42 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

I caught my first 2023 bass! It was windier than I like, about 10 m.p.h., which means more corrective paddling in my canoe, and I fished from 1:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. It was sunny too. I went to a lake I fished several times last year and my two best spots produced nothing. So, I went to the windy end and caught nine and lost two. I started the fishing with finesse lures, i.e. a Senko and Ned. I got some taps, but couldn't set into anything solid. Maybe they were panfish. So, I tried a spinnerbait and jerkbait. Nothing. I'd bought a lipless crankbait that looks like a golden shiner and there are golden shiners in the lake. That worked. A rage swimmer that was white on the bottom and gray on top also worked. None of them were long, but a few were fat.

 

It was great to finally catch some bass after watching you guys catch so many. Here they are, with the two lures at the end.

 

I must admit that these are my first prespawn bass ever. I watched a lot of Youtube videos and read pre-spawn articles to learn how to catch them. I had my unpaid consultants too. 

 

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!   The world is right now that you are catching those beautiful fat Maine Bass!

 

Awesome fish, and way to adapt Katie, it's thrilling to see you back on the water again with that Spartan style of yours.   You put in so much effort over the winter that I have no doubts it will pay off big time now that you are the water again.   

 

That made my night!  ?

19 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Most excellent ! And so it begins…….

 

She ain't gonna waste no time that's for sure, she fishes like her hair is on fire ?

59 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

I caught my first 2023 bass! It was windier than I like, about 10 m.p.h., which means more corrective paddling in my canoe, and I fished from 1:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. It was sunny too. I went to a lake I fished several times last year and my two best spots produced nothing. So, I went to the windy end and caught nine and lost two. I started the fishing with finesse lures, i.e. a Senko and Ned. I got some taps, but couldn't set into anything solid. Maybe they were panfish. So, I tried a spinnerbait and jerkbait. Nothing. I'd bought a lipless crankbait that looks like a golden shiner and there are golden shiners in the lake. That worked. A rage swimmer that was white on the bottom and gray on top also worked. None of them were long, but a few were fat.

 

It was great to finally catch some bass after watching you guys catch so many. Here they are, with the two lures at the end.

 

I must admit that these are my first prespawn bass ever. I watched a lot of Youtube videos and read pre-spawn articles to learn how to catch them. I had my unpaid consultants too. 

 

ITS TIME

 

RALLY AROUND OL’CRICKETY!!!

31 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

fishes like her hair is on fire 

Well I changed the blade and skirt on one of my spinner baits, first time ever doing this and I am sure that I screwed something up but it worked. I took it from a quad willow to a single 4.5 Indiana hildebrandt in gold with a pro pumpkin skirt. Idea is to try to keep it to mimic bluegill. I didn’t get out with it before sunset so it was dark so I couldn’t tell if it’s tracking true or not, that will have to wait till another day lol. 
 

I started out with the deeper spot and casted in the dark but no bites, could definitely feel it pulsating really nicely. I decided that it’s time to get wet to work on a prime bank. I took the shoes and socks off and went in. In less than 15 minutes I caught my first night spinnerbait bass of the year. Small fish but it was a blast my drag was a little loose, I got a good hook set in the roof of the mouth but it was definitely pulling drag but even with that mistake I landed it to my hand.

 

 I then took some really bad pics in the dark but it worked and I have proof. I am really starting to enjoy working on and tinkering with my baits. It’s definitely fun. I finished the night off giving someone who was fishing before I got there a jump start due to there battery being dead. I then headed back home feeling proud.

3 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I caught my first 2023 bass! It was windier than I like, about 10 m.p.h., which means more corrective paddling in my canoe, and I fished from 1:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. It was sunny too. I went to a lake I fished several times last year and my two best spots produced nothing. So, I went to the windy end and caught nine and lost two. I started the fishing with finesse lures, i.e. a Senko and Ned. I got some taps, but couldn't set into anything solid. Maybe they were panfish. So, I tried a spinnerbait and jerkbait. Nothing. I'd bought a lipless crankbait that looks like a golden shiner and there are golden shiners in the lake. That worked. A rage swimmer that was white on the bottom and gray on top also worked. None of them were long, but a few were fat.

 

It was great to finally catch some bass after watching you guys catch so many. Here they are, with the two lures at the end.

 

I must admit that these are my first prespawn bass ever. I watched a lot of Youtube videos and read pre-spawn articles to learn how to catch them. I had my unpaid consultants too. 

 

You are back and on them, feels good to hear how you’re day went and I am happy that you caught some really nice ones to start off with. Congratulations and here’s to many more to come from you.  I haven’t been able to get the kayak out lately here, but the weather has been beautiful. I have only caught 9 pike in a day so far this year, 1 maybe 2 bass at a time for any session. 

