Nice fish man. Hope you can recover the pics.

I got a 7 pounder once that was one of the 2 chunkiest bass I ever caught. I couldn’t get a pic and it still bothers me a little.

 

6 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

The worst part is that I'm debating whether I wished I didn't even catch her yesterday, went from being on cloud 9 at the top of the world, to feeling like I want to vomit since last evening.

Oh, man - I hope you can recovery at least a photo from that card.  Don’t let it ruin your memory though!  (darn - no pun intended. 😬😝).

 

Good on you for prioritizing the release though.  Fish like that deserve such respect. 👍🏻

Had some heavy rain but it stopped for a while , got the kayak out with some nightcrawlers. It was about 33-34 degrees but I got a nice SMB and yet another walleye. I’ve caught more walleye than bass this year! That’s a first . Todays was just over 22”

 

 

 

18 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Thanks Katie!  I really want to share the beauty of this fish with you, and all my other friends here.   There was a guy on a dock who saw me catch her, and I thought about motoring over to get him to snap a pic.    I don't regret at all how fast I released her though, she didn't have a single flaw on her, she's no doubt in the prime of her life.    I do feel incredibly blessed to have the interaction, but I gotta get at least a pic of her.   

 

God willing, I can find a data recovery company to restore the files.   

 

@A-Jay   Thanks buddy!    I know you really do get the pain of losing data from gopros.    I actually thought about you and the two-camera system last night.  You're a role model for us all on how to handle, film, and immediately release trophy caliber Bass.     

 

Really appreciate it friends, I already feel better thanks to you guys!

 

 

What did you catch her on? The bait monkey really wants to know!

Thank you guys so much for the kind and encouraging words!!!!!   Means the world to me as nobody else would understand and get it.   

 

My best buddy spent hours last night trying to recover them, but no luck.    So I just packaged the card up and sent it to a repair lab in CT.   No charge if they can't get it back, but it'll be $354 if they can.    I didn't realize how much a memory is worth in terms of dollars until I got put into a situation like this.    Luckily it's not as much as Katie's recovery at $1000.   I suspect many people who do this professional recovery have lost finincial data, passwords, etc.     Knock on wood, the tech in the lab is going to see Bass fishing videos and think I've lost my mind 🤣

 

I'll be sure to keep you guys updated since we're all invested in the outcome at this point.   

11 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

What did you catch her on? The bait monkey really wants to know!

Small little silver lining is that at least I'll always have the bait that got retired.

 

Caught it on a Red Craw 1/2oz Damiki Vault blade bait with upgraded hardware.....Owner Hyper Wire #1 or #2 split rings (can't remember which size) with Owner STX-38s in size 6.

 

I can't emphasis enough how much changing out the OEM hooks for STX 38s makes a difference.    

 

If you notice she broke one of the treble hook points which I suspect was caused by me having to re bend it in place a few times after freeing the bait with a lure retriever.    I should really learn from that and start changing out the hook as soon as I have to rebend it once.   

 

@AlabamaSpothunter - that's such a huge bummer.  At least you know where she lives and what she likes to eat.

 

I don't think the big fish flood gates are really even open yet this winter - if that makes ya feel any better.

 

She's certainly a good sign of things to come this winter and probably not the last fish that caliber you'll run into before summer.

 

Just keep at it and by golly - take some pictures every single time and then send em to a friend and email em to yourself lol

 

Upload em to a cloud.

 

All I know is phones and cameras fall off boats and break and stop working spontaneously and all sorts of stuff and I'm fairly certain next time you'll be ready to document it 6 ways from Sunday (and now YOU can see why I'm insane about taking a million pictures when I catch a big fish!  😅😉)

 

I am still hopeful for your file recovery though!  Who knows!?!?

 

All I know is - get back out there and catch her Grandma!  😎👍🏼

 

If anyone can do it - it's you, bud!

 

Another small piece of advice that may be worth sharing - as it is something I had to grapple with.

 

It's very easy to make a very nice DIY livewell with a large cooler and some air pumps and a little DIY grit.

 

I have let 8 lbers recover in my livewell before taking pictures and I can tell you they seem to very much appreciate the extra O2 being pumped in and a chance to catch their breath.  🙂👍🏼❤️ 

 

I built it primarily to keep fish alive and take them to the marina for small tournaments and such - but it has proven very useful for reviving big fish (and helping my friends stock their private ponds!)

