Very nice! Sounds a lot like the chain of ponds here. One doesn’t have parking near it really. But a neighborhood by it with a walking trail. That pond sees pressure from the neighborhood mostly and very few people want to park and walk all the way to it. I fish it very early in the morning before work. Or on a weekend morning. It seems a lot of pressure in the evening when everyone’s home from work and school. 
 

the other ponds on the chain all have parking and over mowed grass just like you describe. I’ve gotten a couple 4 pounders out of one of them. But just like you can’t repeat it. Those fish are educated and seen a lot like you said. Makes them hard to catch. But man I keep trying haha. I agree though. A fish that big has been there and seen it for sure. 

10 minutes ago, Joedodge said:

Very nice! Sounds a lot like the chain of ponds here. One doesn’t have parking near it really. But a neighborhood by it with a walking trail. That pond sees pressure from the neighborhood mostly and very few people want to park and walk all the way to it. I fish it very early in the morning before work. Or on a weekend morning. It seems a lot of pressure in the evening when everyone’s home from work and school. 
 

the other ponds on the chain all have parking and over mowed grass just like you describe. I’ve gotten a couple 4 pounders out of one of them. But just like you can’t repeat it. Those fish are educated and seen a lot like you said. Makes them hard to catch. But man I keep trying haha. I agree though. A fish that big has been there and seen it for sure. 

The other day I was there at those lake ponds, and I met a guy and started talking. He had a glide bait, probably about 8" long and tall, and I asked him about it. He said he wasn't really familiar with them and just bought it to try because it was on sale.

 

He fished some other stuff a while, then tied that on and almost immediately got a 3 pounder, then in short order a 2 pounder. It was on probably the most heavily pressured corner of these ponds. The fish were hugging the bank, which is a vertical bank in about 3' of water. Most anglers fish out towards the middle and then pull their lures before they get close to the bank.

 

It was more in the middle of the day, but still, it goes to show that the fish will bite something they don't see every day.

5 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

The other day I was there at those lake ponds, and I met a guy and started talking. He had a glide bait, probably about 8" long and tall, and I asked him about it. He said he wasn't really familiar with them and just bought it to try because it was on sale.

 

He fished some other stuff a while, then tied that on and almost immediately got a 3 pounder, then in short order a 2 pounder. It was on probably the most heavily pressured corner of these ponds. The fish were hugging the bank, which is a vertical bank in about 3' of water. Most anglers fish out towards the middle and then pull their lures before they get close to the bank.

 

It was more in the middle of the day, but still, it goes to show that the fish will bite something they don't see every day.

Wow! They say those glide baits are big fish catchers for sure. That’s an interesting sounding bank. It’s hard to fish the banks here. They are grass for 10 feet out or so. So ya have to fan cast out to the middle. But when ya find a spot to work between the grass in the pockets almost a guarantee to hook up. 
 

in truly believe fish learn lures and getting hooked. And I think they learn us being near the water and walking around and such 

Had some fun this morning in my wife’s kayak, got the TN triple crown (LM, SM, and spot, not quite as elaborate as the Georgia slam because I just made it up……) plus a few more largies that were tiny and a small walleye . I had one nice bass grab my worm while I was reeling it in and jump off, looked like a 2-2.5 lber. 

 

2 hours ago, Joedodge said:

Very nice! Sounds a lot like the chain of ponds here. One doesn’t have parking near it really. But a neighborhood by it with a walking trail. That pond sees pressure from the neighborhood mostly and very few people want to park and walk all the way to it. I fish it very early in the morning before work. Or on a weekend morning. It seems a lot of pressure in the evening when everyone’s home from work and school. 
 

the other ponds on the chain all have parking and over mowed grass just like you describe. I’ve gotten a couple 4 pounders out of one of them. But just like you can’t repeat it. Those fish are educated and seen a lot like you said. Makes them hard to catch. But man I keep trying haha. I agree though. A fish that big has been there and seen it for sure. 

I haven't caught any big ones on it, but I have had some smaller ones on a Shad Rap 6 with the hooks tied. That makes the lure totally silent. Might be worth a try for you.

 

I actually caught my PB on that lure, out of a pond I fish a lot. That pond has a lot of small fish, but the big one came on the corner I always hit when arriving, and probably the other few people that fish it does too.

 

I don't have a picture of the PB, but this is a gratuitous picture of the lure.