4 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I caught my first 2023 bass! It was windier than I like, about 10 m.p.h., which means more corrective paddling in my canoe, and I fished from 1:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. It was sunny too. I went to a lake I fished several times last year and my two best spots produced nothing. So, I went to the windy end and caught nine and lost two. I started the fishing with finesse lures, i.e. a Senko and Ned. I got some taps, but couldn't set into anything solid. Maybe they were panfish. So, I tried a spinnerbait and jerkbait. Nothing. I'd bought a lipless crankbait that looks like a golden shiner and there are golden shiners in the lake. That worked. A rage swimmer that was white on the bottom and gray on top also worked. None of them were long, but a few were fat.

 

It was great to finally catch some bass after watching you guys catch so many. Here they are, with the two lures at the end.

 

I must admit that these are my first prespawn bass ever. I watched a lot of Youtube videos and read pre-spawn articles to learn how to catch them. I had my unpaid consultants too. 

 

Heck yeah !

 

Not the giant Smallmouth I was after, but a nice surprise nevertheless.

 

7 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I caught my first 2023 bass! It was windier than I like, about 10 m.p.h., which means more corrective paddling in my canoe, and I fished from 1:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. It was sunny too. I went to a lake I fished several times last year and my two best spots produced nothing. So, I went to the windy end and caught nine and lost two. I started the fishing with finesse lures, i.e. a Senko and Ned. I got some taps, but couldn't set into anything solid. Maybe they were panfish. So, I tried a spinnerbait and jerkbait. Nothing. I'd bought a lipless crankbait that looks like a golden shiner and there are golden shiners in the lake. That worked. A rage swimmer that was white on the bottom and gray on top also worked. None of them were long, but a few were fat.

 

It was great to finally catch some bass after watching you guys catch so many. Here they are, with the two lures at the end.

 

I must admit that these are my first prespawn bass ever. I watched a lot of Youtube videos and read pre-spawn articles to learn how to catch them. I had my unpaid consultants too. 

 

What time is it?  HAMMER TIME!!! 

 

LOL. Great to see you back on the water Katie!!! Congrats on a solid start to the year.

9 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I caught my first 2023 bass! It was windier than I like, about 10 m.p.h., which means more corrective paddling in my canoe, and I fished from 1:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. It was sunny too. I went to a lake I fished several times last year and my two best spots produced nothing. So, I went to the windy end and caught nine and lost two. I started the fishing with finesse lures, i.e. a Senko and Ned. I got some taps, but couldn't set into anything solid. Maybe they were panfish. So, I tried a spinnerbait and jerkbait. Nothing. I'd bought a lipless crankbait that looks like a golden shiner and there are golden shiners in the lake. That worked. A rage swimmer that was white on the bottom and gray on top also worked. None of them were long, but a few were fat.

 

It was great to finally catch some bass after watching you guys catch so many. Here they are, with the two lures at the end.

 

I must admit that these are my first prespawn bass ever. I watched a lot of Youtube videos and read pre-spawn articles to learn how to catch them. I had my unpaid consultants too. 

 

Good to see your season start. I've caught a lot of fish on Rippin' Raps. I like to upsize my hooks to #8 KVD Triple Grips (assuming that's a #5 Rap).

14 minutes ago, lazeebum said:

I caught this one,  its twin, and 3 more small ones. 

I fished a bog for three hours this morning, but it didn't look like a bog. There were no apparent reeds or pads, but the weeds were still there, under the water and rotting, which made for tricky fishing.

 

I did catch three fish, two bass and one pickerel. I am so pleased to see the bass fat. The first bass below is convex. The second one is simply thick. It's my understanding that their big feed is still coming, when the water hits 48 degrees and until 55 degrees, as they stock up for spawning.

 

I was surprised to see both snow and ice at the bog's edges this morning. There were lots of ducks, a bald eagle, loons, and a beaver.

 

Thanks for all the support, guys. It's just great to back on the water with the BR gang. I know we're not on the same water, but from Florida to Maine, from North Carolina to California, we're all fishing for our beloved bass. 

 

 

 

 

 

9 hours ago, Jeff Zurawski said:

Not the giant Smallmouth I was after, but a nice surprise nevertheless.

 

 

Jeff, is that a tiger musky? What do you think, @T-Billy? That must have been a blast on bass gear. 

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Jeff, is that a tiger musky? What do you think, @T-Billy? That must have been a blast on bass gear. 

Looks like a pure strain to me. A Lot of the young ones I catch are spotted up like that.

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

 

Jeff, is that a tiger musky? What do you think, @T-Billy? That must have been a blast on bass gear. 

The ones in that size range are a lot of fun, for sure!  You can still get them under control, in the net, and back in the water pretty quickly with bass gear. 

 

The great big ones are troublesome - just hang on while they spin the kayak around hoping not to drift into a deadfall or t-bone a rock or something and flip.  If you make it that far, then you got to find a decent place to pull over before the next rapid and hand land the beast since it don't fit in the net.   That all can take a long enough time to where I worry about accidentally killing the fish from over-exhausting it. 

24 minutes ago, Jeff Zurawski said:

The great big ones are troublesome - just hang on while they spin the kayak around hoping not to drift into a deadfall or t-bone a rock or something and flip.  If you make it that far, then you got to find a decent place to pull over before the next rapid and hand land the beast since it don't fit in the net.   That all can take a long enough time to where I worry about accidentally killing the fish from over-exhausting it. 