Great stuff Pat, and really appreciate the pep talk!!!

 

The livewell is a great suggestion, and I recall watching Doug Hannon use a similar setup with a beneficial solution like SureLife in it.   He would dunk them in the livewell and then release them.   

 

My gut and stats tell me she's the biggest fish I'll ever catch out of the lake, but you can never discount pure luck.   

 

Thanks again everybody, and I don't want to hijack a picture thread anymore than I have considering I didn't even post a picture.....here's to being able to post a pic in a week though 🙂 

21 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Had an incredible yesterday and caught a 9lb 12oz absolute beauty of a fish.  Also had close to a 26lb bag with another beautiful 5.5 fish.    I was so in a hurry to let her go; I didn't bother with a cellphone pic because I had the Go Pro rolling.     

 

Get home and my computer corrupted the MicroSD card....... my best friend does IT for a living and tried some things last night to recover it but no luck yet.    I'm praying and willing to pay or do whatever to get back those files.     If anybody knows someone who can recover my data, I'll make it worth your while.

 

Absolutely heart broken and gutted is an understatement, but hopefully I can recover the data 😰😱

 

 

I feel your pain. My SD card from Day 2 of the Kayak Bassmaster Classic got corrupted and I haven't been able to recover it. I got a quote recently from a company that said it would be $900-$2400 depending on the amount of data needing to be recovered (there's a lot, I was catching them good all day that day). Kills me not to be able to even watch the video again, but I can't spend a house payment to get it recovered.

 

 

I'm in a year long challenge of sorts called Catch and Release Alive for 2025. The goal is to CPR 2025 bass by the end of 2025. So I'll be tracking all my fish this year. I got out Saturday right before the big winter storm hit. It was 27* pretty much all day with 10-20mph east winds and 41* water. I fished from 7-12 when the freezing rain started and I wanted to get home before the roads got bad. Ended up with 34, bringing my yearly total to 36 fish and 477". I only brought 3 rods and fished with 2 of them most of the time, a Ned rig and Jackyll Bling.

 

 

18 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I don't want to hijack a picture thread anymore than I have

     Nobody thinks you're hijacking a thread. Your story is what we crave as anglers. We rise and fall with each other. You're success encourages anglers like myself that struggle to catch a 3 pounder. I know that sooner or later, a larger fish will strike my offering because Alex, Pat, A-Jay, Team9, Katie, and countless others have taught me so! I will borrow you're techniques, lures, and persistence, and I will succeed!

3 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I can't emphasis enough how much changing out the OEM hooks for STX 38s makes a difference.    

 

I became a big Owner fan this past year. ST-36 in 1/0 - 3/0 have served me very well on my smaller muskie cranks. They're easy to get sticky sharp and are super strong for their wire diameter.

 I feel your pain on the lost footage. I was standing on the front deck with my PB LM in hand when I realized the digital camera was home on the computer desk. I had left it there the previous weekend after uploading pics of my new PB caught that day. 🤦‍♂️This was prior to me carrying a phone. 

They say it hit 50 briefly today, but it didn’t feel like it. The sun barely appeared though they said it would shine, and they claim the winds only blew NW @ 6-10, but they seemed stronger than that. Cold rain came through overnight, and water temps are now down to 43-44 degrees and still stained - and the Arctic blast and possible snow is now just days away. All that to say I made one more afternoon run to the lake. Only got one bite, but it was a decent fish over 3-1/2 pounds, cranking.

 

Here in central NC it barely cracked 38 today and we had snow last night and it's supposed to barely crack 38 again tomorrow.🥹

 

Haven't seen the sun in days.  We might get actual sunlight tomorrow - I expect that to maybe be good?  I'm hoping!

 

Nice fish everyone!

Nice fish @Team9nine, sounds like you’re experiencing the renowned accuracy of meteorology in the southeast 😂 

It's not supposed to make it above freezing here anytime in the next 10 days according to the long ranger. My oldest son has his first BB game of the year Saturday and we're finally getting both boys birthday parties in on Sunday, so no fishing this weekend, and I'm not real upset about it 🥶 It was -2 on my way in to work this morning and not supposed to warm up much today. All the local lakes are locked up. 

