Short trip today.  I would have fished a little longer, but my shoulder was hurting.  A few years ago I avoided surgery on my shoulder with PT.  I kept doing the PT even after all my appointments.  For some stupid reason I quit doing it a couple weeks ago.  I've already done my reps for today since getting home and won't be skipping them anymore.  I caught 5 Bass,  4 Spots and 1 Largemouth.   The first (pictured) was a 16 inch Spot within my first dozen casts at 6:57.   The last,(pictured) a nice 18 inch Largemouth was at 8:38.  I thought the Largemouth was bigger.  It hit like a BIG Bass.  No bump, or tap, I just felt the spinnerbait blade quit spinning.   I swung on it and connected.  It walked on it's tail like a BIG Bass does too.   I considered fishing longer but decided to give my shoulder a break for the rest of the day.  The rest of the Spots were between 13 and 15 inches.  I also caught a several small White Perch, and 2 small Channel Cats.   (no pixels on the perch or cats)

 

On 4/27/2024 at 12:27 PM, Fried Lemons said:

Carrying on with the theme last time I found them even hotter on the same pattern. Got a couple dinks and was getting swiped and slapped at every 5th cast. I’ll only bore you with one of here.

 

Reached a spot with immediate access to the deepest water in the lake and had another small fish miss on two consecutive casts. On the third I felt the bite and swung. Imagine my shock to find two fish on! The small one that had been missing and a much bigger one! They had a combined weight of 9lbs which is more bass than I’ve ever gotten in a cast.

 

Wow that's awesome, thank you for sharing, and congratulations!

Caught one today on a tube. On my 7 foot wall lol.

Murph, you don't seriously think I can comment on that bass given it's right next to your bare naked chin, do ya?

 

Nice one, Woody! Those 18-inchers are hard fighters.

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

Murph, you don't seriously think I can comment on that bass given it's right next to your bare naked chin, do ya?

 

Nice one, Woody! Those 18-inchers are hard fighters.

Yeah the beard finally went after 4 months or so lol. My pants got wet do to the water level being higher do to the recent rain today, along with climbing on the hill like a spider monkey with my two rods in my hand and tackle bag on my back to reach my wall.

I was able to fish today for a couple of hours. I fished crystal lake in montcalm county.  it rained all morning and then when I arrived at the lake it was over cast and slick calm.  around 2 o clock the wind picked out of nowhere and than at 3 pm it started raining again at which, I called it a day.  it had been spitting and shuddering a little all day.  I can handle some ran or some wind but not both.  I left my gloves at home seeing how forecast was calling for a 70 degree day.  

 

Anyhow, Things are definitely progressing into pre spawn.  The 12-14 inch males are roaming in 2-3 ft of water.  I did not see any nests made yet.  However, i’m sure within the next week they will start to see best building pick up.  I was trying to concentrate in 6-8 ft looking for bigger fish. I really wanted to crank and use jerk baits but, with the lake being slick calm that did work. I was able to get one bass on a tube. 1 bass on a michigan rigged bandito bug. the rest including a 22 inch walleye and a small smallie came on a LC LV 500 gold lipless crank.

 

 I’d do anything for consistent weather and no wind.  the wind has been blowing 15-20 mph for the last week.  With the atmosphere this riled up it’s probably going to be scorcher of a summer. 

@Jmurphy87 what kind of tube is that? I haven’t seen one that looks like a craw.

Over the weekend I picked up a 4lb pond mama on a chatterbait, and a 6lb cat on a spinnerbait.

2 hours ago, Jmilburn76 said:

@Jmurphy87 what kind of tube is that? I haven’t seen one that looks like a craw.

I also like the looks of that tube 

3 hours ago, Jmilburn76 said:

@Jmurphy87 what kind of tube is that? I haven’t seen one that looks like a craw.

Great Lakes finesse juvy craw I think.

16 hours ago, Jmurphy87 said:

Yeah the beard finally went after 4 months or so lol. My pants got wet do to the water level being higher do to the recent rain today, along with climbing on the hill like a spider monkey with my two rods in my hand and tackle bag on my back to reach my wall.

It was your choice though wasn't it Murph? Gimruis didn't file a complaint did he?

1 hour ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

It was your choice though wasn't it Murph? Gimruis didn't file a complaint did he?

No he didn’t file a complaint lol. I was starting to get tired of it and saw my electric trimmers setting around while moving some stuff around and thought that I should use them again. Oh well I can grow one again if I get the urge to not shave for a while.

Haircut and fashion police has put in a 2 week seasonal notice.

 

With heavy heart, I will no longer be able to police all the bird nests, facial jungles, holey jeans, and over night re-worn outfits until November again (when I'll be done fishing again for the season).

 

With our gamefish/bass season finally opening up in 12 days, I've got better things to do again than point out all the problems with people's hair and clothes.

 

Voluntary compliance is appreciated.  Funding is nearly impossible to come by for deputy help.

 

31 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Haircut and fashion police has put in a 2 week seasonal notice.

The lonesome hero rides off into the sunset. Why? Because bass hit big time at sunset.

 

Damsels, rescue yourselves 'cause bass are biting!

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

Haircut and fashion police has put in a 2 week seasonal notice.

 

With heavy heart, I will no longer be able to police all the bird nests, facial jungles, holey jeans, and over night re-worn outfits until November again (when I'll be done fishing again for the season).