7 hours ago, Bazoo said:

I haven't caught any big ones on it, but I have had some smaller ones on a Shad Rap 6 with the hooks tied. That makes the lure totally silent. Might be worth a try for you.

 

I actually caught my PB on that lure, out of a pond I fish a lot. That pond has a lot of small fish, but the big one came on the corner I always hit when arriving, and probably the other few people that fish it does too.

 

I don't have a picture of the PB, but this is a gratuitous picture of the lure.

I’ll have to give that a try. I’ve never tried tied hooks before. Never heard of it actually! Now my interest is peeked! 

11 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

and a small walleye 

 

 

That has to be the cutest walleye I've ever seen. Lol

@IcatchDinks my cutest walleye I've ever seen.

 

3rd straight skunk, no bites, zilch. Easily the worst trip of the year. Called it after 2 and a half hours and went to work.

Took my wife out for Bluegill and Crappie, we caught 18 on trusty ole' nightcrawlers.

Accidently caught a really nice bass that the wife wanted to keep.

I said " don't be greedy " 😁

3 hours ago, Joedodge said:

I’ll have to give that a try. I’ve never tried tied hooks before. Never heard of it actually! Now my interest is peeked! 

I learned how to do it via this video - 

-----------

I went to Freeman Lake today for about 2 hours and I was able to entice one with a crankbait with tied hooks. This a Fat Free Guppy.

12 hours ago, Bazoo said:

I haven't caught any big ones on it, but I have had some smaller ones on a Shad Rap 6 with the hooks tied. That makes the lure totally silent. Might be worth a try for you.

 

I actually caught my PB on that lure, out of a pond I fish a lot. That pond has a lot of small fish, but the big one came on the corner I always hit when arriving, and probably the other few people that fish it does too.

 

I don't have a picture of the PB, but this is a gratuitous picture of the lure.

I’ll have to give that a try. I’ve never tried tied hooks before. Never heard of it actually! Now my interest is peeked!!

Got on the plopper bite again this morning with the choppo. I found a spot on the bank of the heavily pressured pond. Where the grass Matt’s were 6-8 feet off the bank making a 3 foot deep channel between it and the bank. Casting parallel to the bank. I pulled one after another this morning. Even in the wind the Choppo produced in the choppy water.  No huge fish but they have been eating well all of them were chunks ( this pond has a ton of forage) one even had a crappy jig still stuck in his mouth from breaking off someone’s line. 

Took the canoe out to AEP today to check out a new pond.  A front was coming in so I only had a few hours.

 

I launched at about quarter til two. It was mostly cloudy, 76 degrees, winds 6 mph from the SW.  

 

Tried a Choppo 90 at first and had no takers.  Ditto with the Junebug Mag 2. Finally got bit with the wacky senko skipping it under overhanging vegetation.  

 

The pattern was one I’ve used a lot in the past. I worked my way down to southern end of the pond and added a few more dinks to my total.

 

Turned back north but didn’t get another bite until I passed the boat ramp.  Hooked a good one that buried itself in the Chara on the bottom.  I have lost more than one mystery fish here that same way.  But this time my line held.  I had to dig through the Chara by hand but was finally able to get her in the canoe. 
 

That would end up being my best fish of the day.  My scale said 4lbs but I think it’s starting to go wonky because to my eyes she looked more like a 3-3.5.

 

My line was pretty frayed after that so I picked the Choppo back up since by that time the skies had started to darken and a light rain was falling. This time the fish played ball.  I managed to catch a few more topwater dinks before the rain got too heavy and I called it.

Just some decent city and country bass from the last couple weeks and one bonus Skamania.  I really rushed the pic on because I fought her on bfs a little too long and wanted her to kick off when I unhooked her.

 

scott

 

 

Hit the pond this morning to test several lures I made. The only one that found any fish is the one pictured hanging off the fish, and boy does it work great! It's a fast sinking crankbait, but the lip angle is so steep that when you crank it, it stops the fall. It has a beautiful cranking action, and apparently the fish love it. I caught four this morning in an hour and a half, which ties my most successful trip this year. 

 

I caught three similar sized fish all back to back: 

 

 

 

 

And the last bass of the day was a microscopic dink, making sure I live up to my username:

 

 

All the other handmade lures need some help and adjustments, but that little crank seems to work as good as any commercial lure I've used. 

 

 

 

 

I woke up late but still managed to get four casts in wading before the sun crossed the trees and touched the water. Sometimes that's all you need. I was in and out of the state park before the staff even arrived. I met a very friendly border collie. Big fish is 5-6, mouth too big not to stick a scale on it. Both fish mashed a walking bait about 2 seconds after it landed. I didn't even have to move the bait. I'm gonna go catch a biscuits and gravy now. 