After work, some people take the edge off with an adult beverage...me? I spent evening with the Dobyns Champion XP 735CB Glass. This is a rod you love or hate. The vibration from the chatterbait is somewhat muted with a glass rod, but for me it's just enough feel to be effective. That glass taper pins that fish. The strike feels like you caught a wet sock. It's truly a unique bite. Today was awesome! This pond I fish has a been called The Dink Factory, because the fish are tiny. I go there to finesse fish with dropshots, Neds and finesse shakyheads. There is something fun about a 10 inch bass on 8lb braid with a 6lb leader, peelin' drag! I caught most of my fish like that today. 

 

However, this setup I have is killer. Dobyns 735CB Glass paired with an SLX DC. Today on my first cast with this combo, I caught this beautiful girl. Caught her on a red Mini Max. I knew it was a different kind of fish when I heard the splash, you can a tell what a little fish from a larger fish. I knew it was much better than what I have been catching. She was right at 13". Fun catch after work!!!

8 hours ago, lunkerboss923 said:

Dobyns Champion XP 735CB Glass

 

LB, you and so many others at Bass Resource are able to rattle off the names and specifics of your fishing gear, which always impresses me and  humbles me too, since I can't name a single rod I own. Do you carry "XP 735CB" in your head or did you have to read it off your rod first? Either way, congrats on the bigger bass!

@Bluebasser86 and @T-Billy   That's brutal guys, really hate hearing those stories.   We're in a club that nobody should ever have to be in.   

 

I won't forget your story Clayton especially since you still have the card and recovery might be possible.   Prices go down, new tech comes out, I don't blame you for not spending that much.   If mine is successful, might be worth getting a quote from them.  

 

Few lessons I want to share with anybody who needs to hear it.

 

1.  Going forward I will always re format the card a new each time out.

2.  I will always make sure I safely remove hardware or eject media on my PC before pulling the card out

3.  I will pay attention to the warning signs before the mega disaster strikes, when I insert a card into a drive and it says something is wrong it wants to scan and I x it out because I've done so without consequences 1000x before, don't do it.   

 

Enough of that, had a great day which was about the only thing that was going to put me in a better head shape over the data deal.  

 

Didn't catch but 11 Bass but managed a 21lb on the dot bag.    The two prizes were a 7lb 11oz fish, and a 5lb 2oz one.    The 7.11 ate the red vault, the 5.2 ate the shad vault.   

 

 

 

@Blue Raider Bob What a fantastic reply brother!  A big girl awaits you in the New Year! 😎

@AlabamaSpothunter: I love those big bags! And a 7-11 is a heckuva, BIG bass.

10 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Didn't catch but 11 Bass but managed a 21lb on the dot bag.  The two prizes were a 7lb 11oz fish, and a 5lb 2oz one.    

 

 

Wow, that’s pretty awesome fishing for anytime of year.😎  We’re in a cold snap here, and it feels like it’ll be forever until I’m fishing again.  When I do get fishing again, I sure hope to catch one over 5#.  I couldn’t crack that nut last year, several 4’s but the magic 5 never bit.  6’s can happen up here too, but they’re rare.  A 7 is a once in a lifetime bass and could happen with a smallmouth just as easily as a largemouth, although my boat’s too wee to spend much time on Lake Ontario where the really big smallies live.

 

It gives my hope to have the little boat ready to unwrap in April and go after some shallow water pike, to get warmed up.  Hopeful a warm spring.🤞🏻

Nice recovery bag @AlabamaSpothunter - see - I told ya it ain't even but just getting started 🙂

 

Unfortunately - 3 days straight of night temps below 20° = we froze up here.

 

I am sad a little but this is the third winter I've fished where this has happened in NC and it seems to be the event that typically is the catalyst for the big fish to move up as soon as it's back to somewhat normal surface temps.

 

I went to the pond for 30 minutes last night and there was a small portion of open water remaining (surely frozen as of this morning) and couldn't get my guides to stop freezing.

 

The cool thing - even with over 75% ice coverage on the pond and freezing guides - right at sunset - I could literally see bass eating over the deeper water!  The surface activity looked like not winter!  🙂😂

 

Couldn't quite get my bait to that spot but it gave me a smile and some hope to hang onto while we wait out the ice vortex this next two weeks.

