 

Notably, they coaxed me into buying the JDM Zillion. The guys on here just would not shut up about it so finally I just said “Fine! Fine! I get it”

Alex, I thought you might like to see an image of me. Pretty, huh?

 

@AlabamaSpothunter I’m with @ol'crickety & @Blue Raider Bob on this one, seeing all the dang fish you’re catching on the mini chatter bait has me setting my sites on getting ahold of quite a few of those along with several bags of trailers for my favorite retention pond come this spring. All I can say is thank goodness I’m smart enough to know I can’t afford a Daiwa Zillion as there are enough of you guys talking those up as well. 

7 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

@AlabamaSpothunter I’m with @ol'crickety & @Blue Raider Bob on this one, seeing all the dang fish you’re catching on the mini chatter bait has me setting my sites on getting ahold of quite a few of those along with several bags of trailers for my favorite retention pond come this spring. All I can say is thank goodness I’m smart enough to know I can’t afford a Daiwa Zillion as there are enough of you guys talking those up as well. 

?

 

I'm truly so excited to see how this bait works for you guys!  I can't wait until everyone is back to fishing and posting pics as well, way more fun.

 

If I could only take one bait in a survival kit, it would without question be this bait.