 

With our gamefish/bass season finally opening up in 12 days, I've got better things to do again than point out all the problems with people's hair and clothes.

 

Voluntary compliance is appreciated.  Funding is nearly impossible to come by for deputy help.

 

My definition of a good problem to have - when your crappie weigh more than your bass 😆

 

 

I went fishing at my favorite big bass lake, and this picture tells the story.  The past four years I have caught my PB for the year at this lake.  The fishing has been slowing down now that a lodge has discovered it, but this is the best time of year to fish there, I thought maybe fishing at night would solve the problem of pressure from the competition and I planned on fishing the with a few lures the Bait Monkey insisted I buy.

       I did catch 3 small bass with a combined weight of less than two pounds, so I guess I didn't officially get skunked, but the skunk sure liked the Bait Monkey's new purchases.

       The skunk was definitely stinking up the place during the night fishing part of the trip.  After a three hour drive, I started fishing at 3:15 Am, and didn't catch a fish until 10:30 Am.(it gets light about 6;30)  Everything went smooth at night except for one problem. I had the same problem night fishing that I have every time I try  catching bass after dark.  I don't know why I am such a slow learner, and don't anticipate this aspect of angling at night.  I believe it will always make night fishing difficult for me, and maybe I should realize the difficulty before I start planning my next night adventure. I don't have problems with bugs, cold, or my equipment.  I have determined the only problem with night fishing, is it is dark at night.

       I will be fishing at a different lake more this year.  I doubt if I will be back to my old favorite again this year. It truly is a paradise lost.  I did notice the local lodge doesn't have their boats there any more, so maybe after a couple years, I will have to give it another try.  

 

Dang it, King. Dumb, old lodge. Good luck at the other lake. 

@king fisher sorry brother. I like the anticipation and wonder about where my lure will land. Over a tree limb? Dry land? My ear? I find shorter casts to at times be more effective at night 🙃. 

 

I, for one, enjoy night fishing, but I understand your pain. This season should see the majority of my outings after hours. Several reasons why, but if I am to achieve my goal of a DD on pressured water, I feel my odds go up at night when ol sally cannot see quite as well. Still deep! 

2 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

Dang it, King. Dumb, old lodge. Good luck at the other lake. 

I knew it would happen some day.  The lake the lodge is on is only a few miles away, and known for big numbers, but not large bass.  The lake I fished,  is very small less than a mile long and commercial fished with nets year around, the bass population was small, but did have some giants.  There were a couple of kayak anglers, that would frequently post videos of them catching large bass, including one over 15 pounds at the lake.  It was only a matter of time before the lodge owner saw one of these videos, recognized the lake, and started offering his clients one day fishing at this small lake for a chance at a monster, and the rest of the week hitting the lake his lodge is on for numbers.  He did have clients catch some trophy bass, and I try and tell myself I should be happy for the lucky anglers that got to land a DD fish on their once in a lifetime trip to Mexico.  I am trying my best to take the high road, but a big part of me wishes they would have just gone to Lake Baccarac.

     I can't complain, the guy that told me about the lake, is friends with one of the guys making the videos, and shouldn't have told me. ( I am really not sure why he did tell me, but I owe him more than I will every be able to repay)  I was fortunate to fish the lake at it's peak, and it is time to move on to greener pastures.  If it wasn't for loose lips, guiding me to this lake, my PB would probably still be under 6 pounds, so I can't complain about other people not keeping their mouths shut.

     My new lake is much bigger the a better over all bass population, and last year I landed two over 10 pounds.  My biggest problem is the lake is much farther away for me, and word is getting out fast due to more videos.  Luckily this new lake can handle much more fishing pressure, and the quality of the fishing, probably wont decline for some time.

     I'm also checking out a rumor on another lake, and I am hoping to be way ahead of the power curve on this one.

29 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I like the anticipation and wonder about where my lure will land. Over a tree limb? Dry land? My ear?

You only experience this at night? I have that feeling all the time. 🤣 

44 minutes ago, king fisher said:

My new lake is much bigger the a better over all bass population, and last year I landed two over 10 pounds. 

 

Big plus: It's a proven DD lake.

 

44 minutes ago, king fisher said:

My biggest problem is the lake is much farther away for me, and word is getting out fast due to more videos. 

 

A couple minuses. Make the long drive while the fishing is still worth it.

 

44 minutes ago, king fisher said:

I'm also checking out a rumor on another lake, and I am hoping to be way ahead of the power curve on this one.

 

Fingers crossed the rumor is true. 

 

1 hour ago, LrgmouthShad said:

if I am to achieve my goal of a DD on pressured water, I feel my odds go up at night when ol sally cannot see quite as well.

 

Fingers crossed for you too, Tex!

Had a fun evening on the river, although I still have bugs all in my eyes. Fish were jumping all over , caught 3-4 SMB, lots of skipjack and a couple white bass . Water temp 66-68, even got some video 

 

saw eagles, osprey, herons, tons of cormorants, several deer, and a beaver . The Urban wilderness was hopping 

 

 

I caught a few today on a variety of different plastics and got to fight a 26” or bigger pike for a little while before it bit through my fluorocarbon. I still have a blast even if the size is lacking, I am still catching fish on this gorgeous day.