8 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

we froze up here

 

Whoa! I didn't know that NC could freeze...and three winters in a row. I'm assuming your ice isn't thick enough to fish. Am I right?

 

9 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

The cool thing - even with over 75% ice coverage on the pond and freezing guides - right at sunset - I could literally see bass eating over the deeper water!  The surface activity looked like not winter!  🙂😂

 

How exciting! I would have loved that almost as much as catching bass.

 

10 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

Nice recovery bag @AlabamaSpothunter - see - I told ya it ain't even but just getting started 🙂

 

I agree. I'm assuming Alex is going to catch some big bass and bags in the next couple months. Mid-winter is Alex's happy place.

 

2 hours ago, The Baron said:

When I do get fishing again, I sure hope to catch one over 5#.  I couldn’t crack that nut last year, several 4’s but the magic 5 never bit.  6’s can happen up here too, but they’re rare.  A 7 is a once in a lifetime bass

 

I'm a little farther north than you, so I feel really lucky to catch the bass that I do. I think it's a combination of being coastal, which moderates temps a bit, and fishing water that's harder to reach with boats even smaller than yours. However, your proximity to Lake Ontario should moderate temps a bit too, since it's really an inland, freshwater sea. 

 

 

 

 

 

@Swamp Girl - been chatting with my fishing buddies and we think that basically it kind of has a similar effect as a controlled burn does above land.  It kind of kills off the weak fish and a lot of the bacteria and fungus and parasites and infections and sort of has a purifying effect on the shallow water on the lakes we fish. 

 

I definitely think it leads to much healthier and much fatter fish in the spring with less parasites and infections and signs of stress. 

 

And much fatter fish because of all the Shad dying that they get to eat without having to chase. 

 

Overall it's a very good thing and I'm trying to be thankful for it and look forward to the goodness that is sure to come!

12 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

Overall it's a very good thing and I'm trying to be thankful for it and look forward to the goodness that is sure to come!

 

Pat, you have a great attitude. I wish you lived down the road so we could fish together. 

Thanks, guys, for the especially the kind words!    That 7lb fish was the best medicine/gift I could have received.    

 

I never fully realized how special the Green Fish was until I joined here and become buddies with folks like @Swamp Girl and @The Baron who taught me that people up north are every bit as passionate and talented at chasing LMB as any angler who gets to fish for them year round in Alabama.    I'm a much better angler today because of all the things I've learned from you Yanks since joining.     

 

@Pat Brown  I really like your thoughts on the whole 'controlled burn' aspect of what's happening in your area.   One thing I know for certain is that one of the best recipes for creating the conditions for an epic winter big fish day is a hard freeze down here in the South.      O.H. Ivie as we know it today was discovered after a historic hard freeze/winter storm several years ago, when Milliken and a few others set the internet on fire with a 50lb bag.       The incredible winter fishing that I've come to love over the last three years doesn't start until consistent freezing morning temps happen.    I'm a betting man, and I'd say within TWO WEEKS, Pat will be posting a 7-10lb fish (I'm being modest not to jynx you 😁).

 

ETA:   It looks like Canada or Maine in Alabama today......we got a couple of inches of snow last night.    It can't melt fast enough 🤣

 

 

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Pat, you have a great attitude. I wish you lived down the road so we could fish together. 

As we've talked about a bunch before.......I feel like attitude is the second most important attribute to have to become a great Bass angler.   The first is confidence.  

Every day out I try to work on my attitude, and I use many people on this forum and especially in this thread for motivation and example.  

 

Pat no doubt has the right attitude, and I've never met anyone who has a better fishing attitude than you Katie!  

10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I'm a much better angler today because of all the things I've learned from you Yanks since joining.   

 

Alex, you are so kind and GENEROUS, but I don't even know the names of most of my lures. You teach me, not vice-versa. 

 

10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

people up north are every bit as passionate

 

 

10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

That 7lb fish was the best medicine/gift I could have received. 

 

Way closer to eight than seven!!!

 

10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I've never met anyone who has a better fishing attitude than you Katie!  

 

Thank you, Alex. I'm out of reactions, so that's why I didn't tag your post with a thank you.