That is a LONG bass @thediscochef, @IcatchDinks - catching on a homemade crankbait is honestly impressive.

 

@Bird that fish has quite a gut on her!

 

@Dwight Hottle that walleye is why I don't swim in the Great Lakes!  🤣🤣🤣

9 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

That is a LONG bass @thediscochef, @IcatchDinks - catching on a homemade crankbait is honestly impressive.

 

@Bird that fish has quite a gut on her!

 

@Dwight Hottle that walleye is why I don't swim in the Great Lakes!  🤣🤣🤣

She was definitely spawned out. Has the frame of 6+ but knew it would be lighter based on the shape. That bass jumped about as high as I've ever seen a bass jump after I hooked her. Probably a solid 3 feet. Jumped four or five times before I got her in. I was in the middle of adding some spool tension when she hit 🤣

edit: i am just realizing that is fish of the year to this point lol

55 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

edit: i am just realizing that is fish of the year to this point lol

That would be the fish of the year nearly every year for me 

25 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

That would be the fish of the year nearly every year for me 

Same, brother. Same. Lol

 

1 hour ago, Pat Brown said:

@IcatchDinks - catching on a homemade crankbait is honestly impressive.

 

It adds a whole other level of excitement to hooking a fish. You spend a couple hours building a lure, and the joy of knowing that the thing you make works just like you wanted, and the fish think it's attractive, and then you manage to land it...

 

I've found fishing to be near addictive. It's so satisfying landing a good fish. When that good fish is caught on a lure I made myself, it feels that much more rewarding.

 

Tune in next week when I start braiding my own line. 😂

@softwateronly and @thediscochef: You guys catch biiiiig bass. Congrats on creating such a productive crankbait, ICD!

My daughter came back home between graduating and getting married, so we had to make sure to get a fishing trip in before things got too crazy.

 

 

Always nice catching them on a spinnerbait

 

 

Double hookups are even fun with dinks!

 

Of course she caught the biggest fish of the day...

 

This little fella was still hungry even with a shad in its gullet

 

First time I've ever doubled up on a crankbait. Thought I had a giant for a bit 😆

 

Bite was good so I figured I'd see if I could actually get hit on this color. Success!

 

Also caught them on a jig

 

Awesome trip that already made my summer. 😊

 

 

 

Finally got around to repairing the crack on my main kayak, and headed out to "Lake 26" today.  A pretty good morning was had, with 13 bass, all around 2lb/16" -- nothing bigger, but also nothing smaller.  

 

A few, pretty representative:

 

 

All but a couple were caught on a gold flashy swimmer with a 4.3 keitech fat swing impact, wherever I found cabbage reaching to 1-2 feet below the surface in 6-8' of water.

 

Also some minor bycatch:

3 hours ago, IcatchDinks said:

Same, brother. Same. Lol

 

 

It adds a whole other level of excitement to hooking a fish. You spend a couple hours building a lure, and the joy of knowing that the thing you make works just like you wanted, and the fish think it's attractive, and then you manage to land it...

 

I've found fishing to be near addictive. It's so satisfying landing a good fish. When that good fish is caught on a lure I made myself, it feels that much more rewarding.

 

Tune in next week when I start braiding my own line. 😂

this dude over here like "we are different classes of angler" but making his own crankbaits and catching fish on them
affirms what I said about time and access

4 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

That would be the fish of the year nearly every year for me 

if this is where i max out for the year it'll be the smallest yearly PB I've had since 2021 when I started fishing. location location. I'd love to have more smallmouth where I'm at

1 hour ago, NorcalBassin said:

My daughter came back home between graduating and getting married, so we had to make sure to get a fishing trip in before things got too crazy.

 

 

Always nice catching them on a spinnerbait

 

 

Double hookups are even fun with drinks!

 

Of course she caught the biggest fish of the day...

 

This little fella was still hungry even with a shad in its gullet

 

First time I've ever doubled up on a crankbait. Thought I had a giant for a bit 😆

 

Bite was good so I figured I'd see if I could actually get hit on this color. Success!

 

Also caught them on a jig

 

Awesome trip that already made my summer. 😊

 

 

 

Not only can your daughter fish....but by the look of her hat, she can do whatever the heck she chooses! I aint say'in nothing!