 

I have lived everything you described ^here.^ The only time I ever had trouble on a musky release was with a musky that I netted and released quickly. It just wasn't ready to swim away. I spent at least 30 minutes babying it and it did swim away, but I've always worried about it. Are you catching your smallies and muskies in the New?

16 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I caught my first 2023 bass! It was windier than I like, about 10 m.p.h., which means more corrective paddling in my canoe, and I fished from 1:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. It was sunny too. I went to a lake I fished several times last year and my two best spots produced nothing. So, I went to the windy end and caught nine and lost two. I started the fishing with finesse lures, i.e. a Senko and Ned. I got some taps, but couldn't set into anything solid. Maybe they were panfish. So, I tried a spinnerbait and jerkbait. Nothing. I'd bought a lipless crankbait that looks like a golden shiner and there are golden shiners in the lake. That worked. A rage swimmer that was white on the bottom and gray on top also worked. None of them were long, but a few were fat.

 

It was great to finally catch some bass after watching you guys catch so many. Here they are, with the two lures at the end.

 

I must admit that these are my first prespawn bass ever. I watched a lot of Youtube videos and read pre-spawn articles to learn how to catch them. I had my unpaid consultants too. 

 

Great job Katie.

9 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

 

I have lived everything you described ^here.^ The only time I ever had trouble on a musky release was with a musky that I netted and released quickly. It just wasn't ready to swim away. I spent at least 30 minutes babying it and it did swim away, but I've always worried about it. Are you catching your smallies and muskies in the New?

You know exactly what I'm talking about then! 

 

I'd rather not hook up with those big ones on bass gear, really.  I ended up getting some muskie gear and occasionally target them specifically, but have never seen one while I'm prepared like that and actually trying to catch them.  Ain't that something?

 

I've caught them on the New, Greenbrier, and Upper James Rivers.  They also live in sections of the Gauley and Elk that I don't fish. 

I was frozen like a popsicle early Monday morning, and yesterday it was 90*. Go figure. When I got to the lake last night it was so slick-calm and breeze-less that it was hard to believe wind existed anywhere else on earth. I'd forgotten my neck gaiter, so I was in dread over the idea of being engulfed by huge plumes of gnats and huffing them in, but they were nowhere to be found. Consequently, not a single fish broke the surface once in 3 hours. Not even a swirl. Things seemed quite hopeless. The really odd thing was that I was getting lots of short strikes in the same locations, which felt precisely like bedding bass bumping me off their nests. Doesn't seem possible being this early, but perhaps the water temps in the shallows got supercharged just enough to fake them out? Who knows?

 

Got the stuffed crappie on a Rapala Shallow Runner in Perch, and the basslings came on a Berkely The Champ Swimmer in crappie. Beat the skunk somehow and maintained my dignity, sort of.

41 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

it was so slick-calm and breeze-less that it was hard to believe wind existed anywhere else on earth.

 

^This" is a fishing report. It's also literature. 

Another solid 3, still looking for bigger fish but we'll get there. Had a couple little ones to go with. Flukes always money.

What a grind today. Air temperature went up to 86°, and all the coves that were iced in on Monday had warmed to 64°. Had the fish all kinds of messed up. Saw a lot of shallow cruisers near timber but were extremely skiddish and weren’t interested in biting. My normal deep structure seemed to be devoid of life. So I fished shallow and was able to grind out a couple 14”ers pitching a Rage Structure Bug deep inside the timber. 

 

Definitely not the prespawn day I had hoped for, but I can’t remember ever fishing when it was 86° in mid April. Especially when the lake was 20% frozen a few days ago. Back at it tomorrow! 

40 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

What a grind today. Air temperature went up to 86°, and all the coves that were iced in on Monday had warmed to 64°. Had the fish all kinds of messed up. Saw a lot of shallow cruisers near timber but were extremely skiddish and weren’t interested in biting. My normal deep structure seemed to be devoid of life. So I fished shallow and was able to grind out a couple 14”ers pitching a Rage Structure Bug deep inside the timber. 

 

Definitely not the prespawn day I had hoped for, but I can’t remember ever fishing when it was 86° in mid April. Especially when the lake was 20% frozen a few days ago. Back at it tomorrow! 

Nice one, I did a double take when I read your air temps.   That's crazy hot for here right now, let alone upstate NY.  

2 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Nice one, I did a double take when I read your air temps.   That's crazy hot for here right now, let alone upstate NY.  

Yeah this weather is crazy. Next week is getting back to spring temps (days in the 50s and nights in the 30s-40s), and hopefully that’ll get the fishing get on a more normal ice out/ prespawn pattern. And I look forward to it because today was one of the weirder days of fishing I’ve had. And a total grind! At least it makes the

14”ers more rewarding. 

11 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Looks like a pure strain to me. A Lot of the young ones I catch are spotted up like that.

My vote is also pure strain. Tigers have bars but have the color of a pike. Like this one last September.

12 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

we're all fishing for our beloved bass. 

Not all of us. I can’t target one until May 13. ?