Had the bass fever last night. Only 1 on the Gigantarel. Been a neglected lure in the box. Going to try it around the bluegill beds soon.

That's an impressive beaver lodge @Swamp Girl. I've never seen one near that size. Good to see you on the water again. 

3 hours ago, BluegillsTightlines said:

Got another good one this morning. Is there a way to tell or get a general idea on if it is male or female? 

 

If it's upside down it's a female.  At least that's the case at my house.  

 

Another day on the magic rock, five fish, nine eyes, and this time armed with @WRB and @Siebert Outdoorscustom jig.  I think this bag would squeak past 20lb if you believe my guess.

 

scott

 

 

Nothing special going on here. I was gone for about a month and spent the past weekend getting back into the swing of things. Over the past few days I've caught small guys on a dropshot, a neko rig, and a fluke. These are all baits/techniques that I either have never caught a fish on, or haven't caught a fish on in about five years. I'm trying to fill gaps in what I can do in clear water. I've spent more time with a spinning rod in my hand than a baitcaster recently. Absolutely gorgeous weather here in Texas.

 

This little guy ate my fluke first cast this morning

@softwateronly: Congrats, man! You caught some beshemoths.

 

@T-Billy: They're the biggest lodges I've ever seen too. They're beaver skyscrapers.

@BluegillsTightlines  You can tell by looking behind their bellies, it's especially easy to tell them apart around the spawn and females will have a swollen and more red hole.   

 

male on left, female on right 

 

@Swamp Girl   Way to go on that whacky rig fish!  Beautiful bog as well, I'd hate to night fish that place though as all those Beavers would give me heart attacks when they slapped the water 😆

 

@Pat Brown and Jake, huge congrats!!! Those are some awesome fish. I'm so happy for and jealous of you! 😆

 

That's so super cool. 

 

@softwateronly, always nice to see your beautiful smallies that are anything but small. 

Perhaps you've heard the phrase, "in the belly of the beast." Now behold the belly of the beast! I just had to post your trophy again, Scott and FWIW, I add a pound to her weight because you caught her from the shore:

 

I was able to finally get a chance to try out my new bps spinning reel yesterday and on my first cast I can finally say I’m on the board in 2025. My session didn’t last long as the wind was cool and the water was colder along with a dad and son fishing with what appeared to be golden roaches under bobbers probably from a previous outing which was keeping them busy and making my little area a bit less productive. But I’m not complaining and I’m happy for them as I’m a guest on the pond and it appeared they live on it. 

19 hours ago, BluegillsTightlines said:

. Is there a way to tell or get a general idea on if it is male or female?

That's easy!

@Eric 26  Way to get on the board brother!    Always a thrill catching a fish on a new rod/reel.  

 

20 hours ago, softwateronly said:

Another day on the magic rock, five fish, nine eyes, and this time armed with @WRB and @Siebert Outdoorscustom jig.  I think this bag would squeak past 20lb if you believe my guess.

 

scott

 

 

Amazing rock you have. Those are some pigs!

4 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

That's easy!

Where did you find a picture of my wife and I?

Got out this morning on my birthday. The water here in Northern, IL is still around 50 degrees. It was cold & windy but I managed to catch one fish. 5.33lb Momma on a very slow rattle trap in 18 feet of water. They were stacked on my screen, but only this one went for it.

 

Accesses are opening up slowly but surely one at a time.

Got out for the first time today.

Air temps in the 30's to start and water temps barely 40 and dirty.

I was so afraid I was going to miss the early bite but 

now I'm thinking maybe not.

In the end, nothing came easy today.

Worked hard for a dozen 2-3 lb smallies.

But I was glad to have them.

All on jerkbaits

Won't be able to get out again till next week.

A-Jay

@Retiredguns  Awesome fish!    One 5lb+ fish is the definition of a perfect trip in my book.

 

@A-Jay  Way to get on the board for 2025, and what a pretty specimen 

11 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

@Retiredguns  Awesome fish!    One 5lb+ fish is the definition of a perfect trip in my book.

 

@A-Jay  Way to get on the board for 2025, and what a pretty specimen 

Thanks - I left myself Plenty of room to improve.

Needles to say that one is Not a candidate for the State vs State thread.

Still felt good to float around again though.

A-Jay

@RetiredgunsHappy birthday and a great fish to celebrate it with.

@A-Jaygood start to a new season. 

I do not regret to inform you that I have been fishing regularly.

I'm averaging about 10 fish a day, just really lacking in size at the moment. I've hooked some heavies but landing them has been a different matter. That will change soon enough, that's just how life works 

39 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

I do not regret to inform you that I have been fishing regularly.

I'm averaging about 10 fish a day, just really lacking in size at the moment. I've hooked some heavies but landing them has been a different matter. That will change soon enough, that's just how life works 

 

 

Boy can I relate to the part where you said 'hooked some heavies' a lot - believe me if I caught all the fish that bit and were on this spring - I might seriously have a new PB right now.  It's been brutal.  Thankful to have had some success - but I have lost some absolute dandies this spring.

13 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

 

 

Boy can I relate to the part where you said 'hooked some heavies' a lot - believe me if I caught all the fish that bit and were on this spring - I might seriously have a new PB right now.  It's been brutal.  Thankful to have had some success - but I have lost some absolute dandies this spring.

I've had two specific incidents, neither of which i'm certain were bass. If they were, almost guaranteed new PB. Can't have great times without some rough ones. I'm waiting on the good times right now. They're just around the corner

2 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

Can't have great times without some rough ones. I'm waiting on the good times right now. They're just around the corner

 

Good attitude.

 

21 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

I have lost some absolute dandies this spring.

 

I find it reassuring that even the Great Pat Brown loses bass.

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Good attitude.

 

inspired by bob ross

Im finding that the skill I've improved the most this year is attitude 

Fished from a gym buddy’s boat today at Burr Oak.  We caught a dozen dinks between the two of us.  I didn’t know it but it was an audition of sorts.  Despite not boating any sizable fish I landed the role of tournament partner for him in a couple local events this summer.  So I’m pretty excited about that.